Zia opened her eyes. The sunlight was blinding. The smell of disinfectant made her realize she was back in a hospital ward. This time, it was a larger and cleaner room.
Zia raised her hand to block the sunlight. Something heavy held her hand down. She turned her head, looking at Brian, who was lying face down beside the bed, clutching her hand.
Her two sons were sleeping on the sofa.
Zia stared blankly, feeling a sense of déjà vu.
Every time she got sick and had to be hospitalized, Alec and Hendry insisted on skipping school to stay by her side.
Brian even canceled a multi-million-dollar business deal to be by her side, staying awake all night and sleeping while holding her hand tightly.
After Zia recovered, he went for a checkup on his back pain, but never complained in front of Zia.
If it weren’t for the memories flooding back, Zia would have thought things were back to normal, as if nothing had ever happened.
Brian woke up feeling Zia move. His eyes fluttered open, filled with relief.
“Zia, you're awake!” He held her hand and kissed the back of it tenderly.
The children woke up, too, then ran to her bed.
“Mommy!” they called out in sweet, childlike voices, their eyes brimming with tears.
“Mommy’s awake! We were so scared we wouldn’t see Mommy again.”
‘I bet you were hoping you’d never see me again, weren’t you?’ Zia whispered to herself.
She looked at them indifferently. The worry and fear in their eyes seemed like a joke to her.
Zia pulled her hand away from Brian’s grip and looked up at the ceiling, pretending her husband and children weren’t there.
Brian was startled for a moment when Zia pulled her hand away, then tried to smile, “Zia, about yesterday… I’m truly sorry. I’ve moved your father’s ashes to a new urn.”
But Zia ignored him.
Zia pulled her hand away and turned her back on them. “I’m tired; I want to rest.”
The three men fell silent, staring at her back.
Hendry said sadly, “Dad, is Mom starting to ignore us? Does she not love us anymore?”
“Mom is still sick. Once she gets better, she’ll be back to normal.” Brian reassured his children, even though he was far from certain himself.
“Okay.”
Zia closed her eyes, ignoring the three of them, letting silence fill the room.
Brian and his children stayed in her room until she recovered and was allowed to go home. Zia knew Brian was doing this to atone for his guilt.
After the final checkup, the doctor allowed her to go home.
“Honey, are you ready to go home?” Brian entered her hospital room with a smile on his face, carrying a large gift box in his hands.
“Yes,” Zia replied indifferently, glancing at the large gift box without any interest.
Brian followed her gaze and handed her the gift box.
“Tomorrow is the company’s anniversary, which coincides with our wedding anniversary. We can celebrate it together. This is our wedding anniversary gift for you. You’ll come with me and look your best to show off Brian Ridge’s wife.”
Zia fell silent for a moment, staring at the gift box. When she opened it, she saw a stunning red dress.
“Why are you inviting me to your family party? You never usually invite me.”
“My mother has given her permission. We have to attend. Besides, since our relationship hasn’t been harmonious lately, I want to mend it so the children feel comfortable.”
Zia pretended to accept the gift.
“I understand. I’ll wear it….” She paused for a moment. “By the way, I have something that needs your signature.”
Zia pulled out a prepared buyback agreement for her shares. She intended to collect every penny her father had lent her 10 years ago, plus interest.
“This is the report on my father’s accident. It’s been five years; the police want to close the case because they can’t find any evidence or the culprit. Since you’re my husband, help me sign it.”
Brian seemed to tense up for a moment, then a flash of relief crossed his eyes, which he quickly hid.
However, everything was crystal clear to Zia.
“Yes, it should be closed. I know you’re deeply grieving over it. Don’t dwell on the past; let’s look to the future. You need to focus on taking care of our children.”
Then, without reading the contents, he signed it quickly as if he wanted the case closed immediately, then returned the document to Zia.
He smiled, unaware that he had signed a 50% share buyback agreement.
The Ridge family business that Brian had loved his whole life would go bankrupt.
What expression would he show if he knew this?
Zia tried to keep her expression calm.
Brian’s phone rang. He answered it in front of Zia for a few moments, then ended the call and looked at Zia regretfully. “Sorry, I have some work I need to take care of. How… about taking a taxi home?”
“It’s okay, I’ll take a taxi.”
“Thanks for understanding,” Brian tried to kiss her forehead, but Zia quickly turned away.
Brian awkwardly pulled back, then turned and left the hospital room, leaving Zia alone.
Zia didn’t pay him any mind and checked her phone for incoming messages.
Zia received a notification from her broker that her shares had been sold.
“Ms. Storm, your shares have been sold. Someone bought them for 10 billion. We’ll begin the transfer process.”
10 billion dollars?!
With that amount of money, Zia could live comfortably for decades and buy back her father’s orange grove, which had been sold ten years ago. She could live comfortably, far away from the children and Brian.
Zia sent a quick message. [Yes. Please process the transfer quickly.]
[Yes, Miss Storm.]
A smile appeared on Zia’s lips; relief filled her chest.
Today, she would leave everything behind and start a new life far away.
Feeling lighthearted, she walked out of the hospital and booked a flight to leave that very night.
Just then, her phone rang again.
A video call from Hendry. Zia hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Mom! Save us!”
Hendry and Alec’s faces filled her phone screen. Both were crying out to her.
Zia froze.
A stranger’s face replaced her children’s.
“Mrs. Ridge, we’re demanding a ransom of five million dollars for your children’s lives. Come here in ten minutes. If you bring Mr. Ridge or the police, we’ll kill your children.”
