The surgery lights dimmed at last. Hours had bled into an eternity, but when the doors of the operating room swung open, the doctor's weary face carried something precious: hope.
"She made it," he said. "She's stable. Weak, but stable."
Relief flooded the waiting room like oxygen. Delphine sobbed quietly into her hands, Clyde slumped back in his chair, and Han, who had been pacing for hours, finally stilled. His chest rose and fell in a shaky breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
When Annalise's eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was the sterile glow of monitors. The second was Han, seated stiffly in a chair by her bed, elbows on his knees, head bowed as though he'd been praying.
"...Han?" her voice rasped, soft as sandpaper.
His head snapped up. For a moment, his usually impenetrable expression cracked—his jaw clenched, eyes glassy, relief so raw it startled her.
"You're awake," he breathed, leaning closer.
Annalise tried to smile. "Don't look so scared. I'm tougher than I look."
"You nearly died." His words were low, harsh, but his hand hovered near hers like he wanted to hold it and couldn't quite bring himself to. "Don't ever scare me like that again."
"I wasn't planning to," she whispered, managing the faintest smirk. "Besides... did you just admit you were worried about me?"
He exhaled sharply through his nose, but the corner of his mouth betrayed him with the ghost of a smile. "You're insufferable."
"You like that about me."
The air softened, unspoken but warm. For the first time, Han didn't hide behind his walls. "I like that you're still here."
Annalise's chest tightened—not from pain, but something else. She filed it away. Recovery first, feelings later.
The doctors came in, checking vitals, announcing she would need time and rehabilitation, but that her body was strong. Annalise nodded, already determined. Carlos wouldn't wait. Neither would she.
Meanwhile, Rezi sat in her room at home, staring at the teddy bear that had once seemed so comforting. But after Clyde's reaction, it felt sinister. She picked it up, fingers brushing the button eyes.
She froze. One eye glinted unnaturally. Almost... mechanical.
The door opened. Clyde stepped in, calm but sharp-eyed. "Don't touch it any more."
Her throat tightened. "You think it's—?"
"Not a toy. Move back." He lifted the bear carefully, turning it over. Sure enough, tucked into a seam was a tiny metallic node. A camera lens.
Rezi's face drained of color. "All this time—"
"You caught it," Clyde said firmly, meeting her gaze. "That's what matters."
He pulled out his phone, dialing. "Kai. I need you in Rezi's room now."
Within minutes, Kai appeared, eyes narrowing as Clyde explained. He took the bear, slicing the seam open with a pocket knife. Wires glinted in the fabric.
"It's a surveillance device," Kai muttered darkly. "Professional. Not some prank." His fists clenched. "If they're watching her... I'll make sure they regret it."
Rezi hugged herself, guilty. "I should've noticed sooner. Sometimes I thought the eyes... moved. Like it was watching me. But I ignored it because I thought it was from Clyde."
Kai softened instantly, squeezing her shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. Whoever did this wanted you to trust it."
Clyde nodded. "And you spotted it before it went further. That makes you part of stopping them, not the problem."
For the first time that night, Rezi managed a small, shaky smile.
The next morning, chaos erupted outside the hospital. Word had spread like wildfire: Annalise Lemington, the dazzling young CEO who had revitalized her family empire, had been in a near-fatal accident.
Reporters shoved microphones at the hospital entrance. Headlines screamed:
"CEO in Critical Condition!"
"Accident... or Attempted Murder?"
The hospital finally caved, holding a brief press conference. Doctors gave only bare details: the surgery was successful, recovery would be long. When pressed about whether foul play was suspected, they evaded. But the damage was done—speculation ran rampant.
Inside her room, Annalise heard the muffled chaos outside. "They smell blood," she muttered.
Rezi was finally allowed in. She rushed to Annalise's side, hugging her carefully around the monitors and tubes.
"You scared me half to death," Rezi whispered, tears stinging her lashes. "Don't ever do that again."
Annalise leaned back against the pillows, pale but smirking. "Guess I owe you some gossip for all the drama I caused. Got any tea?"
Rezi hesitated, then blurted out the truth about the bracelet and teddy bear.
Annalise's smile dropped. Her eyes sharpened, even in weakness. "Rezi... if someone is slipping things into your life under Clyde's name, that means they're close enough to know your circle. Too close."
Rezi bit her lip. "Kai's handling it. He found the device. He's already looking deeper."
Annalise forced a smile, though unease tugged at her chest. "Good. If Kai's on it, I can breathe easier."
Rezi squeezed her hand. "We've got you. Always."
That night, Clyde's phone buzzed. A message from Kai:
"You were right. This isn't just a prank. I'll explain in person—don't tell Rezi yet."
Outside, reporters continued to speculate, whispering that maybe the accident was connected to Annalise's rise as CEO.
Annalise lay awake in her bed, staring at the ceiling, Rezi's hand still clutching hers.
If they came after me once... they'll try again.
Miles away, Carlos sat in his penthouse, staring out at the city skyline.
His phone buzzed. A voice on the other end murmured, "The bear was discovered."
Carlos's jaw tightened, but then a slow smirk curved his lips. "She survived the crash. Survived the surgery. Impressive. But luck runs out eventually."
He swirled his glass of whiskey, eyes cold. "If she won't die by chance... I'll make sure it happens by choice."
The line clicked dead. The city glittered outside, unaware of the storm still brewing.