/Madison's POV/
Like the turbulence of a stormy sea, my thoughts raged and my pain swelled after Zane's words.
I couldn't bury the spiral of guilt, doubt, and self-blame. After thirteen years apart, Allison finally reached out, and for the first time I thought maybe—just maybe—we could fix what was broken. Maybe even recover the childhood we never got to share. But fate had other plans.
Maybe I could have reached out first but she made it clear I was unwanted in their lives.
Was it pride that stopped me from trying harder because I knew the excuses I'd piled up every time the thought of reaching out to her again ever surfaced were nothing more than that—excuses?.
I could have spent more time with her had I just swallowed my fucking pride and reached out either way.
"Are you okay?" Zane asked as I was brought over to the hospital room where I'm supposed to pretend to be the recuperating Allison.
"Crap, that was stupid of me to ask; of course you're not. You just lost your sister," His voice cracked with shame, a hint of remorse flickering in his captivating green eyes as he gently placed down the hospital gown I was supposed to change into.
"Can I really not see her? I didn't even get to say goodbye because I felt too ashamed to be next to her I'd left her during the operation but I wish I had the chance to say goodbye " I requested from Zane, who had already informed me on our way downstairs that Allison's body was already being moved out of the hospital to lessen suspicion and perfect the theatrics we both agreed to play.
"It's too risky." His tone was calm but iron-hard. "We can't afford anyone finding out you're not Allison. I'm already working on having every record of your presence erased. The slightest suspicion of Allison's death could break the whole plan," Zane explained.
studied him closely. His words were steady, but rage lingered in his gaze like glowing embers. Zane Antler was clever, calculating—and dangerous. A man fuelled by grief and revenge. I'd worked with people like him before—outspoken, confident, smart, but secretive—not like I'm any different.
"I'll get changed," I voiced, tearing into the awkward silence that enveloped the whole room after nodding to his words in understanding.
"Yeah, yeah, sure." He blurted in response, his gaze hardly meeting mine before allowing me to pick the patterned hospital gown he'd gently placed on the bed, then I vacated to the bathroom, where I first had a shower before slipping into the gown.
Zane was gone by the time I returned, leaving the room encroached by an eerie and heavy silence, a perfect environment for my deafening thoughts to dominate.
It still didn't feel real. Allison was supposed to get married. She had everything—love, a career, a life worth envying. And now all of it had been stolen. I sometimes found myself envious of her luck, which I wish I had but I was happy for her either way, glad she never had to live the way I did. The rage inside me only sharpened the grief. Whoever had done this would pay.
Sleep was impossible, but I closed my eyes anyway, clinging to the thought of revenge. My thoughts turned violent, imagining all the ways I could break whoever dared to take her from me.
That's when I felt it. A presence.
The soft scrape of a shoe. The faint shift of air.
I kept still, lids barely cracked. The intruder crept closer—too close—until a shadow detached itself from the corner of the room. A huge figure, silent as a phantom.
Before I could move, the man lunged. In a single motion he slammed the intruder to the ground, a strangled groan ripping from the man's throat. Zip-ties snapped shut around his wrists, and without a word, the giant dragged him out of the room.
Was I too engrossed in my thoughts not to have caught his presence?
The door banged open again. Zane burst inside, his face pale, "Are you okay?" He asked in a shaky voice, hands on my shoulders but still barely holding me.
He was trembling.
Even with the faint moonlight barely lighting the room, fear blazed in his eyes.
I'm inclined to believe his reaction was exaggerated but the sincerity in his voice as he said. "Thank God," After I gently shook my head to his question, sowed seeds of doubt.
It got me wondering, that look… the worry on his face and the concern laced into his voice—who was it directed to? Who does he think I am right that instant? Was it really me he saw or my sister?
"Sorry, I didn't mean to—" Zane paused, taking a step back after releasing my shoulder, his eyes nervously shifting from mine as if scared to meet my gaze after suddenly freaking out on me.
"He wasn't able to get close enough. Who was that, the big guy?" I asked as I gently adjusted my back against the pile of pillows stacked against the headboard.
"Oh, that's Jeff. He's your bodyguard. I had a feeling something like this might happen, so I decided it's best to have someone guard you. Didn't think they were dumb enough to strike immediately after the press release," Zane replied, his thick brows in knots from frowning too hard.
"Press release?" I arched a brow, wondering what he meant.
"Oh, about that… I just informed the public about the attack and mentioned Allison was recuperating here but they moved fast." He snickered.
"Yes but I highly doubt it's them though; he looked far too inexperienced to be the culprit," I hinted while his lids flicked up at me with suspicion. "We should probably let the police determine that," I added as his interrogatory gaze lingered on me for a while longer.
"I think you should come stay with me. It's too risky leaving you here by yourself. I have a security team that'll ensure your safety," Zane suggested.
"But it'll be suspicious for me to Just move, especially since people are now convinced Allison's recuperating here," I pointed out.
"I'll handle it. If news leaks that someone tried sneaking in, nobody will question moving her for safety." He countered and I shrugged.
Although I can handle myself, maybe staying with him a while will get me what I needed, even though all he's ever done since we met was in my sister's benefit; I still can't be so sure he had no hand in her death.
"Fine," I said, forcing a smile. "As long as it gets us what we want."
My mind was calculating how to visit the intruder some time later but even then, I didn't realise what Zane meant until the ambulance came and moved me while I was feigning unconsciousness.
I lost count how much time passed as I lay there silently in the van, waiting quietly until the long journey came to a halt.
It took everything in me to stop my body from going into defensive mode as I was moved from the ambulance with a transport stretcher to another location.
The movement wasn't the smoothest and had me wondering how long I have to keep my eyes closed.
Unable to hold back my curiosity, I peered through my lashes, my eyes had barely opened halfway when I backed away as I felt Zane's face being ridiculously close to mine.
"I'm sorry," He said quickly. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to confirm if you were asleep." He added defensively, putting a considerable distance between us almost instantly while also giving me the time to process that I was on a bed, in a room—a pretty plain but spacious room.
"Oh, I…yes." Feeling flustered, I stuttered my response.
"This is my guest room. You'll be safe here," he explained, handing me a bag. "Your things. I brought them over. I'll show you around tomorrow," Zane informed me before handing me a bag, which I quickly went through its contents.
Inside were my clothes, but it also had with it my wallet and phone, which I'd forgotten during the commotion.
Switching on my cell phone, I quickly realised what Zane meant by handling the press.
News of Allison's attack was trending.
"I'll have dinner delivered soon," Zane informed as he quietly left the room while I scrolled through the news.
Articles about Allison's Fiancé and also the CEO of Bambi entertainment, informing the press of the attack and also telling the press she was in critical condition but had safely crossed the danger threshold was also amongst the trending news. Video clips showed him disheveled yet composed, handling the press like he was born for it.
Dinner came, though I barely touched it. My mind was too crowded for food. Zane didn't press—just collected the tray.
Leaving me to my harrowing thought, he disappeared outside the room I never had a chance to explore but eventually my body gave in to the exhaustion and slowly found myself drifting off but as the door to my room gently eased out, creaking as Zane's shirtless form dawdled into the room, my eyes unconsciously fluttered open.
His frame swayed as he approached the bed.
"Allison," He called out affectionately, his voice, despite the deep resounding undertone, was gentle and soothing—alluring even. "Ally," His voice came again, in a low, slurred drawl as if halfway between sleep and waking.
Before I could react, he slipped under the blanket, his arms sliding around my waist, pulling me against him with unsettling familiarity.
"What the—" I blurted in disbelief. Didn't think a man of his station could sleepwalk.
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