"They said he might not wake up."
Elara shook her head slowly.
"No."
The doctor sighed.
"We're doing everything we can."
"He went into a coma after the shock," the doctor continued. "We need to take him in for a procedure to reduce the swelling in his brain."
"Surgery?" she whispered.
The doctor nodded.
"Yes."
"Will he be okay?" she asked.
"We'll try our best."
That answer wasn't enough to hold on to.
"Ms. Moore," the nurse called gently. "We need your consent."
Her head snapped up.
"My… consent?"
"You're his wife."
She swallowed hard.
Her hand trembled as they handed her the document.
Her name again.
Always her name.
Always signing something that changes her life.
"Elara…"
She froze.
That voice sounded familiar.
Slowly…
She turned.
And saw him.
Victor Vale.
"Finally," he said softly, stepping closer. "We meet properly."
Something about him made her skin crawl.
"You're Elara," he continued. "My brother's… wife."
The way he said wife felt wrong.
Like he was mocking her.
Elara straightened slightly.
Trying to gather whatever strength she had left.
"Yes."
Victor's gaze dropped to the document in her hand.
"Surgery?"
She didn't answer.
He chuckled softly.
"Things got out of hand quickly, didn't they?"
Her fingers tightened around the paper.
"What do you want?"
"I just want to help," he said calmly.
"No," she said immediately.
"I don't need your help."
"Are you sure you don't need my help?" he asked, stepping closer.
His voice dropped.
"You're alone. Your husband is unconscious. The board is already panicking. The media will pick this up soon."
Her chest tightened.
But she refused to look away.
"I'll manage."
Then…
He leaned in slightly.
"Let me give you some advice," he whispered. "Sign the papers. Stay quiet. Don't get involved."
Her heart pounded.
"And in return?" she asked.
"You get to keep your little position."
"And if I don't?" she asked.
"Then things get… complicated." He said
"Accidents happen," he added casually.
Her breath caught.
Because this didn't feel like a conversation anymore.
It felt like a threat.
"You should be careful," he said softly. "You just got married."
Elara's hands started shaking.
"You're talking like you wanted that crash to happen," she said quietly.
Victor paused.
Just for a second.
Then he smiled again.
"Careful, Elara," he said. "That kind of accusation… is dangerous."
Their eyes locked.
Then…
A nurse rushed in.
"We need to take him now!"
Everything snapped back into motion.
"Elara, the consent form!"
She looked at the paper.
Then at the ICU doors.
Then at Victor.
He was watching her.
___
Elara sat outside the operating room.
Hands clasped tightly.
Eyes fixed on the red light above the door.
Surgery in progress.
Her phone buzzed.
She ignored it.
It buzzed again.
And again.
Finally, she picked it up.
Maya.
"Elara! What's going on? I've been calling…"
"They are performing a surgery on him."
"What?"
Her voice broke.
"We had an accident."
Maya sucked in a breath.
"Oh my God…"
"I don't know what's going to happen," Elara whispered.
"You're not alone," Maya said quickly. "I'm coming."
"No," Elara said immediately.
"Why?"
"Just… don't come."
Because she didn't want Maya anywhere near this.
Near Victor.
Near whatever this was turning into.
"Elara...."
"I'll be fine," she said quickly and hung up.
Hours later. The red light went off.
The doors opened.
The doctor stepped out.
Her heart pounded.
"How is he?"
"The surgery was successful."
But then…
"He's still in a coma."
"When will he wake up?" she asked.
"We don't know."
Her knees nearly gave out.
"But there's something else," the doctor added.
Her heart stopped
"What?"
"He had some neurological activity before he collapsed."
Her breath caught.
"He spoke," the doctor continued. "He mentioned a name."
Her heart pounded louder.
"…Victor."
Elara turned slowly.
Victor was standing behind her.
Watching.
Smiling.
Like he already knew.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Elara stood outside Alexander's room.
Staring at him through the glass.
He looked… lifeless.
Not like the man she married.
"Wake up," she whispered.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"You can't leave me like this," she said softly.
Her voice broke.
"I didn't sign up for this alone."
Then…
A voice behind her.
"You won't be alone."
She froze.
Victor.
Again.
"I thought you left," she said coldly.
"I did," he replied. "Then I came back."
"Why?"
He stepped closer.
"Because you're interesting."
Her stomach twisted.
"I'm not here for your entertainment."
"No," he agreed. "You're here because you're useful."
"And right now," he continued, "you're the only thing standing between me… and everything my brother owns."
"So what do you want?" she asked quietly.
Victor smiled.
"I want you to disappear."
Her breath caught.
"Divorce him," he said simply.
"And if I don't?"
His smile didn't fade.
"Then I'll make sure you regret it."
As Victor walked away…
Elara's phone buzzed again.
She frowned.
And picked it up.
It was an unknown number again.
Her heart started racing.
She opened the message.
And froze.
"The crash wasn't meant for him."
Her breath hitched.
A second message.
"It was meant for YOU."
Elara's hands started shaking violently.
This wasn't about Alexander anymore.
Because asides her marriage being on the verge of collapse.
Someone wanted her dead.
And she doesn't know who the person is.