Chapter 2: The Woman Outside
I didn't move.
Neither did Dorian.
For three seconds, the hospital room held nothing but the sound of rain tapping against the window.
Then Dorian stepped toward the nurse.
“Where is he?””
The nurse looked nervous.
“He isn't here.””
“Then why did you say someone asked to see my wife?””
“She wasn't the person who gave the name.””
Dorian's expression hardened.
“Who was?””
The nurse glanced at me.
“A woman.””
My heart dropped.
“The woman from the photograph?””
“I don't know about a photograph.””
I showed her my phone.
She stared at the screen.
Her face changed.
“That’s her.””
Dorian took one step forward.
“Where?””
“Security moved her to the private waiting area.””
“Why?””
“She said Mrs. Cross was in danger.””
Dorian's jaw clenched.
“Take us there.””
The nurse hesitated.
“Mr. Cross—”
“Now.””
We followed her through the corridor.
I kept my hand against my stomach.
It was too early to feel anything.
Yet every few seconds, I caught myself touching it.
Nine weeks.
There was a life inside me.
A life that had apparently been connected to a forged prescription, a fake medical consultation, and a doctor who had disappeared overnight.
I couldn't make the pieces fit.
The waiting area was behind another security door.
Two hospital guards stood outside.
One looked at Dorian.
“Mr. Cross.””
“Where is she?””
“Room three.””
“Alone?””
“No.””
Dorian stopped.
“Who else is inside?””
The guard exchanged a glance with his partner.
“A woman from hospital administration.””
Dorian's eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
“She requested privacy.””
“That's not an answer.””
I touched his arm.
“Let’s just go in.””
He looked at me.
“Stay behind me.””
“I’m not hiding behind you.””
“Alina.””
“I’m pregnant, not helpless.””
Something flickered across his face.
Then he nodded.
“Fine.””
The door opened.
The woman from the photograph stood beside the window.
She was younger than I expected.
Maybe thirty.
Pale skin.
Dark hair pulled into a loose knot.
Her coat was soaked from the rain.
She looked at me.
Not Dorian.
Me.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Alina.””
I froze.
“How do you know my name?””
She swallowed.
“Because Adrian told me everything.””
Dorian stepped between us.
“Who are you?””
She looked at him.
Her expression changed from fear to something colder.
“You really don't remember me?””
“No.””
“My name is Mara Vale.””
My stomach dropped.
“Vale?””
She nodded.
“Adrian's sister.””
Dorian's face remained expressionless.
But his voice became dangerously quiet.
“Where is your brother?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why did you come here?””
“To stop you from taking Alina home.””
Dorian took another step.
“Explain.””
Mara looked at me.
“Three months ago, Adrian started asking questions about your medical history.””
“Why?””
“Because someone paid him to alter it.””
My skin prickled.
“Who?””
“He never told me.””
“You're his sister.””
“He stopped trusting everyone.””
Dorian's eyes narrowed.
“What did he alter?””
Mara reached into her coat.
Dorian immediately shifted forward.
She slowly pulled out an envelope.
“I found this in Adrian's apartment.””
She handed it to me.
My name was written across the front.
ALINA CROSS.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
*If Alina discovers she's pregnant, do not let Dorian take her to the Cross residence.*
I looked up.
“Why?””
Mara shook her head.
“Keep reading.””
I did.
*The person who ordered the medical changes knows the pregnancy exists.*
My breath caught.
Dorian reached for the paper.
I handed it to him.
He read it once.
Then again.
“Who ordered the changes?”” I asked.
Mara's eyes moved toward him.
“That’s what Adrian was trying to find out.””
Dorian looked at her.
“Did he leave anything else?””
“Yes.””
“What?””
“A recording.””
My heart began pounding.
“Where?””
“I have it.””
Dorian extended his hand.
“Give it to me.””
Mara didn't move.
“No.””
His eyes hardened.
“Excuse me?””
“I'll give it to Alina.””
“You're speaking to her husband.””
“I know exactly who I'm speaking to.””
I looked at Mara.
“Play it.””
She pulled out her phone.
A recording began.
Static.
Then Adrian's voice.
“If you're hearing this, Mara, something went wrong.””
My blood ran cold.
“Do not trust the medical records.””
Adrian sounded exhausted.
“They aren't mistakes. Someone is deliberately changing Alina's history.””
A pause.
Then he said something that made Dorian's face turn rigid.
“The pregnancy wasn't accidental.””
I stared at the phone.
“What does that mean?””
Adrian continued.
“They wanted Alina pregnant.””
Dorian grabbed the phone.
The recording cut out.
“Where is the rest?””
Mara stared at him.
“There is no rest.””
“That's a lie.””
“No. Someone destroyed the file.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
Dorian turned toward me.
“Alina, we're leaving.””
“No.””
He stopped.
I held the envelope against my chest.
“You heard him.””
“I heard a recording.””
“He said someone wanted me pregnant.””
“And we need to get you somewhere secure.””
“Where?””
“Our house.””
Mara's face changed.
“Don't.””
Dorian turned.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
“Yes, I do.””
She stepped closer.
“Because Adrian found something inside your house.””
Dorian went completely still.
“What?””
Mara looked at me.
“A hidden room.””
The silence that followed felt enormous.
I looked at Dorian.
“Our house doesn't have a hidden room.””
Mara whispered, “It does.””
Dorian's phone rang.
Noah.
He answered.
“What?””
Noah's voice was faint through the speaker.
“Sir, we've got a problem.””
Dorian's eyes narrowed.
“Talk.””
“We checked the residence.””
“And?””
“Someone has been inside.””
“Who?””
“We don't know.””
“Anything missing?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
A pause.
“Something was added.””
Dorian's gaze shifted toward me.
“What?””
Noah breathed out.
“A camera.””
My blood ran cold.
“Where?””
“In Mrs. Cross's bedroom.””
The phone nearly slipped from my hand.
Dorian's expression changed.
“Get everyone out of the house.””
“Already done.””
“Search every room.””
“We are.””
Another pause.
Then Noah said quietly,
“Sir, there's one more thing.””
“What?””
“We found a locked door behind the wall in your bedroom.””
Mara whispered, “I told you.””
Dorian looked at me.
And for the first time, I realized he wasn't taking me home because he wanted to protect me.
He was taking me home because he needed to know what someone had hidden there.
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Alina—”
“I’m not going anywhere near that house.””
Dorian stepped toward me.
“Then where do you want to go?””
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.
Another unknown number.
Another photograph.
This one wasn't of the woman outside my apartment.
It was a photograph of me.
Sleeping.
In my bedroom.
Taken from the corner of the ceiling.
May you like
Under it were six words:
*YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO WAKE UP.*
