"Oh my God! Help! Where am I? Why does it smell like medicine? What's happening to me? Wait, someone help! There's someone dead here! HELP!" Panic surged through me as I woke up in hospital pajamas, an IV line attached to my arm, and a man lying on the floor, clutching my hand.
My heart pounded wildly, every possible fear making my head spin. What had happened? What was going on?
Click! The door opened, and a nurse and doctor entered. Relief washed over me. "Doctor, doctor! Help him, he's—" I pointed shakily at the figure on the floor.
"Miss, calm down. Please lie back; we will handle this." The nurse's calm voice reassured me somewhat.
"But doctor, I didn't hurt him, I didn't do anything! I'm so confused. Why am I here? What happened?" I bombarded the doctor with questions, feeling utterly bewildered. He remained calm, examining the man who had now been laid on a couch. I watched as the doctor unbuttoned the man's shirt and checked him with a stethoscope. Moments later, the man regained consciousness. He was alive, and I let out a sigh of relief, clutching my chest. Why have there been so many frightening incidents lately?
"Don't forget to take your medication, sir. Where is your assistant? He should be responsible for reminding you about your schedule," the doctor scolded him. I glanced at the man. His stern face, his sharp eyes, his neatly styled hair. He looked ten or fifteen years older than me, well-off and professional, like any businessman.
"This time it's my fault. Let me take my medicine first," he said, swallowing a few pills. Then he turned towards me. Our eyes met for a few seconds, long enough to make my heart race. Quickly, I looked away, fussing with my disheveled hair.
"How is she, doctor?" he asked about me.
"Her condition is improving. She had a panic attack and anxiety."
Huh? I pointed at myself, confused. So, I had a panic attack and anxiety? I didn't understand it, but what the doctor said made sense. The panic attack from everything that had happened to me and the anxiety about living on the streets.
"Alright, doctor. Can she go home?"
"Yes, I visited to confirm the final results." The doctor came over to examine me thoroughly, with the nurse meticulously noting down every detail of my condition. Meanwhile, my eyes remained suspicious and curious about the man standing behind. He looked concerned about me, I smiled and looked at how his eyes widened and narrowed at the words from the doctor.
"Alright, everything looks good. I'll leave you now," the doctor said before leaving the room.
I watched the doctor's back disappear and felt awkward, realizing we were alone. I wasn't used to talking to strangers, and it made me nervous.
He approached me, leaning in so close that our faces were inches apart. Instinctively, I moved back, unable to meet his gaze. "So, young lady, do you remember me?"
"Hm? Remember you? Have we met before, uncle?"
I saw a flicker of surprise on his face. "Uncle? That's a confusing call. Can you call me Evan? I don't think I'm old enough to be your uncle."
"Oh, sorry. It's just that your clothes and hairstyle remind me of my father. Oops, sorry, I didn't mean to say you look old. I mean, you look mature." Ugh, what was I saying? His expression made it clear he wasn't pleased with my awkward comments. "Alright, um, Evan! Hem."
His face remained stern and cold. I had definitely messed up.
"Alright, so what's your name?"
"Lucia! My name is Lucia."
"Okay, let's pack up."
"Pack up? What do you mean?"
"You're well enough to go home. The doctor said you can leave."
I froze. Go home? But I had no place to go.
"I'll take you home. So, you're Mr. Anderson's daughter."
"What!" I was shocked that he knew my father. "You know my father?"
"Yes, the tycoon, Mr. Anderson. Who doesn't know him?"
"Yeah, I know, he's quite famous in this city. Which makes things even harder." I muttered to myself.
"What do you mean? Are you having trouble?" he asked, but I just shook my head and pouted. "In that case, I'll take you home."
"Don't pout!" He said it confused me.
~~~~
Just yesterday, I was kicked out of this luxurious house, and today, I was being driven back by this strange uncle.
"Why are you just standing there? Go inside your house," he said casually, not noticing my somber expression. If I went inside, Miranda—the blonde, and Emily would throw things at me, and my father? He would just kick me out again. How could I explain this to him?
"Alright." He got out of the car and opened the door for me. "Get out, I'll walk you to your house."
I had no choice but to follow him, stepping out of the latest model Maybach. My feet felt heavy as I walked alongside him.
"Lucia! It's really you!" That voice! "What are you doing here? Didn't Mr. Anderson tell you to leave, to stay away from this family?"
We turned around to see a handsome face that once made me foolish. It was Adrian, my childhood friend and my arranged fiancé. "Why are you back, and look at you, Lucia, returning with another man! You're disgraceful."
"Adrian!" I covered his mouth with my hand, begging him to stop spouting nonsense about me. "Get your hand off my mouth! Ugh, look at your taste in men this time, huh?"
I rubbed my forehead, seeing Adrian's intimidating glare at Evan. "I'm sorry, sir. He's just a bothersome young man with no principles," I whispered to Evan.
"Lucia, you disappoint me. You betrayed me. You spent the night at Horizon Hotel with another man, and now you bring another one here. How cheap can you be, Lucia! You're filthy! Disgusting!"
Hearing Adrian's accusations, I furrowed my brow. "What are you talking about? Did I spend the night at Horizon Hotel? What are you saying, Adrian?"
"Don't play the victim, Lucia! You were with another man at Horizon Hotel! I saw the video! Someone sold the footage, you're truly disgraceful, Lucia!"
"What!" I trembled at Adrian's accusation. He used to be kind and pleasant, but now he hates me. Could it be related to this accusation? "Adrian, you have to explain to me!"
Adrian turned away, seeming disgusted by me. "You can see the video online. They're selling it there."
"What!" I opened the browser on my phone, trembling, and sure enough, what Adrian said was true. The title read: "Oil Tycoon's Daughter in Horizon Hotel Room." "Oh my God! This can't be!"
~~~
At the same time, Evan looked at the site and was 1000% sure it was the video of their night.