The night was dark, the road stretching endlessly ahead of him as the lights of the city faded into the distance. John Blake, heir to the Blake family business empire, was driving his sleek, black sedan with one hand on the wheel and the other holding his phone to his ear. His mother's voice echoed through the car's Bluetooth speakers, filled with both concern and exasperation.
"John, you're thirty-two years old and still single! How do you expect to run the family business if you can't even settle down?"
John sighed, trying to keep his frustration in check. "Mom, I'm focused on work right now. I don't have time for a relationship."
"You always say that," she countered. "But what about when your father and I are gone? You need someone by your side, someone you can trust."
John rolled his eyes, glancing at the dashboard clock. It was past midnight, and the last thing he wanted was another lecture. "Mom, I'm perfectly capable of handling things on my own. Besides, I haven't met the right person yet."
"Well, maybe if you weren't always working, you'd have a chance to meet someone!" she retorted. "You need to make an effort, John. Promise me you'll at least try."
"Fine, Mom. I'll try," he said, hoping to end the conversation. "But right now, I need to focus on the road. We'll talk about this later, okay?"
"Alright," she relented, though her tone suggested she wasn't convinced. "Just promise me you'll think about it."
"I will, Mom. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, John."
With a sigh of relief, John ended the call and tossed his phone onto the passenger seat. The quiet hum of the car's engine was a welcome change from the heated discussion. He took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind.
The road ahead was deserted, the only light coming from his headlights cutting through the darkness. He was miles from the city, and the surrounding countryside was eerily quiet. It was a long drive home, and he was looking forward to getting some rest.
Just as he was settling back into the drive, a sudden movement caught his eye. A figure darted across the road, appearing out of nowhere. John's heart raced as he slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching against the asphalt. The car came to a jolting stop, inches away from the figure now crumpled on the road.
For a moment, John sat frozen in shock, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. Then, adrenaline kicked in, and he threw open the car door, rushing to the figure's side. It was a woman, her clothes torn and stained with blood. She was barely conscious, her breathing shallow.
"Oh my God," John muttered, panic rising in his chest. He reached for his phone, dialing 911 with shaking hands.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"I-I just almost hit a woman with my car. She's badly injured and bleeding. We're on Route 32, about ten miles out of the city. Please, send an ambulance quickly!"
"Sir, the nearest ambulance is about twenty minutes away. Can you transport her to the hospital yourself?"
John glanced at the woman, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. He didn't have a choice. "Yes, I can. I'll drive her there right now."
"Thank you, sir. Drive carefully, and we'll alert the hospital that you're on your way."
John ended the call and gently lifted the woman into his arms. She was surprisingly light, her body limp and unresponsive. He placed her in the backseat, using his jacket to staunch the bleeding as best he could.
"Hang on," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I'm taking you to the hospital. Just hang on."
The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity, every second filled with worry and fear. John kept glancing in the rearview mirror, watching the woman's fragile form. Her breathing was uneven, and he silently prayed that she would make it.
When they finally arrived at the emergency room, John jumped out of the car and shouted for help. Nurses and doctors rushed out with a gurney, quickly transferring the woman and wheeling her inside.
"Are you her fiancé?" one of the nurses asked, noticing the ring on John's finger that matched the one the woman was wearing.
"What? No, I just found her on the road," John stammered, bewildered. "I don't know her."
The nurse frowned but nodded. "Alright. We need to get her into surgery immediately. Please wait here, and we'll update you on her condition."
John watched as they disappeared through the doors, his mind racing. He sank into a chair in the waiting area, running a hand through his hair. How had this happened? And who was this woman?
As the minutes ticked by, John tried to piece together what little he knew. The nurse's assumption about their relationship nagged at him. How could they have the same ring?
Lost in thought, he barely noticed when a police officer approached him. "Mr. Carter?"
"Yes?" John looked up, his eyes tired and filled with confusion.
"I'm Officer Martinez. I understand you were the one who brought the injured woman in?"
"Yes, that's right. I almost hit her with my car. She came out of nowhere."
"Can you tell me what happened?"
John recounted the events as best he could, from the moment he saw her on the road to the frantic drive to the hospital. Officer Martinez listened carefully, taking notes.
"Thank you, Mr. Carter. We'll need you to stay here until we can get more information. Given the circumstances, you'll be responsible for her until she wakes up."
"What? But I don't even know her!" John protested.
"I understand, but until we can determine her identity and next of kin, she's your responsibility. Please cooperate with the hospital staff."
John nodded reluctantly, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. He had no idea who this woman was or why she had been on that road, but for now, she was his charge. All he could do was hope she would wake up soon and provide some answers.
As he settled back into the uncomfortable waiting room chair, John couldn't help but wonder how his life had taken such a sudden and unexpected turn. Little did he know, this was only the beginning of a journey that would change everything.