Chereads / Fight for Control / Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Confessions and Tragedy

Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Confessions and Tragedy

The air in the office was heavy with anticipation. Dana paced back and forth, her mind racing. She had been avoiding it for days, but she knew it was time. It was time to tell Melanie the truth.

The past few days had been a whirlwind. The kiss with Steven had thrown her completely off balance. There was a part of her that couldn't deny the spark, the connection, but then there was that other part—the part that still couldn't escape the reality that Steven had been obsessed with Melanie for months. His actions had made her question where she stood in his life.

But one thing was clear now. She couldn't hide her feelings anymore. It was time to confront them, even if it meant putting everything on the line.

Melanie was sitting at her desk, flipping through some documents when Dana knocked lightly on the doorframe.

"Hey, Mel. Can we talk?" Dana's voice was quiet but filled with an undeniable urgency.

Melanie looked up, her eyes warm. "Of course. What's going on?"

Dana took a deep breath and walked into the room, her heart pounding in her chest. "I've been meaning to tell you something… something I've been keeping inside for a while now," Dana began, her voice wavering slightly.

Melanie raised an eyebrow, her expression curious. "What is it?"

Dana swallowed, trying to calm the rush of emotions that surged within her. "I… I don't know how to say this, but I've developed feelings for someone," she confessed, her gaze dropping to the floor.

Melanie's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh? Who is it?"

Dana hesitated, her heart racing as she glanced up at Melanie. She knew this was going to be difficult, but there was no turning back now. "It's Steven."

There, she said it. The words hung in the air between them, heavier than Dana had anticipated. Melanie's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. She sat back in her chair, her lips parted as if trying to process the confession.

"Steven?" Melanie repeated, her voice soft. "But… I thought you were upset with him."

Dana nodded, the weight of her own feelings hitting her all at once. "I was. But I don't know, Mel. Something changed. I started seeing him in a different light, and before I knew it, I was caught up in it all. But I'm not sure he feels the same way. He's been so focused on you, and… well, I just had to tell you."

Melanie's eyes softened, a gentle smile pulling at the corners of her lips. "You've always been there for him, Dana. I can see how much you care about him."

Dana let out a shaky breath. "I do care about him. But it's complicated. I don't know where I stand with him anymore. He's been so obsessed with you, and I don't know if I can keep being there for him when he doesn't even see me."

Melanie reached out and placed a hand on Dana's shoulder, offering a comforting squeeze. "I understand. But you need to know something—you're not just some sidekick to him. You've always been a big part of his life. Don't sell yourself short."

Dana smiled faintly, grateful for Melanie's support, but there was still a gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.

As the conversation continued, a soft ping from Dana's phone interrupted the moment. She glanced down and saw a message from an unknown number. Her heart skipped a beat when she read the text: "I know what you've been up to. You should stay away from Steven, or else..."

A chill ran down Dana's spine. Who could this be? And what did they mean by "stay away from Steven"? Her hand trembled as she typed a quick response, but the message didn't go through. The screen flickered, and the message disappeared.

"Mel, I think something's going on," Dana said, her voice shaking as she looked at the phone. "I just got a strange message."

Before Melanie could react, the lights in the office flickered, and a loud crash echoed from down the hall. Dana's heart raced as she grabbed Melanie's arm. "What was that?"

The building suddenly seemed to tremble, and the air grew thick with tension. Without warning, the fire alarm blared, causing everyone in the office to spring into action. People were running, shouting, and panic spread like wildfire.

"Stay close to me!" Melanie yelled as she grabbed Dana's hand and pulled her toward the emergency exit. But as they rounded the corner, Dana's foot caught on a loose cable, sending her sprawling to the floor with a painful thud.

"Dana!" Melanie shouted, kneeling beside her.

But Dana was disoriented, her vision blurry as the world around her seemed to spin. She tried to stand, but her head felt heavy, her legs weak. Something wasn't right. She struggled to stay conscious as the sounds of chaos filled the air. The last thing she saw before everything went black was Melanie's face, filled with concern.

---

Steven had been pacing around the office, trying to focus on the work at hand. But his mind kept drifting to Dana. He hadn't seen her much today, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. When the alarm went off, his heart raced. Something told him this wasn't just a random accident.

He rushed toward the exit, trying to get to the source of the noise when he saw Melanie running out of the building, her face pale with fear.

"Mel, what's going on?" Steven asked, panic creeping into his voice.

"It's Dana," Melanie said, breathless. "She… she fell. I don't know what happened. She's not waking up."

Steven's stomach dropped. "What? Where is she?"

Melanie's eyes were filled with tears as she pointed down the hallway. "She's being taken to the hospital now."

Steven didn't hesitate. He sprinted past Melanie, his heart pounding in his chest as he made his way to the hospital. Every step felt like it took him further from sanity. What if something had happened to her? What if he'd waited too long?

When he arrived at the hospital, he barely registered the nurses as he rushed through the halls. He found Dana's room and pushed open the door, only to find her lying unconscious in the bed, hooked up to machines.

His breath caught in his throat. Dana wasn't just someone he'd been obsessed with; she was someone who had been there for him through everything. And now, seeing her like this, it hit him hard. He hadn't realized until now that he'd been chasing after the wrong thing all along.

His feelings for Melanie had always been rooted in frustration and a need to prove something. But now, standing here in front of Dana, Steven realized that he had been ignoring the one person who had always had his back.

He leaned down and gently took Dana's hand, the weight of his feelings pressing on him more than he ever expected.

"I'm sorry, Dana," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I should've seen this sooner."

He didn't know if Dana would ever hear him, but in that moment, he knew one thing for sure—he wasn't going to let her go.