That afternoon, Kelvin called Nathan, and as Nathan picked up, he greeted him warmly, "Hey Kelvin, how have you been?"
Kelvin replied cheerfully, "I'm good, and you?"
They spent a few minutes catching up, talking about Kelvin's life in Australia, and sharing some lighthearted banter. But as the conversation shifted, Kelvin asked, "How are things going between you and Mom?"
Nathan paused, unable to find an answer, and Kelvin quickly interjected, "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. But, Nathan, I need you to investigate what happened in the past before it's too late."
Nathan sighed and replied, "Alright, I'll think about it. I'll call you later."
Switching topics, Nathan turned to his secretary, Thomas, and asked, "Is everything ready for the meeting?"
Thomas nodded, "Yes, sir. Everything is set."
Later that evening, Elena and Mia left the café after a long day. They walked together, chatting about their workday while Mia playfully teased Elena. As they strolled down the street, Mia suddenly stopped and said, "Wait! I think I left my phone in the café. You go ahead, and I'll catch up with you."
Elena smiled, "Alright, but don't take too long."
Mia rushed back to retrieve her phone, leaving Elena to walk alone. A few minutes later, Elena noticed two men following her. Her heart began racing as she quickened her pace, but the men continued to trail her.
Panicking, she called Mia, but Mia was still in the café searching for her phone and didn't pick up. Desperate, Elena called Nathan, but he was still in the middle of his board meeting and didn't see the call.
Finally, Mia found her phone and noticed the missed call from Elena. She quickly called back, and Elena answered with a shaky voice, "Mia, where are you?"
Mia, sensing the panic in her friend's voice, replied, "I'm on my way. What's wrong?"
Elena whispered, "I think two men are following me. Please, come quickly!"
Mia reassured her, "Don't move! I'm coming!"
But before Mia could reach her, Elena turned to look back at the men and didn't see the car speeding toward her. The car struck her, and she fell to the ground, hitting her head hard on the pavement. Blood quickly pooled around her as she lay unconscious.
When Mia arrived moments later, she screamed in horror, "Elena!"
She rushed to her friend's side, cradling her head in her hands. "Elena, stay with me, please!" she cried, her voice breaking as Elena faded in and out of consciousness. Mia called an ambulance, which arrived quickly and rushed Elena to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Nathan had just finished his board meeting. Checking his phone, he saw Elena's missed call. Concerned, he tried calling her back, but there was no response. Worried, he told Thomas, "Get the car ready. I need to check on Elena."
When they arrived at the café, Nathan instructed Thomas to go inside and look for her. Thomas asked one of the staff about Elena, who replied, "She left a while ago."
Thomas returned to Nathan and said, "She's not here."
Nathan, growing more worried, ordered the driver to head to Elena's house. On the way, his phone rang. Seeing Elena's number, he quickly answered, "Elena! Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you!"
But it was Mia's voice on the other end, trembling with emotion. "This isn't Elena… it's Mia."
Nathan's heart sank. "Mia? What's going on? Where's Elena?"
Mia burst into tears. "She's… she's in the hospital."
Nathan's blood ran cold. "What happened? Which hospital?"
Through her sobs, Mia explained everything. Nathan immediately told the driver to head to the hospital.
When Nathan arrived, he and Thomas rushed to the reception desk. Nathan demanded, "Where is Elena Smith?"
Before the nurse could respond, Dr. Liam, a familiar face, approached him. "Mr. Reed, can we talk in my office?"
Nathan followed Dr. Liam, his heart pounding with worry. In the doctor's office, Nathan wasted no time. "How is she? Is she going to be okay?"
Dr. Liam took a deep breath. "She's stable for now, but her condition is critical. She sustained a severe head injury, and there's internal bleeding. We've stopped the bleeding, but she's unconscious, and we'll need to monitor her closely for the next 24 hours."
Nathan's legs felt weak, and he slumped into the chair across from the doctor. "Will she wake up?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Dr. Liam placed a reassuring hand on Nathan's shoulder. "We're doing everything we can. She's strong, Mr. Reed. We'll let you know as soon as there's any change."
Nathan nodded, his mind racing with worry and guilt. As he left the office, he saw Mia waiting outside, her face pale with fear. She stood and walked toward him.
"How is she?" Mia asked, her voice trembling.
Nathan put a hand on her shoulder. "She's stable, but it's serious. We have to wait."
Together, they sat in the waiting room, holding on to hope for Elena's recovery.
That night, Nathan gently urged Mia to go home and get some rest. "You've been here for hours, Mia. Go home, and get some sleep. I'll stay here until Elena wakes up."
Mia hesitated for a moment, looking at the pale and fragile figure of her best friend lying on the hospital bed. She finally nodded. "Alright, Nathan, but you let me know if there's any change. Promise me."
Nathan smiled reassuringly. "I promise. I'll call you as soon as there's any update."
With one last glance at Elena, Mia reluctantly left the hospital, leaving Nathan alone in the quiet room. The soft hum of the machines monitoring Elena's vitals filled the air as Nathan settled into the chair beside her bed. He watched her intently, his heart heavy yet hopeful.
The next morning, as sunlight streamed softly through the blinds, Nathan noticed Elena stirring. Her fingers twitched slightly, and her eyelids fluttered open. Nathan quickly leaned forward, his eyes lighting up with relief.
"Elena," he called softly, his voice filled with warmth.
Her gaze shifted to him, her expression confused. "Nathan? What… What am I doing here?" Her voice was weak, barely a whisper.
Nathan's lips curved into a gentle smile. "I'm right here. You're in the hospital, but everything's okay now."
Elena blinked, her memory hazy. "What happened to me?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly as her eyes searched his face for answers.
Nathan reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "That's not what we should focus on right now," he said softly. "What's important is that you rest and recover. Don't worry about anything else."
Just then, the door opened, and Dr. Liam walked in with a clipboard in hand. Nathan immediately stepped aside to give the doctor space. "Elena," Dr. Liam said gently, "How are you feeling this morning?"
"A little tired," Elena replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"That's to be expected," Dr. Liam said kindly. "Let me take a quick look to make sure everything's okay."
Nathan watched silently as Dr. Liam conducted a brief check-up. The doctor's calm demeanor reassured him. After finishing the examination, Dr. Liam turned to Nathan and said, "Could I speak to you privately for a moment?"
Nathan nodded and followed the doctor out of the room. Once they were inside Dr. Liam's office, the doctor gestured for Nathan to take a seat.
"Mr. Reed," Dr. Liam began, his tone professional but caring, "Elena is making good progress. She's stable, and her vitals are improving. However, her body hasn't fully recovered yet. She's still weak and will need someone to stay by her side once she's discharged."
Nathan's brow furrowed with concern. "How long will it take for her to fully recover?"
Dr. Liam leaned back in his chair. "That depends on how well she takes care of herself in the coming weeks. She needs plenty of rest, proper nutrition, and emotional support. You mentioned you're close to her?"
Nathan nodded without hesitation. "Yes, I'll make sure she has everything she needs."
The doctor smiled approvingly. "Good. She's lucky to have someone like you looking out for her. If everything goes as planned, she'll be discharged tomorrow."
Nathan let out a breath of relief. "Thank you, Dr. Liam."
Dr. Liam extended his hand, and Nathan shook it firmly. "You're welcome, Mr. Reed. Let me know if you have any questions."
As Nathan returned to Elena's room, he paused at the door, watching her from a distance. Even in her weakened state, she still looked beautiful, her strength quietly shining through.
He stepped inside, his resolve firm. He would do everything to help Elena recover and protect her from any harm. She wasn't just a friend—she had become an irreplaceable part of his life.
In the evening, Mia and some of the café staff decided to visit Elena in the hospital. As soon as Mia entered Elena's room and saw her lying in bed, she rushed over with excitement. "Elena!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her tightly in a warm hug.
Elena winced slightly and chuckled. "Mia, you're squeezing me too tight!" she teased.
Mia quickly pulled back, laughing. "Oops! Sorry, I was just so happy to see you awake and doing better!"
One of the staff members, Jackson, stepped forward with a friendly smile. "Hey, Elena. How are you doing?"
Elena smiled back warmly. "I'm getting better, Jackson. Thank you."
Jackson nodded and added, "We've all missed you at the café. It hasn't been the same without you."
Elena's smile grew wider. "I've missed you all too. But don't worry, I'll be back as soon as I'm fully recovered."
The group laughed and began chatting, sharing updates about the café and some funny stories that had happened while Elena was away. The room was soon filled with laughter and warmth, lifting Elena's spirits even further.
Mia couldn't stop smiling as she sat by Elena's side. "You really scared us, you know. But I'm glad you're okay now."
Elena reached out and squeezed Mia's hand. "Thank you, Mia. I'm lucky to have such amazing friends."
The group stayed for a while, making Elena laugh and feel loved before finally saying their goodbyes, promising to visit again soon.