Ella was in the middle of folding laundry when her phone buzzed on the table. She ignored it at first, focused on getting the last shirt neatly stacked. But then it buzzed again, and again.
Frowning, she grabbed the phone. The number on the screen was unfamiliar.
Her chest tightened as she hesitated. Something about it didn't feel right. Against her better judgment, she answered.
"Hello?"
There was a pause, followed by a deep, steady voice. "Ella, it's Henry Calloway."
Ella froze, the laundry slipping from her hands. Damien's father never called her directly.
"What... what is it?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"There's been an accident," Henry said bluntly. "Damien was hit by a car last night. He's in the hospital."
Ella's heart sank. "What? Is he... is he okay?"
"He's stable," Henry replied, though his tone carried a weight that made her stomach twist. "He's asking for you."
Her breath caught. "He... he is?"
"Yes. I thought you should know."
Before Ella could say anything else, the line went dead. She stared at the phone, her hands trembling.
She didn't waste another second. Grabbing her bag and jacket, she bolted out the door, barely pausing to tell Lily where she was going.
The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity. Her mind raced with questions and fears, each one worse than the last.
When she finally arrived, the sight of the sterile white building made her heart pound harder. She hurried inside, scanning the directory before rushing to the floor Henry had mentioned.
As she rounded the corner, she spotted Henry standing outside a room, his arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but when he saw her, he straightened.
"You made it," he said.
"Where is he?" Ella asked, her voice trembling.
Henry gestured to the door. "In there. He hasn't woken up yet, but he'll be fine. He's tougher than he looks."
Ella didn't wait for more reassurance. She pushed past him and stepped into the room.
Damien lay on the hospital bed, his face pale, a bandage wrapped around his leg. The sight of him like this sent a pang through her chest.
Slowly, she approached, her hands clutching the edge of the bed. "Damien…" she whispered, her voice breaking.
He didn't stir, the steady beep of the monitors the only sound in the room.
Ella sat down beside him, tears brimming in her eyes. "You idiot. What were you thinking?"
She reached out, her fingers brushing against his hand. "You can't leave me like this, Damien. Not now. Not after everything."
But there was no response, just the steady rhythm of the machines, as if the world was holding its breath.
Ella kept her gaze on Damien, her hand lightly brushing his as she whispered softly, "You're going to be fine. I know you will."
The sound of the door opening behind her made her glance up. Henry Calloway stepped inside, his face a mix of guilt and unease. He cleared his throat, drawing Ella's attention fully.
"Ella," he began, his voice unusually soft. "I owe you an apology."
Ella blinked, her hand freezing mid-motion. "For what?"
Henry hesitated, his gaze dropping briefly before meeting hers. "For my behavior. The night at the estate… I crossed a line, and I was wrong. You didn't deserve that. You've proven yourself more than capable of standing beside Damien, and I deeply regret my actions."
Ella stared at him, her heart racing. For a moment, she considered lashing out, letting him know just how much he'd hurt her. But then she glanced back at Damien, still unconscious, and an idea clicked.
She straightened her shoulders, wiping at her eyes as she gave Henry a soft smile. "It's fine, Mr. Calloway. What matters now is Damien. I just want my husband to recover. He means everything to me."
Her voice trembled just enough to sound convincing, and she saw the guilt deepen in Henry's expression.
"You're a strong woman, Ella," Henry said, nodding. "Damien is lucky to have you. I hope you'll forgive me one day."
Ella forced a gracious smile. "Of course. Let's focus on Damien."
Before Henry could respond, the door opened again, and a doctor stepped in, his white coat crisp and his expression serious. He looked at Ella and gestured toward the hallway.
"Mrs. Calloway," he said politely, "could I have a word with you?"
Ella nodded, her heart sinking. She cast one last glance at Damien before following the doctor out into the corridor.
"What is it, doctor?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The doctor's face was calm but professional. "Mr. Calloway is stable, but there's something you should know…"
Ella's breath caught, and she braced herself for whatever was coming out from the doctors mouth.
The doctor led Ella a few steps down the corridor, away from the room where Henry could overhear. His expression was calm but laced with an air of seriousness that made her heart race.
"Mrs. Calloway," he began, his tone gentle but firm, "your husband's injuries aren't life-threatening, but he suffered significant trauma to his leg. There's a fracture, and we've had to stabilize it. With time and physical therapy, he should recover fully."
Ella let out a shaky breath of relief. "Thank God," she murmured, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
The doctor hesitated before continuing. "However, there's another concern. When we conducted his initial scans, we found evidence of severe stress. His blood pressure was unusually high, and it's clear he's been under immense strain recently. Has he mentioned anything about ongoing personal or professional pressure?"
Ella blinked, unsure how to answer. Damien had always been composed, almost cold at times, never revealing anything beyond his carefully constructed exterior.
"I… I don't know," she admitted softly. "He doesn't talk about those things with me."
The doctor nodded, his expression understanding. "I see. Well, it's crucial he avoids unnecessary stress during his recovery. His body needs rest, and his mind does too. If he continues like this, it could lead to more serious complications down the line."
Ella nodded slowly, the weight of the situation settling on her shoulders. "I'll make sure he takes it easy," she said, though the words felt hollow. Convincing Damien to slow down would be a battle of its own.
The doctor gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Good. I'll check on him again in a few hours. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
As the doctor walked away, Ella leaned against the wall, her mind spinning. Damien was always so controlled, so in charge. She couldn't imagine him letting anything break him down, yet here he was—injured, stressed, and vulnerable.
Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and walked back into the room.
Henry glanced up as she entered, his brow furrowed with concern. "What did the doctor say?"
Ella gave him a reassuring smile, masking her own worries. "He's going to be fine. Just needs rest and therapy for his leg."
Henry nodded, relief washing over his face. "Good. That's good."
Ella moved back to Damien's side, sitting down and taking his hand in hers again. She gazed at his peaceful face, her mind replaying the doctor's words.
"Rest, Damien," she whispered. "You've carried enough on your shoulders. Just rest."
But as she sat there, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw another unknown number. Her heart skipped a beat as she debated answering it.
Finally, she pressed the button. "Hello?"