Eleanor's eyes fluttered open, and she was met with a blurry haze. She tried to sit up, but a wave of pain washed over her, making her gasp.
As she fell back against the pillow, Eleanor's vision began to clear. She was in a hospital room, surrounded by the beeping of machines and the sterile smell of antiseptic.
But it was the face leaning over her that made Eleanor's heart skip a beat.
He was smiling at her, his eyes crinkled at the corners. "Hey, sleepyhead," he said, his voice low and soothing. "Welcome back."
Eleanor's mind was foggy, but she remembered the accident. She remembered Ava's car crashing into the lamppost.
But how did Sebastian get here?
"Sebastian?" Eleanor's voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"
Sebastian's smile faltered for a moment, and Eleanor saw a flicker of concern in his eyes. "You've been in an accident, Eleanor," he said gently. "Ava called me. I've been waiting for you to wake up."
Eleanor's memories were starting to come back. She remembered Ava, remembered the conversation they had in the coffee shop.
As Eleanor struggled to sit up again, Sebastian reached out and gently pushed her back against the pillow. "Don't try to move," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "You need to rest."
Just as Eleanor was starting to feel a sense of comfort with Sebastian's presence, the door to her hospital room burst open.
Liam strode in, his face thunderous with anger. "Eleanor, what is going on?" he demanded, not even noticing her condition. "I got a call from Ava saying you've been in an accident? What were you thinking, getting into a car with her?"
Sebastian stood up, his eyes flashing with anger. "Liam, calm down," he said, his voice firm. "Eleanor is injured. She doesn't need you shouting at her right now."
But Liam didn't seem to care. He took a step closer to Eleanor, his eyes blazing with fury. "You're always getting into trouble, Eleanor," he spat. "You're always causing problems. Can't you just do what you're told for once?"
Sebastian stepped forward, his face inches from Liam's. "That's enough, Liam," he growled. "You're not going to talk to her like that, not when she's lying in a hospital bed."
Liam's eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, Eleanor thought he was going to hit Sebastian. But then he seemed to regain control of himself, his expression smoothing out into a cold, calculating mask.
"This doesn't concern you, Sebastian," Liam said, his voice dripping with malice. "This is between me and my wife. So I suggest you stay out of it, before you say something that you'll regret."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed, and Eleanor could see the tension in his body. She knew that he was trying to defend her, but she also knew that Liam was not a man to be underestimated.
Just as it seemed like the argument was going to escalate further, the nurse burst into the room, a look of concern on her face.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt," she said, "but I need to check on my patient. Please, gentlemen, could you take your conversation outside?"
Liam's face twisted with anger, but he seemed to realize that he had no choice. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.
Sebastian turned to Eleanor, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft.
"Don't try to move," he said, his eyes locked on hers. "You need to rest."
Eleanor nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She was grateful for Sebastian's presence, grateful for his kindness.
But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something there that made her heart skip a bit. A hint of concern, a hint of fear.
"What is it, Sebastian?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sebastian hesitated, his eyes darting around the room as if he was checking for eavesdroppers.
"Eleanor, I think someone might be trying to hurt you," he said, his voice low and serious.
Eleanor's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean?" she asked, her mind racing.
Sebastian leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I think it's possible that someone wants you dead. Maybe it's because of your husband's business dealings. Maybe it's because of power, or revenge."
Eleanor felt a chill run down her spine. She had never thought that her life was in danger, but now she wasn't so sure.
"But why?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Sebastian's eyes locked on hers. "I don't know yet, but I'm going to find out. I promise you, Eleanor, I will get to the bottom of this."
Eleanor's head was spinning. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had married a man she hardly knew, and now she was in the middle of a dangerous situation.
Eleanor felt a surge of gratitude towards Sebastian. She knew that she could trust him, knew that he would do everything in his power to keep her safe.
Sebastian quickly turned to leave. "I'll let the nurse take care of you," he said, his eyes lingering on hers for a moment before he turned and walked out of the room.
The nurse smiled and began to check Eleanor's vitals. "Don't worry, dear," she said. "You're safe now. You just rest and let us take care of you."
As the nurse continued to fuss over her, Eleanor couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Sebastian. He had stood up to Liam, defended her when she needed it most.
Meanwhile, outside the hallway, Sebastian had caught up with Liam. They stood facing each other, their eyes locked in a tense stare.
"What do you want, Liam?" Sebastian asked, his voice cold.
Liam sneered at him. "I want to know what you're doing here," he spat. "You think you can just waltz in here and start playing hero?"
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, his expression calm. "I'm just trying to help her, Liam," he said, his voice even.
Liam sneered. "You're not helping her. You're just trying to get in the way. Whatever I'm doing with my wife doesn't concern you."
Sebastian's eyes flashed with anger. "You're not exactly known for your kindness to Eleanor," he spat. "Maybe someone should be looking out for her interests."
Liam's face twisted with rage. "You don't know anything about our marriage," he snarled.
Sebastian smiled, a cold, calculated smile. "Oh, I think I do," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I think I know exactly what you're capable of, Liam."
Liam's eyes widened, and for a moment, Sebastian thought he saw a flicker of fear there.
Liam's smile grew wider. "You're trying to protect her from me," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "But you're too late. I've already taken care of it."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" he demanded.
But Liam just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You'll find out soon enough," he said, before turning and walking away.
Sebastian watched him go, his mind racing with questions. What did he mean by "taken care of it"?