Chapter 42

"Then why isn't she answering my texts?"

"Clifford took her phone. Look, just stop worrying and stay put. I've got things to do." "Wait, Killian-"

Killian hung up. He scrolled to Clifford's number and hesitated, but ultimately didn't make the call. He had no right to question Clifford, especially since he'd been the one trespassing.

After waiting for about half an hour, Latisha was wheeled out of the operating room.

Killian rushed over. "How is she?"

"She passed out from an arrhythmia," the doctor explained. "It's a good thing you got her here when you did. What happened to her?"

Killian couldn't explain the situation. “Is the baby okay?" he asked instead.

"The baby's fine, but the pregnancy was put under a lot of strain. She needs to rest and recover. Next time, don't let a pregnant woman engage in such stressful activities."

Killian managed a bitter smile and nodded. It was all Clifford's doing, yet the doctor was looking at him like he was the villain.

...

Meanwhile, at his office, Clifford received the notifications from his front door security system—the doorbell, then the password entry. He glanced at them once before tossing his phone aside.

Ziven knocked and entered. Seeing that Yesenia wasn't there, he breathed a small sigh of relief and handed a file to Clifford.

"Mr. Lambert, we've figured it out. Those countries are claiming our shipments have safety issues, so they're restricting customs clearance..."

As Ziven spoke, he noticed Clifford staring blankly at his computer, clearly not listening.

"Mr. Lambert?"

Clifford snapped back to attention. “Hm?"

Then, as if remembering something, he said, "Never mind. Don't go."

Ziven paused, realizing Clifford was referring to his earlier instruction to check on the villa. “Understood, sir. Did you want to look over this file?"

"Just leave it." Clifford leaned back in his chair and casually lit a cigarette.

Ziven frowned. He could tell Clifford was off his game today; he never smoked in the office. He wondered if it was because he'd spent all night looking for Latisha.

"Mr. Lambert,” Ziven ventured, "perhaps you should go home and get some rest?”

Clifford shot him a look, smoke curling around his fingers. He turned his gaze away, slid his chair back, and leaned his head against the backrest, closing his eyes. “You can go."

Ziven placed the file on the desk and left.

"So, with Yesenia gone, Mr. Lambert has no motivation to work," he thought to himself. He really couldn't understand what was so captivating about that woman.

Back at the hospital, Latisha slowly regained consciousness. She stared at the white ceiling for a moment before a sudden memory made her sit bol upright. She frantically felt her stomach and sensing nothing wrong, let out a breath of relief.

She had no idea how she'd ended up here. Had Clifford let her out? The image of his cold, merciless face as he locked her in the storeroom flashed through her mind. He had been a stranger to her in that moment.

Not wanting to stay, she threw back the covers and got out of bed. Just as she was wondering how to get home, she ran into Killian, who was returning with the payment receipts.

"What are you doing out of bed?" he asked, surprised.

Latisha checked her pockets. Her phone must still be at the villa. She tried to use sign language, but Killian couldn't understand. He could only guess. "Are you trying to go home?"

She had been asking how she got to the hospital, but it didn't matter. He wouldn't understand anyway.

She nodded.

Killian glanced at the admission forms in his hand and sighed. "Alright. I'll take you back."

He pocketed the papers and drove

her to the villa. But as they pulled up, they both saw the Bentley parked out front the engine was still running, its taillights glowing in the dim light, as if waiting for someone.

Killian's expression soured.

It was Clifford's car.