The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)

Rayna sank to her knees beside Ethan, her whole body trembling as she took in the sight of him. Blood seeped from a gash on his forehead, pooling under him, and his arm lay twisted at an unnatural angle. His breathing was shallow, barely there, and her heart clenched in terror.

"Ethan, please... stay with me. Don't leave me"" she whispered, her voice thick with desperation. Her hands fluttered helplessly over him, afraid to touch, afraid to cause more pain, but unable to pull away.

She fumbled for her phone, her fingers shaking so badly it took three tries to unlock it. She dialed emergency services, her voice coming out in gasps as she gave their location, pleading with them to hurry.

Within minutes, the distant sound of sirens filled the air, but each second stretched endlessly, and she felt as though time was slipping away. "Come on, come on.." she murmured, squeezing his hand as if her grip alone could anchor him to life.

Finally, the ambulance pulled up, its lights flashing red and blue across the dark parking lot. Paramedics rushed out, their faces set in focus as they approached, assessing Ethan quickly. Rayna stepped back just enough to give them room, but she couldn't take her eyes off him.

"We'll take him to Ludus General," one of the paramedics informed her, his tone brisk yet kind. "Are you coming with us?"

Rayna nodded, her voice too choked with fear to respond aloud.

As they attended to Ethan, she hurriedly went in to lock her bakery and picked up her purse before joining them in the ambulance. She clutched her purse in one hand and held onto Ethan's hand with the other. As the doors closed, she glanced at his pale face, and her heart twisted painfully.

Once they were on their way, she pulled out her phone again, scrolling down to find Melvin's number. Her fingers hovered over Evelyn's name, but she hesitated, knowing Evelyn was going through her own troubles. With a deep breath, she pressed Melvin's contact instead.

The line rang, and her heart thumped with every ring. Finally, Melvin picked up. "Rayna?" His voice was filled with curiosity as he wondered why she was calling so late at night.

"Melvin... it's Ethan. He-he's been in an accident," she stammered, swallowing the lump in her throat. "We're on our way to the hospital now. Please... meet us there."

The other end of the line went quiet for a second before Melvin's voice came back, steady but laced with concern. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

She hung up, placed her phone back in her bag, and turned her attention back to Ethan. His face was still, his breathing so faint it was almost undetectable. A tear slipped down her cheek as she gripped his hand even tighter. "Please, Ethan... you have to be strong. Don't... don't leave me. Not like this."

The ambulance pulled up to the hospital, and the paramedics wasted no time getting Ethan out on a stretcher. Rayna followed close behind, her heart racing and her legs wobbling with each step.

Inside, a nurse approached her, gently guiding her to a waiting area as they wheeled Ethan through a set of swinging doors and into the emergency room.

It wasn't long before a police officer approached her, a small notepad in hand, his expression gentle but businesslike. "Miss, we'll need a statement from you about the accident."

Rayna nodded, wiping at her cheeks and steadying herself as best as she could. "It was... a car. I didn't see who was driving," she began, her voice shaky. "The car... it looked familiar. I noticed it earlier. It was intentional. The car was aiming for me, but Ethan saved me. I saw it before it happened, but I... I didn't see the driver." The officer nodded, jotting down her words. "Can you describe the car?"

"It was a dark sedan" she murmured, closing her eyes briefly, trying to recall every detail. "And I think... I think the security cameras around might have caught it on video."

The officer gave a reassuring nod. "Thank you. We'll ask around for the footage and come back if we need more information.

Someone will be by to talk to the victim once he's awake."

Rayna nodded, barely registering his words as he walked away.

Left alone, she resumed her pacing, her hands twisting nervously as she glanced toward the ER doors every few seconds, praying they would open with news.

As she paced, her thoughts swirled. Why had Ethan been there?

Wasn't he supposed to have left already for work? Had he come around to make up with her? Why had he risked himself to save her? The questions echoed in her mind, unanswered, leaving her heart heavy with guilt and confusion.

She should have seen the car faster; she should have moved out of the way instead of standing there frozen like a stupid deer. If only she had acted fast, Ethan would not have had to throw himself into harm's path for her. "Ethan, please be fine.." she whispered to herself, a new wave of tears stinging her eyes.

Just then, she heard hurried footsteps, and she turned to see Melvin entering the waiting room. "Rayna!" He hurried over when his eyes landed on her.

"Melvin.." Rayna's voice broke as she tried to explain, fresh tears streaming down her face. "Ethan... he got hurt... because of me.

He... he pushed me out of the way and got hit by the car. He saved me."

Melvin's expression softened, and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Rayna. Ethan will be fine. He's a tough one.

It'll take more than a car to keep him down," he assured her, his voice steady but filled with warmth.

She sniffled, glancing up at him with hopeful eyes. "But... the paramedics said he might have broken his arm. And he... he was bleeding so much..."

Melvin pulled her into a gentle hug, letting her cry into his shoulder as he rubbed her back soothingly. "He's strong. Don't worry, Rayna.

Ethan's tougher than he looks, and he will pull through. I know he will."

Rayna closed her eyes, letting his words sink in, clinging to the hope he offered.

Away from there, Sandra gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white against the leather, her breaths shallow and fast as she parked her car far away from the accident scene but not so far away from her home. She switched off the engine, her fingers trembling as she withdrew the key. Silence engulfed her in the car, but her heart continued to thunder in her chest, each beat a reminder of her foolishness and recklessness. "Stupid," she muttered under her breath, cursing herself for losing control. She clenched her fists, slamming one against the steering wheel in frustration.

Seeing Evelyn and Rayna together, laughing and so carefree in the parking lot, had been the final straw, pushing her beyond reason.

Her hatred for Evelyn had also rubbed off on Rayna, who was beginning to steadily get on her nerves, and this hatred had clouded her mind, made her act without thinking, and now, with the adrenaline wearing off, the gravity of her mistake settled heavily over her. Who was that idiot who stepped in? Sandra mused angrily, thinking of the stranger who'd thrown himself into harm's way for Rayna's safety. She hadn't accounted for a third person and hadn't anticipated anyone being close enough to ruin her plan.

Her stomach twisted as she realized her impulsive act had put her

in serious jeopardy. They would trace the car; it was only a matter of time.

A fresh wave of fury surged through her veins, directed at herself but also at Evelyn. Evelyn was the root of all her problems, the reason her life felt like it was unraveling piece by piece. If Evelyn hadn't shown up after all these years if she had just stayed away and not returned... Sandra seethed, her teeth clenched tightly.

She took a steadying breath, trying to clear her mind. "I have to get home," she whispered to herself. Derek had dropped her off earlier

- her alibi was solid if she played it carefully.

All she needed was to be home, to let the night pass quietly so that by morning, her alibi would hold since she knew her parents heard her when she came in after Derek dropped her off.

She turned her head and checked her surroundings, making sure no one was watching. Then, in one swift movement, she pushed the car door open and stepped out.

She was going to make it look like her car had been stolen, used, and then abandoned. She left the key on the seat, bot wanting to bring any evidence into the house. The cold night air sent a chill down her spine as she hurried toward her home, her footsteps careful and quiet.

Once inside, she exhaled slowly, a flicker of relief crossing her face as she slipped into the familiar safety of her house. She tiptoed through the darkened hallway, her shoes barely making a sound against the floor. She moved cautiously, hoping to make it to her room unnoticed, the cover of darkness aiding her.

But just as she placed a hand on her doorknob, a voice shattered her hopes. "Sandra?" Eric's deep, groggy voice cut through the silence, sending a jolt of panic through her as he turned on the light in the hallway. Sandra froze, her heart hammering wildly. She turned slowly, schooling her face into a neutral expression. He was standing in his bedroom doorway, one eyebrow raised, his eyes scrutinizing her from head to toe. "Where are you coming from?" he asked his tone a mixture of suspicion and weariness.

Sandra swallowed hard, forcing a tight smile. "Oh, I... I just went to get a glass of water." Her voice sounded unconvincing even to her own ears, and she cursed herself inwardly for sounding so nervous.

Her father's gaze narrowed as he took in her appearance, noting the clothes she still had on. "You went to get water dressed like that?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt. He gestured to her outfit, his eyes sharp as he looked her over. Sandra forced a laugh, feigning nonchalance. "1, um... I was thinking of going out. You know, clubbing, but I changed my mind.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

I decided to just have a drink of water instead and head back to bed." She managed a smile, hoping to pass off her lie with some semblance of credibility.

For a moment, he studied her, his expression unreadable. Sandra's heart pounded as she waited, hoping he wouldn't probe further.

Finally, he gave a slow nod. "Alright," he said, stepping back. "Have a good night, Sandra." Relief washed over her as she returned his nod, murmuring, "Goodnight." She slipped away, fighting to keep her steps steady as she moved toward her room.