Ava's POV

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I wasn’t just being paranoid; I was being hunted. My heart raced as I fumbled with my phone, my fingers slick with sweat. I could feel the weight of that stranger’s gaze boring into me, a cold chill sweeping through the air.

“Mrs Miller?” my driver’s voice broke through my frantic thoughts. I had almost forgotten he was waiting just outside. I shot a glance at him, grateful for his calm presence amidst my chaos. I nodded quickly, hoping to regain some composure.

He held the door open for me, and I stepped into the backseat, my heart pounding in rhythm with the thudding of the car engine. “To the hospital, please,” I instructed, my voice steadier than I felt.

As we pulled away, I replayed the phone call in my mind, the urgency in the nurse’s voice haunting me. “We need you to come to the hospital right away.” What could be wrong? Was my sister in danger? I needed answers, and I needed them fast.

The city blurred past outside the window, the traffic lights turning red at every intersection. My impatience grew as I drummed my fingers against my thigh, my anxiety increasing by the second.

Glancing in the side mirror, I half expected to see that same figure lurking behind me. But there was nothing—just an ordinary day in the city, a facade that felt all too normal while my thoughts raged with confusion.

Finally, the hospital came into view, a looming structure that struck me with both dread and relief. My driver pulled up to the entrance, and I jumped out, barely pausing to thank him before rushing through the sliding doors. The sterile smell of antiseptic hit me as I stepped inside, mingling with the beeping machines and murmurs of worried families. I spotted the reception desk and hurried over, nearly breathless.

“Excuse me, I got a call about my sister. Is everything alright?”

“Please have a seat, Mrs. Miller,” the nurse at the desk interrupted, her expression sympathetic but firm. “The doctor will be with you shortly.”

Frustration bubbled within me, but I nodded, my mind racing.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, my heart leaping as I saw an unknown number flash on the screen. Hesitating, I answered, “Hello?”

“Ava,” came a low voice, smooth and unnerving. My stomach dropped as I couldn't recognize who it was. “You’re quite the busy bee today.”

“Who is this?” I snapped, my heart pounding in my chest.

The voice chuckled softly, sending shivers down my spine. “You know exactly who it is. How’s your sister doing? I hope she’s feeling well… because I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her, would I?”

Panic surged through me, tightening my throat. “What do you want?”

“Just to remind you that I’m always watching. You should be careful who you trust, Ava. You don’t know what they might do when you’re not looking.”

The line went dead, and I stared at my phone, the weight of dread pressing down on me. It has to be my father.

Just then, the doctor approached me, his face somber. “Mrs. Miller, we need to talk about your sister.”

I barely heard him over the pounding of my heart, my mind racing with fear. “Is she okay?”

“She’s stable,” the doctor assured me, his expression softening. “But she asked to see you. It seems she has something important to discuss. That aside, I've already sent the request to Dr Andrew, we are expecting his reply regarding the surgery.”

Relief washed over me, but it was quickly replaced with curiosity and concern. What could Holly possibly need to tell me? I nodded and followed the doctor down the sterile corridor, my mind racing with a mixture of thoughts.

The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air as I entered Holly’s private hospital room. I had tried to make it as lively as possible, filling it with flowers and photos from our childhood—reminders of happier times. But now, all I could feel was a sense of foreboding.

“Hey, Olly,” I said, forcing a smile as I approached her bed. She looked pale, but there was a glimmer of relief in her eyes when she saw me.

“Ava,” she whispered, her voice strained but filled with warmth. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” I replied, taking her hand in mine. “You're going to be okay. I'm hiring the famous Dr Andrew for your surgery,” I said to her excitedly. “You wanted to see me? Is everything alright?”

Holly nodded slowly, her brow furrowing as she glanced toward the door. “I don’t know, Ava. There’s something I need to tell you. It’s about… about what happened before I got here.”

Before I could press her for more details, a nurse entered, clipboard in hand. “I’m just going to check your vitals, Holly. It’ll just take a minute,” she said, her tone professional and soothing.

As the nurse moved to the bedside, I felt a mix of relief and impatience. I wanted to hear what Holly had to say, but I also knew the nurses were just doing their job. I stood back, letting them work, but my mind was racing with worry and anticipation.

Once the nurse finished, she stepped out, leaving us alone again. “Ava, I—” Holly started, her expression serious.

Just then, the door swung open, and my heart dropped as I recognized the man who walked in.

It was my father, followed by my stepmother, the insufferable Mrs. Rodriguez, who strutted in like she owned the place.

“Ava, what is the meaning of this?” my father demanded, his voice booming with anger. “Why have you put security at the entrance? Why can’t I visit my daughter as I please? If not for your mother-in-law, I wouldn’t have come in here today.”

I felt a surge of anger rise within me. “Because the last time you were near her, you used her as a means to get money. What do you want this time?” I shot back, my voice steady despite the tension surging between us.

My stepmother let out a condescending laugh, her eyes sparkling with mockery. “Oh, Ava, you’re just spiteful. Because you’re a heiress now you’ve clearly forgotten who made it all possible for you to be in that position.”

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. “Don’t you even dare speak to me,” I warned, gripping my phone tightly. “I’m calling security.”

Before I could even dial, my father stepped forward, a sneer on his face. “You think you can keep me away from my daughter? You’re making a huge mistake, Ava.”

As I hit the speed dial for security, my stepmother continued to gloat. “You’ll regret this. You can’t just push us out of your life.”

The door opened again, and two security guards stepped inside, glancing between me and my father.

“Is there a problem, Mrs Miller?” one of them asked, his brow furrowing.

I gestured toward my father and stepmother, my voice firm. “These two need to leave. If you don’t want to lose your jobs, you will never let them up here again, no matter who calls.”

The guards exchanged glances, then moved toward my father and stepmother. “Sir, ma’am, I’m afraid we have to ask you to leave,” one of them said.

My father’s face twisted in anger. “You’re making a mistake, Ava. This is my daughter, and I won’t be pushed around!”

As the guards began to escort them out, my father turned back, his eyes burning with fury. “You’ve just made a huge mistake, Ava. You’ll regret this.”

Just before they left the room, I couldn’t help but call out, “Why are you even here? Didn’t I just get off the phone with you?”

He laughed, a chilling sound that echoed in the hallway. “You’re crazy. I don’t even have your number!”

With that, they were gone, the door swinging shut behind them. I took a deep breath, the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

But as I sank back into the chair beside Holly’s bed, I felt a chill run down my spine. If it wasn’t my father, then who called me earlier?