Chapter 33
“Miss Lexi p>
She opened her eyes to see Simone seated beside her hospital bed.
IV drip.
White sheets.
She bolted upright, tearing out the needle.
“The audition p>
“Postponed,” Simone said calmly.
“Tomorrow instead p>
Relief hit her so hard she nearly collapsed.
Simone caught her.
“Thank you,” Lexi murmured.
“I’m fine now p>
“You’re not,” Simone replied gently.
“And you shouldn’t be alone p>
She handed Lexi a peeled apple.
“When this role is settled, I’ll arrange a manager for you p>
Lexi hesitated, then took a bite.
“I can barely take care of myself,” she said softly.
Simone smiled—bright, confident, certain.
“You won’t need to for long p>
She leaned closer.
“I’m betting on you. And when I win p>
Her voice dropped playfully.
“You’ll owe me a favor p>
The darkness wasn’t done with Lexi yet.
It was only getting closer.
Lexi sat up straighter against the hospital pillows and nodded.
Truthfully, she was curious too—what kind of person would Simone assign as her handler?
If it was someone as capable and precise as Simone herself, maybe her future wouldn’t feel like walking through broken glass anymore.
“Someone will come for you tomorrow,” Simone said calmly as she gathered her things.
“I’ve arranged your discharge and hired a private nurse. Focus on resting tonight—I have other matters to handle p>
Her tone dipped into something secretive at the end.
Lexi frowned, wanting to ask more, but Simone was already gone.
Other than gratitude, Lexi couldn’t help wondering—who exactly is Simone?
Everything she did was meticulous, ruthless in its efficiency.
Almost the moment Simone stepped out, a young nurse entered—neat, professional, silent.
Lexi followed instructions and rested.
Tomorrow mattered too much.
Whatever was waiting for her, she needed to be ready.
The next day, the nurse completed the discharge paperwork, packed Lexi’s things, and left.
As soon as Lexi stepped out of the hospital entrance, she saw it.
A black Maybach idling at the curb.
She didn’t need to guess.
The passenger door opened.
“Get in p>
Sebastian Blackwood stood there, one hand on the door, expression unreadable.
Lexi pointed at herself, disbelief flickering across her face.
Since when did she get the privilege of sitting in the passenger seat?
And worse—Sebastian himself was driving.
She hesitated.
That hesitation cost her.
Sebastian slammed the door shut, circled the car, and the engine roared to life.
The Maybach shot forward like a bullet, swallowing the highway.
Lexi grabbed the handle, heart slamming against her ribs.
“Where’s Connor p>
Connor never drove like this.
Sebastian was doing this on purpose.
She’d just been discharged—her body wasn’t fully recovered.
Sebastian shot her a cold glance.
“Is that what you’re worried about right now p>
He checked his watch, voice low and sharp.
“You have one hour before the audition starts. Don’t tell me you forgot p>
Her face drained of color.
Lexi smacked her forehead.
How could she forget something this important?
Sebastian pressed harder on the accelerator.
The car surged forward.
She bit down on her lower lip, refusing to make a sound despite the fear crawling up her spine.
Then—suddenly—the speed dropped.
They exited the overpass.
Lexi checked the time.
Thirty minutes left.
Panic flared.
She still needed to pull herself together.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, forcing herself to stay calm.
Sebastian didn’t answer immediately.
Then—without warning—he turned the wheel sharply.
The road narrowed.
The city disappeared behind them.
Trees swallowed the sky.
“Sebastian, what are you doing?” Lexi’s voice rose.
“I’m going to be late p>
The terrain grew steeper.
Isolated.
Silent.
The car crawled forward.
Lexi shoved the door open—
Sebastian grabbed her wrist hard.
“Don’t p>
His voice was steady.
Too steady.
“There’s a timed bomb under the chassis. If you open the door, the car explodes p>
Her breath caught.
He met her eyes, grip firm, unyielding.
“Do you trust me p>
Lexi didn’t know if it was true—but the look in his eyes wasn’t a lie.
If he was wrong, they’d die.
If he was right… they still might.
Her chest tightened.
“I trust you p>
The words came out rough—but once spoken, something inside her loosened.
Sebastian’s lips curved faintly.
He pulled out his phone and smashed it against the window.
Thud.
The glass didn’t crack—it was bulletproof.
But his palm split open.
Blood smeared across the window, vivid and shocking.
Ignoring the pain, Sebastian tore at the frame, muscles straining until the glass finally gave way.
The opening was small.
“One person,” he said.
“You go first p>
Lexi froze.
“How long until detonation p>
She didn’t know why she asked.
Only that she was terrified he wouldn’t make it out.
Sebastian’s gaze hardened.
“What—afraid I’ll die p>
Then colder:
“Even if I died a hundred times, I wouldn’t stay dead. Move p>
She exhaled sharply and climbed over him.
Their bodies brushed—heat, tension, breath too close.
For a split second, the confined space felt dangerously intimate.
Sebastian’s mind flickered to the first time he met her—soft, fragile, like prey.
Now she was all thorns.
Lexi felt the change in his body and flushed, mortified by the position.
It took everything she had to squeeze through.
The moment her feet hit the ground, she spun back.
“Hurry p>
Sebastian followed immediately, grabbing her hand.
“Run p>
They bolted uphill.
Lexi tripped—
BOOM.
The explosion tore through the forest, fire and metal lifting the car into the air.
Her vision went white.
Sebastian yanked her into his chest, covering her eyes and ears.
When sound returned, it was ringing silence.
Smoke.
Debris.
Sebastian lay beneath her.
Still.
Too still.
“Sebastian p>
She shook him.
No response.
Her hands trembled as she checked his breathing.
Nothing.
Her world collapsed.
“Sebastian! Wake up p>
No heartbeat.
“No—no—please p>
She fumbled for her phone.
Nothing.
Mountains.
No signal.
No one.
“I’m sorry…” she whispered, collapsing beside him, arms wrapping around herself.
“I’m so sorry p>