The hospital room was quiet, along the faint beeping of the heart monitor the only sound filling the sterile air. A vase of fresh lilies sat by the window, sunlight pouring through the blinds and casting long stripes of crimson across the tiled floor. On the nightstand were stacks of cards. Get Well Soon, Alex, Stay Strong…
Each one written with love by family, friends, and admirers who wished nothing more than to see him back on his feet.
His parents had been there earlier, as they always were. His mother had kissed his forehead, with her eyes shining with maternal worry. His father, in his calm and firm way, had told him not to let grief swallow him whole. They had left him with a basket of home cooked meals, knowing how much he hated the bland hospital food.
But even with all their efforts, Alex couldn't shake the hollowness pressing against his chest.
He leaned back against the pillows, his light brown eyes staring absently at the ceiling. His mind replayed the tragedy on a loop. The screech of tires, the sickening sound of the knife tearing through Duke's innards, Elena's scream before everything went black.
Duke's body had been delivered to his family, where he truly belonged, with Alex personally making sure that they were well compensated and all the expenses for his funeral were taken care of.
"Why?" he asked himself for the hundredth time. "Why would anyone want to hurt her?"
Elena wasn't just loved,she was adored. She carried herself with grace, with warmth. She didn't make enemies. If anyone should've been the target, shouldn't it have been him? But no, the killers had aimed for her, and now she was gone.
A lump formed in his throat.
"Why you, Elena?" he whispered, his voice breaking. "Why not me?"
Before his sorrow could spiral further, the sound of soft heels clicking against the linoleum floor pulled him back to the present.
He looked up.
Maya Durn entered the room, her beauty almost ethereal in the morning light. She wore a fitted ivory dress that clung to her curves in a way that seemed almost deliberate, highlighting the smooth glow of her skin. Her hair was perfectly styled, tumbling over her shoulders like a silken river, and her lips carried a faint tint shimmer crimson.
"Alex," she said gently, her voice smooth as an harmonica
His eyes softened. "Maya. You're here again."
She smiled faintly, walking closer. "Of course I am. I couldn't possibly leave you alone in this state."
When she leaned down to hug him, Alex let himself fall into the warmth of her embrace. His aching head rested against the softness of her breasts, and for a fleeting moment, his pain seemed to dull. Her perfume was an intoxicating floral with a hint of spice,wrapping around him like a delicate cocoon.
For the first time since the accident, his heart felt something close to comfort.
Maya slowly pulled away and sat beside him on the edge of the bed. Her hands rested lightly on his arm, her eyes searching his face.
"How are you feeling today?" she asked softly.
"I'm fine," he murmured. "Physically, at least. But… I can't stop thinking about Elena. I miss her so much."
Maya's expression tightened, though she quickly masked it with a sympathetic smile. "I know. Losing her like that, it wasn't fair."
He nodded, his jaw tightening. "She was my everything. I don't know how I'm supposed to just… move on."
Maya's fingers brushed his arm soothingly. "Maybe you shouldn't think of it as moving on. Think of it as… learning to live again. You're still here, Alex. And there are people who care about you deeply. People who will always be here for you."
Alex turned his head, his eyes glistening with grief. "Like you?"
Maya's lips curved faintly. "Always me."
For a long, quiet moment, they simply stared at one another. His light brown eyes reflected in her dark ones, and in the silence, something unspoken hung heavily between them.
Maya leaned closer, her breath mingling with his. She hesitated for just a second, then, with deliberate slowness, pressed her lips to his.
It was tender, yet bold. An intimate lock of lips that made Alex's heart pound against his ribs. His body stiffened, torn between grief and this unexpected warmth.
And in an Instant, the fragile boundary between friendship and something more began to blur.
---
Sofia, I'm her bedroom, was currently getting dressed for the fund raiser event, as her presence was a top requirement whether she liked it or not. She couldn't help but feel an invisible weight pressing down on her shoulders, as this was going to be the first event she'd ever attended since she woke up in this new body.
She managed to make enough research about the hosts, and the potential invites that may also be present. Familiarity is always important, because she couldn't afford to keep her act down or let her guard down. Because as one of the most powerful figures known, there will be people that will try to bring her down by any means possible.
In the middle of her thoughts, she also couldn't help but marvel at her beauty, while staring at the mirror.
The mirror reflected a woman so breathtakingly beautiful, she almost forgot for a moment that she was Elena inside. The gown draped over her body shimmered faintly in the light, hugging her figure in ways that highlighted her every curve. Her makeup was flawless, enhancing the striking features of Sofia Green.
"Should I be jealous," she muttered to herself, brushing her fingers against her cheek. "Or glad? This face, this body… it's unreal."
She tilted her head, examining the stranger who was now her. "I wonder what Alex would think of me now."
The thought tightened her chest, and she quickly brushed it away.
There was no room for distractions. This fundraiser wasn't just another social event. It was her first real appearance as Sofia Green. A single mistake could shatter her cover. She had spent the past night researching the hosts, memorizing their businesses, their family trees, their scandals, and anything that could help her play the part convincingly.
Fitting into this life was exhausting, but necessary. One wrong step and the mask would crumble.
Just then, footsteps echoed outside her room.
Knock knock.
Sofia's head snapped toward the door.
"Miss Sofia," Jenny's soft voice called, "he's here. In the Green building."
Her heart skipped. "Who's here?" she asked, her voice laced with unease, remembering the last time she was alone with a certain person.
There was a brief pause before Jenny answered. "It's Mr. Chad, miss. He's currently having a chat with your parents."
Sofia froze. Her pulse quickened as the memory of his lips on hers flooded back.
Chad. The man who was supposed to be her boyfriend. The man she could not afford to reject, yet could not bear to be close to.
The air in the room suddenly felt heavy, pressing down on her chest as though the walls themselves were closing in.