As Lillian fell, she didn’t think about anything. When she hit the water, her instinct was to hold her breath, but the cold ocean water rushed at her from all sides.
The wooden frame she was tied to helped her float, and then she saw someone else fall into the water, swimming toward her.
Before the waves knocked her unconscious, she felt a strong force pull her back.
That cold, domineering presence surrounded her once again.
Before she passed out, she heard a familiar, commanding voice in her ear.
“Lillian! Don’t you dare faint!”
“I’m ordering you!”
How could it be? How could it be him…?
******
When Ford arrived at the scene, it was chaos. He didn’t even bother with the people halfway up the mountain. But when he heard Gordon say that Conrad had jumped off the cliff, Ford thought his ears were messing with him.
However, after a moment, he realized Gordon wasn’t the type to make stuff up. Luckily, Ford had already called in a helicopter and search teams in advance. They went into action right away, searching the area with lightning speed.
Gordon refused to go to the hospital. “How am I supposed to go? I at least need to make sure they’re okay!”
Conrad had been his friend since childhood, and while he wasn’t exactly close to Lillian, she was still in trouble right under his nose. He couldn’t just walk away!
Even though that bastard Conrad had been throwing obstacles in his way lately, watching him die was a whole different thing.
Hunter’s people tried to take Hunter away, but Ford wasn’t about to give them that chance. Gordon wouldn’t allow it either.
“We found Conrad’s coordinates.”
Conrad had a tracker on him, and so did Andrew, so they were able to pinpoint him right away.
“Let’s go!”
By the time Ford and Andrew got there, the helicopter was hovering above the ocean, its searchlight sweeping over the water.
Conrad was emerging from the water, holding Lillian in his arms, both of them soaked. His cold, stern face had water dripping from it.
He had multiple injuries, and his hand was likely bruised or broken from smashing through the wood to free Lillian from the cross, using the two boards to float and help him get to shore.
Thankfully, his body was tough enough to handle the strain, and he managed to swim them both to safety.
“Boss!”
Conrad’s expression darkened as he looked at Lillian, her breathing steady but shallow. He wasn’t taking any chances. “Get her to the hospital, do a full check-up. Call George!”
His bloodshot eyes flashed with rage. “Leave Hunter alive. If Lillian doesn’t wake up, I’ll make his family pay!”
The Thomas family controlled all of City N’s medical services. If anything went wrong, George was there, and only then would Conrad feel comfortable handing her over.
******
The ticking of medical equipment filled the room, and Lillian’s head buzzed with an unclear, distorted sound.
“Didn’t they say just observe? It’s been two days and she’s still not awake? You sure the Thomas family knows what they’re doing?”
“All her vitals are normal. Can you just act normal? And you-do you want to lose your leg? Get back to your room.”
So loud… Lillian’s eyelids fluttered open for a second, then closed again.
Conrad suddenly spoke, his voice tight, “I swear I saw her eyes open just now.”
George, expressionless, replied, “It’s normal for eyes to open in a coma. It’s a physiological response-could be from low blood flow to the brain, or even a stroke.”
“If you’re not up for this, stop pretending to be a doctor!”
George examined Lillian, “Nothing serious. You’re actually in worse shape than she is, alright? She’ll probably wake up in the next couple of days. Now, come on, time to change your bandages.”
“I’ll go in a bit.”
“Do what you want, but don’t die on me in my hospital.”
A nurse came in and said, “Mr. Conrad, it’s time to change your bandages.”
Conrad didn’t move, his eyes locked on Lillian. He noticed her lips were chapped, her face pale and drained of color. “Can we give her some water?”
“She’s unable to drink on her own, and she might choke. We can use a cotton swab with some warm water to moisten her lips.”
Conrad stared at Lillian, took a cotton swab, dipped it in warm water, and gently rubbed it on her lips.
But that wasn’t enough. He took a sip of water himself, then gently cupped her chin and kissed her, slowly passing the water into her mouth.
The nurse was startled, unsure where to look.
Conrad’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke, his bare upper body wrapped in bandages. Old and new scars covered his back, creating a strange kind of allure that made it hard not to stare at him.
“Apply the medicine.” Conrad gently brushed his thumb over Lillian’s lips, then sat back down.
“Okay, Mr. Conrad.” The nurse took out the medicine. “You’ll need to be careful with your diet for now, Mr. Conrad. Wait until the wounds heal before eating normally.”
“Mm.” His response was nonchalant, but there was still an undeniable wildness in his demeanor.
The nurse couldn’t help but wonder who this woman lying in bed was to him. As far as she knew, Conrad had only ever been gentle with this woman.
The pain in his chest flared up, and Conrad couldn’t help but remember what the doctor had said.
“You were this close to a fatal hit. Don’t underestimate that wooden splinter. You fell and got soaked in seawater-make sure you take care of it.”
Then there was Hogan’s shocked voice.
“Jumped off a cliff for Lillian? You haven’t slept in two days for her? Conrad, you’re really falling for her, huh?”
Bullshit. Falling for her?
His woman almost died, tied up by that jerk, and if he couldn’t even protect his own woman, what kind of man was he?
Ford knocked and walked in. “Mr. Conrad, Miss Evelyn heard about what happened and has been crying, asking to see you. She’s waiting outside.”
“Tell her to go back and rest. Remind her that her eyes are important. She’s not allowed to shed any more tears.”
“Got it. Also… Booth’s father is here, he’s here to plead for Booth.”
“They still have the nerve to plead?” Conrad’s voice turned sharp, and the fresh bandages on his wounds tore open again.
“Mr. Conrad, please, stay calm.” The nurse quickly tried to calm him down.
Conrad pulled his hand away and put his shirt back on. “Take care of her.”
Conrad man stood up and headed for the door. Evelyn was still standing there, not having left.
Booth’s family was standing in the hallway. Conrad had cleared the area for Lillian, making sure every nurse and doctor was focused only on her.