Staring at the unfamiliar nurse in front of her, Ashley hesitated for a moment before taking a chance. "Could I borrow your phone to make a call?"

"Sure!" The nurse agreed without a second thought and handed her the phone.

"Thanks!" Ashley clutched the phone gratefully, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed Lucas's number.

Thank goodness she still remembered it. As she hit the call button, she silently hoped.

Lucas, please pick up...

"The number you have dialed is powered off. Please try again later," came the automated voice after a brief pause.

Why is it off? Could he be out looking for her and his phone died? Unwilling to give up, she redialed his number.

But all five attempts came back with the same cold message: the user is currently unavailable.

"Miss Carter, you don't have to call Mr. Blackwood. He'll be here soon," the nurse offered helpfully, thinking Ashley was trying to reach Charles.

"When is he coming?" Ashley tensed at that.

"Your fever's down now, and the doctor advised rest at home. After informing Mr. Blackwood, we've arranged for your discharge. He said he'd come pick you up by 6:30 at the latest," the nurse explained.

6:30 at the latest? Ashley glanced at the phone-it was already 6:15. That meant he could show up any minute now.

Idiot! Why did she end up like this? She finally made it into a hospital, and what did she do? Slept like a log! She couldn't believe she'd wasted so much time.

She wanted to smack herself.

No way-if he showed up, she wouldn't get another shot at calling Lucas!

"Can I ask what hospital this is?" She tried to sound casual, hiding her growing anxiety.

"This is Concordia Medical Center," the nurse replied, puzzled but honest.

"Thank you!" Ashley quickly opened the text message screen and began typing to Lucas: "Lucas, it's Ashley. I'm stuck in Concordia Medical Center. Come quickly..."

Just as she was about to type "Help me," the door creaked open. Startled, her hand shook, and the phone slipped from her grip, crashing on the floor.

"Miss Carter, are you feeling any discomfort right now?" asked the doctor as he walked in and looked at her with concern."Feeling much better." Ashley had thought it was Charles walking in, so when she saw it was just the doctor, she finally let out a breath.

"You're in the clear now. Just running a slight fever, so make sure you stay hydrated and get some rest. You'll be back to normal in a few days," the doctor said after wrapping up a set of checkups.

"Thanks," Ashley mumbled absentmindedly, eyes fixed on the phone being casually taken back and slipped into its owner's pocket.

As soon as the doctor left, she turned eagerly to the nurse. "Sorry, could I borrow your phone again for a sec?"

"Of course, go ahead!" the nurse said, handing it over once more.

"Thank you!" Ashley said quickly, her hands trembling as she punched in "911." Since she couldn't get ahold of Lucas, she had no time to lose. Maybe calling the police would work-someone had to pick up, right?

"Miss Carter, you really don't have to be so polite to me," the nurse said cheerfully. "Technically, this whole hospital belongs to you!"

"Mine?" Ashley stared at her, confused.

"Totally. Mr. Blackwood's family owns this hospital. Given how close you and he are... what's his is pretty much yours, right?"

"You're telling me he owns this hospital too?" Her fingers froze on the screen mid-dial.

"Yeah! Over half of everything in Impervale is either owned or somehow linked to the Blackwood group. Honestly, I'd say you must've saved the entire galaxy in your last life to land a guy like Mr. Blackwood-he's rich, powerful, and completely smitten with you."

Half the city... Ashley felt like the sky was falling.

"Aren't you making a call?" the nurse nudged, seeing her freeze up.

Was there even a point anymore? She'd barely get through before someone on the other end ratted her out to Charles.

"No, it's fine. Thanks anyway." She forced a smile and handed the phone back.

"Alright." The nurse took it back without sensing the shift in Ashley's mood.

"I'm feeling a bit hungry. Would you mind grabbing me something to eat?" Ashley asked, hoping to get her out of the room.

"Sure thing! I'll be right back." The nurse gave her a nod and walked out.

The moment she stepped out, Ashley pushed herself to the edge of the bed. But she had moved too quickly-her weak body gave out, and she collapsed hard onto the floor.

Ignoring the pain shooting through her limbs, she forced herself up, staggering straight to the door and pushing it open.

"Miss Carter, do you need something?" The two security guards at the door straightened up when they saw her come out.

"I just want to use the bathroom," she said casually, tossing out an excuse.

"There's a private restroom in your room," one of them pointed out.

Seriously? They even had the bathroom locked down? Ashley frowned. No, this might be her last shot to get away from that man. As long as she could get out of Impervale, there was still hope. She didn't believe Charles had control everywhere.

Thinking fast, she added, "Actually, I just need a bit of air. It's really stuffy inside."

"The young master said you're not allowed to leave the room," the guards replied, clearly troubled by the request.

"I'm really not feeling well. If you're that worried, you can just come with me," she said, letting out a light cough to back it up.

The two guards exchanged a look, then reluctantly nodded.

So she led the way, with both guards tailing her from about a meter away.

How the hell was she supposed to make a run for it like this? Ashley glanced at the two men behind her out of the corner of her eye. She was in terrible shape. Even if she were at full strength, she'd never outrun two guys built like linebackers.

Looking ahead, she spotted a public restroom not far away and headed straight for it.

The guards stayed outside once she entered the women's room.

Inside, Ashley scanned the place quickly. Most restrooms had a supply closet somewhere.

Bingo. In the last cubicle, tucked against the wall, she found all kinds of cleaning gear-and even a cleaner's uniform hanging on a hook.

She changed into the outfit, pulled on the mask, then pushed the mop cart out like she belonged there. Passing by the two guards outside, she kept calm and walked right through.

They didn't even flinch-didn't expect her to pull off a quick change and sneak out like this.

Turning a corner with the cart, Ashley finally ducked out of their line of sight.

No time to waste. She glanced back quickly to make sure no one was chasing, then bolted towards the elevator.

Two bodyguards stood outside the door, and after a couple of minutes with no sign of Ashley, they started to get suspicious. One of them called over a nurse to check inside, only to find her nightgown dumped on the bed.

"Sir, call for you," George handed the phone over to Charles after answering it.

"What? You actually let a living person vanish under your noses?" Charles had just gotten into the car to head to the hospital when he took the phone. The second he heard the update, his face darkened with fury.

"I'm sorry, sir," the bodyguard muttered, clearly knowing he screwed up.

"Sorry doesn't fix this," Charles snapped, then paused for a second and asked coldly, "How long has she been missing?"

"Just two or three minutes, max. We think Miss Carter slipped out in a janitor's uniform," the bodyguard answered after glancing at his watch.

"Lock down the entire hospital now! Get more men there. I want her found. No excuses!" Charles barked into the phone, then tossed it to George who was sitting in the passenger seat. "Step on it!"

"Yes, sir." The driver, Oscar, didn't dare waste a second, flooring the gas.

In the rearview mirror, George could see that Charles was anything but calm-his brows furrowed and his eyes sharp like a storm was brewing.

Looks like they've realized she's gone. Ashley had just taken the elevator down to the first floor when chaos greeted her-men in sunglasses weaving through the lobby.

Crap. The main entrance is definitely not an option.

She quickly scoped out her surroundings and ducked into an emergency stairwell nearby.

After burning up with fever for a whole day and night, her body felt like it could collapse at any second, legs jelly-like and strength barely holding. But she didn't have the luxury of stopping. She had to get out.

Stumbling along hallway after hallway, she finally spotted the service exit at the hospital's back. There were fewer guards there, and luckily, she managed to slip by and dart out.

"Hey, you there! Hold up!" a bodyguard standing a dozen meters away called out when he spotted a suspicious figure.

No way she could let them see her face. Heart pounding, Ashley picked up her pace. Her head spun dangerously, like she might pass out any second, but she kept herself moving, faking calm when she had none.

That's when she caught sight of a car parked not far ahead.

Like spotting a lifeline in a raging sea, she stumbled toward it with everything she had left in her.

"Sorry, I need to hide for a sec." Without waiting for permission, she yanked the car door open and jumped into the backseat like it was nobody's business.

The driver was about to say something, but the man sitting in the back just raised his hand, and the driver got the hint, shutting his mouth instantly.

Ashley felt a chill crawl up her spine from behind, but given how panicked she was, she didn't pay much attention. She hunched down in the seat, back to the man behind her, only her eyes peeking over the window edge as she fixed her gaze on what was happening outside.

They were coming, and heading straight this way!

"Please, just get me out of here!" Her voice trembled with urgency as she kept her eyes fixed outside, tracking the shadows getting closer. "Please, I'm begging you!"

The driver glanced at the man in the rearview mirror, silently asking for instructions.

The man nodded slightly, signaling him to drive. The engine rumbled back to life, and the car pulled away smoothly.

Inside the car, the silence felt stiff and heavy. Ashley was too busy keeping an eye on the streets outside to notice anything else.

But the man's eyes never left her. His fingers tightened into fists, knuckles tense and pale with restraint.

Only after the car had cruised a few blocks away from the hospital did Ashley finally let out a shaky breath. Realizing she was still in a stranger's car, she turned around, wanting to thank whoever helped her.

"Thank-" The rest of the sentence died on her lips the moment she saw his face. That cold, sharp symmetry, the piercing eyes, that chill in the air around him-how on earth could it be anyone else?

Charles.

No way. Just-no way. Out of all the people in the city, out of all the cars she could've jumped into in that panic, she ended up in his? Was the universe kidding?

He looked exactly like she remembered: terrifyingly handsome and frostbitten-cold.

She'd spent so much energy escaping the hospital, only to run straight back into the person she was running from.

"Weren't you about to thank me?" Charles's voice was ice-cold, cutting straight through the quiet air as he stared at her without flinching.

On the way over, Charles had already guessed Ashley would try to sneak out from the back door, so he told Oscar to park the car there. As soon as they arrived, he saw her running straight in his direction. He quickly had Oscar unlock the car, and to his surprise, she actually got in.

Of all the cars out there, why did she have to get into his? Ashley instinctively turned to open the door.

Too bad it had already locked. She tugged at the handle a few times, but it wouldn't budge.

"Don't tell me you're thinking of jumping out of a moving car," Charles said, fighting to stay calm.

Was she really that desperate to run from him? So desperate she'd risk her life? He'd even canceled an important meeting that morning for her, but all she wanted was to get away.

Just the thought made his anger flare up again.

Was this really her fate? No matter how hard she ran, she just couldn't escape? Ashley kept pounding on the window, clinging to the hope that somehow she'd get out.

"Stop pushing my patience just because I'm going easy on you!" Charles growled, finally losing control. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard.

Ashley's head slumped forward, heavy and dazed.

"Ashley, look at me!" he ordered, tightening his grip when she wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Let me go... I'm really not the one you're looking for," she whispered weakly, her voice barely audible, full of pleading.

She was begging him now?

Seriously?

The fact that she was still so sick, yet all she wanted was to run back to that other man-it lit a fire of rage in Charles. "Ashley, look at me!"

He needed her to see only him-with her eyes and her heart.

"You could trap me for the rest of my life, and I still wouldn't fall for you!" Ashley said through gritted teeth, lifting her head and meeting his gaze head-on.

"Shut up!" Charles growled, clenching his fists tighter with every word.

"I'm telling the truth. I'm not who you think I am..." Ashley tried to continue.

But before she could finish, Charles slammed her down onto the leather seat and crushed her lips with his.

What he wanted-he always got. Always.