Chapter 4 The Man From Last Night

Janice's pupils shrank abruptly as shock locked her entire body in place.

The screech of brakes being slammed split the air.

The car door swung open, and a man stepped out, looking cold and commanding. He wore a sharply tailored suit that fit him flawlessly. He looked striking yet distant, his expression composed and aloof. Tall and lean, he walked toward her from against the glare of the headlights. In that moment, everything around them seemed to blur and fall away, leaving only him in focus.

"Miss, are you okay?" he asked.

Janice had just parted her lips to answer when a fresh wave of pain crashed over her. Her vision darkened instantly, and her body tipped backward, weak and heavy.

The man's firm arm hooked firmly around her narrow waist, his warm body heat enveloping her.

His handsome face drew closer, and he said in a voice brimming with concern, "Don't be scared. I'll get you to the hospital right away."

Janice felt herself being lifted effortlessly into his arms. His strength was undeniable, and strangely, it was that very firmness that gave her an unexpected sense of reassurance.

Her lips parted faintly, and consciousness slipped away.

When Janice woke again, daylight had already crept in through the windows. She was lying on a hospital bed.

The pain that had wracked her body earlier was gone. A small puncture mark was visible on the back of her hand, evidence of an IV.

The sound of footsteps drew closer.

"You're awake?" A nurse came over, handing her some medication along with a cup of water. "You had gastric bleeding. Luckily, your boyfriend got you here in time. Otherwise, it could've been very dangerous."

Janice stiffened, her face going pale instantly. Boyfriend? That had to be the man from last night. She had been incredibly lucky to encounter someone so kind. Otherwise, she might have collapsed by the roadside and never been found.

The nurse continued cheerfully, "Your boyfriend is wonderful. He stayed with you the entire night. Tall, handsome, and so attentive. I really envy you."

Janice was stunned. He stayed all night? Her voice came out weak as she asked, "Where is he now?"

"He left not long ago. Guess he had to take care of something urgent," the nurse replied.

Janice nodded slowly. He truly seemed to be a good person. She hoped that one day, she might have the chance to see him again.

As she lifted the blanket, she noticed a man's suit jacket resting over her. It carried a faint, clean woody scent. Had that man forgotten to take his jacket? She didn't even have his contact details and had no idea how she was supposed to return it.

Just then, Janice's phone vibrated twice. It was a message from Karl, urging her to hurry up and complete the divorce. She scoffed. The jerk really couldn't wait.

Without wasting another second, she got a cab and headed straight for the courthouse.

Outside the courthouse, Karl had already been waiting for a while. The morning sun fell neatly across his handsome face.

He approached Janice and passed her a cup of coffee. "Did you eat this morning? I stopped by specially to get this for you."

Janice glanced at the cup only briefly. "You don't need to."

She had always liked the coffee from that café. But someone with a stomach issue shouldn't be drinking coffee.

Karl's expression faltered for a second. "I tried calling you last night, but you didn't answer..."

"Don't drag this out. Let's go inside." Janice sneered inwardly and turned away, walking into the courthouse ahead of him.

The divorce process moved swiftly. Forms were reviewed, signatures collected, and stamps pressed into place. Before long, the two of them stepped back outside.

Karl asked, putting on a show of consideration, "Do you want me to take you home?"

Janice made to reply when the passenger door of Karl's car opened, and Joyce stepped out.

"Karl, did you two really get a divorce? You didn't have to do something this drastic for me..." Joyce said softly, her face a mask of self-blame and innocence.

Janice looked at her and let out a short, derisive laugh. "Drop the act. You got exactly what you wanted. Karl belongs to you now."

Joyce stiffened, fury flashing briefly in her eyes before tears rushed in to replace it. "Karl, that's not what I meant..."

Karl lifted a hand and gently patted Joyce's shoulder, his voice steady. "The divorce was my choice. It has nothing to do with you."

Joyce lowered her face, a trace of smug satisfaction flickering beneath her carefully maintained innocence. "Even if you two are divorced now, you can still stay friends. Karl reserved a table at the most famous restaurant in town. Janice, how about we share a meal?"

Janice declined outright. "I'll pass. Sharing a meal with you might upset my stomach."

"Then let us give you a ride. It's hard to find a cab at this time," Joyce said, dropping the pretense entirely as she slipped her arm through Karl's.

Janice gave a faint smile. "That won't be necessary. Someone's coming to pick me up."

Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, a limited-edition Bugatti pulled up in front of the courthouse.

Janice immediately recognized the license plate Cristian had sent her earlier. She raised a hand and waved lightly. "My ride is here. I'll be leaving now."

Seeing the stunned expressions on Karl's and Joyce's faces, Janice finally felt a long-suppressed weight lift off her chest. She opened the door and slid straight into the passenger seat.

But the moment she shut the door and turned her head, her pupils shrank sharply. The man inside wasn't her brother.

She recognized that same striking face instantly-the same man who had carried her to the hospital last night. "How... is it you?"