Chapter 9 Moore hospital

Cloe sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her body feeling heavy with exhaustion and despair. Elizabeth's cruelty weighed on her like a suffocating blanket. She had nothing left-no bag, no clothes, not even her suitcase. It had all disappeared. She was left wearing nothing but the hospital gown, bare and vulnerable. She had left the mansion with nothing, and now she felt as if the world had abandoned her too.

Clutching the pile of medical reports in her hand, Cloe stood and made her way through the cold, sterile hospital halls. Her bare feet slapped softly against the tiled floor, the sound echoing in the emptiness around her. The lights overhead were too bright, almost blinding, but Cloe barely noticed. She was lost in her thoughts, her mind spinning with fear and uncertainty.

What would she do now? How could she escape this nightmare? Alone. Utterly alone.

She headed toward the administration office, where a nameplate read "Vivian Summer." Cloe knocked softly on the door, her heart heavy with desperation, but there was no response. She waited, standing awkwardly in the hall, her eyes scanning her surroundings. Everything felt surreal, as if she were trapped in a bad dream.

That's when she saw it-a sign just ahead that made her freeze. Moore Hospital.

Cloe hitched, her breath catching in her throat. Moore Hospital was one of the most expensive, most advanced hospitals in the country. How had she ended up here? Why had Driver Danny brought her to this place of all places? The realization hit her like a wave of panic-there was no way she could afford to pay the bills here. Not with all those unnecessary tests they had run on her. Was this some part of Elizabeth's scheme? Had she orchestrated this to make sure Cloe was trapped in debt, with no way out?

Her heart raced, her hands trembling as she looked down at the medical reports. The tests were extensive, and many of them were completely unnecessary. Her mind buzzed with questions she had no answers for. Why had they done this to her? Why were they pushing her into a corner like this?

Cloe's legs felt weak as she leaned against the wall, barely holding herself upright. The bright, sterile environment of the hospital around her seemed to mock her helplessness. She couldn't afford the bills. She couldn't go back to the mansion. She had nowhere to turn.

Standing there in the cold, empty hall, Cloe realized just how deeply trapped she truly was.

Cloe's body trembled as she leaned against the cold wall of the hospital corridor, her legs barely able to hold her up. Her knees were weak, and she felt sick to her core, a lingering effect from being soaked in the freezing rain all night. She had barely survived the cold, and now every passing minute in this hospital was only adding to the growing pile of bills she had no way of paying.

She wanted to talk to someone, anyone-Vivian Summer, the administration, anyone who could explain what was happening and how she could escape this nightmare. But each knock on the office door went unanswered, and with every second that passed, her panic deepened. The weight of her helplessness settled on her shoulders like a boulder, crushing her with each breath.

Cloe's mind raced with desperate thoughts. What should she do? Should she run? But even as the idea flashed through her mind, she felt the weakness in her legs. She could barely stand, let alone walk. But she had no money to pay these bills. She had just finished her studies, had never worked, never saved. The Taylor family had taken care of her for so long. Ethan had taken care of her. He had always been so kind, paying for everything-her education, her expenses. He had spoiled her with gifts, treated her as if she were the most important person in his life.

And now, she was utterly alone.

A sinking feeling hit her as she thought about Ethan. Maybe he didn't know what was happening. Maybe if she could just get to him, he would make everything right again. Maybe he was at the mansion. He could be the only person who could help her now.

The thought gave her a spark of hope. Cloe gathered what little strength she had left, pushing herself up from the wall, her legs wobbling beneath her. She had to leave. She couldn't stay here and let the bills pile up. She couldn't face the reality of being trapped in debt she couldn't pay. Running was her only option.

Her heart raced as she plotted her escape. She glanced down the hallway, checking for nurses, looking for any sign of someone who might stop her. Could she make it to the mansion? Could she even walk that far in her condition?

She pushed those thoughts aside. She had to try. She had to find Ethan. Looking left and right, she made sure no one was watching, her heart pounding in her chest as she took slow, careful steps toward the exit. This was her only chance.

The fear of being caught fueled her determination as she kept moving, her body weak but her mind focused on one thing-getting back to the mansion, finding Ethan, and praying he would help her one last time.