Over the next couple of days, Hiraya, now in the body of Carmelita attained a speedy recovery that left the doctors and nurses amazed.
On the fifth day after the comatic shock, at exactly 10:45 P.M., Hiraya woke up with a gasp—sharp and ragged, like someone surfacing from the bottom of a dark sea.
Her eyes darted around the room, wide and wild, unsure whether the light above her was salvation or interrogation.
But as her gaze adjusted to the sterile environment and the combined smell of antiseptic and disinfectant, she realized she was inside a hospital room.
Her fingers twitched, foreign yet familiar, as if they belonged to someone else… yet they remembered her touch.
Panic flickered in her chest, not because she didn't know who she was, but because she knew too much, way beyond her imagination.
Memories flooded her mind in tangled waves, the harsh laughter of a man, a woman cursing and hitting her, a freckled-faced girl taunting her, calling her a bastard, a luxury estate, a wedding night, a man hitting her, an accusation of infidelity, an accident, a suicide and a single name– Carmelita.
The memory just kept pouring in, saturating her mind. Her heart knew names her lips had never spoken, places she had never been to and people she had never seen in her entire life.
She moistened her dry lips as she pressed her trembling palm against her face, hoping to feel her old skin, but it felt different, softer and very fragile.
Her breathing became heavy, as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. She hurriedly pulled out all the wires taped to her skin, ignoring the shrill cries of different beeping devices.
Suddenly, the door to the hospital room was thrown open, and a chubby-looking nurse in her immaculate white uniform came running in, her eyes wide with panic.
"Miss Carmelita, please you need to remain in bed. It is important for your recovery and that of the baby." The nurse said, muting the screaming machines to avoid waking other patients.
"Carmelita! Baby!" Hiraya's cold gaze narrowed at the nurse.
When the nurse attempted to touch her bleeding wrist, where she had forcefully pulled out the cannula, Hiraya impulsively grabbed her by the neck, almost choking the life out of her.
"Who the f*ck is Carmelita and what baby are you talking about?" Hiraya's voice came out hoarse and half-recognised.
The nurse panicked, thinking the patient had gone insane. She reached for the red alarm button by the bed head, but Hiraya beat her to it.
"You had better answer my question before I snap your neck." She warned, releasing her grip a little to allow the nurse to speak.
"You are Miss Carmelita and you are nine weeks pregnant." The nurse's voice trembled.
"What!" Hiraya's breath hitched.
'Could it be? Have I been reborn in this body?' Hiraya pondered.
"I swear." The nurse's quivering voice interrupted Hiraya's thoughts.
Hiraya contemplated briefly and said in a softer voice, releasing her hold on the nurse's neck. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine." The nurse forced a smile, massaging her hurting neck.
"Please forgive me." Hiraya continued her expression unreadable.
"What for?" The nurse was slightly confused.
"For this." In one swift move, Hiraya struck the nurse on a pressure point and quickly caught her before she could slump on the tiled floor. She gently placed the snoring nurse on the bed and quickly secured the door to prevent any more surprises.
After arresting her bleeding wrist and switching places with the nurse, Hiraya quietly snuck out of the hospital room.
-
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The following day...
A sleek, jet-black luxury car rolled to a halt in front of a private hospital facility located in the heart of LampStone City.
A uniformed chauffeur hurried out of the car and around it to the rear door, his head bowed in silent respect as he opened the door.
Ken stepped out like a scene unfolding in slow motion.
Tall, composed, and devastatingly handsome, he moved with the quiet confidence of a man used to being watched, his suit—elegantly tailored to perfection.
With one smooth motion, he straightened his cuffs, eyes cool and unreadable, exuding a quiet power that made people pause mid-step.
He snapped his fingers, and a bouquet of freshly picked yellow roses was brought to him.
The bouquet glowed like captured sunlight, each bloom unfurling with effortless grace.
But this was nothing compared to the soft, sweet fragrance which clung to the air around him like a whisper of spring.
"Good morning, Mr Silva." The security guard at the sliding glass door gave a curt bow in reverence.
"Mm-hmm..." Ken acknowledged him, his warm gaze focused beyond the gleaming glass door.
Dr Klein had earlier told him that Carmelita might wake up anytime soon and Ken wanted to be there when she finally opened those beautiful and angelic eyes.
Consequently, he visited her every single morning with fresh flowers before going to the office and every evening before returning home.
Even though Ken wanted to spend the entire night seated by her bedside, he couldn't afford any member of his family knowing about her existence.
After discovering the incident that led to her suicidal attempt, Ken decided to keep Carmelita's identity and location a secret.
To the Mendoza family and the entire world, Carmelita died on the night of her suicidal jump.
To Ken, his future wife has been given to him on a platter of gold. He planned to fly her out of the country immediately she regained consciousness and wed her after she had given birth.
Taking a deep breath to stifle his excitement, Ken briskly moved through the hospital reception with purposeful ease, his polished shoes echoing softly against the sterile floor.
A few nurses and orderlies offered polite greetings and subtle glances of recognition and respect, which he returned with minimal gestures.
Some of the female nurses stole furtive glances at the captivating bouquet and their enigmatic boss of all bosses, each one masking their secret admiration with professionalism.
Without breaking stride, Ken reached the elevator and pressed the button, his heart drumming with anticipation and excitement.
The ride to the top floor was unusually slow, and his heartbeat seemed to quadruple as he got closer to his destination.
As the elevator bell dinged and the door slid open, a heavy stillness settled in the air.
It felt thick and unnatural, like the world was holding its breath.
Every step Ken took towards Carmelita's private room felt louder, measuring with his drumming heart. He felt a weird tightening in his chest, his breaths shallow and quick, as if the air itself had turned hostile.
The hallway was unusually deserted and the two bodyguards positioned in front of Carmelita's room were not at their duty post.
"Lita..." Ken echoed in his heart as he sprinted to her room and barged in, preparing his heart for the worst.
At a single glance, he instantly knew the lady sleeping on the bed was not his Carmelita.
The bouquet instantly fell from his hand, his eyes widened in horror as he took long strides to the bed to confirm his assertion.
The sight of a chubby-looking woman in Carmelita's hospital gown, snoring away, made Ken's fist clench until his knuckles turned white.
His heart pounded like a war drum, not just from fear, but from rage so sharp it made his vision blur.
"Mr Silva, you are here." Dr Klein, who had just arrived a few seconds ago, walked into the room, surprised by the bouquet of flowers on the floor.
"Where is my woman?" Ken growled, his voice thick, heavy and frosty like that of an awakened hungry grizzly bear.