Nolan woke slowly.
Not all at once—consciousness came in fragments. Sound before sight. Pain before memory. A dull, pulsing ache that wrapped around his ribs, his head, his entire body like a cage.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Machines.
Hospital.
His throat was dry. His limbs felt too heavy to move.
And then—
A hand.
Warm. Familiar.
Clutching his.
He tried to turn his head.
Failed.
"Don't," a voice whispered.
Isabella.
The sound of her name filled his chest with something dangerously close to relief.
"You're awake," she whispered, tears breaking through her voice. "Oh God… you're awake."
He forced his eyes open.
Everything was blurry, swimming, but he could see her—bent over his bed, eyes red, hair tangled, face pale from days without rest.
She looked like she'd been shattered.
"Hey," he rasped.
She sobbed.
"I thought I lost you," she whispered, pressing her forehead to his hand. "I thought I—"
He tightened his fingers weakly around hers.
"No," he murmured. "Still here."
She laughed through tears. "You don't get to joke."
He smiled faintly. "Wasn't joking."
Her breath hitched.
He tried to lift his other hand.
Pain ripped through him.
He hissed.
"Don't move," she said immediately. "You almost died, you idiot."
"Worth it," he murmured.
Her head snapped up. "Don't say that."
"I meant it," he whispered.
Her lips trembled.
"You scared me," she said.
He looked at her, eyes dark even through exhaustion.
"I chose you," he said.
She closed her eyes, overwhelmed.
"You always did," she whispered. "You just didn't know how to show it."
Outside the room, Nathan stood with his arms crossed, watching through the glass.
Seeing Nolan awake should've brought him peace.
Instead, it brought tension.
Because now things were going to change.
And change was always dangerous.
A nurse approached quietly. "Mr. Sinclair, there's a visitor asking for you."
Nathan frowned. "Who?"
She hesitated. "A woman."
Nathan's instincts screamed.
"What's her name?"
The nurse glanced at the clipboard.
"Evelyn West."
Nathan's jaw tightened.
"Don't let her in," he said immediately.
She nodded and turned—
But it was already too late.
Evelyn didn't knock.
She never had.
She walked into the hospital room like she owned it—heels clicking softly, posture immaculate, expression composed.
Isabella stiffened instantly.
Nolan's jaw tightened.
Evelyn's gaze flicked between them, then softened artificially.
"Well," she said lightly. "You look terrible."
Isabella stood. "You're not welcome here."
Evelyn raised a brow. "I'm his fiancée."
Nolan's voice was hoarse. "Ex."
Evelyn smiled faintly. "Details."
Isabella's fists clenched.
"What do you want?" Nolan asked.
Evelyn stepped closer to the bed.
"To make sure you're alive," she replied. "You cost me a fortune."
Isabella went still.
Nolan's eyes sharpened. "Explain."
Evelyn sighed. "The board panicked. Your resignation tanked confidence. My investors pulled out."
Isabella scoffed. "And you're here crying about money?"
Evelyn's gaze cut to her. "No. I'm here to warn you."
Silence fell.
"About what?" Nolan demanded.
Evelyn's lips curved faintly. "Your enemies didn't lose."
Isabella's chest tightened.
"They didn't get what they wanted," Evelyn continued. "But they exposed something much more valuable."
Nolan frowned. "What?"
Evelyn's gaze dropped deliberately to Isabella.
"You."
Isabella's blood ran cold.
"They've already put a price on her," Evelyn said calmly. "And on the boy."
Nolan surged weakly, setting off alarms.
Isabella rushed to his side.
"Don't move," she whispered.
Evelyn watched them with detached interest.
"Do you enjoy watching people break?" Isabella snapped.
Evelyn shrugged. "I enjoy surviving."
Nathan stepped into the room then.
"Get out," he said coldly.
Evelyn turned. "Ah. The missing brother."
She smiled. "So you're back."
Nathan didn't return it. "You're not welcome."
Evelyn stepped back slightly—but her eyes gleamed.
"You don't get to protect him," she said. "You left."
Nathan stepped forward. "And you sold him."
Evelyn laughed softly. "Business."
Nolan growled weakly. "Leave."
Evelyn's gaze flicked to him.
"Oh, I will," she said. "But don't pretend this ends with me."
She glanced at Isabella one last time.
"They don't just want him dead," Evelyn said. "They want him watching when they take everything he loves."
Then she turned and walked out.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Poisoned.
Isabella felt sick.
"What did she mean?" she whispered.
Nolan closed his eyes.
"She meant they're escalating," he said.
Nathan nodded grimly. "They're not done."
That night, Nolan couldn't sleep.
Not because of pain.
Because of fear.
He stared at the ceiling, listening to Isabella breathe softly beside him in the chair.
He hadn't told her yet.
But he had to.
"Isabella," he whispered.
She stirred instantly. "Yes?"
"There's something you don't know," he said.
Her chest tightened. "What?"
"They didn't kidnap me by accident," he said quietly. "They used me."
"For what?" she whispered.
"To test you."
Her heart slammed violently.
"They wanted to see what you'd choose," Nolan said. "Me… or yourself."
Her breath hitched.
"They won't stop," he continued. "Because you didn't break."
Her voice trembled. "So what now?"
He met her gaze.
"Now we go to war," he said.
She swallowed. "I don't want war."
"I know," he said softly. "But they brought it to your door."
She closed her eyes.
Then nodded.
The next morning, Nathan received a call.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?"
A distorted voice replied.
"You should have let him die."
Nathan's blood went cold.
"You don't scare me," he said.
The voice laughed.
"We're not here to scare you," it replied. "We're here to finish what we started."
Nathan tightened his grip.
"You touch them again," he said, "and I will end you."
The voice chuckled.
"You don't even know who we are," it replied.
Then the line went dead.
Isabella returned to the house that night for the first time since the kidnapping.
She felt it immediately.
Something was wrong.
The door was unlocked.
She froze.
"Nolan," she whispered into her phone.
"Don't go in," he said instantly.
She already had.
The living room lights were on.
Furniture untouched.
No signs of struggle.
But on the wall—
A message.
Written in red.
YOU DIDN'T CHOOSE WRONG.
Her stomach dropped.
Her phone vibrated.
A message came through.
But now you'll have to choose again.
She spun around.
And the door slammed shut behind her.