Elena's POV
A sudden pain struck my chest, sharp and unfamiliar. I didn't know why—but Carlos's face instantly flashed through my mind, and the unease only grew heavier.
I rushed to his workplace, my heart pounding, only to find that he wasn't there. My attention shifted to one of his colleagues—Jam—who arrived at the station breathless, his face drained of color.
"Jenna!" he called out, panic written all over him as he searched for his friend.
"What is it this time?" Jenna asked, clearly confused.
"Call an ambulance—now!" Jam said urgently, unable to stay still.
"What? What happened?" Jenna asked, startled.
"I-it's Carlos! He needs to be taken to the hospital!" His words sent a wave of fear crashing into me. I hurried toward him.
"What happened to my husband?!" I demanded, even though I knew he couldn't hear me. "What happened? Answer me!" The tightness in my chest worsened. I knew—deep down—that something terrible had happened to him.
Moments later, the wail of an ambulance pierced the air. I felt frozen when I saw Carlos—his head and clothes soaked in blood, unconscious—as the nurses rushed him into the vehicle. I ran after them, slipping inside before the doors closed.
"My husband… my husband! Wake up!" I shook him desperately—only to gasp when my hand passed straight through his body.
What was happening?
I had been able to touch him before. Why couldn't I now?
"N-no… Carlos! Wake up! Please!" I screamed. The lights inside the ambulance flickered violently.
"Hurry!" I shouted at the driver, tears streaming down my face.
Soon, we arrived at the hospital, and Carlos was rushed into the emergency room.
"Sir, ma'am, please stay here. You're not allowed inside," a nurse told Jam and Jenna.
"Please… save our friend," Jam said, his voice trembling, as Jenna tried to calm him.
I followed the nurse into the ER. Carlos lay unconscious on the hospital bed.
"Doctor… please save him," I begged, knowing they couldn't hear me.
I couldn't bear to watch. The wound on his head was deep, still bleeding—I turned away and waited outside.
"Sir, we found this in the patient's hand," a nurse said to Jam and Jenna.
My breath caught when I saw what she handed them.
The ring.
Why had it fallen off?
"Thank you," Jenna said quietly.
Jam studied it, frowning. "Where did he get this? This is the same ring, isn't it? The one Elena Madrigal and Leo wore—their wedding rings."
My heart stopped.
"You know Leo?" I asked—but they didn't see me. They couldn't hear me.
"Put it away for now," Jenna said. "What matters is that Santiago will be okay."
After what felt like forever, the doctor finally emerged from the ER. I rushed toward him.
"Doctor… how is my husband?" I asked.
"Doctor, how is our friend?" Jenna asked instead.
"He's stable," the doctor explained. "But he'll need to stay in the hospital for several days. We'll transfer him to a private room."
Relief washed over me.
"Alright. I'll take my leave."
"Thank you so much, Doctor," Jenna said, sitting down afterward.
"Well, that's good," Jam muttered. "Tough weeds are hard to kill. Good thing our friend is one of them."
Later, Carlos was moved to a room. I went straight to him. He was asleep, a thick bandage wrapped around his head. I sat beside him, studying his gentle face.
"Who did this to you?" I whispered, touching his cheek. "Why would they do this?"
I wiped my tears away. "I don't want to cry… but you scared me."
I brushed a strand of hair away from his face. Every time I looked at the bandage, pain and anger twisted inside me. I hadn't even realized my hands had clenched into fists.
"I'll stay and watch over him," Jam said from the doorway. "Just tell Luis."
"Alright," Jenna replied, closing the door behind her.
Jam sat on the other side of the bed.
"You look awful with that bandage," he teased. "Wake up already. We still have a case to solve."
I quietly stood up and left, giving him space.
I didn't know where I was going—until I realized I was already walking back to Carlos's apartment. I passed through the locked door and entered his bedroom. Sitting on the bed, I clutched the ring on my finger.
Had his ring fallen off before the accident?
Why hadn't I felt that he was in danger?
Why had I known too late—why hadn't I saved him?
I used to feel it whenever he was in danger. But now… it felt like the bond between us was slowly unraveling.
Questions flooded my mind, answers just out of reach.
As I stood to leave, something caught my eye—a photograph tucked into a brown envelope on his desk. I hesitated, unsure if I could touch it. When my hand didn't pass through, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
Inside was a photograph of Carlos—wearing a wedding suit.
A wedding?
My heart sank further when I read the name written beneath it.
Leo San Agustin.
I pulled out the rest of the documents. More photographs—faces that felt disturbingly familiar.
"Child Trafficking Case…" I read on the first page.
"Jhon Eron Madrigal…" I whispered as I read the name under another photograph.
My hands went numb as I dropped the last picture.
It was me.
Name: Kim Elena Madrigal
Age: 19
Born: January 8, 2002
Died: August 19, 2021
Fiancé: Leo San Agustin
Relationship: Daughter
I staggered back, staring at the words.
"What… what does this mean?"