Chapter 11

Chapter 11
Fernandez stormed towards Olivia, his eyes blazing with urgency. "Car key, now!" he barked.
Olivia trembled, handing over the key. "W-what's happening to her?"
Fernandez didn't respond, his focus solely on Anna. He gently placed her in the backseat, his hands cradling her limp body. "Olivia, get in," he growled.
Olivia moved towards the backseat, but Fernandez's glare stopped her. "Front seat," he snarled.
She hastily obeyed, sitting beside him as he sped away from the mansion. Fernandez drove recklessly, weaving through traffic and skipping red lights. Olivia gripped the door handle, her knuckles white.
"Fernandez, please slow down!" she cried.
"No time," he replied, his eyes darting to the rearview mirror to check on Anna.
Olivia's voice trembled. "W-what's happening to her?"
Fernandez's jaw clenched. "I don't know, but I'll find out."
As they approached the hospital, Fernandez took a sharp turn, tires screeching. Olivia gasped, her eyes fixed on Anna's pale face in the backseat.
"Hold on, Anna," Fernandez whispered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engine. "We're almost there."
He burst through the hospital doors, Anna's limp body in his arms. "Help!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. "She's not breathing!"
Nurses and doctors rushed to his side, quickly taking Anna from him and placing her on a stretcher. "What happened?" one of the doctors asked, as they wheeled her away.
Fernandez followed closely behind, his eyes fixed on Anna's pale face. "I don't know," he replied, his voice tight with worry. "She just collapsed."
Olivia trailed behind, her eyes wide with fear. "Fernandez, what's going on?" she whispered.
Fernandez didn't answer, his gaze never leaving Anna's face. The doctors rushed her into a ward, surrounded by beeping machines and sterile equipment.
"Sir, please wait outside," one of the nurses said, trying to usher Fernandez out.
But he refused to move. "No," he growled. "I'm staying with her."
Olivia hovered in the doorway, her eyes fixed on Fernandez's tense back. "Fernandez, please..." she whispered, but he ignored her.
The doctors and nurses worked quickly, attaching Anna to monitors and injecting her with medication. Fernandez watched, his eyes darting back and forth, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
Olivia's voice trembled. "Fernandez, what if...what if she doesn't make it?"
Fernandez's eyes flashed with anger, but he said nothing, his gaze fixed on Anna's still form. The machines beeped and whirred, the only sound in the tense silence.
The doctor emerged from the ward, his expression grave. "Mr. Antonio, we've identified the cause of Anna's reaction. It's a severe allergic response to mushrooms."
Fernandez's eyes narrowed. "Mushrooms? How did she...?"
Olivia's eyes darted nervously between Fernandez and the doctor. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered.
But Fernandez's gaze pinned her down. "Don't lie, Olivia. You knew she was allergic. You put it in the pasta, didn't you?"
Olivia's face crumbled, and she nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't mean to hurt her, I swear. I just wanted to...to make her leave."
Fernandez's expression turned icy. "You're going to pay for this, Olivia. Mark my words."
The doctor intervened, his voice firm. "Fernandez, please. This is a hospital. Let's focus on saving Anna's life."
Fernandez's gaze never left Olivia's face, but he nodded curtly. "Do everything you can to save her," he growled. "I'll deal with Olivia."
Fernandez's voice was low and menacing. "Who are you to decide who stays or leaves in my household, Olivia? You're nothing but a paid companion, a mere employee."
Olivia trembled, her eyes wide with fear. "I-I just wanted to help, Fernandez. I didn't mean to hurt Anna."
Fernandez's anger was palpable, his eyes blazing with fury. "You were hired to frustrate Anna, to make her life miserable. And you've been paid handsomely for your services. Don't pretend you had noble intentions."
Olivia's face crumpled, tears streaming down her face. "I know, Fernandez. But I took everything so real. I fell in love with you. I couldn't help it."
Fernandez's expression twisted in disgust. "That's what I've always said - women are desperate creatures. They'll try any means to get close to a man. You're no exception."
Olivia's voice was barely audible. "Please, Fernandez. Don't say that."
Fernandez's voice rose. "Get out! Leave now and never appear in front of Anna or me again. You're fired, Olivia. And if you ever try to contact me or harm Anna again, you'll face the consequences."
Olivia nodded, her eyes streaming with tears as she backed away and fled the hospital room, leaving Fernandez's anger and contempt lingering in the air.
Fernandez paced back and forth in the hospital room, his irritation and frustration palpable. The doctor entered, a calm smile on his face. "Mr. Antonio, you can visit Anna now. She's stable."
Fernandez's gaze fell upon Anna's pale face, her eyes sunken, her skin sallow. He felt a pang of guilt, his anger and frustration melting away. "Anna," he whispered, his voice cracking.
The doctor nodded. "She'll pull through, Mr. Antonio. But she needs rest."
Fernandez's eyes never left Anna's face. "What have I done to her?" he muttered, his voice laced with self-loathing.
The doctor placed a hand on his shoulder. "You didn't know, Mr. Antonio. Olivia's actions were deceitful."
Fernandez's gaze snapped to the doctor. "I should have known. I should have protected her."
Anna's eyes fluttered open, her gaze weakly focusing on Fernandez. "Fernandez?" she whispered and soon closed back her eyes.
Fernandez's guilt intensified, his mind racing with thoughts of what could have been. He sat beside Anna, his eyes never leaving her face.
Anna's eyes opened, her gaze piercing. "Why do you care, Fernandez?" she asked, her voice weak but laced with venom. "You've already said you don't care if I die."
Fernandez's expression faltered, but he said nothing.
"Why vent your anger on me?" Anna continued, her voice rising. "I didn't do anything to you. I didn't try to harm myself."
Fernandez's eyes dropped, his jaw clenched.
"Leave," Anna spat, her voice trembling with anger. "Just leave. Don't pretend to care now."
Fernandez turned to exit, but Anna's words stopped him. "I'll never forgive you, Fernandez. Never. You blamed me for something I didn't do. You're just like all the others."
Fernandez's face twisted, but he said nothing, disappearing out of the room, leaving Anna's angry words hanging in the air.