Chapter 153

NATHAN

"Kate? Kate?"

She was crying; someone tried to abuse her, and she was bleeding. It couldn't be real. This couldn't be happening. I panicked. What was going on? Where was she? What did it mean?

Damn it! It couldn't be! I kept calling again and again, pacing back and forth in my room, but the damn phone kept sending me to voicemail. I tried not to lose control; my heart was pounding in my chest. She must have been in Vancouver. Had she gone on that damn trip?

I was about to contact my team to find out exactly where she was when her name appeared on the screen. I answered.

"Kate? Please, tell me where you are."

"Good evening!" It wasn't her; it was a woman's voice. "You are the last name on the recent call list; are you familiar with Ms. Katherine Collins?"

"What happened? Where is she?"

"Ms. Collins is being taken to the hospital now." Damn it. I struggled not to shout at the woman.

"Is she alright?"

"I can't say, sir. Apparently, she fainted, and now she's being taken to the hospital."

Damn it. She had to be okay.

"Vancouver? Are you calling from Vancouver, right?"

"Yes, sir, Ms. Collins was staying at the hotel..."

"James!" I yelled. "Stay on the line; I need you to get all the information about this place."

James appeared in my room a minute later.

"Sir?"

"I need you to gather all the information about the hotel where Kate was staying and where she was taken. This woman works at the hotel," I said, handing him my phone.

I rushed to get dressed.

James returned minutes later.

"Did you get everything?" I asked.

He handed me my phone back.

"Yes, sir. The woman said it appeared there had been an attempted rape."

My chest tightened.

"Prepare everything as quickly as possible. I'm going to Vancouver. Fast, understood?"

"Yes, sir." He left. I clenched my fists, squeezing my fingers hard enough to turn them white, trying to avoid breaking the damn house and screaming in anger and pain. She was alone. Alone. And it was my fault.

I tried not to think about anything, focusing only on getting out of New York as quickly as possible.

It took me only twenty minutes to take off, but the damn trip would take almost two hours even by jet. I couldn't bear it. Please, let her be alright.

Guilt, fear, anger, desperation, regret, and pain. I was feeling all of that at once. It felt like someone had stabbed a knife into my chest.

Remembering the message she sent me yesterday, crying and apologizing, made me feel like a bastard. I simply ignored her because of my damn hatred and anger. Because of my damn fear, because she said those words again.

The truth was, my hatred wasn't just because of Niels, even though I felt betrayed. Hearing her say those words again made me want to run away, like a coward. And now she might be...

I pushed the thought away. No. This couldn't be. Thinking about whoever hurt her made my vision blur with pure hatred, awakening the true monster inside me. I would make the bastard pay with his life if necessary. I promised myself.



Nearly two hours later, I landed in Vancouver and headed straight to the hospital. I spoke with a woman at the reception, having to specify that I was Kate's boyfriend. She told me to wait for the doctor. Wait? Damn it! Was she serious? I tried not to explode again.

I stood there waiting while casting hateful glances at the receptionist. How much longer were they going to make me wait?

A gray-haired man who must have been over fifty appeared after a few minutes, wearing a white coat and holding some papers.

"Hello! You are Miss Collins' boyfriend?" He offered his hand, which I shook.

"Yes. Nathan Ryan."

"I'm Thomas, the doctor, taking care of her."

"How is she? I need to see her now."

"She's fine now." He cleared his throat. "But I'm sorry to inform you that, unfortunately, Miss Collins had a miscarriage."

What? What did he say? I shook my head, not understanding. Was I hearing things?

"Wait, what did you say?"

"She wasn't aware. She would have completed four weeks."

"Kate was pregnant?" I said out loud, more to myself, incredulous. Completely shocked. I had to lean against the wall for support, bewildered.

The doctor nodded.

She was pregnant? How was that possible?

"I'm sorry, but Miss Collins will recover soon."

I was still trying to comprehend how it was possible. Kate was pregnant. She lost my child. I couldn't believe it.

"I need to see her." I managed to say.

"Of course, follow me. She authorized you to come in."

She already knew I was here. I had no idea what to say to her, but I needed to see her to make sure she was okay. How could she be okay after going through all this? And to find out she lost a baby.

It was all my fault. I abandoned her, let her go on this damn trip, and ignored her as if she wasn't the most important thing in my life.

I followed the doctor, going through a huge corridor and turning right into another. He stopped in the middle of it, in front of a door.

"Here. Call me if she needs anything."

"Thank you." I nodded and took a deep breath before turning the doorknob.

I entered, closing the door behind me.

She was lying in bed, her face pale. Her gaze briefly met mine before she looked away, turning her face to the side.

I had no idea what to say.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have called you." She started speaking with a choked voice, about to cry. "You shouldn't be here. You don't have to..."

I took a step forward before stopping. I didn't know if I should get closer or how she would react, but her silent crying made me move forward. I approached the bed and held her cold hand, squeezing it.

"I'm here. I'll always be. I never should have left you alone. Please, forgive me."

She turned her face, and her eyes met mine again. They were red. How much had she cried?

"Don't apologize, please."

I wanted to hold her against my body; seeing her like this made my chest ache like never before.

"You don't have to do this... You don't have to be here."

"Don't say that."

Why was she doing this?

"I don't want your pity."

Pity? Did she think I was here out of pity?

"Don't think for a second that my anger would outweigh my concern."

"I don't want you here when you hate me."

"I could never come close to hating you."

She closed her eyes, still filled with tears.

"Forgive me for the other thing too."

What was she talking about?

"Stop apologizing."

"It was an accident... I think I got confused with the contraceptive. I think it was graduation day..."

"You don't need to explain this. Please, stop."

"It's my fault. I lost..."

"Enough. We didn't know. You need to rest. Forget this. Forget everything."

"I can't. I can't."

She sat up, letting go of my hand and hugging herself. I couldn't help but hug her. I'm thankful that she allowed it.

"It's going to be okay. I'll fix everything. Just tell me you're okay."

Her crying was diminishing.

I needed to know. I needed to know that no one had hurt her.

"I need you to tell me." I kissed the top of her head. "Did he hurt you?"

Her arms held me tightly as she shook her head.

"I managed to escape before he could."

"I'll make him pay for trying. I promise."

"Thank you for being here."

"Don't thank me for that."

"I know you're angry with me."

"I'm not, and we're not going to talk about that now. You need to rest. I'll take you home as soon as the doctor allows."

"You don't need to. I'll go home."

"No way."

"You know you don't have to do this. I'm fine."

She wasn't fine. Who would be fine after going through all this?

"Stop it. Do you think I could find peace if you're not with me?"

"I don't want to bother you after what happened."

I reached for her chin, lifting it, so she looked into my eyes.

"Listen. Nothing matters to me except making sure you'll be fine. It was my fault. I should never have let you come on this trip."

"Your fault? None of this was your fault."

"You need to rest."

I needed to sort some things out before taking her home.

"Where is your boss?"

"He was here; he left a little while ago."

"I need to talk to him."

"Why?"

"Don't worry."

"What are you going to do?"

"I've already said. Don't worry."