Tell me something I don’t know
As soon as Sienna was moved to a normal ward, Austin asked Daniel to stay with her while he went to check on his father.
For about an hour, Austin and his father waited outside the operating room. They stood in silence, watching the light above the door, hoping for good news. Finally, the light went off. Both men straightened at once.
Dr. James walked out, pulling off his mask with a small smile.
“Good news. Your wife is out of the coma. Everything went well. She’s asleep now so her body can rest.”
“Out of the coma?” Noah asked in shock.
“Yes, Mr. Jess. Earlier, when she went into shock, it was just a reaction to the treatment. But we still need to remove the clot to avoid future problems. Didn’t I say miracles can happen?” the doctor added with a warm pat on his shoulder.
“We’ll move her to the ward soon. By the way, who’s Paulina? Your wife kept saying that name while crying.”
Austin was shocked. The name hit him hard. It all made sense now. His chest tightened, and everything around him faded. Only one thing was clear, he had to act.
*********
Back in Sienna’s Ward:
“Paulina was part of it. She worked with Mum,” Austin said, his voice firm.
Daniel sighed. “You said not to be surprised, but wow… I didn’t see that coming.”
“She has a lot to explain,” Austin replied. His eyes narrowed. He had a strong feeling she was involved in Dora’s disappearance too.
Without another word, he pulled out his phone and called Ronan, even though it was late. On the other end, Ronan answered sleepily.
“Paulina can lead us,” Austin said.
That was all Ronan needed to hear.
“Got it,” he said and ended the call.
“Lead you where?” Daniel asked, confused.
Austin looked at him. “Dora disappeared three months ago. Last night, I found a torn note asking for help. It was from her.”
Daniel blinked. “You think Paulina, your best friend, hurt your mum and faked being innocent?”
Austin nodded. “I’m even starting to think her story about being raped was a lie. Maybe George was telling the truth. What if she killed him too?”
Daniel stared at him, wide-eyed. “Your life is seriously messed up, Abi.”
Austin gave a dry smirk. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
“I know that look,” Daniel said. “It never means anything good.”
“Tomorrow’s going to be a big day,” Austin said quietly, staring into the distance.
“What are you planning? Are you going to confront Paulina?”
“No,” Austin answered. “But I believe she’ll be the one to show us where Dora is.”
Daniel watched him unblock a few numbers on his phone.
“You really think she knows?”
“I’m sure of it. Paulina always appears when she knows Dora won’t.”
Daniel opened his mouth to ask more, but Austin cut him off.
“I need you to stay here and look after Sienna.”
“What? Aren’t you going to let me help find Dora?”
“No,” Austin said, glancing at Sienna lying bruised and unconscious. “Right now, she needs you more.”
Just then, his phone buzzed with a message: She is hot. Austin smirked.
“She’s hot?” Daniel read over his shoulder, looking confused, and a little disgusted.
“It means her number is being tracked. Calls in and out,” Austin explained. He chuckled at Daniel’s expression.
“You’re like a secret agent now or something?” Daniel asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I’ve got a detective friend helping. Now, if you’re done asking questions, I need to check on my mum before I go find my wife.”
An hour later, Austin walked into his mother’s ward. As expected, his father was sitting beside the bed, holding her hand tightly. He looked tired, more tired than Austin had ever seen him, but there was peace on his face now.
Austin smiled softly, relieved to see both his parents safe. They still had a lot to talk about. A lot to face. But for now, knowing his mother had survived was enough.
If only he had listened to her sooner… maybe things wouldn’t have become such a mess.
But that time had passed. With Sienna recovering and his apology to Daniel behind him, Austin felt lighter. Now, he could focus on one thing, finding Dora and saving her from whatever danger she was in.The next day, inside Sienna’s hospital room… Austin sat on the couch with his head leaning back and eyes closed. He already knew what was coming, and he was just waiting for it. Right on time, his phone rang. He didn’t move.
A small, knowing smile appeared on his lips. A few seconds later, it rang again. Still, he kept his eyes shut. He already knew who was calling. The phone stopped ringing. Austin silently counted to fifty.
It rang again. This time, on the third ring, he picked up, eyes still closed.
“Abi...” Paulina’s voice came in, soft and careful.
“What language do you understand best, Paulina?” Austin asked calmly. “So I can tell you clearly, don’t disturb me.”
Though his voice was steady, he was furious inside.
“We’re best friends, Abi,” Paulina pleaded. “I know you’re hurting. Let me be there for you, just like you were there for me when Daniel divorced me.”
Austin opened one eye and looked at Daniel, who was sitting beside him.
“You came to New York and stayed with me for two years,” Paulina continued. “Let me do the same for you. I won’t ask for anything else.”
“Who said I’m hurt?” Austin asked coldly.
“I know Dora left…”
“She’s coming back,” Austin cut in before she could finish. It wasn’t entirely true, but it would keep her quiet.
Paulina went silent. Austin knew he’d hit the right nerve.
“What?!” she said, clearly shocked.
“I have to go,” Austin replied and ended the call.
Ten minutes later, his phone rang again.
“She called just one number,” Ronan said on the other end, not even bothering with a greeting. “Give me thirty minutes to trace it.”
Austin nodded and hung up.
Half an hour later, Ronan called back.
“You won’t believe it,” he said, sounding excited. “The call was made from the same woods we visited yesterday.”
Austin’s heart jumped. Dora was close. But before he could celebrate, Ronan added, “We couldn’t get the exact location.”
“Paulina will take us there,” Austin said, his jaw tightening.
“You think she knows?” Ronan asked, uncertain. “Will she help?”
“She doesn’t have a choice,” Austin replied.
He walked over to Sienna and leaned down, whispering in her ear, “Wake up soon. You won’t want to miss seeing your friend before I take her away. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He chuckled, imagining Sienna’s reaction.
Daniel stood up and joined him.
“You sure you don’t want help?”
“Just take care of her,” Austin said, nodding toward Sienna. “She means a lot to us.”
Daniel looked at Sienna and smiled faintly. “She does seem special.”
Austin raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t get any ideas,” Daniel warned quickly.
Just then, Ronan arrived, his timing perfect, as always.
His jeep was parked right outside the hospital, and he was dressed in full gear, ready for action.
When Austin saw the combat gear, he raised an eyebrow.
“Better safe than sorry,” Ronan said with a shrug.
Austin’s eyes caught a sleek knife in Ronan’s holster. He picked it up and strapped it to his calf.
Ronan gave him a look.
Austin smiled. “It’s beautiful. And like you said, better safe than sorry.”
Meanwhile, at Paulina’s apartment… Paulina paced back and forth in her living room. Her hands trembled slightly as she replayed the call with Austin in her head.
The way he said “Dora is coming back” so confidently had shaken her. Even after double-checking with a contact, she couldn’t calm down. She knew better than to ask him again. He’d call her useless, just like he did the last time she failed to win his trust. She still remembered the fear she felt when he showed how disappointed he was.
And when George was arrested, Austin had him “disappear” without hesitation.
Paulina knew that if she messed up again, she could be next. She had agreed to help him because she thought it would bring her closer to Austin. Now, she realized she’d made a huge mistake. While she stood lost in thought, the doorbell rang.
Assuming it was her maid, she didn’t even look through the peephole. She opened the door casually…suddenly, Austin stood there, face cold. Beside him was a stranger, smiling. But there was no kindness in his eyes.
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