♣ CHAPTER 34 ♣
The sun was just rising. The parking lot behind Kate's company was still quiet. A man in a dark hoodie bent beside a black Range Rover—Kate's car.
He looked left, then right. No one.
He pulled out a small device from his pocket, unscrewed a piece near the brake line, and attached something new. It clicked into place.
He wiped the sweat off his face, stood, and dialed a number.
"It's done," he whispered.
A deep voice answered, "You made sure the brakes will fail?"
"Yes, boss. One stop and they'll snap."
"Good. Now disappear. If she survives, you know what to do next."
The man nodded, even though the caller couldn't see him. "She won't survive."
The line went dead.
---
Two hours later, Kate walked toward her car, holding her bag and a coffee cup.
"Ma'am, are you sure you don't want the driver to take you?" her assistant called from the entrance.
Kate smiled. "No. I need to clear my head. I'll drive myself."
She got in, placed her coffee in the holder, started the engine, and drove off.
The first few minutes were normal. She hummed to a song on the radio, thinking of the files she had to review.
Then came the turn.
She pressed the brake.
Nothing happened.
She pressed again—harder.
Still nothing.
Her eyes widened. "Oh no—no, no!"
The car was going downhill. Fast.
She tried the handbrake. It snapped.
"God! Please!"
Her fingers gripped the wheel. She swerved to avoid a bus, then a tree.
Her heart raced. Her breathing got fast. She saw a wall coming.
She twisted the wheel. The car hit the sidewalk, bounced hard, spun around—and stopped inches before a lamp post.
Kate sat there, frozen.
---
Fifteen minutes later, William rushed into the hospital lobby. Liam followed behind him.
"Where is she?" William barked.
"Room 104," a nurse said.
He stormed in.
Kate was on the bed, hands shaking, a small scratch on her forehead.
"Kate," he said, kneeling beside her.
She looked at him with tears. "Someone tried to kill me."
"I know."
"You know?" her voice cracked.
"I checked the car already. The brakes were tampered with."
"Who would do that, William?"
"I have suspects."
"Is it Carlos?"
He stood. "I don't have proof. Yet."
"You're hiding something from me."
"I'm not."
"You are," she said, voice louder. "Your face. The way you're acting. Tell me the truth!"
William sighed. "This isn't the first threat."
Kate froze. "What do you mean?"
"There was another plan, days ago. I stopped it before it reached you."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to panic."
"I'm already panicking, William!" she snapped. "You should've told me."
He sat beside her. "I'm sorry. But I needed time to catch who's behind it."
Kate looked away. "I could've died today."
"I won't let that happen."
"You can't protect me from everything," she whispered.
"I'll die trying if I have to."
Their eyes locked.
---
Back at the office, Liam was pacing. Tina entered, her face pale.
"She's okay?" Tina asked.
"Yes," Liam said. "Shaken. But alive."
Tina exhaled. "Thank God."
Liam sat. "I swear if I find who did this…"
Tina touched his arm. "You will."
Liam looked at her. "This wasn't random. It was planned. Someone inside helped. Someone who knew her schedule."
Tina frowned. "You think there's a mole?"
"I'm sure of it."
Tina stepped back. "Then we're all in danger."
Liam nodded. "Especially Kate."
---
Later that night, William stood in his study, staring at his phone. He called a number.
"It didn't work," he said coldly.
Mr. Carlos's voice replied, "Pity. She has strong luck."
"You tried to kill my wife."
"Business is war, William. You know that."
"You crossed the line."
Carlos laughed. "There is no line. You taught me that."
William's voice went cold. "I'm coming for you."
"Good," Carlos said. "I'll be waiting."
William stood at the window of Kate's hospital room, fists clenched in his pockets. Kate's breathing was soft now, but her eyes stared blankly at the wall.
He turned slowly.
"Say something," he said.
Kate blinked. "What do you want me to say?"
"Anything."
"You already knew someone was targeting me," she said, voice low. "And you didn't tell me."
"I told you I was handling it."
"Handling it?" she snapped. "William, I nearly died today! If that lamp post wasn't there—"
"I know," he cut in, stepping forward. "And that's why I didn't want you to know. You would've panicked. You would've changed your routine. That would've made it harder to catch whoever's behind it."
Kate sat up a bit. "So what now? You want me to sit still and wait for the next 'accident'?"
"No," William said. "I've already assigned three men to stay close. You'll have security with you—everywhere."
"You think that makes me feel better?"
"I don't need you to feel better. I need you to stay alive."
She scoffed. "You really think locking me up in protection is going to stop whoever's doing this?"
"I think putting a guard between you and danger gives me a little time to find the person behind it."
Kate's lips trembled. "This isn't just business anymore. They came for me. They tampered with my car."
"I know."
She looked at him. "You really believe it's Carlos, don't you?"
William hesitated. "I believe he's involved. But someone else is helping him."
"Someone inside?" she asked.
He nodded. "Someone close. Someone feeding him information."
Kate leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "I can't believe this. My own family... someone's trying to destroy everything."
"I warned you."
She looked at him. "But I didn't think it would go this far. I didn't think I'd be targeted like this. What if next time they succeed, William? What if I'm not lucky again?"
William moved closer. His voice softened. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."
"You can't promise that," she said, her voice breaking. "You're not God."
"No, but I'll move heaven and hell to protect you."
Their eyes locked for a long second.
Then Kate whispered, "Why are you really protecting me? Is it just the deal? The contract?"
William's jaw tightened. "Does it matter?"
"It matters to me."
He turned away. "I don't know anymore."
---
Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city…
The man with the smooth voice stood over a laptop, watching a silent video of Kate's near crash.
"She should've died," he muttered.
His phone rang. He picked it up. "Yes?"
Carlos's voice came through. "She survived."
"I saw."
"You told me the plan would work."
"It should've."
"Well, it didn't," Carlos snapped. "Now William's sniffing around. He's on high alert."
"Then let him sniff. The more he searches, the more mistakes he'll make."
"I hope so. Because if this fails again—"
"It won't," the man interrupted. "We'll go to Plan C."
Carlos exhaled. "When?"
"Soon. But this time, we don't touch Kate. We go for the people around her."
Carlos went silent for a second. Then said, "Tina?"
The man grinned. "Yes. And that loyal friend of William's… Liam."
---
Back at the hospital, Liam stood outside Kate's door, arms crossed. Tina arrived minutes later, her face pale.
"She's okay?" Tina asked quickly.
"Yes," Liam said. "Physically. Emotionally? Not sure."
Tina looked down. "This is too much. All of it. Kate doesn't deserve this."
Liam nodded. "None of us saw this coming."
Tina took a deep breath. "I feel like I should've protected her better."
"You did what you could," Liam said. "Now we do more."
She looked up at him. "You really think someone inside is leaking information?"
"I don't think. I know."
Tina narrowed her eyes. "Then we need to find that person. Now."
Liam raised an eyebrow. "You're with me?"
Tina didn't hesitate. "All the way."
Their eyes met.
There was something warm in the silence between them.
But Tina looked away quickly. "I should get back to work."
Liam nodded slowly. "Right. Of course."
She turned to leave, then paused. "Liam?"
"Yeah?"
"Be careful. Whoever's behind this… they're serious."
Liam gave a small smile. "So am I."
---
That night, Kate sat in her bed, looking out the window.
William stood at the door. Watching her.
She didn't turn. "You're still here."
"Of course."
She finally looked at him. "You know, when I agreed to marry you… I thought the worst part would be pretending to be your wife."
"And now?"
Kate looked away. "Now I think the worst part is not knowing who to trust."
William nodded slowly. "That's how I've felt for years."
Silence filled the room.
Then Kate asked, "You think I'm still safe?"
William answered without blinking. "Not completely. But I will make sure you stay alive. Even if it means burning the whole city to the ground."