The ambulance doors burst open under the white lights of St. Mary's Medical Center. Doctors and nurses were already waiting.
"Gunshot wound to the chest," a paramedic shouted as they rushed the stretcher forward. "The pulse is weak he lost consciousness at the scene."
The wheels screeched against the polished hospital floor as they pushed Adrian Kingston through the emergency doors.
Kate stood frozen for half a second before forcing her legs to move. Her wedding dress dragged behind her, heavy with blood. Security tried to stop her, but she pulled her arm free.
"I'm his wife," she said, her voice shaking but firm. "Let me through!" The word wife felt strange in her mouth because they had been married for less than five minutes.
The emergency room swallowed Adrian behind swinging doors. Kate was left standing in a hallway that smelled of antiseptic and fear. Bright white lights hummed overhead, and nurses passed quickly, their shoes soft against the floor. Somewhere nearby, a machine beeped in steady rhythm.
Her hands were still red, she stared at them. An hour ago, those hands had held a bouquet of white roses now they trembled.
A nurse approached carefully. "Ma'am, please sit. We will update you soon."
Kate nodded, though she did not remember deciding to do so. She sat on a stiff chair, her back straight, her eyes fixed on the emergency room doors.
Minutes felt like hours, then more people arrived. First came Adrian's mother, Eleanor Kingston, her face pale but composed. She wore a dark coat thrown hastily over her formal dress.
Behind her came members of Kingston Global's executive board. Men in tailored suits, women with sharp eyes and steady expressions. They did not look like mourners but looked like investors watching the market crash.
The doors finally opened, a surgeon stepped out, mask pulled down, lines deep across his forehead.
"Mrs. Kingston?" Kate stood up immediately as the title struck her again.
"Yes."
"The bullet missed his brain but damaged major blood vessels near the heart. We managed to stop the bleeding, but he lost a significant amount of blood."
Kate held her breath.
"He is alive," the doctor continued, "but he is in a coma. We are placing him on life support to stabilize his condition."
The words alive, coma, and life support. Floated around her without fully settling. "Will he wake up?" she asked quietly.
The doctor hesitated just enough for her to notice. "We cannot say yet. The next twenty four hours are critical."
Kate nodded once. "I want to see him."
They led her to the intensive care unit, where Adrian lay on a narrow hospital bed surrounded by machines. Tubes ran from his arms, a ventilator moved rhythmically beside him, pushing air into his lungs with monitor displayed the steady rise and fall of his heartbeat.
His face was pale, the powerful man who once filled boardrooms with silent authority now looked fragile. Kate stepped closer, and reached for his hand carefully, avoiding the needles.
It was warm as she closed her eyes for a moment. "You're not allowed to leave," she whispered.
Outside the hospital, cameras gathered like birds before a storm. News vans lined the street reporters stood under bright lights despite the late hour. While Kingston Global's heir had been shot at his own wedding.
The story spread across the world within minutes, then the security approached Kate gently. "Mrs. Kingston, the media is requesting a statement."
She looked at Adrian once more before letting go of his hand. "I'll be back," she told him softly.
In a private waiting room, a staff member handed her a clean cream colored dress. Someone helped remove the ruined wedding gown. The fabric peeled away stiffly where blood had dried.
Kate stood still as they fixed her hair and wiped away the stains from her skin, when she looked into the mirror, she barely recognized herself. Her eyes were red, but dry, she pressed her lips together then she walked outside.
The cameras flashed immediately. "Mrs. Kingston, how is your husband?"
"Was the attack targeted?"
"Do you believe this was corporate rivalry?" Voices rose over one another.
Kate raised her hand slightly and the crowd quieted. Her face was pale but controlled with shoulders straight. "My husband is alive," she said clearly. "The doctors are doing everything they can." Her voice did not break.
"We ask for privacy and prayers during this time. The authorities are investigating the attack and we trust that justice will be served."
A reporter called out, "Is Kingston Global prepared for leadership changes?"
For the smallest second, something flickered in her eyes, but it was gone quickly. "Right now," she replied calmly, "our focus is on Adrian's recovery."
She bowed her head slightly and turned away. Only when the hospital doors closed behind her did her breath shake.
Inside, behind thick glass walls on the hospital's upper floor, the board of Kingston Global had already gathered in a private conference room. The room overlooked the city skyline, the same skyline where the sniper had hidden.
Around the long glass table sat twelve board members at the head sat Eleanor Kingston. A large screen displayed Kingston Global's stock prices were falling.
"This cannot continue," said Director Han, a sharp faced man with silver hair. "The market reacts to uncertainty. If Adrian remains unconscious, we must appoint an acting CEO immediately."
"He has been in surgery for less than three hours," another member argued. "This is not the time."
"It is exactly the time," Han replied. "Investors will demand competency."
Eleanor remained silent, her fingers folded neatly on the table.
"We must consider succession," a woman in a navy suit added. "If he does not regain consciousness, the company cannot drift leaderless." The word drift felt heavy.
"Adrian built this company into what it is," Eleanor finally said. Her voice was calm but carried quiet authority. "He deserves more than a discussion about replacing him while his heart still beats."
Director Han adjusted his glasses. "With respect, Madam Kingston, this is not personal. It is business."
"Everything about this is personal," she replied.
Another board member leaned forward. "The bylaws state that in the event of incapacitation, the board may vote to appoint interim leadership." Eyes shifted around the table.
Back in the intensive care unit, Kate sat beside Adrian once more as she held his hand gently.
"They're already talking," she murmured. "About who takes your chair, and who signs the company papers." Her voice softened. "You always said the world moves fast, I didn't believe you meant this fast."
She leaned closer, resting her forehead lightly against his hand. "You promised to choose me every day," she whispered again. The ventilator breathed for him, beep! Beep! Beep!
In the conference room, voices rose again. "We vote tonight," Director Han insisted. "An interim CEO must be announced before markets open."
"And who do you suggest?" someone asked.
Han's lips curved faintly. "I am prepared to serve."
Across the table, another member stiffened. "How convenient."
Eleanor watched them carefully without uttering any words.
Outside the glass walls, nurses moved quietly through the hallway and in the ICU, Adrian's fingers twitched slightly.
Kate lifted her head. "Adrian?"
The monitor continued its steady rhythm, she held her breath for a brief second, his eyelids fluttered.
Then they stilled again, tears filled her eyes, but she did not let them fall.
"Fight," she whispered. "If you can hear me, please fight for us."