Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 124

It was night time already, and out of the Cena family, Alexander, Charles, Isabel, Clara, Harriet, Clarissa, and Sofia were the only ones left gathered outside Reynold's hospital ward.

The harsh, fluorescent hospital lights spilled into the hallway, casting an eerie glow on to their worried faces as they stood in anxious clusters, while the doctor and the medical team worked diligently to stabilize him.

The sound of beeping machines and hushed conversations filled the tense air, a stark reminder of the uncertainty that hung over them like a heavy cloud.

"I...I need to...be somewhere," Charles croaked out weakly, breaking the deafening silence as he stood up from the metal chair, his voice betraying his nervousness.

Everyone's attention turned to him, with only Clara speaking up, "Uncle Rey's in there fighting for his life... where do you possibly need to be?" Her frustration was evident in her tone, given everything that had been going on.

"I...I just need some fresh air away from here," he explained, and Clara frowned in response. He waited for a few seconds, and when no one said anything, he turned to leave. However, his mother's voice stopped him.

"Charles..." Sophia called, and he turned to meet her standing not too far from him, "Please be careful, okay?" She said, and he gave her a faint smile and nod before resuming his exit from the hospital's premises. Clara watched his retreating figure with a curious and suspicious look.

The crisp night air hit Charles as he stepped outside, providing much-needed air from the suffocating atmosphere of the hospital.

He took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze fill his lungs, and looked up at the clear sky dotted with twinkling stars.

It was a stark contrast to the sterile, fluorescent-lit hallways he had just left behind.

As Charles walked down the deserted streets toward his car parked on the other side, he couldn't help but replay the earlier events of the day in his mind.

He had received a call about Reynold's awakening in the hospital, and his thoughts raced with the possibility of Reynold revealing his true identity as Red Saint to the rest of the family.

"Damnit!" He yelled out in frustration as he kicked the tire of his car.

However, his outburst only resulted in him hurting his foot, and he grimaced in pain as he held it.

He was supposed to die, Charles thought bitterly.

With the pain in his foot subsiding, he lowered it and gazed up at the sky, exhaling deeply.

It was only a matter of time before Reynold got better, regained consciousness, and potentially exposed him.

That was something Charles couldn't afford.

He needed to silence Reynold, and for good this time. But before he could do that, he had other matters to attend to.

Charles got into his car and drove off. After he left, Clara emerged from the shadows where she had been hiding.

Her suspicion had been growing stronger by the second. She had witnessed the anger and frustration on Charles' face, as well as his desperate attempt to conceal it.

Clara had a nagging feeling that something wasn't right, but she couldn't quite pinpoint it.

She stood there for a while, watching Charles' car in the distance before eventually deciding to head back inside the hospital.

The mystery and suspicion continued to weigh on her mind as she returned to the ward room, where her family anxiously awaited news about Reynold's condition.

•~•~•~•~•

Laughter filled the hospital's third-floor corridor in room 305.

Camilla, still grinning from their shared amusement, looked at her mother, Alessia, who lay in her hospital bed, her cheeks flushed from the laughter.

In the corner of the room, Camilla's father observed the tender moment with affection in his eyes.

"Mamma, stai tranquilla, ti sei appena rimessa, (Mom, take it easy. You've just recovered,)" Camilla said, her voice carrying remnants of laughter as she spoke in Italian to her mother.

Alessia's eyes sparkled with joy as she responded, "My baby is here now, so I can laugh as much as I want. I know I'm going to be alright."

After a brief moment of quiet, as the cheerful atmosphere settled down, Camilla broke the silence.

"It's getting late, and I really need to head out," she said. Her mother's face showed a hint of disappointment.

"Can't you stay a bit longer?" Alessia asked, her voice tinged with sadness, her gray eyes that had been full of joy moments ago now reflecting a sense of longing. "Just stay the night, please."

Camilla sighed, feeling torn between her desire to remain with her mother and her commitment to Alexander.

"Mamma, I truly wish I could stay, but I promised Alexander that I would..." She couldn't finish her sentence as her father, Fernando, interjected with his concerns.

"What's the deal with Alexander, Camilla?" he questioned with a hint of frustration.

"Camilla please stay, I can't Papà...Alexander this, Camilla, come home and rest,...I'm sorry I can't Alexander that."

"I really don't understand you anymore, Amore. (Love.) I thought you resented him for what he did to you."

Camilla sighed again, leaning back slightly as she sat on her mother's hospital bed, grappling with the complexities of her emotions and her relationships.

"I told you, Papa, I don't want to dwell on what happened in the past. All I want you to know is that I've forgiven him," Camilla explained, her voice filled with conviction.

"So, you two are dating now?" Alessia's voice rejoined the conversation, and her tone didn't seem to carry any concerns about Camilla's relationship with Alexander.

Camilla paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "Well, it's kind of like a situationship," she answered, using a term that seemed to baffle her parents.

"Situationship... What does that mean?" Alessia inquired, curiosity evident in her voice.

Camilla chuckled, attempting to clarify. "It's sort of like a blend of friendship and a budding romance."

"We're not officially a couple, but there are feelings involved, and we're taking things slow."

Fernando and Alessia exchanged puzzled glances but ultimately decided to trust their daughter's judgment.

"As long as you're happy," Alessia said, her lips curling into a smile. "Promise me that, no matter what, you'll always prioritize your happiness."

Camilla nodded, her eyes expressing gratitude. "I promise, Mamma. My happiness means a lot to me, and I won't let anyone or anything take it away from me."

Fernando placed a hand on Camilla's shoulder, beaming with pride. "That's my girl."

Camilla leaned in to give her mother a gentle but heartfelt hug, and then her father, making sure not to squeeze too tightly.

"Take care of yourselves, and don't give me any more scares," she told her mother, who chuckled softly and nodded.

"I'll do my best, la mia bambina (my baby girl). Just focus on taking care of yourself too." Camilla nodded, feeling the warmth of her parents' embrace before preparing to leave.

A few minutes later, Camilla found herself seated inside the pre-arranged car, waving goodbye to her father as he stood at the hospital entrance.

The car started, carrying her back to the hotel and she watched as her father's figure gradually receded in the distance.

Sitting in the passenger seat, she gazed out the window, lost in thought.

After a while, realizing she needed to inform Alexander about her impending return to the hotel and inquire about his aunt's husband's health, she reached into her pocket to retrieve her phone.

However, to her dismay, the screen remained dark after double tapping it to switch on.

It then dawned on her that she had depleted the battery playing games with her mother all day and had forgotten to recharge it.

"Dran it," she muttered under her breath.

As she contemplated her phone's useless state, she noticed the car slowing down.

Peering out the window, she realized they hadn't reached her hotel yet and had come to a halt on a desolate stretch of highway.

"Pablo... What's going on? Why are we stopping?" Pablo, her father's trusted driver, looked at her with a touch of concern in his usually composed expression.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. It seems we have a flat tire," he explained.

Camilla let out a frustrated sigh, sinking back into her seat. "Of course...Just my luck," she mumbled to herself.

Pablo promptly exited the car to inspect the damage, confirming that they had indeed suffered a flat tire that required replacement.

Minutes ticked by, and Camilla's patience wore thin. She couldn't bear sitting idly any longer, so she stepped out of the car to join Pablo, who was struggling with the spare tire.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Camilla called out to him as she approached.

Pablo briefly glanced up at Camilla, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

"No, Ma'am... It's alright. I'll take care of it," he assured her, his calm demeanor providing some reassurance.

Camilla sighed and leaned against the car, her eyes fixed on Pablo as he continued to work diligently.

Minutes ticked by, and she found herself growing increasingly impatient. She watched the darkened highway ahead, waiting for any sign of progress.

Suddenly, the sound of an approaching car caught her attention. Headlights pierced through the darkness as the vehicle drew nearer, eventually coming to a stop alongside her own car.

Intrigued, Camilla stepped away from the car and walked a bit forward, listening as Pablo asked, "Ma'am, do you know who it is?"

She took a moment to assess the unfamiliar car and surroundings before responding, "No." Her voice was low as she moved closer to the vehicle.

The car's door opened, revealing a man of about 5 feet 9 inches, dressed casually in a button-down shirt and jeans.

His slightly disheveled dark hair framed a pair of piercing hazel eyes that surveyed the scene before resting on Camilla.

"Hello... Good evening?" he greeted, a hint of curiosity and concern in his voice. "Do you need any help? I happened to be passing by and saw that you seemed to be having car trouble."

Camilla squinted at the stranger as she cautiously studied him. "Charles?... Right?" Surprise tinged her voice as she spoke his name.

Charles' eyes widened in apparent surprise as he spoke, "Camilla? Is that really you?" He took a step closer, giving her a warm hug before pulling back to gaze at her.

"Wow, you look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you sooner. I have some difficulty seeing clearly at night."

Camilla chuckled awkwardly, not entirely sure how to respond to Charles' compliments.

"Thank you, Charles. It's been a while since we last saw each other," she eventually replied, her voice carrying a touch of nostalgia.

Leaning against his car, Charles continued, "Yeah, it has been a while. So what brings you out here in the middle of the night? Car trouble?" He wore a playful grin on his face.

Camilla sighed, briefly glancing back at Pablo, who stood behind her.

"Yeah, it looks like we've got a flat tire. Pablo is trying to fix it, but it's taking longer than expected," she explained, a hint of annoyance in her tone.

Charles nodded in understanding. "A flat tire can be a real hassle, especially around here," he added, which left Camilla curious about his statement.

"What? What do you mean?" she inquired, glancing behind her to Pablo, who seemed equally puzzled.

Turning back to Charles, she asked, "Is there something I should know, Charles?"

Charles looked a bit surprised and asked, "Wait, you mean you don't know?" Camilla shook her head, replying, "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking, right?"

Chuckling at her response, Charles continued, "Right, I almost forgot how clever you are with your words. Well, it's not a big issue, just some criminal activities."

"A few days ago, some robbers targeted an elderly woman, stole her vehicle, and other valuables. It's just one of many incidents in the area, so I wouldn't advise staying here any longer."

Camilla's eyes widened in alarm as she absorbed Charles' words. Robbers and criminal activities were the last things she expected to hear.

Stranded on a deserted highway in the middle of the night, fear began to wash over her.

She turned to Pablo, who seemed just as concerned. "Pablo, did you hear about any of this?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Pablo shook his head. "No, Miss. I'm sorry, I didn't hear anything about this. But we should definitely heed Sir's warning and try to get moving as soon as possible."

"But how? Clearly, you don't know how to fix a flat tire," Camilla pointed out with raised eyebrows, her attention still fixed on the driver.

"I may have a solution for that," Charles said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "How about I take you back to... well, your place instead?" He suggested, and Camilla hesitated.

"What about him?" She gestured towards Pablo and then looked at him as if to confirm what Charles had just suggested.

"Don't worry, ma'am. I can call a taxi to come pick me up, and as for the car, I'll have it towed to a nearby mechanic. Your safety is the priority right now," Pablo reassured her.

Camilla bit her lip, torn between wanting to get to the hotel as soon as possible and worrying about leaving Pablo stranded on the highway.

Charles seemed to sense her hesitation and stepped forward, gently placing a hand on her arm.

"It's okay, Camilla. He's a capable man. I'm sure he can take care of himself. Right, Pablo?" he said, turning to Pablo, who nodded in agreement.

Reluctantly, Camilla nodded as well. "Alright... I guess I don't have much of a choice. Let's go," she said, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Charles offered her a reassuring smile before walking back to his car and opening the door for her.

Camilla hesitated for a moment before getting in, glancing back once more at Pablo, who gave her a nod of reassurance.

As Charles started the engine and pulled away from the side of the road, Camilla couldn't help but feel a slight sense of unease.

However, she brushed it off with a small smile, focusing on the fact that she was in familiar company and would soon be back at the hotel.