He hesitated, as though words were caught in his throat. “Ethan must be dealing with something critical. Try not to overthink it.”

“There’s no need to defend him,” Isabella murmured, shaking her head faintly. She let her eyelids fall shut again.

She had reached out to Ethan in her moment of need, but he had chosen Sophia instead. That betrayal cut deeper than any physical injury.

Her hand drifted cautiously to her stomach, panic flickering in her eyes. “Thank you for saving me,” she whispered, voice trembling. “My baby…is everything alright?”

The thought of losing her child was unbearable. The guilt would have shattered her.

Lucas leaned closer, his gaze intense yet gentle. “The baby is safe, thank goodness. But your pregnancy is fragile right now. You’re on medication to help stabilize it. The doctor said a few days of complete bed rest should help.”

Isabella released a shaky breath, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.

Her child was unharmed. That was everything.

She opened her mouth to thank him, but his phone rang sharply, cutting her off.

He answered quickly, his expression shifting. His brows drew together in a mix of confusion and frustration as he listened.

A cold dread settled in Isabella’s stomach as she watched him.

“What is it?” she asked, unable to hide her anxiety.

He ended the call and turned to her, his voice heavy. “The crash wasn’t an accident. The autonomous vehicle that hit you—its system was hacked. Someone deliberately altered its course to collide with your car at the intersection.”

He let the words hang in the air, studying her reaction closely. “This wasn’t random, Isabella. It was planned.”

“Planned?” she repeated, her voice a thin whisper. A cold shiver traced her spine.

First, the terrifying incident with Eleanor that had nearly ended in disaster. Now this. Someone was clearly targeting her.

But who would go to such lengths?

Fear clenched around her heart, icy and suffocating. “Did you find the hacker? Do you know who it is?” Her voice wavered, barely concealing her terror.

Lucas sighed, shoulders slumping under the weight of the situation. “We’re still investigating, Isabella. It’s like chasing ghosts. No solid leads yet.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration evident.

A thick silence filled the hospital room.

Isabella’s restless fingers found her abdomen again, tracing the faint, steady rhythm of the tiny heartbeat within. The reality of her secret pregnancy made everything feel more dangerous.

It was a miracle both she and the baby had survived the horrific crash. With the stakes now higher than ever, she knew what she had to do.

She turned her determined, worried eyes to Lucas. “Lucas, can you do something for me? Can you alter my medical records to show I had a miscarriage?” Her gaze was steady, belying the fear in her heart.

Lucas paused, weighing the seriousness of her request, then gave a slow nod. “Consider it done. Don’t worry.” His voice was firm, reassuring.

He stood, his tall figure cutting through the tense atmosphere as he left the room.