The Second Marriage Chance

Philip

Sarah’s anguished cries reverberated through my unconsciousness, her voice distorted as if echoing inside a vast, hollow drum. I yearned to chase after it, to pinpoint its source and find her.

Her confession about the baby filled her voice with fear, and I wanted to hug her, but I was being pulled back into darkness until her voice disappeared.

After what felt like an eternity suspended in silent darkness, a searing light began to pull at the edges of my awareness. Gradually, painfully, my eyelids flickered open.

Sensations immediately assaulted me. A hundred thousand needles seemed to pierce my back while the room blazed with an intense brightness. My head throbbed with pain, and I winced, wanting to curse, but it felt like something was lodged in my throat.

“B-boss!” a voice called out. It had to be Erwan. He quickly went to the door. “D-Dr. Ethan! Boss Philip has regained consciousness!”

A rush of footsteps and urgent voices filled the hallway outside. I looked around while they busied themselves with things I couldn’t understand.

Trying to sit up made the room spin, forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut against the dizziness. I closed my eyes to steady myself and felt a thick bandage wrapped around my head. Glancing to the side, I noticed the medical equipment surrounding me-IV lines in my arms; heart monitors beeping steadily, and other machines I couldn’t identify.

“Shit!” I hissed, desperately trying to piece together my fractured memories-the race… flashes of headlight… and then nothing but darkness.

“Philip!” Ethan’s voice called out. He entered with a doctor who began examining me, offering water to help me regain my senses.

“What happened? Where is Sarah?” I asked as panic began to rise in my chest. The thought of her in Mariano’s hands was terrifying. “Goddammit, Ethan, where is she?” My voice cracked with desperation as I tried again to sit up.

Ethan’s strong hands held me down, his face full of concern.

“Easy, Philip! It would be best if you stayed still,” he urged. “Sarah didn’t go to Romania if you’re worried about that. She was closely guarded. Well, at least, until…”

“Ethan, what happened?” I demanded, the suspense killing me.

“Not until Amir took Sarah to Dubai to ensure her safety,” Ethan assured me. “Philip, you need to understand. You’ve been in a coma for nearly three weeks. At first, we couldn’t even locate you…”

Ethan explained everything that had happened, including the kidnapping of my sister Jane. This prompted Sarah to return to Serenity Pines Estate and strike a deal with my mother to deliver the ransom money.

As the total weight of the situation hit me, I narrowed my eyes. “Are you saying Sarah was in mortal danger while I was lying here, as useless as a corpse?!”

I attempted to stand, driven by a surge of adrenaline, but my weakened body betrayed me. Damn it! I need to regain my strength, but it seems impossible right now!

“Take me to Neon Port!” I ordered the guard. I lashed out, unable to tolerate being forced to stay in bed.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Philip, for God’s sake, calm down!” Ethan shouted, torn between his medical training and friendship. “You’re too weak to charge in like this! They have a plan, and you need to trust your wife!”

I grabbed his clothing and glared at him fiercely.

“Ethan, if anything happens to her, it’s my fault!” My voice cracked with frustration, and tears formed in my eyes.

“You stubborn ass!” Ethan snapped, then sighed heavily. Shaking his head, he prepared an injection. “This will give you a temporary boost, but I’m warning you-you’re pushing your body to its limits.”

Minutes later, Ethan and I got into his car, followed by another vehicle carrying my two guards.

Ethan’s car stopped at the port, and my vision began to clear. My body was still in pain, but I needed to be strong. The port was bustling with activity. A van had been halted, encircled by a flurry of authorities. Amid the commotion, I spotted a familiar figure.

“Is that… Chairman Cornell?” Ethan asked, shooting me a questioning glance.

I wondered the same thing, suspecting my father was also here to save Jane.

“Philip, it’s best if you remain here,” Ethan said, his voice laced with concern. “I don’t have all the details of Sarah’s plan, but I know she’s not alone. Assistant Alex and Josh accompany her – they’re there to ensure her safety. She’s not as reckless as I thought. Mr. Martin and Sarah’s beautiful assistant, Emily, are also involved in her plan.”

I was speechless! I felt like a crazy person, agonizing over the thought that Sarah might do everything to save Jane, even if she’s alone! In fact, I even felt jealous of Jane because of my wife’s deep love for her friend.

“Fuck you, Ethan!” I exploded. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me this sooner?” Our heated exchanges were nothing new. “I’ve been with you all along, imagining Sarah walking into a trap, handing over the ransom money to my mother all by herself!”

“You didn’t exactly ask, you rascal!” he retorted.

Dismissing my annoying friend, I called the guard who was with us in the other vehicle. “I need you to find out exactly what’s happening right now.”

I didn’t want to risk surprising my father or causing unnecessary conflict if they saw me unexpectedly.

A few minutes passed before the guard, accompanied by Trey, returned.

“Boss!” Trey exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise as he spotted me inside Ethan’s car.

“What’s the current situation? I need details,” I inquired.

“Boss, we’ve successfully rescued Ms. Jane. Additionally, we apprehended another member of Madam Cornell’s team with Mr. Martin’s assistance. Currently, we’re awaiting the return of Madam Sarah’s yacht to port. Her team has successfully captured Madam Cornell herself.”

I closed my eyes tightly, letting the information sink in. A mix of relief and anxiety churned in my stomach.

“Should I inform them of your presence here, boss?” Trey asked.

“Is Sarah alright? Is she safe?”

Trey nodded reassuringly. “She’s fine, boss. She’s not alone-there are five highly trained guards with her, courtesy of Mr. Benner’s security team. They’ve been by her side this whole time.”

Unable to sit still any longer, I pushed open the car door and stepped out. The chill of the sea breeze hit me immediately, cutting through my jacket and making me shiver. My head was pounding, and I felt slightly nauseous, but I forced myself to stand still. I couldn’t let anyone see how shaken I truly was.

The guard and Ethan were there to support me.

“They’re here!” Ethan announced.

I watched as Sarah descended towards the port with her group, bringing my mother, who seemed lost in her mind. As they approached, I noticed something wrong with Sarah. Her usual energy was gone, and her face looked unnaturally pale under the bright port lights.

Moments later, she collapsed, her legs giving way like a melting candle. Without thinking, I lunged forward, catching her just before she hit the ground, cradling her unconscious form against my chest.

A collective gasp swept through the crowd, their confusion palpable as they struggled to understand why I had appeared.

“B-boss!” Alex exclaimed.

“Shall I take her?” Josh asked, looking directly at me for permission.

‘This guy!’ I thought to myself.

He probably assumed I hadn’t noticed his feelings for Sarah. The idea of him holding my wife made my blood boil. With a narrowed gaze, I chose to ignore his request.

“Philip!” My mother’s shrill voice broke the tension. Her eyes, wild with desperation, locked onto mine. “Philip! Help me! Don’t let them capture me! I’ll die in prison, Philip! That woman has poisoned your mind!”

I wanted to leave. The woman I once thought was my mother never gave a damn about me. During my disappearance or my time in a coma, she was busy scheming, maybe even when I was knocking on death’s door. Her concern was more about money than my well-being.

Ending our relationship decisively, I declared, “I will ensure you end up in jail, Mom. This is the price for destroying Sarah’s life.”

Her eyes widened, and she screamed, losing control at the port. But I had already turned away, her cries fading into background noise.

Placing Sarah gently in the car, I prepared to take her back to Serenity Pines…