Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire-Chapter 394: Her Phone

At Meta Doctors Hospital

Carla sat quietly beside her mother’s hospital bed, her gaze lingering on her mother’s serene face. Despite being fifty, her mother still retained a youthful beauty, a reminder of the elegance she once carried so effortlessly.

"Carla, I’ve decided to transfer your mother to a facility in Lamey tomorrow," her father said, breaking the silence. He was seated on the opposite side of the bed, his posture weary but determined.

"That’s... so sudden," Carla replied, turning to face him.

"I know," he admitted, his voice firm yet laced with exhaustion. "But I want to try every option, Carla. We have to do everything we can to bring her back to us."

Carla’s heart ached at the sight of her father. His usually lively eyes were hollow, dark circles underlining the toll of sleepless nights. She knew he hadn’t rested properly since her mother fell into the coma.

Guilt surged through her chest like a tidal wave, but the echo of a voice she dreaded filled her mind: ’Do you really think they’ll stay loyal to you if they discover the truth? Love doesn’t blind them, Carla. They’ll turn away, and you’ll be left alone. Stop letting your emotions rule you!’

Shaking the thought away, she met her father’s gaze. "Do what you think is best, Dad. Mom’s recovery is the priority."

Her father nodded, the lines on his face softening slightly. "If you want, you can stay with your grandfather and-"

"Dad," Carla interrupted gently but firmly. "I’m fine. I’m an adult. I can take care of myself."

"I know," he said with a sigh, though his worry was evident. "Just don’t forget to visit your grandpa and grandma. Your grandpa’s been asking about you, and your grandma would love to see you. She’s been lonely at Bohne Island."

Carla offered him a faint smile and nodded. Her maternal grandfather, Saul Watson, was the country’s president and resided in the White House. Her maternal grandmother had passed away years ago. The grandmother her father mentioned was Carissa Cartier, his mother, who had insisted on naming her. The "C" in Carla came from Carissa, and "arla" was derived from her father, Arlan.

"I’ll visit them soon, Dad," Carla promised. "After I attend the Lane’s Ball event, I’ll spend some time with Grandpa. Then I’ll stay with Grandma for a few days. I already have a scheduled shoot near Bohne Island for a commercial."

Her father managed a faint smile at her reassurance, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

Carla felt a faint vibration inside her purse, drawing her attention. She glanced at her father, then spoke softly, "Dad, please get some rest. The private nurse is here to monitor Mom and take care of her."

Her father simply nodded, his gaze fixed on her mother. "If you need to be somewhere, go ahead, Carla."

"I’ll be quick," she replied with a half-smile. "Just a short exclusive interview, and I’ll be back soon."

He nodded again, still not looking her way, and Carla rose from her seat. With a deep breath, she left the hospital room, her heels clicking softly in the quiet corridor.

Once in the parking lot, Carla reached for the vibrating phone in her purse. But just as she pulled it out, a hand suddenly tapped her shoulder from behind. She jolted, startled, and the phone slipped from her grasp, clattering to the ground.

"Hey, Carla, are you alright?!"

She turned sharply to see Eric standing there, picking up her phone.

"What kind of phone is this? Is this the latest-" he began, inspecting it curiously.

"Give me that!" Carla cut him off, snatching the phone from his hand and stuffing it into her pocket.

"Whoa, relax! No need for the angry bird act," Eric said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "It’s not like I was stealing your phone. Seriously, though, what brand was that?"

Carla narrowed her eyes at him, clearly annoyed. "What do you want, Eric?"

"Oh, I saw you, so I figured I’d say hi. Isn’t that what friends do?" he replied with a smirk.

"Are you heading out? Don’t forget, you still owe me a meal!"

"Fine," she muttered, her tone clipped. "I’ll contact you when I’m available. I have to go now."

As she turned to get into her car, Eric called out, "Carla."

She stopped and glanced back at him, her hand on the car door.

"Are you okay? You know you can talk to me about anything, right? I’m worried about you. I’m your friend, and I care," Eric said, his expression sincere.

Carla bit the inside of her cheek, momentarily conflicted. She knew Eric was genuine, always trying to mediate between her and Alexander.

"I know, Eric," she said finally, her voice softening. "I appreciate you and everything you do. I promise we’ll have that meal soon. But I really need to go now. I have a tight schedule." She smiled to reassure him.

Eric nodded, though concern still lingered in his eyes. "Alright. I’ll head in and check on Uncle Arlan."

"Thank you," Carla said before getting into her car and driving away.

As soon as Carla exited the hospital, she maneuvered her car to the side of the road and parked. Her pulse quickened as she pulled the mobile phone from her pocket, immediately returning the missed call.

"Ah, glad you called back. So, did you like my present?" the man’s voice drawled on the other end, his tone oozing with smugness.

Carla’s lips curled into a smirk. "Did you manage to pull her out?" she asked, though the excitement in his voice had already given her the answer.

"Of course," he replied with a chuckle. "The lady’s in one piece. But man, she’s something else! The demands she’s making... she’s got my boys running in circles. I’ve got her stashed in one of the safe houses on Palan Island. There’s just one hiccup, though... her face. It’s a bit disfigured, and she’s losing it, screaming about needing surgery. Should we... reconstruct it?"

Carla leaned back in her seat, her smirk widening. She was feeling so good after hearing this news. "Have a doctor assess her first," she said coolly.

Then she took a deep breath and continued, "I want her alive and in good shape at all costs. If another surgery will endanger her life, then she’d better stay the way she is right now. It would be a waste if she lost her life without serving her purpose after all the effort we’ve put into this."

"Got it," the man said with a laugh. "I’ll handle it."

"Good. Now listen carefully," Carla continued, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Come here as soon as possible to deal with her directly, just as we planned. And make sure she has no clue that I’m involved in any of this. I don’t want her even whispering my name. She’s all yours."

"Understood," he replied, a hint of amusement still in his voice. "I’ll take care of everything, so you don’t need to worry."

"Good," she hummed in satisfaction.

"Madam, can I ask just a little favor?" the man asked hesitantly.

Carla raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it?"

"About the woman I’ve been looking for," he said, trailing off. Carla could already tell what he was going to say next, so she stated, "So, you still haven’t found that woman you’re looking for?" She was aware he had been earnestly searching for a woman for many years, but she hadn’t been interested enough to pay much attention.

Since he had pleased her, maybe she could help him with the matter now, especially after all the favors he had done for her without her even asking. And not just favors, but ensuring they were carried out perfectly, without any loopholes. He was skilled at handling the dirty work on her behalf.

’I should have asked him to deal with Rain before,’ she thought regretfully. But then, dealing with Rain and wiping her out completely required careful planning, especially with the Lancasters backing her up.

"It’s always a dead end for me! She probably went to another country and my network is very limited," he said, his frustration evident in his hissed response.

"Hmm, send me her details. Maybe I can help you, but I’m not promising anything. Make sure you continue to work flawlessly, and who knows... I might be the one to find her for you," she said with a smirk.

"Ah, that would be much appreciated, Madam Carla. You’re more powerful than me, so I’m sure you’ll be able to help with your wide network, not just here but in other countries as well," he said excitedly, his tone full of praise.

Carla chuckled and said, "Make sure everything is flawless. I’ll contact you soon, and don’t call or contact me unless it’s very important. Understood?"

"Yes, ma’am!"

With that, Carla ended the call. Her mobile phone beeped shortly after, and she opened the file he had sent with the details of the woman he was searching for.

"This woman..." she murmured with a deep frown. "She looks a bit familiar..." freёwebnoѵel.com

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January 14, 2025 AN: Book 1 of Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire is now available on AMAZON KDP. You can support this author by purchasing and somehow leaving a good review to it... haha *kisses and hugs* Have a prosperous 2025 to all! Cheers!