CHAPTER 112: CHAPTER 112 HE WAS PROTECTING SOPHIA

Serena’s POV

I woke up to the sterile smell of hospital disinfectant and the steady beeping of monitors. My body felt heavy, like I’d been hit by a truck.

Opening my eyes fully, I found Maya sitting beside my bed, her eyes puffy and red-rimmed.

She practically lunged forward when she noticed I was awake. "Serena! Thank God! I feel like such an idiot. I should’ve caught on faster when you called. Something felt off, but I just didn’t connect the dots until it was almost too late."

I glanced around the hospital room, searching for Ryan but finding no trace of him. The disappointment I felt surprised me.

"I’m okay," I assured her, my voice raspy. "Was it Ryan who rescued me?"

Maya nodded quickly. "He called me last night, told me to come here and stay with you. He was furious, Serena. I’ve never seen him like that before."

"Where is he now?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"He said he had some business to take care of," Maya replied, standing up. "Let me go get your doctor."

The doctor came in promptly, checking my vitals and examining me thoroughly.

"You’re experiencing some shock, which is perfectly normal given what you’ve been through," he explained. "What you need most now is rest and minimal stress."

He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Your baby is doing remarkably well. Strong heartbeat, normal position. That little one’s a fighter, just like mom."

Relief flooded through me. After everything that happened last night, knowing my baby was safe was all that mattered.

"What about the man who kidnapped me?" I asked after the doctor left.

Maya’s expression darkened. "Ryan’s men took him somewhere for questioning. I haven’t heard anything else yet, but don’t worry. Ryan’s handling it."

I nodded, sinking back into the pillows. Part of me was grateful for the chance to rest, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing with questions. Could there be others behind Sophie? Just how deep did this conspiracy go?

---

Ryan’s POV

I stood in a dimly lit basement, staring down at Derek’s battered form.

His face was a mess of bruises, his body slumped in the chair where my security team had been working on him since the previous night.

"So you’re claiming Sophie Hart hired you to do this?" I asked, keeping my voice dangerously calm despite the rage burning inside me. "She promised you money to leave the country afterward?"

Derek nodded frantically, desperation clear in his bloodshot eyes. "Yes, yes! I swear it’s the truth. She arranged everything!"

I circled around him slowly, like a predator stalking prey. "You’re supposedly her ex-husband. Why would she trust you with something like this?"

"That’s just it—I’m not her ex-husband at all," Derek gasped out. "That was all part of the act she paid me to perform. It was a setup from the beginning."

"Show me proof," I demanded coldly.

Derek’s eyes widened. "Check my phone! She transferred money to me. The receipts are all there!"

I took Derek’s phone from Simon, scrolling through the transaction history with narrowed eyes. The amounts were substantial—far more than Sophie could afford on her own.

"Is this all the evidence you have?" I asked, pocketing the phone.

Derek’s face fell. "What more do you want? I’m telling the truth, I swear!"

I turned to my security chief. "Continue. I want to know who’s really backing her."

As fresh screams echoed through the basement, I handed the phone to Simon. "Trace every transaction. I want to know exactly where this money originated."

"Right away, sir."

I left the basement, shutting the heavy door behind me. The screams instantly silenced. I stood in the hallway for a moment, straightening my jacket as my mind processed everything I’d learned.

I drove to the hospital, my thoughts in turmoil. When I arrived, I stopped outside Serena’s room, watching through the doorway as she talked with Maya. She looked pale but alert, her hand resting protectively on her belly.

I hesitated. I needed more information before facing her questions. Better to wait until I had concrete answers about who was truly responsible.

After speaking briefly with her doctor and confirming she was stable, I decided to leave. I’d return once I had the full truth.

---

Serena’s POV

"Serena, I think I just saw Ryan in the hallway," Maya said, returning to my room with medication.

I froze mid-bite of the apple I’d been eating. "Ryan was here? Why didn’t he come in?"

"I don’t know. I only caught a glimpse of him leaving."

My jaw clenched as realization dawned on me. Derek had been in Ryan’s custody all night—more than enough time to extract the truth.

If Ryan was avoiding me now, there could only be one reason — he was protecting Sophia.

"Maya, I want to check out of the hospital. Now."

Her eyes widened in shock. "What? Are you crazy? You need to rest!"

"I can rest somewhere else," I insisted, my anger building. "I can’t stay here another minute."

"Serena, please be reasonable. What if something happens? You need medical care!"

"What I need is to get out of here," I said firmly. "I’m perfectly stable, and this place is suffocating me. Please, just help me with the discharge papers."

After considerable arguing, Maya finally gave in. Instead of returning to my apartment, I went to stay at her place. I couldn’t bear the thought of being alone, and I certainly didn’t want to be somewhere Ryan could easily find me.

As Maya tucked a blanket around me on her couch, she continued fretting. "I still think this is a terrible idea. What if you start feeling sick or have complications? At the hospital they could immediately—"

I shot her a warning look, and she stopped mid-sentence.

"Ugh, listen to me being all doom and gloom!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. "Bad Maya!"

"Maya," I said, my voice taking on a serious tone, "I need you to do something important for me. I need detailed information on Sophie’s recent activities. Everything she’s been doing, everyone she’s been seeing."

Maya’s expression turned serious. "You think she’s behind the kidnapping?"

I nodded slowly. "I’m almost certain of it. But I need solid proof."

Since Ryan was choosing to protect Sophie even now, I’d have to handle this myself. I’d been naive to think he might have changed, to let my guard down just because he’d rescued me. The moment I thought of putting Sophie in a bad light, he disappeared.

"I’ve had enough," I whispered, more to myself than to Maya. "Sophie has gone too far this time. She’s not just coming after me anymore—she put my baby in danger."

My hand moved protectively over my stomach. No more playing nice. No more second chances. If Ryan wouldn’t stand up to her, I would have to do it myself.