The trip to the hospital felt longer than usual.
Nadya sat silently in the back seat of the car, both hands clasped together on her lap.
Every so often, her hand brushed against her pocket.
The watch was still there.
The small object felt like a burden that grew heavier by the minute.
Nadya stared out the window.
Her mind kept returning to the same question.
Who was the man that night?
She tried to remember his face, but all she could see was a shadow.
Last night had been too dark.
And her memories were too chaotic.
The only thing she could still remember clearly was that deep voice.
“How dare you tease me...”
Nadya shuddered.
Who had she teased? Had it been Mahendra? As far as she knew, she'd only spoken to him normally that night. There hadn't been anything suggestive at all. Or had Nayra teased Mahendra before, hoping he would marry her?
She quickly looked away.
No.
She couldn't keep thinking about it.
For now, she had to make sure Mahendra was all right. More importantly, she had to find out whether Mr. Mahendra had really been the one in the room with her last night.
As soon as she arrived at the hospital, Nadya headed straight for the information desk.
“Excuse me. I'd like to visit someone named Mr. Mahendra.”
The staff member checked the records on the computer.
“Mahendra Maheswara?”
“Yes.”
“The patient is in a room on the third floor. But...”
The staff member looked at Nadya.
“Are you family?”
Nadya fell silent for a moment.
“I’m his wife.”
The staff member nodded and gave her directions, though they had studied Nadya with an almost disbelieving look. Nadya figured the staff member must have thought she was Mr. Mahendra’s daughter.
Nadya hurried toward the elevator.
Each illuminated number felt like a countdown to an answer she wasn't ready to hear.
When she reached the third floor, Nadya saw several people standing in front of a room.
One of them was a woman with a bob haircut whom Nadya had never seen before.
The woman looked anxious.
The moment she saw Nadya approaching, her expression changed.
“You...”
Nadya stopped.
The woman looked her up and down.
“Mrs. Mahendra?”
Nadya nodded slowly. She didn't know how the woman had immediately realized she was Mahendra's wife.
“Yes.”
The woman didn't answer.
Instead, she quickly looked away.
Nadya found it strange.
But before she could ask, the door to the hospital room opened.
A doctor stepped out.
“Family of Mr. Mahendra?”
Nadya stepped forward at once.
“I am.”
“His condition is stable now. The attack was fairly serious, but for the time being, his condition isn't cause for concern.”
Nadya let out a relieved breath.
“Thank goodness...”
For the first time since morning, her chest felt a little lighter.
“May I see him?”
The doctor nodded.
“Go ahead. But don't stay too long.”
Nadya opened the door.
Mahendra lay on the bed with several devices attached to his body.
The man's face looked much paler than it had the night before.
Nadya stood in the doorway.
She stared at him for a long time.
Then she slowly stepped closer.
“Mr. Mahendra...”
Mahendra opened his eyes.
Their gazes met.
Nadya bit her lip.
There were so many things she wanted to ask him.
About last night.
About the bridal suite.
About the man who had come.
And about the watch she had kept.
But before she could ask a single question, Mahendra said weakly,
“You...”
Nadya moved closer.
“Yes, Mr. Mahendra.”
Mahendra looked at her in confusion.
“You came alone?”
Nadya nodded.
“I happened to get a ride here from the driver,” Nadya replied.
Then she gathered her courage and asked,
“Mr. Mahendra... last night, did you...”
Mahendra furrowed his brow.
“Last night?”
“Yes.”
Nadya studied his face.
“Did you go home?”
Mahendra fell silent.
Then he slowly shook his head.
“No.”
That answer left Nadya frozen.
Mahendra continued,
“I’m sorry. I left the house and never came back.” His voice faltered because of his weakness.
“Because I had an urgent matter to deal with,” Mahendra continued.
Nadya's chest tightened.
“So...”
Her voice was barely audible.
“You never went back to the bridal suite?”
Mahendra shook his head.
Nadya took a step back.
Her hand instinctively touched the pocket where she had stored the watch.
Her face slowly drained of color.
Now she had her answer.
The man who had been in the room with her last night...
wasn't Mahendra.
And without realizing it, the watch in her pocket might be the only clue to that man's identity. The man who had been in the room that night.