Jacob placed Diana in one of the fully-equipped cars at the mansion and barked an order to drive. When he heard someone say she still had a pulse, it snapped him back to his senses and he rushed her out of there as fast as he could.
He just hoped she'd only passed out from blood loss.
He looked down at her. Aside from the gash on her forehead, her cheeks were flushed, and faint bruises were starting to form around her neck where fingers had gripped her skin.
He held her tighter. His mind was blank.
What if he'd arrived a few minutes later?
What if she hadn't made it?
The moment they arrived at the hospital, a medical team was already waiting with a stretcher.
He helped place her on it and followed them down the hallway, trying his best to answer their rapid-fire questions.
It took about 45 minutes before a doctor stepped out of the room. Jacob immediately rushed over.
_"How is she? Is it serious?"
The doctor shook his head.
/"Nothing life-threatening. There's no need to panic."
The moment he heard that, Jacob finally felt like he could breathe again.
/"We did some imaging as well. Luckily, the head trauma didn't cause a fracture."
He adjusted his glasses.
/"There's also no sign of internal bleeding. We gave her a blood transfusion, and if things go well, she should regain consciousness within the next two or three hours. She'll be moved to a room shortly."
Jacob thanked him and sank down onto a chair.
He yanked at his hair, trying to ease the pounding headache building behind his eyes.
It hadn't even been two days since things had started to fall apart again.
Once Diana was transferred to a private room, Jacob followed.
He stood by the door and stared at her.
What the hell was he supposed to do now?
Should he help her escape?
What if he told Matthew the truth what then? What could Matthew even do?
He thought about just coming clean.
Even if Matthew fired him… even if he lost everything, he wouldn't complain.
But he couldn't stand seeing Diana like this again.
If it happened one more time, it might kill him.
He pulled out his phone and got to work there were things he needed to check.
He sat on the couch next to Diana's bed.
An hour passed.
Then he heard a soft groan.
He immediately looked over.
She'd furrowed her brows slightly, letting out a small whimper.
Jacob smiled faintly to himself.
_"She looks like a kid…"
Diana finally opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling for a while, as if trying to remember where she was or what had happened.
She didn't seem to notice him sitting nearby.
Jacob gently called her name.
_"Diana?"
He saw her flinch from surprise.
He got up from the couch and walked over to her.
_"Little one?"
-"Um… could you, uhm… raise the head of the bed a little?"
Without saying a word, he did it.
_"Are you okay? Are you in pain?"
-"Just… a bit of a headache. It's nothing."
Jacob slowly lifted his hand, carefully brushing her long hair away from her forehead, then gently stroked her head.
He asked softly, with hesitation:
_"Do you… want to tell me what happened?"
-"Didn't he tell you?"
He shook his head.
_"No… I didn't even get the chance to talk to him. When I saw you like that, I think I nearly had a heart attack.
After that, I just brought you straight here…
And waited for you to wake up. I haven't even gone back to the mansion."
Diana took a deep breath before she began. The painkillers were still in effect, leaving her a bit groggy and dazed.
She tried to downplay how bad things had been.
The last thing she wanted was for those two to start fighting again like that night.
-"...Then I must've passed out, and... that's it."
Jacob raised an eyebrow.
_"That's it? Really? So the bruises on your neck and cheek are the work of fairies, I suppose?"
Diana reached up to touch her neck, let out a sigh, and said in frustration:
-"Believe me, Jacob I don't have the energy for you two to start fighting again. I'm fine now. I don't care about anything else, except the fact that I'm still alive.
I still don't even understand what happened. It was like a damn storm!"
Jacob stared at her, hesitant.
He swallowed hard, bit his lip, and ran a hand through his hair.
_"Listen… If your condition doesn't worsen by tonight, I'll get you out of here, alright?
I've found a place I'll send you there. I'll wire you money every month, I'll make sure Matthew never finds you, okay?
I'll pay off your debt myself, so you don't need to wor..."
-"Jacob?"
Diana cut him off mid-sentence.
-"You don't need to do any of that, seriously.
I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying. Stop stressing about it.
I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about.
And I'd appreciate it if you could just handle my discharge papers."
Jacob, stunned, reached up to place a hand on her forehead. No fever.
_"Diana, are you okay? What do you mean you're not leaving? Are you out of your mind?
Do you realize what you're saying?!
Why would you want to ruin your life like this, huh?
If you're afraid of Matthew, just tell me! He'll give up on looking for you after a while..he'll forget you were even there!
Just listen to me, please. That's all I'm asking. Okay, sweetheart?"
Diana stared at him for a moment.
Then, slowly, she shook her head.
-"I'm okay, Jacob. I'm doing well, and I'm content.That's it.
If I ever leave that mansion one day, you can be sure it'll be by my choice."
She paused for a moment, watching Jacob's shocked expression.
Then she added under her breath:
-"Please stop worrying about it. Okay?"
Jacob shook his head in disbelief.
_"You're insane. Seriously. I don't even know…
Maybe it's the meds talking. Or maybe Matthew said something and scared the hell out of you!"
He paused again, then pleaded:
_"Wh–Why are you being so stubborn, Diana?"
Diana rolled her eyes dramatically, clinging to the only excuse that came to mind:
-"...I just remembered something.
I'm still mad at you.
And honestly? I don't want to talk to you anymore."
She turned her head to the other side of the bed.