Chapter 27

Allyson's POV

Allyson's hospital room was filled with the rhythmic beeping of machines and the soft rustling of fabric as nurses tended to her. The pain in her chest had dulled to a constant ache, but the emotional turmoil was far worse. She had tried to piece together the fragments of the last few days, but everything felt like a blur—Nate's coldness, the confrontation at the warehouse, and the bullet that had nearly taken her life.

As she lay in bed, her mind drifted back to the moment she had thrown herself in front of Nate. The memory was hazy, but one thing was clear—she would have done it again without hesitation. Despite everything, she still loved him. The realization filled her with a mix of sorrow and resolve.

The door to her room creaked open, and Allyson's heart skipped a beat when she saw who entered. Her uncle, Richard, stood at the threshold, his usually stern face softened with worry. Behind him, Kelvin lingered, his expression unreadable.

"Allyson," Richard said softly as he approached her bedside. "How are you feeling?"

Allyson managed a weak smile. "I've been better."

Richard sighed heavily and took a seat next to her, his eyes scanning her face as if to reassure himself that she was truly there. "When I heard what happened… I'm just glad you're alive."

"Uncle, I—" Allyson began, but Richard gently cut her off.

"Save your strength, Allyson. There will be time to talk about everything later. For now, I need you to focus on getting better."

But Allyson shook her head, determination in her eyes. "No, Uncle, we need to talk now. I need to know what's really going on."

Richard exchanged a glance with Kelvin, who nodded subtly before stepping forward. "Allyson, there's something you need to know. The man who shot you—he was working for Rachel."

Allyson's breath caught in her throat. "Rachel? But why? What does she have against me?"

Richard's expression darkened. "It's not just about you, Allyson. Rachel has been plotting against our family for a long time. She's been manipulating Nate, feeding him lies, and trying to destroy your marriage because she sees you as a threat."

"A threat?" Allyson echoed, disbelief coloring her tone. "How could I be a threat to her?"

Kelvin stepped closer, his voice steady. "Rachel wanted Nate all to herself. She knew that if she could break the two of you apart, she'd have a chance to take over the company—and possibly more. But what she didn't realize was just how deep her actions would cut."

Allyson's mind raced, connecting the dots. "So, all those times Nate doubted me, all those rumors… it was Rachel?"

Richard nodded grimly. "She's been playing a dangerous game, Allyson. And now, it's time to end it."

Before Allyson could respond, the door opened again, and a nurse peeked in. "Mr. Hart, there's someone here to see you."

Richard frowned but stood up. "Who is it?"

The nurse glanced over her shoulder. "It's Mr. Grayson. He says it's urgent."

Allyson's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Nate's name. She wasn't sure if she was ready to face him after everything that had happened, but before she could voice her hesitation, Richard was already heading toward the door.

When Nate stepped into the room, his face was a mix of exhaustion and desperation. His eyes locked onto Allyson's, and for a moment, the room was filled with an unbearable silence.

"Allyson," Nate began, his voice hoarse. "I—"

But Richard stepped between them, his expression hardening. "You have some nerve showing up here after everything you've done."

Nate's gaze flicked to Richard, then back to Allyson. "I didn't come here to fight. I came to apologize. I was wrong, about everything."

Allyson's heart clenched. "Nate, you don't have to—"

But Nate shook his head, cutting her off. "No, Allyson, I do. I was blinded by my own insecurities and by the lies Rachel fed me. I should have trusted you, believed in you… but instead, I pushed you away."

Richard's anger simmered, but he didn't interrupt. He wanted to hear what Nate had to say, though his stance was still protective.

Nate took a deep breath, his voice trembling with emotion. "When I saw you get shot… it was like my entire world came crashing down. I realized that I still love you, Allyson. I never stopped. And I'm so sorry for all the pain I've caused you."

Tears welled up in Allyson's eyes as she listened to Nate's confession. She had longed to hear these words, but now that they were spoken, she wasn't sure how to respond. The hurt and betrayal she had endured couldn't be undone with a few words, but at the same time, she could see the sincerity in his eyes.

Richard cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Nate, if you truly care about Allyson, you'll stay away from her until this mess is resolved. She needs time to heal, both physically and emotionally."

Nate's face fell, but he nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I understand. But please, let me do something to make up for what I've done."

Richard studied Nate for a moment before speaking. "There's only one thing you can do—help us take down Rachel."

Nate's eyes widened in surprise. "Take her down? How?"

Kelvin stepped forward, his expression serious. "Rachel's actions have endangered not just Allyson but the entire company. She's committed crimes that could destroy her if they were exposed. We need to gather evidence, and we need someone who can get close to her without raising suspicion."

Nate hesitated, glancing at Allyson. "If this is what it takes to make things right, then I'll do it."

Allyson looked at Nate, her heart torn between the love she still felt for him and the fear of being hurt again. "Nate… be careful. Rachel is dangerous."

Nate gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I will. I promise."

As Nate turned to leave, Richard placed a hand on his shoulder. "Nate, I'm trusting you with this. Don't make me regret it."

Nate met Richard's gaze with determination. "I won't."

As the door closed behind Nate, Allyson felt a mix of relief and anxiety. The man she loved was walking into danger, and there was no guarantee he would come out unscathed. But one thing was certain—Rachel's days of manipulation and deceit were numbered.

As Nate walked out of the hospital, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He glanced around, but the parking lot was empty. Shrugging it off, he headed to his car, determined to start gathering evidence against Rachel.

But as he reached his car, his phone buzzed with a new message. The sender was unknown, and the message contained only a single line:

**"You've made a mistake, Nate This isn't over."**

Nate's blood ran cold as he stared at the screen. Whoever had sent the message knew about his plan—and they were watching his every move.