Overnight Heiress

Someone had tried to poison me.

Me!

I still couldn't wrap my head around it.

The doctors confirmed it—poison. Someone had deliberately tried to end my life. I had spent the last few hours lying in this hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying every moment before I collapsed. The breakfast. The conversation with Chloe and Mum. The burning pain in my stomach.

I was alive. Barely.

A full day had passed since I blacked out. My body felt weak, my mouth dry like sandpaper. I wasn't in pain, but I was severely dehydrated and starving.

Mum had gone to fetch me some food and water herself, leaving Chloe to stay with me in the hospital room. She hadn't left my side since I woke up.

She sat in the chair beside my bed, arms crossed, foot tapping anxiously against the tile floor. Her lips were pressed together, but I could see the way her hands clenched into fists on her lap.

"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" she asked for what felt like the hundredth time.

I sighed, turning my head slightly to look at her. "Chloe, I'm fine. Just like the last four times you asked."

"You were unconscious for a whole day, Astrid. The doctors almost had to perform surgery!"

"I'm aware," I muttered. "I was the one in a coma, remember?"

Chloe exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. "I just—seeing you like that... You were so still, so pale. I thought—"

Her voice cracked.

I reached out, placing a weak hand over hers. "I'm here. I'm okay. I promise."

Chloe sniffed, nodding, but I could tell she wasn't convinced.

My stomach growled loudly, reminding me just how not okay I was. "Where is Mum? I feel like she left hours ago."

As if on cue, the hospital door clicked open.

Relief washed over me, expecting to see Mum walk in with a tray of food and a bottle of water.

But it wasn't Mum.

It was Cole.

His tall frame filled the doorway, his usual confident posture looking somewhat stiff, tense. His expression was unreadable, his dark eyes shadowed.

He took a step inside, opening his mouth as if to say something—

But Chloe was on her feet in an instant.

"Get the fuck out!" she snapped, eyes blazing with fury. "My sister is in no condition to see you!"

"Chloe!" My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, but the annoyance was clear.

"What, Astrid? If he had done his job properly, maybe this wouldn't have happened!" she spat, glaring daggers at Cole. "Some bodyguard he is—couldn't even protect you!"

"Chloe," I warned, but she ignored me completely.

Cole didn't flinch at her words. He stood tall, his hands at his sides, his jaw clenched tight.

"No," he said, his voice low and firm. "She's right."

Chloe blinked, startled by his agreement.

Cole straightened his posture, shoulders squared. "I failed you, Astrid. I should have been there. I should have seen it coming." His voice was thick, heavy with something close to guilt. "But I promise you—I won't make the same mistake again."

His words were serious, almost like a vow.

Chloe scoffed. "You say that now, but how do we know we can trust you?" She turned to me. "Astrid, you should fire him. I don't trust him. What if he's secretly working for those sick bastards and is just pretending to protect you?"

I sighed, my head beginning to ache.

"Chloe," I said, exasperated. "You can't just accuse people without proof. That's unfair."

Cole didn't even react to her accusation. He just stood there, his expression unreadable, almost Cold.

"I'll leave you to rest," he said finally, his tone measured but distant.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked out.

Chloe let out an annoyed huff. "See? He didn't even deny it."

"Chloe, stop," I groaned.

"Stop?" she repeated, turning to me with wide, furious eyes. "Astrid, someone tried to kill you. And not just in some random accident—this was planned. Someone poisoned you. And you want me to just let it go?"

"I'm alive," I said, trying to sound reasonable.

"Yeah, this time," she snapped. "But what about next time? What if they try again? What if—"

She cut herself off, inhaling deeply as if trying to calm herself.

Her hands were shaking.

I swallowed, my throat raw.

She wasn't wrong.

Someone had tried to kill me.

And they might try again.

Chloe took a step closer, gripping the railing of my hospital bed. "We're going to find out who did this," she said, her voice dangerously calm. "And when we do? They're going to wish they never messed with you."

A chill ran down my spine.

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could—

Mum walked in with a tray of food.

Oh, thank God.

I was starving, and Chloe was starting to scare me with her whole vengeance and wrath speech.

The smell of warm soup and toasted bread hit me instantly, making my stomach growl loud enough for both of them to hear. Chloe shot me a look, but I ignored her, my eyes locked on the tray like it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

Mum placed it on the bedside table, then handed me a bottle of water first. "Drink slowly," she warned. "You were severely dehydrated."

I didn't need to be told twice. I cracked open the bottle, chugging half of it before coming up for air. The cool liquid was a lifesaver.

Mum sat on the edge of the bed, studying me carefully. Her eyes were tired, worried. She reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"How are you feeling?"

I swallowed the water, then shrugged. "Hungry. Really, really hungry."

Mum gave me a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Well, let's fix that," she said, picking up the tray and placing it over my lap. "Eat up."

I didn't waste a second. I grabbed the spoon, scooped up some soup, and took my first bite.

Warm. Comforting.

And then—

Wrong.

My throat tightened instantly.

My stomach lurched.

A wave of nausea slammed into me like a train.

Something was wrong.

Chloe must have noticed my sudden stillness because she frowned. "Astrid?"

I dropped the spoon. It clattered against the tray.

Mum's face twisted in confusion. "What's wrong now?"

I opened my mouth, trying to answer—

But my tongue felt thick. My chest tightened.

No.

No, no, no.

Not again.

A horrifying realization hit me all at once.

I was being poisoned.

Again.