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Novel Catalog
Chapter 4
Eden sat by the hospital bed, her mind racing. The man lying there was a mystery, but his face—his striking features—felt oddly familiar. She furrowed her brow, trying to place him, but the puzzle pieces just wouldn’t fit.
The sterile smell of the hospital room seemed to intensify the silence that hung between them. She watched as the man shifted slightly, still unconscious but breathing steadily. The bandage on his forehead was stark against his pale skin, but it was clear that the worst had passed.
As she observed him more closely, the details began to come together. His high cheekbones, the sharp line of his jaw—it was a face that belonged in the tabloids or the covers of magazines. Still, it didn’t quite register. Who was he?
Her thoughts were interrupted when a nurse entered the room, breaking her concentration. She quickly stood up, trying to mask the unease she felt.
“Miss Bleu, the doctor will be here shortly to check on him,” the nurse informed her with a professional smile. “You can wait outside if you like, but he’s stable for now.”
Eden nodded absently, her thoughts still preoccupied with the mystery man. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes lingering on his face one last time before she turned and exited the room.
Outside the hospital ward, she leaned against the wall, her mind still racing. Who was this man? Why did he look so familiar? As she mulled it over, she pulled out her phone, quickly scrolling through her contacts.
One name caught her attention—Alexandra, her old friend from Gate City. Perhaps she knew something, or maybe her memory of this man would jog Eden’s thoughts.
Eden tapped the number, feeling a small knot of tension in her stomach. It was answered almost immediately.
“Eden? What’s going on? I was about to call you!” Alexandra’s voice sounded hurried, but friendly.
“Alex, you’re not going to believe this,” Eden began, her voice low, almost as if she was speaking to herself. “I’ve just helped a man after a car crash, and I swear, I know his face, but I can’t remember from where.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. Alexandra’s voice returned, more curious now. “Wait, hold on. Describe him to me.”
Eden took a deep breath and began to recount the man’s features, his fair skin, sharp features, and those eyes that seemed so familiar. “Does any of that sound familiar to you?”
There was a brief silence. Alexandra let out a soft gasp.
“Eden… are you sure you’re talking about… him?”
“Who?” Eden’s heart began to race again. “Who is he?”
“His name is Elijah Vance. He’s one of the wealthiest men in Gate City—though I’m sure you know that. He’s… a private person, keeps to himself a lot. He disappeared for a while, so most people kind of forgot about him. But… there’s no way you didn’t recognize him.” Alexandra’s voice was almost in awe.
Eden’s mind spun. Elijah Vance. That name seemed like it was on the tip of her tongue. Now it all made sense. The man she had helped was not just anyone—he was a name that carried weight, someone who was known but rarely seen. And now, here he was, unconscious in a hospital bed, with her in the middle of it all.
“Is he going to be okay?” Eden asked, almost to herself.
“I hope so,” came the reply, though there was a noticeable pause. “Eden, you should be careful. He’s not a man you want to owe anything to.”
Eden frowned, her thoughts swirling. Elijah Vance. This would certainly complicate things.