The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Lorelai POV

Pain. It shoots through my body. I'm running. I can feel my heart beating wildly in my chest. They are coming. All of them. I have to get away before they catch me. I can still feel their hands on me. I can hear their laughter, and feel their breath on me. I stifle a sob, as I head down the corridors, my eyes blindly seeking the exit. My fear increases. They are getting closer. I can't outrun them. They're too strong. Stronger than me. Bigger than me. They're going to hurt me. There is nothing I can do to stop them. I can feel them gaining on me. I run faster, my legs pumping furiously. It's not enough. Not nearly enough. I feel a hand touch my shoulder and I scream......

I scream out loud, flailing around, my voice shrill and panicked, my eyes shooting wide open as I stare around the room in confusion. I didn't know where I was. I thought I was still in the warehouse and I could feel my heart thumping. A hand placed itself on my shoulder and I began to struggle wildly, blankets flying everywhere.

"Shhh," a voice said soothingly and I paused, certain I knew the voice.

It was eerily familiar. Could it be?

"Knox?" I asked, blinking in the dim light and pausing in my movements as I stared up at the dimly lit figure.

He moves closer and I see his face, my body relaxing slightly. "It's me Lorelai honey," he says, stroking my hair as I collapse back onto the bed bewildered "It's okay. You're safe. You're in the hospital" he murmurs.

I let out a small sob "How did I get here?"

It's all a blur. A big blur. Did he really come in a chopper or had I imagined it? He tenderly takes my hand and I feel the warmth emanating from it. "I brought you back in a chopper" he frowns glancing around the room "You don't remember?"

"I thought it was a dream" I whisper, licking my cracked lips.

He reaches for a glass of water and holds it to my lips, urging me to drink it. I sip it gratefully and then watch him put it back on the bedside table.

"I want to go home," I told him, as he began to smooth the blankets back over me, picking them up and placing them carefully on me.

"You can go home tomorrow, providing that all your tests come back fine" Knox answers, while I look at him beseechingly "But are you sure you want to go back so soon? You've been through an ordeal" he hesitates, a guilty expression on his face "and it's all my fault, I should have gone to the mall with you. We should have known that Karen would pull something like this."

I stare at him. "You couldn't have known. You're not a mind reader Knox."

"I still blame myself" he exhales angrily, running a hand through his hair in frustration "I was meant to protect you and you failed."

"You came for me" the words burst out of my mouth "You came for me and that's what matters. The entire time" I sob "all I could think about was you. Whether you were going to save me. If you knew I was gone. Knox, I don't blame you for this." "You should" he snaps pulling away "I do."

I open my mouth just as the doctor walks in, a solemn expression on her face. I'm grateful that it's a female and wonder if Knox specifically requested one. "Good evening Miss Mathews, my name is Doctor Mendoza and I'm here to quickly check your vitals. It's good to see that you're awake. Are you feeling any pain anywhere?" she asks as she begins to take my blood pressure.

"My ribs" I admit lowly "and my leg" I indicate with my hand.noveldrama

The doctor nods, tightening her lips. "You have extensive bruising on your ribs but thankfully nothing was broken. There is no internal bleeding which is something to be thankful for as well. As for your leg, that too is badly bruised but other than that is fine. I have set up an IV with painkillers for you which should be taking the brunt of the pain" she said, adjusting her spectacles "But if you feel you need something stronger then I'm happy to organize that for you."

I consider it and then slowly shake my head. The pain is manageable and part of me doesn't want to be fully incapacitated. The doctor begins to check my pulse.

"Your blood pressure is high but not unexpected given the situation you were in" she comments, while Knox listens intently "And your pulse is slightly thread but nothing to be concerned about. I'm more worried about your emotional state. I held off doing a rape kit" she fixes her eyes on me while Knox stiffens "and I need to know if there is a need to do one. I understand that this might be an upsetting question to ask you but..."

I shake my head "They didn't get a chance."

Knox slowly exhales. The doctor looks relieved. "We cleaned the blood off of your body but did not shower you in order to preserve evidence in case it was necessary. I'm happy to say that the majority of your blood tests have come back as being relatively healthy" she beams.

Majority? What exactly had she been looking for I mused as Knox also looked at the doctor and raised a brow. "I'm sorry you did just say majority?" he asked concerned.

The doctor consulted her clipboard and raised a brow. "Yes. Your iron is a little low" she advised me "Not enough that it's a worry just yet, but I would advise getting some iron supplements and starting them so that it doesn't continue to drop." "I'll make sure to grab some today" Knox interrupted with a growl.

Low iron might explain why I was so tired lately, I thought suppressing a yawn. The doctor's eyes were beginning to gleam. "You are also low on vitamin D," she said consulting her clipboard, "which can also be increased by supplements."

I nod. So far it didn't seem like anything too bad. It helped me to have something to focus on instead of thinking about the ordeal I had just been through. It was also helping Knxo who was focussing on it intently and even writing notes on his cell phone about it, I noticed with some amusement.

"In relation to your emotional state," the doctor was a little more hesitant this time, "I think it would be a very good idea for you to see a therapist. I can recommend one or you can organize one privately but considering the trauma you've just undertaken, the likelihood of experiencing PTSD is very high and of great concern" she said, looking at Knox anxiously "Talking to somebody may help to relieve some of that. There is no shame in consulting a therapist to help your emotional state and in fact I highly recommend it" she said exhaling.

I nod. I wasn't averse to it, but the thought of talking to anyone just now filled me with anxiety. I had killed a man. How did I tell someone about that? Wouldn't they judge me? I felt sickened about it. Disgusted. Dirty. Degraded. I look down at my hands unable to utter a sound. Knox lightly strokes my back. The doctor sighs. "Just consider it. It's helped a lot of my patients" she said quietly.

"When can she be discharged? Lorelai wants to go home and I would feel better if I could take her" Knox says impatiently. I shoot him an admonishing look but he ignores me, fixing his eyes on the polite doctor. She smiles. "Miss Mathews" she shoots a glance at me "can be discharged as early as tomorrow morning providing that you're able to care for her the next few days. She'll need to drink plenty of fluids and eat nourishing food. But there is one other thing as well. Miss Mathews is going to require regular ongoing checkups and those are nonnegotiable."

I frown and notice that Knox is doing the same. Regular checkups? Why? Hadn't she just said by her own admission that my injuries were basically to the extent of bruising and scrapes? If I didn't have internal bleeding or any major injuries then why would I require regular checkups? Fear sweeps through me. What isn't she saying? What is she trying to keep from me? The doctor bites her lip. "I understand your confusion," she says kindly, a twinkle in her eye.

Why does she look so happy all of a sudden? It's strange. It can't be bad news if she has a smile on her face. I glance at Knox uncertainly. The doctor puts her clipboard down and eyes the two of us. "I understand this might come as a bit of a shock to the two of you considering the circumstances but there was one other thing that came back in the blood tests that I'm assuming you were both unaware of," she said lightly.

Knox and I glance at each other confused. She smiles brightly "I hope this is good news. Miss Mathews, you're pregnant. Very early stages, only a few weeks judging by your HCG levels."

Pregnant? The air leaves my lungs in a whoosh as I exhale in shock. The doctor continues as I stare at her blankly "We were able to determine a heartbeat while you were unconscious and we rechecked the levels. So far your baby is healthy which is a miracle considering..." she trails off and shakes her head "but you'll need regular checkups to check on your baby's development and ultrasounds."

A strangled noise leaves my throat. Pregnant. That's all my mind can focus on. No wonder I had been nauseous lately and emotional. I'm in disbelief. I already knew when it had to have happened. There's no doubt in my mind whose baby this is. "I'll leave you two to talk" the doctor says hastily, seeing the expression on both our faces. She leaves the room and I watch the back of her disappear, unable to look Knox in the face, suddenly feeling terrified. What if he doesn't want this baby? What if he thinks it's not his? I have no doubts in my mind but Knox is clenching his jaw and suddenly I feel cold all over. There's a strange look in his eyes and I can feel my body beginning to tremble all over. I stare at him, begging him to speak, to say something. He clears his throat.

"I think I need a minute" he says, and I watch stunned as he hastens out the door, leaving me alone, stupefied.

I curl up on the bed and begin to cry.