The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

lan POV

Distantly, I hear the sound of voices coming and going, although my eyes refuse to open, and I feel as though I am drifting in a sea of water. I can recognize the voices, although it's impossible to tell how much time has passed. Why does my body refuse to move? Why will my eyes not open? Why does my body feel so heavy? I struggle, but it's futile, and instead, I'm forced to listen to the voices as they speak above me, unaware that I'm able to hear everything that is being said, their voices a mixture of masculine and feminine as I remain mute. "What do you mean you're not sure if he's going to wake up?" Knox's voice was angry and demanding.

A low murmur. A gentle sob, "But you're saying there's still hope? That he's not exactly going to be trapped like this forever?" Flair's voice was soft and urgent.

"Doctor, I don't care how much it costs, I want the best possible care for my son. Nothing is too much for him, nothing" with heavy emphasis on the last few words. My father's voice is a comfort, even as he sounds like he's fighting back tears. "You saved my life, it should have been me who took that bullet", Knox's voice barely above a whisper, filled with regret and shame.

I wanted to protest. I wanted to tell him I would take a hundred bullets if it meant saving his life, but my lips remained flat and my mouth refused to open, to utter the words I wanted him to be able to hear.

"lan, I'm sorry for everything, this is all my fault", Lorelai's voice, filled with weeping.

"Abigail Stevens is behind bars and the little b***h is going to pay for everything she's done", Knox again, his voice almost

a roar.

It was frustrating not being able to talk back to them. To lie there, in this bed, listening to the sound of their voices as time continued to pass, and I was oblivious to it marching on. I was dimly aware of hands touching me as my body was moved, rolled over and needles pricked my skin on a regular basis.

"We have to think about the future of the company", my father's voice, low and filled with grief, "until lan is better again, Knox, I'm sorry but you and I will have to run it."

"lan is going to get better" Knox's voice filled with determination and hope.

"Honey, we've waited long enough. If we wait any longer, the baby will be born out of wedlock" Lorelai's voice filled with tears. "lan will forgive us", she pleaded.

"I can't forgive myself", Knox's voice, bitter and filled with rage. "It should have been me who got shot" rose to a shout. "Knox please" Lorelai "don't think like that. Ian sacrificed himself so you could live. Don't let it be in vain" she begged, her voice rising in anguish. "lan, come back to us", Flair's voice, beseeching "I miss you every day. We all miss you. I never told you I loved you enough" her voice broke, "and I wish I had. Please, wake up" she begged.

"lan, Abigail Stevens is going to spend a lot of time in jail for her actions, but it would help if you could wake up and make a statement mate", Grayson's voice was low, and even as he tried to coax me out of whatever this was.

"Son please, don't let this be the end of you. Fight damnit" was my Father's voice, hoarse and shaking.

All of them sounded so desperate to hear me speak back to them, for me to open my eyes and move. It was heartbreaking to hear how desperate they were, how broken they sounded as they spoke to me each time, the hope beginning to fade from their voices as more time supposedly passed. They were beginning to give up, I could sense it, and honestly so was I. I feared I was already dead and this was just a form of t*****e to endure.

"lan please, I can't bear to see you like this", Knox's voice was low. I feel his hand squeezing mine. "I learned I'm having a son, lan," he blurts out, "we've already decided he's going to have your middle name. I want you to know just how much I wanted you to be an Uncle to him. Lorelai and I, we can't express how much we love you.It seems that some sentences in this chapter require you to read the complete chapters on Jo b n i b.com in order to avoid an incomplete reading experience Please" he whispers, "please come back. I can't keep the company going without you. You were always the one who was meant to run it, not me. I'm not you lan. Our family needs you" he begged.

"I never appreciated the kindness and the love you showed me. I always took it for granted", Flair's voice, her sobs filling the room.

Such sadness and grief. I could hear them louder now, and my body was beginning to feel slightly lighter. I didn't want my family to feel this badly. I never wanted them to have to grieve me in this way. How long had I been asleep for? I felt a hand grip mine tightly "lan, I promise that if you wake up, I'll do anything in my power to help you. Just because you have some challenges to overcome, doesn't mean that you're anything less than what you are. An intelligent, loving man who I'm proud to call my son." My father's voice was low and cracking.

Challenges? What did he mean by that? I was confused. I felt his hand begin to stroke my hair. It felt odd. I grimaced and heard my father s**k in a breath. "Did you see that?" he was speaking to somebody else in the room. "He just screwed up his face." I force my eyes open and my Father's eyes begin to shine with tears. "Son," he says, his hand trembling as he holds mine, a doctor peering into my eyes with a bright light that makes me squint, my head throbbing painfully "You're awake" he sobs. "Where am I?" I asked, my voice husky.

I glance around the sterile room, taking in the white walls and the white linen on the bed, along with the gown I'm wearing. "A private hospital", my Father advises me as I stare at him, Knox, Lorelai, Flair, and Grayson all coming out of the corridor with wide smiles on their faces. The doctor immediately shushes everyone.

"Mr Grant", it took me a moment to realize that the doctor was addressing me. "Do you recall what happened to you?" Images begin to flood my mind. Knox, dressed in a suit. A woman, holding a gun, pointed it at him. My instincts took over as I pushed Knox out of the way and took the bullet for him. I blinked. "I got shot," I said, a little bewildered.

"You've been in a coma, Mr Grant," the doctor said quietly as I gazed at Lorelai who was heavily pregnant now, "for the last few months."

My mouth was dry. I attempted to sit upright, feeling lightheaded and still confused. The doctor was quick to prevent me from moving too much. "Don't overstrain yourself" he said kindly as I gave up and stayed there.

For some reason, I couldn't seem to make my limbs cooperate. Maybe because I hadn't used them in so long? The doctor glanced towards my father, who nodded subtly. Flair looked stricken and Knox. Knox had a look of pure guilt on his face. "What is it?" I rasped.

It didn't take a genius to work out there was something they weren't telling me. I could see it in their eyes and by the expressions on their faces.

"Son," my father said, forcing a smile onto his face, "when you were shot, you were injured quite badly. You were in surgery for several hours. The bullet was in a precarious position and the surgeons did the best they could,", he told me, while Flair gave me a sip of water, holding my head up to help me.

I spluttered, water dripping everywhere. Flair put the glass down hastily. "I still don't understand," I said impatiently.

"Mr Grant, I need you to remain calm" the doctor advised quietly. "you've only just woken up and stress is bad for your heart."

I glared at him "Will someone just tell me what's going on and why everybody looks so damn grim." I blurted out, exasperated, "You're all acting as though I died or something."

"You almost did," my father informed me tightly, "we almost lost you, lan."

I fall silent. Knox stares down at the ground, biting his lower lip. I can see how anxious he is from here, even as Lorelai takes hold of his hand and begins to rub it soothingly. I see wedding rings on their fingers. Had they got married without me? It stings, but I fight back the anger, instead trying once again to sit up, weakly. It's futile.

"There's no other way to say it," my Father says finally as I pant and begin to breathe heavily, "lan, I know this is going to be hard for you and a big adjustment, but we're all going to help."

Flair and the others all nodded solemnly. But I'm already starting to feel panicked. I can't move my legs. No matter what I try, I can't make them move, I can't even curl my toes or wiggle them. My legs are like dead weights. I stare at my family horrified as the notion hits me. Suddenly, I realize what it is they are trying to tell me and I feel my eyes begin to swim as I force the tears to be held at bay.novelbin

No, no, no. This can't be. I can feel my body trembling. My mouth gapes open. My father looks distraught as he grips my hand. "Why can't I move my legs" I whispered, feeling sick to my stomach.

The bullet. It had hit me in the back. Oh god. The doctor looks compassionate, but it's my father who takes a deep breath and tells me the bad news. "I'm sorry lan, but the bullet lodged itself in your spinal cord. They removed it, but you're paralyzed from the waist down. There is only a slim chance you'll be able to walk again and that's only after extensive physical therapy. I'm so sorry son" he whispered.

Paralyzed from the waist down. I hear the words, but it's like I've become detached in my mind. Like I'm looking at my family from a distance. The room begins to turn dark, and I can hear the doctor shouting in the background "He's coding. Code blue, code blue" before everything turns dark.