The Billionaire's Pretend Wife (Isabella) novel Chapter 80

By the time night fell, Jacob thought he would go crazy. He had thought he would catch up with Isabelle outside the hospital once he left Naomi behind.

But she had been nowhere to be seen, and she had switched off her phone. Hours later, he still had no idea where she was. He had looked everywhere he could think of–the office, their apartment, her parent’s house.

Wherever she was, he had to find her. If he had to search all night, so be it.

He was sitting in his car with her diamond ring in his hand when he received a call from Kevin. He had instructed his assistant to remain outside their apartment building and watch it in case Isabelle came back. Meanwhile, Jacob drove around the city, hoping to get a glimpse of her on the streets.

He accepted the call quickly, knowing Kevin wouldn’t call unless there was something to report. “Yes?”

“She just went up to the apartment,” Kevin told him.

“Stay put,” Jacob instructed, starting the car. “I’m on my way. If she leaves before I get there, follow her. Do not lose her. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Got it, Sir.”

He hung up and drove into the street, joining the traffic. He was relieved that she was back home, but he had a feeling that she wasn’t back to stay. She had given him her ring back, for heavens’ sake!

He sped up, manoeuvring past other cars on the road. Traffic was a bit dense, but he had to get to her before she disappeared again. He never should have let her out of his sight earlier on in the hospital.

He looked at his watch. If he got away from the heavy traffic, he could make it to their apartment building in five minutes.

He was almost at an intersection when he noticed that the green light was about to change to yellow. There were two cars ahead of him. By the time it was his turn, it had already turned yellow.

He couldn’t afford to sit around for a minute and a half when he finally had a chance to see her. He shot forward, wanting to get across before traffic resumed from the other side. But it so happened that he wasn’t the only impatient driver, and a pickup truck shot forward from the street on the right side.

The truck rammed into the back of his car, sending it spinning clockwise. He tried to control the car, but it didn’t come to a stop until it rammed into a streetlight pole. The sudden movement sent his head flying towards the window.

And then all went blank.

Outside the apartment building, Kevin glanced at his watch and then towards the building’s entrance. Isabelle still hadn’t left, and that was good news.

But it had been thirty minutes already since he had called Jacob. He had said he would get to the building in five minutes.

What was keeping him so long?

Was the traffic that bad?

He paced outside the car he was using, keeping his eye on the building’s exit. Maybe she wasn’t going to leave.

His phone rang, and he retrieved it out of his pocket quickly. He expected it to be Jacob, but instead, it was Jason.

The moment he received it, Jason barked into his ear, “Where are you?”

“Running an errand for the boss,” he replied, wondering why Jacob’s vice president was shouting down his ear.

Jason cursed, and then said, “Jacob was in an accident. He has been taken to the Larson Hospital. Head over right away.”

Kevin was jumping into the driver’s seat before Jason was done with that statement. “Yes, sir,” he replied.

Jason hung up and Kevin started the car. He shot out of his parking space at a speed he was certain wasn’t allowed in the community.

In his hurry, he missed the sight of Isabelle making her way out of the apartment building, lagging a huge suitcase behind her.