The CEO's Hidden Love: Midnight Temptations and Deep Desires novel Chapter 684

Dorothy awoke with a start, the familiar warmth of another person conspicuously absent from her side.

Glancing at the clock, it read 7 AM – a time when Everett would normally be hunched over his desk, sifting through a mountain of paperwork. But now, he was nowhere to be found in the hospital room.

Concern knitting her brows, Dorothy rose to search for him. She checked the doctor's office, and the long, sterile corridors – no sign of him.

Returning to the room to grab her phone, she dialed Everett's number, only to hear his ringtone echo from within the room.

His phone was left behind.

Odd.

Very odd.

"Dr. Quincy. Have you seen Everett around?" Dorothy inquired, her voice tinged with worry as she ventured out again.

The doctor shook her head. "No, he's not in his room?"

"Nope. He was gone when I woke up."

"Well, perhaps you should check the security room? If he left the hospital, he would have had to go through the main or back door," suggested Dr. Quincy.

Dorothy nodded, a bit resigned. "Guess that's the only option I have."

In Swevia Country, she was out of her element. Other than calling Everett, she was at a loss for what to do.

As Dorothy made her way to the security room, Quincy called out from behind, "Ms. Sanchez. Mr. Lopez is at the front entrance."

Whirling around and peering down from the upper floor, Dorothy's eyes indeed caught the sight of Everett's figure at the hospital's entrance.

"Thanks." she called back, taking the stairs two at a time. She needed to find out what was going on, and why Everett had left the hospital so early in the morning.

From above, details were blurry.

Reaching the downstairs, Dorothy was taken aback at the sight of Everett up close – his complexion was ashen, and his lips drained of color, looking as if he were on the brink of collapse.

"Everett, what... what happened to you?" she gasped, instinctively rushing towards him, only to see him step back.

"From dawn till now?" Dorothy stepped closer, reaching out to embrace him, when suddenly she caught a metallic scent.

Blood.

But the dark coat he wore masked the source.

"Yes, I lost track of time."

His answers were short, his voice heavy.

"That's not it. You have blood on you," Dorothy said, gripping his coat more firmly. The dried, flaking bloodstains marred her palm, a dark crimson.

Everett pressed his lips together tightly, pulling his coat away swiftly, then hastened his steps even more.

Confused and concerned, Dorothy had no choice but to run after him. "Everett! You promised you'd never lie to me. What did you do? Why is there blood on your clothes?"

He stopped, his silhouette halting as he half-turned towards her. "Dorothy, don't touch me, I'm filthy."