The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot

Zevian’s senses came back slowly, his head throbbed and every inch of his body ached. For a moment, he couldn’t make sense of where he was, only the overwhelming ache that coursed through him. His eyelids fluttered open and the sight of broken glass and twisted metal greeted him.

The smell of smoke filled his lungs, and the sharp sting of gasoline pierced through the fog of confusion clouding his brain. His head lolled to the side, and it was then he saw her.

The sight of Evelyn’s still form, head slumped to the side, her chest barely rising, made his heart stop in horror. Panic shot through him, the ache in his body completely forgotten as his worst nightmare seemed to have come true. To be caught up in another accident. With the person he loved the most!

"Eva..." Zevian murmured, his voice rasped, but it was barely more than a whisper. He fumbled with the seatbelt, forcing it to unclip with his trembling fingers. His breath hitched as he reached for her, grasping her cold hand.

"Evelyn..." he called again, this time louder, desperate, as his voice cracked. His heart pounded in his chest like a hammer, the memories from that night flashing behind his eyes.

No, not again! He couldn’t lose her like Katherine!

Zevian squeezed her hand, shaking it gently, his pulse quickening. "Please... wake up..."

But Evelyn didn’t move. Didn’t respond. Her head hung limply against the seat, her face stained with blood.

Tears welled in his eyes, unbidden, as he blinked them away fiercely. His throat tightened, the familiar weight of fear gripping him the same way it had five years ago. He remembered the same helpless feeling, the blood, the wreckage... Katherine’s lifeless body.

A sharp cough forced its way from his throat as smoke began to fill the car, thick and suffocating. He looked around, suddenly aware of the growing danger. Flames were licking at the edge of the car’s hood, creeping closer. They had no time! He needed to get her out of the car quickly!

With whatever strength he had left, Zevian pushed himself out of the passenger seat. The pain in his side was excruciating, but the adrenaline in his veins drove him forward. Staggering, he reached for Evelyn’s door, tugging it open with a groan of metal and glass. His vision swam, but he forced himself to focus as he unbuckled her seatbelt, lifting her out of the seat.

Her body felt limp in his arms, and it tore him apart. But he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t give up until he made sure she was safe!

Zevian stumbled to the side of the highway, his steps unsteady. The weight of her in his arms felt like the only thing anchoring him to reality, keeping him from falling apart completely. He laid her gently on the pavement, his hands shaking as he brushed the hair from her face.

"Please, Eva... Wake up..." His voice cracked again, his hands trembling as they touched her cheek. The tears he had been holding back finally fell, tracing silent paths down his face.

But then, he saw it—her fingers twitched, just barely, and his breath caught in his throat.

Slowly, miraculously, Evelyn’s eyes fluttered open. She blinked up at him in confusion, her hand weakly reaching up to his face. "Zevian...?"

Relief washed over him like a flood, his heart pounding with such force it was almost painful. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, too afraid to let go.

"You’re okay," he whispered, his voice shaking. "Thank god, you’re okay."

But the relief was short-lived. Just as Zevian started to relax, his eyes caught movement from the wrecked car behind them. And then he saw Sabrina coming out of it.

His breath stilled in his chest as she staggered out of her own car, her face twisted in rage, a gun clutched in her trembling hand. Her wild eyes locked onto them, her expression full of hatred, like a feral animal cornered and desperate to hunt down.

Zevian barely had time to react as she raised the gun, her hand steadying on the trigger. Without thinking, without hesitation, he turned and shielded Evelyn with his body, his instincts taking over.

Bang!

The sound of the gunshot was silenced by the blast of the front of their car, the explosion creating a deafening noise.

Zevian threw himself over Evelyn, shielding her and the bullet tore through his back. He gasped, his body jerking forward as it pierced through his skin. His vision swam, darkening at the edges. The pain was unbearable, but not nearly as much as the thought of her getting hurt.

He fell over her, his breath ragged, his chest rising and falling with difficulty.

"No!" Evelyn’s voice rang out, panicked, as her hands reached for him, shaking him, desperately trying to keep him conscious. "Zevian!"

But everything was fading—the sound of her voice, the warmth of her touch, even the pain. His world became a blur, his body collapsing over her. The last thing he heard was Evelyn begging him to stay awake before everything went black.

———

[Two days later.]

Evelyn’s eyes fluttered open, the harsh white lights of the hospital room blinding her for a moment. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled her senses, the sharp beeping of machines ringing in her ears. Her body felt heavy, every movement a struggle as her head pounded as if it was about to burst open.

But none of that mattered.

"Zevian..."

His name was the first thing that left her lips, her heart aching with fear as she tried to sit up. Pain shot through her body, her hand bandaged, her head throbbing, but she didn’t care!

"Zevian, where is he?" she demanded, her voice frantic, as her eyes scanned the room for any sign of him. "Where’s Zevian?"

Avery, who had been sitting quietly beside her, stood up and leaned closer, trying to calm her down. "Evelyn, please, relax—"

"No!" Evelyn screamed, pushing Avery’s hands away. "I need to see him! I need to see him right now!"

She fought against the pain, against the weakness in her limbs, struggling to get out of bed. Avery screamed for the doctors or any hospital staff for help, panic in her voice as she pleaded with her best friend, but Evelyn refused to listen. All she could think about was Zevian, about the gunshot, about him collapsing on top of her.

The doctor finally entered the room, trying to soothe Evelyn with gentle words. "Mrs. Reign, you need to rest. You’ve been through a lot—"

"I don’t care!" she snapped, her voice raw with emotion. "I need to see him. Take me to him. Now!"

The doctor exchanged a worried look with Avery before sighing deeply. "Alright... but you need to be careful. You’re still recovering."

Evelyn barely heard his words, her body trembling with a mixture of pain and fear as they helped her out of the bed. Her heart pounded in her chest as they walked her down the sterile hospital hallways, the walls closing in around her. Her mind raced with all the worst possibilities, fear gnawing at her insides.

When they finally reached the ICU, Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat. There, lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines, was Zevian. Her Ian! His skin was pale, his body bandaged in several places, and his chest rose and fell slowly with each breath.

The doctor spoke softly. "The bullet missed his vital organs, but he has lost too much blood and sustained several other injuries."

Evelyn’s tears spilled over as she forced herself to his side, the doctor helping her to sit on the stool beside him. Her hand trembled as she reached for his that was put with a machine on the finger. The cool touch of his skin against hers sent a wave of emotions crashing over her. She held his hand tightly, as if afraid to let go.

"I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. Tears spilled out freely before she glared up at him and grumbled, "You... you idiot. Why did you have to take the bullet? Why did you have to protect me?"

Her cries grew louder, her chest heaving with the weight of everything she had been holding in. She leaned over him, pressing her forehead against his hand, her body shaking with silent sobs.

"Please wake up," she whispered. "I can’t lose you..."

The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the sound of the machines beeping softly. Evelyn closed her eyes, praying—begging—for him to wake up.

A soft voice, raspy and weak, but unmistakable consoled her, "Stop... crying."

Evelyn’s heart stopped for the briefest second, her eyes flying open as she looked down at Zevian. His eyes were half-open, looking up at her with a faint smile.

"Zevian..." she gasped, her voice barely a whisper.

Without thinking, Evelyn threw herself onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck as her tears flowed even harder.

Zevian winced slightly, but his arms weakly came up to hug her back. A small smile tugged his lips as Evelyn continued to cry in his arms. She was safe and that’s all he cared for now.