Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire
Chapter 442: My Idol

Chapter 442: My Idol

The prison gate slowly opened. Renzo stepped out, looking around with confusion on his face. He still couldn’t believe it.

"Are you sure this isn’t a mistake?" he asked the guard walking beside him.

The guard shook his head. "No mistake. You’ve been released."

Renzo frowned. "But... why? I thought I was going to stay longer."

The guard replied, "Carla’s father, Mr. Arlan Cartier, decided not to file a case against you. That’s why you’re out."

Renzo stood still, shocked. Of all people, he thought Arlan would make him pay for what he did. "He didn’t press charges?" he asked again, just to be sure.

"No," the guard confirmed. "Said there’s already been enough pain."

Renzo didn’t know how to react. He was free, but he didn’t feel happy. There was still a heavy feeling inside him. Guilt. Regret. Worry.

He had simply followed Tim Clayton’s instructions. That man... he told him everything - that he was Carla’s real father.

Renzo went along with everything Tim said because deep down, he already had a feeling. He had been with Carla long enough to notice the gaps. She once mentioned something while she was completely drunk and alone with him - that she wasn’t really a Cartier.

He didn’t press her for more details back then. It didn’t matter to him. He loved Carla regardless of her past or where she came from.

Just then, a black car pulled up near the prison gate. The window rolled down, revealing a familiar face.

"Get in," the man said simply.

Renzo paused for a second, then nodded and got in without hesitation. He recognized the driver, Tim Clayton’s man. Somehow, his gut feeling was making him certain that the man would go to great lengths to get Carla out of the mess she was in.

Once inside, Renzo leaned forward and asked quietly, "So... he’s not really dead, is he? Like what they’re saying in the news?"

He had seen the reports from the canteen TV, and the moment he heard about the supposed death, he suspected it was all staged. It sounded exactly like something Tim would do. But at the same time, Renzo wasn’t naïve. He knew who they were up against.

It wasn’t just the Lancasters anymore. The Cartiers were involved now, too.

And deep down, Renzo could already feel it, they were running out of time and options. They’d hit a dead end.

After a moment of silence, he finally asked, "Can I see Carla? Is it possible?"

The man didn’t look at him but responded firmly, "You can’t. The Cartiers are still her legal guardians, and they’ve strictly forbidden any visits from you. The security around her is so tight that even we’re struggling to get through."

Renzo clenched his jaw in frustration. "How is she? What’s her condition?"

"She’s still in a coma," the man replied. "But you don’t have to worry, Boss has an antidote that can help her recover. The real challenge is getting her out of that hospital. That’s what we’re trying to figure out now."

Renzo stared out the window, his fists tightening on his lap. Carla was so close, yet unreachable. And time was running out.

*****

At Meta Doctors Hospital

In the hallway outside Carla’s private room, two nurses stood near the nurse station. Nurse Jenna and Nurse Faith, taking a quick breather after a long shift.

"Did you see the new security protocol?" Faith asked as she glanced toward the heavily guarded door. "It’s crazy. You’d think she was a criminal, not a patient."

Jenna didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes were fixed on the closed door, her brows slightly furrowed. "She doesn’t deserve this," she finally said in a low voice.

Faith looked at her with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "What do you mean? You’ve heard the news. They said she-"

"I don’t care what they said." Jenna cut in gently but firmly. "I met her once. Carla. A few months ago."

Faith blinked. "You did?"

Jenna nodded and took a deep breath as she recalled the memory. "I was off-duty that day. I was in a restaurant downtown having lunch with my cousin. Then I saw her... Carla. She was with a few people. Looked like bodyguards. I was nervous, but I walked over to her table and asked if I could get a picture. One of her guards immediately pushed me away, physically pushed me. It was humiliating."

"Seriously?" Faith’s eyebrows rose.

"Yeah. But then Carla stood up, really stood up for me. She scolded her bodyguard in front of everyone. Told him, ’Don’t you dare treat someone like that again.’ And then she turned to me and apologized. Can you believe that? She apologized to me," Jenna said, her voice softening with emotion.

Faith listened quietly now.

"She didn’t stop there," Jenna continued. "She asked if I’d eaten yet, and I told her I was just about to order. She told the staff to bring my meal to her table. She let me sit with her. She asked about my work, where I was stationed, and even gave me a signed photo afterwards."

There was silence for a moment.

"She didn’t act like some spoiled heiress," Jenna said. "She was warm. Real. Not at all like what people are saying now."

Faith looked at the floor. "So that’s not the Carla people talk about in the news."

"Yeah," Jenna said, her voice heavy. "That’s why it doesn’t make sense. All these things they’re saying about her, how she attacked someone, tried to escape, or how dangerous she is now? It doesn’t add up."

They both looked toward the door again, guarded like a prison cell.

"I think she’s in trouble," Jenna whispered. "Real trouble. And no one’s listening."

Faith sighed. "Well... It’s not really up to us. She has a pending case, and they said she was supposed to go on trial. But then she suddenly fell into a coma. Now, only a few staff members are allowed near her, and I heard the Lancaster family handpicked everyone assigned to her room."

Jenna kept staring toward the hallway. "Do you think any of us will ever get assigned there? It just feels unfair... she’s being treated like a criminal when nothing’s been proven yet. I hope she gets the chance to clear her name."

Just then, a soft voice joined in. "I feel the same way."

They both turned to see Tally, the new nurse from the pediatric ward, walking up to them with a small smile. She looked a bit shy

"I’m Tally," she added, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Sorry, I overheard a little. I just... I really admire Carla."

Faith raised a brow in surprise. "You know her?"

"I’ve never met her personally," Tally admitted, "but I’ve followed her for years. She’s my idol. I even joined a fan club before, back when she was still active and doing charity events. She was always so kind and graceful, not like what the media is making her out to be now."

Jenna smiled in agreement. "She’s really not. I actually met her once, completely by chance, and she was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met."

Tally’s eyes lit up. "Really? You met her?"

"Yeah," Jenna nodded. "It was at a restaurant. Her bodyguards tried to push me away when I approached her, but she stopped them. She even invited me to join her table and paid for my meal."

Tally looked like she was about to tear up from excitement. "That sounds like her. I just wish I could see her, even just once."

Faith’s pager suddenly buzzed. She frowned at the screen. "Shoot, I have to assist with a transfer downstairs. You two go ahead. I’ll catch up later."

Once Faith was gone, Jenna turned back to Tally. "You really want to see Carla?"

Tally nodded almost instantly. "I know it sounds silly, but yes. Just to make sure she’s okay. With everything happening, it’s hard to sit back and do nothing."

Jenna looked around, lowered her voice, and leaned a little closer. "I might know someone who can help."

Tally blinked. "Really?"

"There’s an orderly," Jenna whispered. "He’s in charge of bringing supplies and food to Carla’s floor. He’s... kind of been courting me, asking me out for weeks now."

Tally gasped. "And you think he can sneak you in?"

"I don’t know about sneaking in," Jenna said carefully, "but maybe I can convince him to give me a peek. Or at least tell me what he sees. If I play it right, maybe you can tag along."

Tally’s hands flew to her chest. "Are you serious? I could cry. That would mean the world to me."

Jenna smiled. "Don’t cry yet. Let me talk to him first and see what’s possible. If things go well... maybe we’ll both get that chance."

Tally nodded excitedly. "You’re my hero, Jenna. I owe you one."

Jenna gave her a wink. "Just be ready when I say the word."

When Jenna her gaze away from her, Tally smirked, but the expression faded just as quickly as it appeared.