Love Unspoken

"Why are we heading to the hospital?" Sebastian asked, a note of confusion in his voice.

Preston replied with a pragmatic tone, "It's about money, dude. I covered her medical expenses and I need to recoup that. What else are we supposed to survive on?" Sebastian found himself unable to counter Preston's logic and simply nodded in agreement.

The car veered abruptly, taking a sharp turn onto a different road.

Upon their arrival at the hospital, they found that Quinn was still unconscious. Her face was hidden behind an oxygen mask, a thin layer of condensation fogging the clear plastic.

Preston leaned over her, his gaze lingering on her obscured face, but he could discern nothing.

After a seemingly interminable half-hour, Quinn began to stir.

She inhaled deeply, her eyes fluttering open to reveal a profound exhaustion. She attempted to move her fingers, but found her strength had abandoned her.

"Bro, she's awake!" Sebastian alerted Preston, who had been on the verge of dozing off in his chair.

Startled, Preston sat upright and dragged his chair closer to the bed, a smile playing on his lips. "Hey, you're awake?"

Quinn turned to look at him, her vision still hazy. It took her a moment to focus on the young man's face.

His skin was a deep shade, his features sharp and defined. His eyebrows were thick and dark, and his teeth gleamed white against his complexion when he smiled. Quinn made a feeble attempt to remove her oxygen mask and sit up, but her body betrayed her.

Under the harsh hospital lights, her skin looked pale, almost translucent. Yet her eyes were dark and luminous.

Preston paused, a question hanging in the air, "Have we met before?"

Quinn also hesitated, studying Preston's face. He seemed familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him.

Preston shrugged dismissively. "Forget it, I can't remember either. Let's start fresh. I'm Preston, and you are?"

Quinn pressed her lips together, not uttering a word. She simply stared at him and began to sign.

"You don't want to get to know me?" Preston asked, misinterpreting her silence. Quinn gently shook her head, then raised her hands and began to sign again.

"Ah, you can't speak?" Preston observed her signing, her movements imbued with a certain vulnerability that he found endearing. "You're like a child," he said, a smile tugging at his lips. Quinn paused, unsure if he had merely guessed at her meaning or if he truly understood sign language. She signed again: Can you understand me?

Preston nodded. "Yeah, I get it," he said, pulling Sebastian closer. "I work at a care center with several deaf and mute kids. I'm their teacher."

Sebastian offered a sheepish smile. "Yes, that's right. The kids at our center really adore him."

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! A sense of warmth threaded through Quinn's heart.

She signed: Thank you.

Preston waved his hands dismissively. "No need for thanks. But why were you trapped in the car? Did you forget to get out, or was it something else...?" Quinn's lips tightened, her gaze darkening.

Why was she in the car? That was a question for her so-called husband. He was probably afraid she would cause a scene and embarrass Getty.

Seeing Quinn's reluctance to answer, Preston decided not to press the issue. "The doctor said you just lacked oxygen, nothing serious."

Quinn nodded, and an awkward silence descended upon the room.

Sebastian patted Quinn's shoulder and whispered to Preston, "Weren't you here to get some money from her, man?"