The Billionaire’s Secret Guardian

Chapter Two: The Ghosts of the Past

The hospital was eerily quiet at night. Damian Steele lay awake, staring at the ceiling, the steady hum of machines his only company.

Two years.

Two years of his life—vanished.

The thought made his fingers curl into the sheets. He had spent years building his empire, making sure Steele Enterprises dominated the industry, ensuring his control was absolute. And now, everything was uncertain.

But more than the company, more than the power he had worked so hard to secure, something else gnawed at him.

That voice.

"Hold on, Damian. You have to live."

The memory of it had been the only thing anchoring him in the darkness. He didn’t know who she was, but something deep inside him told him she was important.

The doctors claimed no one had been consistently by his side. That his family and business partners had checked in occasionally. But that voice… it had felt different.

Familiar.

And it haunted him.

His mind ached from trying to recall the accident. He could remember snippets—speed, headlights, the sharp sound of metal colliding, then darkness. But no faces. No clear details.

He needed answers.

With great effort, he reached for the nurse call button. Within moments, a young nurse entered.

"Mr. Steele, do you need anything?" she asked gently.

"I need to speak to someone about my accident," he said, his voice steady despite the weakness in his limbs. "I need details."

She hesitated. "The doctor said we should let your memory return naturally. Too much too soon could—"

"I don’t care what the doctor said," he cut in sharply. "I want to know who was there when it happened. Who was with me? Who saved me?"

The nurse looked uncomfortable. "I… I’ll call someone from the security team. Maybe they can help."

"Do that," he ordered. "Now."

As she hurried out, Damian clenched his jaw. He was done waiting.

If no one gave him answers, he would find them himself.

Across Town…

Elena Knight sat in the corner of a dimly lit diner, nursing a cup of black coffee. The place was quiet, save for the occasional murmur of late-night customers and the clinking of dishes.

She should have ignored the news. Should have pushed it to the back of her mind, just like she had with everything else related to Damian Steele.

But she couldn’t.

He was awake.

And that changed everything.

Her fingers tightened around the coffee mug. Two years ago, she had disappeared from his life. She had done what needed to be done—walked away, erased her presence, ensured that he would never find out the truth.

Because if he ever did, he would never forgive her.

She had been there that night. Not just as an observer, not just as a passerby. She had been in the shadows, watching him, making sure he was safe.

But she had failed.

The accident shouldn’t have happened. She had miscalculated, underestimated the danger. And because of that, he had nearly died.

And now, he was back.

Her phone buzzed on the table.

A message.

Unknown Number: He’s awake. It’s only a matter of time before he starts asking questions.

Elena’s stomach twisted. She didn’t need the warning. She already knew.

Another message followed.

Unknown Number: If he remembers, it’s over for both of us.

She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her dark hair.

She had a choice to make. Stay hidden and hope the past remained buried. Or do what she had always done—face the danger head-on.

She already knew which one she would choose.

With one last sip of coffee, she pulled out a few bills, dropped them on the table, and stood.

It was time to return to the world she had left behind.

Back at the Hospital…

Damian sat upright, the effort exhausting but necessary.

A security officer stood before him, flipping through a tablet. "Mr. Steele, we reviewed all records from the night of your accident. According to reports, there were no eyewitnesses who could provide a full account."

Damian’s eyes narrowed. "That’s not what I asked. I want to know who was at the hospital with me. Someone spoke to me while I was unconscious. A woman."

The officer hesitated, tapping the tablet. "Your family visited, but they didn’t stay long. Your business partner, Charles Vaughn, checked in a few times. There were a few nurses, but no one who stayed consistently."

"That’s not right." Damian’s frustration grew. "She was there. I know it."

The officer looked uncertain. "There was… one unusual detail," he admitted slowly.

Damian’s pulse quickened. "What detail?"

"A woman was seen leaving the hospital the night you were brought in. No one identified her, and she never signed in. Security footage captured a glimpse, but she kept her face hidden."

Damian’s chest tightened.

"Can I see the footage?"

The officer hesitated, then nodded. "I can request it. But Mr. Steele, if she didn’t want to be found, there might be a reason for that."

Damian’s jaw clenched. "I don’t care. Find her."

Elena’s Decision

Elena stood outside the hospital, hidden in the shadows, watching the entrance.

She shouldn’t be here. She had promised herself she wouldn’t come back. But something inside her wouldn’t let her walk away.

She had spent two years pretending Damian Steele was just another part of her past. But he wasn’t. He never had been.

And now, she needed to decide.

Would she stay in the shadows?

Or step back into the light?

One thing was certain—Damian was searching for her.

And sooner or later, he would find her.