Dreams Outgrow Rooms Built From Other Peoples Fears by Niro Mason 51

51 Convenient Accident 

ARES 

“From what you described, it fits mild PTSD.” 

I eyed Catherine on the bed, her right hand in a cast, her left hand had a plaster from the fresh wound, and a few cuts on her face. 

“The accident must have been too much for her, but she’s gonna be fine. I’ll examine her better when she wakes. Mr. King?” 

It seemed more than that to me. 

The confusion in her eyes, the pain, and the way she cried her heart out while murmuring… Mom. Dad. 

She was triggered by something else. 

“Mr. King?” 

The doctor’s voice snapped me out of it, and veered my gaze to him. He stiffened, leveling his eyes as if maintaining eye contact was too much for him. 

“S–She’s under a mild sedative. That should help her get a better rest.” 

He left the room, and I shifted my gaze back to Catherine, my hands resting on the 

footboard. 

I monitored the slow rise and fall of her chest. The beeping sounds from the monitor rattled me because of how much they had picked up in the span of three hours. Catherine had been unconscious for two days, and when she finally woke… this happened. 

I clutched the board, and it groaned under my grip. A heat curling through my insides, my nostrils flaring. I can’t calm the storm hitting me all at once, and all I could do was stand there and eye her as if willing her to wake and taunt me like she usually does. 

With a sharp breath, I forced myself to move, stepping out of the room. 

“I said, let me through!” 

Victoria Dalton was at the end of the hallway, going toe to toe with my men, who blocked her path. 

“Do you have any idea how many hospitals I have searched? I need to see Cat, and I know she’s in there.” 

14:59 

1/5 

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51 Convenient Accident 

When they didn’t budge, she raged on. 

“What are you? Some highly trained blockhead or something? Or do you not understand English? MOVE!” 

I neared them, and they parted like the sea. She tautened when she saw me, but kept 

her composure. 

“Ms. Dalton,” I said. 

Her chest rose and fell heavily. “I saw the news, and for the last two days, I have been in and out of hospitals searching for her.” 

Whatever toughness she had in her voice earlier was gone as she crumbled. “Please tell me she’s okay.” 

“She is…” 

She sighed out a breath of relief before nodding. “C–Can I see her?” 

“She needs rest.” 

I walked past her into the next corridor and opened the door. 

When Reed saw me, he attempted to rise, but his actions were sluggish, so he 

collapsed back on the bed. His head was bandaged, and a side of his cheek was covered because of a deep cut. 

“Mr. King,” he said, unable to meet my eyes. 

“He just woke up,” Athena said at the corner of the room. “What about Cat? How is she?” 

“Ms. Dalton’s here… go to her,” I instructed. 

Athena sighed as she uncrossed her arms and came to me. “Don’t be too hard on him, okay? It’s been a tough few days, and clearly everyone’s had enough.” 

Giving Reed one last look, she stepped out of the room. Silence spawned, and Reed grew nervous by the second under my blank gaze. 

“Mr. King, I-” 

“Why was she driving?” 

“S–She… wanted to drive.” At my stillness, he continued. “We made a stop at a coffee shop, and then when she drove out, a van came out of nowhere.” 

The driver died. I have never met anyone with such luck before. 

15:00 

26 

51 Convenient Accident 

“You’re no longer Catherine’s bodyguard.” 

Reed stared at me in shock. 

He was about to speak when a knock came through. 

“Nico here…” The door opened as he came in hands buried in his pockets, as he walked loosely. 

“Hope I’m not bugging…” He eyed Reed. “I heard you got in an accident. You look pretty much alive, unfortunately.” 

“Nico…” Reed said through clenched teeth. “What are you doing here?” 

“I was called, and I answered.” He scratched the bridge of his nose and neared the bed, tipping his head. “I told you, boss. Reed is a solid wall of softie; he can’t even protect the lady properly.” 

“Stay out of this!” Reed snapped. 

“What got your pants in a twist?” 

“Nico…” I said, breaking their squabbling. 

Nico turned to me, grinning in pride. “I checked the van from top to bottom. Cops were swarming the scene like bees, but I did my best. Easy peasy.” 

“What did you find?” 

“It was a failed brake. Van was speeding and went out of range; the cops already ruled it an accident. Wrong place and time.” 

“But…” I urged, knowing there was more. 

“The cracks left by the tires, too straight, too clean, not messy like someone who panicked amid finding out his brake went bad” 

I see. 

“Did Catherine meet anyone before the accident?” I throw the question at Reed. 

He blinked. “No, I was with her the entire time, except…” 

“Except what?” I got impatient. 

He cleared his throat. “The sex shop and the shoe boutique.” 

“Get the camera feeds. You have two hours.” 

“Will do, boss.” 

15:00 

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< 51 Convenient Accident 

I walked out of the room when my phone rang, seeing the caller, my jaw clenched tightly. 

How convenient. 

“The media’s buzzing, louder than the sudden news of your matrimony,” She said the moment I picked. 

“You sound pleased.” 

“Don’t be like that. She’s my daughter–in–law and I came because I’m worried.” 

Right at the corner of my eye, I saw her. She took the phone off her ear and walked to me, shifting her sunglasses to the bridge of her nose whilst clenching a bouquet. 

“How is she…?” she asked softly. “I hope nothing too serious, or should we prepare for a funeral?” 

“It’s gonna 

take a whole lot more than a car crash to kill a King.” 

“She’s no King” 

“And what does Father have to say about that ” 

“Why don’t you ask him yourself? You know he’s not gonna buy this marriage of yours. Whatever plan you have won’t work.” 

She stretched the flowers for me to take. “For the lovely… Mrs. King. I wish her a full recovery. Would hate for your bliss as newlyweds to end so soon.” 

Slowly, I closed the distance between us. “Pray to God that I don’t find out you have anything to do with this.” 

“How dare you throw such accusations in my face? I’ll not tolerate a threat.” 

I leaned so that I could speak directly to her car, and her body locked in place. “It’s not a threat. It’s a promise.” 

15:00