Chapter 24
Richmond Hill
I don’t know why the person that called me asked to leave the hospital, but there’s no way I’ll leave Cassie here all alone.
All through the night, I stare at her and praying silently that she pulls through this. The thought of the mysterious man flash through my mind, and I keep thinking who he is, and why he was after me. If only she had not come around, maybe I would’ve been the one lying on the sickbed right now.
How time flies, it’s finally morning already and I didn’t get to sleep all through the night. The door suddenly burst open and mom rush in with Nelson. They both look worried.
“What happened, Richie?” Mom rush over to her and cup her cheeks in her palms, while looking at her pale face.
“Daddy, will mommy be fine? What happened to her? She won’t leave me again, right?” Nelson make a baby face, looking all sad and I sigh softly.
“Mommy will be fine, Nelson. The doctors are doing their best to see that she’s safe, you don’t have to worry about anything, OK?” I cup his cheeks and assure him.
“Are you sure daddy?” He asks and I nod my head, giving him a small smile. I’m sad deep inside me, but I have to be strong for the sake of my son. He has been through a lot and now that he’s finally getting over it, this is happening. That’s so sad.
“Uhm… Mom, it’s just a little accident. The doctor said she will be fine after she rest. Has Nelson eaten yet?” I ask, glancing at him.
“No, he has not eaten anything since yesterday. He insisted that he won’t eat until he sees his mom,” Mom sigh and I glance at the little boy.
“Come on, son. Mommy is going to be fine. You have to eat something. Mommy will be sad if she wakes up and find out that you have refused to eat. Go with grandma, she’ll fix something for you to eat,” I squat down to his size and ruffle his soft thick black hair smoothly. He nods and I smile at him.
“Mom, you should go ahead with Nelson, while I watch over Cassie. I’ll call you later when she wakes up, so he can talk to her,” I stand up and say to her.
“Alright. I’ll tell Clara to bring you something to eat later,” She finally leave the hospital with Nelson.
I sit down and take her hand into mine, looking at her pale face. Yes, she’s a stranger that I picked from the roadside, she’s a stranger that I know nothing about, I don’t even know who she is, but this stranger has captured my heart. This stranger has made me open my heart to love again, and I’m not ready to lose her. Not now that my son that have been traumatized for years, have gotten attached to her, and not forever.
“You’ll be fine, right?” A drop of tears slid down my cheeks, as I kiss her hand.
The door suddenly open and even if I haven’t looked back, I know who the person is. His cologne always tells me of his presence.
“Craig…” I take a deep breath and stand up to face him. I wipe my tears when he pull a puzzled look.NôvelDrama.Org holds © this.
“Can we talk outside?” He ask after he glance at Cassie and takes his attention back to me.
I stare at him blankly for seconds, wondering why look so serious. I nod and he take the lead while I trail behind him.
He lead me to the hospital garden.
“Do you know the danger of what you’re doing, Richie?” He asks, once we get to the garden. He turn to face me and I pull a puzzled and confused look.
“I don’t understand…” I drawl to show my confusion.
“This may be a trap, man. First, you picked her from the roadside, you didn’t even know who she is and… you brought her into your house. What if one of your enemies is trying to use your brain here?” He has a point, but I’ve fallen so deeply in love with her, that I don’t even want to think of that. I don’t want to imagine her being a spy. That’ll hurt me deeply.
“Craig… What if she’s not?” I try to convince him and myself that he’s just being paranoid, but a part of me wants to believe his suggestion.
“You’re not thinking straight, man. What has she done to you, huh?” He ruffles his hair.
“I love her…” He snap his head to look at me upon hearing this. I was expecting that reaction though.
“What did you say? Are you kidding me right now or you’re out of your mind?” He asks to be sure of what I just said.
“I’m not kidding you, but maybe I’m losing my mind, or I’ve lost it completely. I don’t know how it happened, but I’ve fallen deeply in love with her. I know you’re just trying to make sure that I’m safe, but I do not want to believe that she’s a spy. She doesn’t look like she can hurt a fly…”
“Wake up and think straight, man. She’s just trying to use your head, she’s trying to make herself look good in your…”
“Does trying to make herself look good in my eyes, got anything to do with her taking a bullet for me, knowing it could harm her?” His mouth drops at the question I ask him. Even if I have been doubting her, not after what she did for me yesterday night. Because of me, she’s in there and fighting for her life.
“Have you thought about it? Do you still think that was a set up? She’s lying there on the bed, fighting between life and death, all because of me. That didn’t look like a set up, the bullet is real, she really took it for me. And wait, even if she’s using my head, what about Nelson? Is she using his head too? We both know how my son have been over the years, we both know how traumatized he has been since birth after the incident that happened years ago. Since then, my son never associated with anyone, except for the family members. And now, he’s growing attached to Cassie, do you still see that as set up? I can’t believe you of all people is saying this to me,” I shake my head and walk away from him.
I head back to the ward, and stepping inside I meet Cassie sitting on the bed…