Ellise arrived at the hospital and hurried through the entrance. There in the waiting room, sat Elvis. She had never seen him look so dejected and heartbroken.
"You're here" he breathed when his gaze found hers.
"Yes, I am. How is she?" She asked.
He sighed, covering his face with his hands.
"She's in a horrible condition. She's badly hurt and she's on life support" he croaked.
Ellise slowly placed a hand over his hand and squeezed gently.
"Let's hope for the best" she said and he gave her a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I don't know how- but maybe she knew it was going to happen. She kept telling me not to go to the office. She kept telling me that she wanted me to stay at home with her, but I never listened. I would've gone with her to wherever she was going. It was all my fault. I should've stayed. I shouldn't-"
"Stop beating yourself up like this. You know that this isn't your fault. Don't loose hope yet" Ellise said. He stared at her, his eyes turning glossy.
"I'm terrified, El. Even if she survives, she will never be the same again" he croaked.
"No, don't say that"
He shook his head.
"Her spinal cord is damaged and she suffered a horrible head trauma" he said and Ellise's heart sank.
She knew that if his wife died, it was going to break him. She couldn't even imagine losing the love of her life. It would kill her.
....
Alex paced back and forth in the hospital waiting room. He felt so stressed, it was overwhelming. First of all, he'd received a call about his mother-in-law being in the hospital. Then, he'd received another call informing him that her brother was in the hospital and was in a critical condition.
"You should go home, Dre. I'll be here when he wakes up. You look horrible, go home. Get some sleep" Xanthis said.
Dre sighed, shaking his head.
"I don't want to" he responded.
"Ellie is going to be worried, you know that"
Defeated, he paused to run a hand through his hair.
"Okay. But you have to update me on everything going on with him" he said.
"Yeah, I will. Go home, brother" he said.
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow"Dre said and left the hospital. His thoughts were all over the place. He couldn't stop thinking how it was all his fault.
Nadine did warn him and he'd definitely underestimated her.
He managed to drive home safely even with his divided attention. He felt so exhausted. Unfortunately, his body was tired but his mind wasn't. Ascending the stairs, he took off his suit jacket and began to unbutton his white shirt. Ellie wasn't home yet, he knew. He also knew that she was going to freak out if she found out what had happened to her mother. He had no idea how he was going to tell her that her mother was in the hospital fighting for her life.
....
Dre was sitting on the bed, staring at the walls of the bedroom when Ellise walked in. She looked tired and a little stressed out but she was still as beautiful as always. "Dre? You're still awake? You should be sleeping" she scolded, placing her bag on the table as he cupped her face and kissed the top of her head, affectionately.
She frowned.
"Were you waiting for me?" She asked.
He sighed and turned towards the window while she undressed.
"Uurgh- I'm exhausted" she groaned.
He chuckled.
"How about I get rid of the tiredness for you?" He suggested.
She smiled weakly.
"I'll go take a shower" she said.
"I'll give you a massage after your shower" he said.
She grinned and kissed his cheek.
"You're so sweet" she commented and walked into the bathroom.
He smiled weakly and turned to face the window again. He couldn't tell her now. She was going to be so upset. He decided that it would have to wait till the next day.
"Dre? you okay?"
He flinched when her voice suddenly pulled him out of his thoughts, nearly giving him a heart attack.
"I didn't mean to startle you. I'm sorry" she said. He smiled, his gaze searching her face. Her strawberry blonde hair was damp and she was wearing a baby blue night dress.
"No, it's okay. You just caught me unawares that's all"
"Okay" she said, letting out a muffled yawn. Dre led her to the bed and grabbed the ointment from the cabinet.
She let out a sleepy moan as he massaged her shoulders, neck and back.
"You're a lifesaver" she mumbled.
Pain tugged at my heart as soon as she said that.
'No, I'm not' he wanted to tell her. 'I've done nothing but put us in danger. I'm no hero' he thought.
She heaved a sigh, her eyelids fluttering close.
"Why do I have a feeling that you aren't okay?"she asked.
"Is that what you feel?"he asked and she nodded in response.
"I'm just a bit stressed up, that's all" he lied through his teeth.
"Uurgh-I'm so selfish. My husband is probably stressing out a lot and is lying to me to make me feel better while he gives me a massage. I should be the one giving you a massage" she groaned.
"No, no. You've done that most of the time but I want to do this for you this time. I'm fine, okay?" He said.
She sighed.
"Come lay with me" she said.
Putting away the ointment, he laid down beside her and she rested her head against his chest.
She pressed a kiss to his collarbone.
"I love you" she whispered
"I love you too, my heart" he rasped.
She smiled dreamily and snuggled closer to him
...
Dre couldn't sleep.
No matter how tired he was, his mind kept torturing him.
His phone rang out, waking Ellise. She stirred and opened her eyes as he reached out to pick up his phone.
"What's the time?" She asked, handing him the phone.
"It's twenty minutes past nine" he said. She groaned and rolled off him.
"I'm starving" she huffed.
Dre picked the call.
"He's awake but he's in a lot of pain" Xanthis said and he let out a sigh.
"Have they carried out the tests? Do they know what's wrong with him?" Dre asked as soon as Ellise left the bedroom.
"They said it's poison" Xanthis replied grimly. Dre's eyes went wide.
"Poison ? I don't understand" Dre said. "Someone has been putting drugs in whatever he takes in for weeks now. The drugs becomes a poison when it's taken too much. His kidneys are weak. They think he's going to have a kidney failure" Xanthis rasped. "Oh God" Dre groaned, rubbing his forehead, trying to soothe the ache in his head.
He knew it was Nadine...
That bitch had tried to kill him. But, how the hell did she do it?
"Any developments on Ellie's mum's condition?" Dre asked.
"She's not recovering. She's still unresponsive"
Dre squeezed his eyes shut, his head threatening to explode.
"Everything's going to be okay, Dre. You shouldn't let all this torment you. You know it isn't good for you. I don't have to ask you how you're doing, but-"
"I know, I know. The thing is that it isn't just tormenting me. I'm fucking terrified. Xanthis, everything is just crashing down on me. I think it's all my fault-"
"It isn't your fault-"
"No, you don't know the whole story. You don't know the half of it. Everything is on fire, Xan. My home, my marriage, everything. I'm going to tell you everything...but not here on the phone. I have to tell Ellise what's going on. I have a lot on my mind right now" Dre said.
"Oh, okay. You have to take it easy. You don't want to crash. It's bad enough that Valentino is confined to a hospital bed, I can't have you confined to a hospital bed too. Take care of yourself, man. I'll see you later" he said and the line went dead.
Ellise was in the dinning room when Dre went downstairs.
She beamed at him and walked up to him.
"Hey, sweetheart" she said, kissing him.
"I made breakfast" she said, opening the window.
"Ellise, we need to talk" Dre said.
She halted and turned to look at him, her eyes scanning his face.
Her face fell when she saw the expression on his face.
"What's wrong? Is it about Nadine?" She asked.
He swallowed hard.
"Valentino is in the hospital. He was poisoned" he began.
"Oh my God" she croaked.
"Your mother-"
Her eyes went wide.
"No, no, no, Dre. Tell me she's okay..... she's-"
"She was involved in a hit and run accident" he told her and she let out a pained cry.
"She's in a coma" Dre breathed.
"Oh my God!" She cried, her knees buckling. She fell into his arms, tears making their way down her pale cheeks.
"No, no, mum...." She cried, burying her face against his chest. His heart broke at the sight of her breaking down. She was one of the strongest woman he'd ever known. Seeing her break down like that, practically tore him apart.
....
Noelle whimpered, her heart shattering as she watched Valentino. Even with his eyes closed, his pale face was contorted with pain. He was hooked to so many machines, it was a heartbreaking sight. He whimpered, his hands trembling. Unable to hold back the sobs, she held his trembling hands. "You're going to be okay. You can't die. Not without my permission. I can't loose you.. I can't.... I need you, Val. I can't- I can't loose you" she cried as she stroked his untamed hair.
"You're going to be okay. We're going to be okay" she whispered.
"He was poisoned"
Noelle turned to look at Val's older brother leaning on the wall.
She swallowed hard.
"I didn't do it" Noelle said.
"I don't know, Noelle. I want to trust you but how do I know you're not the enemy here?" He said, moving towards her.
Noelle began to sob. She wouldn't hurt Val.
He was the only one keeping her sane.
"I didn't do it. I swear, I didn't do it. You have to believe me" she cried. "Please stop crying. I know you didn't" he sighed. "I'm just worried" he said. "Why isn't he waking up? He can't die. I can't loose him" Noelle whimpered. He took her in his arms, embracing him as he stared at Val's motionless figure.
"My brother is strong. He'll make it"
Noelle watched the heart monitor. She could hear the beeping sounds coming from the machines. It only made her want to break down all over again. She wanted to be strong for him but what if she couldn't? He was her anchor.