(Sterling’s POV)
After resting and waking up and feeling revitalized, I took out my phone and called the private investigator before going in to see Phoenix.
“Hi, any more updates?” I asked, calmly looking at the lounge and noticing for the first time how luxurious it looked. I guess it really was VIP only.
“No sir, we can’t find any traces of her whereabouts after the divorce, not until she showed up here last minute,” He said in a monotone voice and I honestly didn’t give a f*ck about it.
I sighed and pressed two fingers against the temple of my nose before responding, “Bring her to the hospital and when you get here, let me know, alright?”
“Okay, Mr. Tyrell,” he hung up after that and I called Denzel to find out what was going on. The phone rang and he picked on its third ring.
“Hey man, what’s up?” I stood up from the couch I was laying on all along and paced the room because I was tensed.
“We got her just in time and she’s locked here and I have also confiscated all her gadgets; trust me, she won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Honestly, it’s disgusting watching her carry that fake baby bump around and no, I haven’t told her yet because I want it to be your element of surprise to her,” Denzel said, and I could hear him chuckling in the background and I couldn’t help but smile lightly because it was a long time since I unleashed the demon inside me that has been locked away for a long time all because of Phoenix but here she was, battling for life. As quickly as the smile came, it was wiped off my face.
“Yeah, you made the right decision and I will handle her myself when I eventually come home but until then, re-task the security guards and let them run shifts and monitor closely. I want her to be closely monitored so that she will feel the walls of the house closing in on her and when I see her, she will regret lying to me after all, Phoenix isn’t here to stop the demon in me,” I thought of everything I would do to her to get her to expose the truth and the thought alone caused such a thrill within me and my lips contorted in my signatory evil smirk “I can’t wait to relive the past but then, hurry up back here, we need to male some new plans,”
“Sure thing, man,” I could hear him barking orders and I just knew then that Denzel was always going to be in my corner.
“And one thing,” I said to get his attention “Don’t forget to get some food from Alfredo’s on your way here,”
“Okay,” I hung up and leaned against the wall that was faced directly opposite the door before doing some stretch and going to Phoenix room.
I hadn’t seen her since but the doctor’s words kept ringing in my ear, breaking my hurt further. I got into her private room but I guess the ladies beat me to it because there they sat, each whispering sweet nothings to her and I was grateful because them doing that kept the atmosphere warm.
I stood behind them for some minutes before walking towards them and they all turn towards my direction and when they saw that it was me, they all stood up; understanding that I needed to be with and sauntered out of the room and I smiled at each of them as a sign of appreciation before they left and I walked further into the room and saw her connected with tubes of different sizes and casts on different parts of her body.
Bandaged on the head with cuts on some parts of her face, a cast on her left leg and hand and then the tubes and hospital robe making her look pale, without no sign of life but her heart beat was stable. I took a seat by her bed and held her hands in a delicate and looked her at her before staring at out intertwine hands.
“You know, even though she was born pre-term, she is very beautiful and I can tell from her flawless skin and although I am yet to see her pretty face, I know that she will take after you,” I sniffled as the tears kept rolling in, “but you have to be here to give her a name and also take care of her with me because you know that I can’t do that on my own, so you have to come back to me, even if not for my sake but for the sake of our daughter,” I squeezed her hands as I was soon blinded by the tears and the words couldn’t stop coming out of my mouth.
“You know that I feel very guilty, right? I left you drive alone after you found that woman and by the way, it turned out that she really is your mom but somehow I blame her because if she hadn’t showed up, you wouldn’t have been involved in this accident. She’s on her way here and I don’t even know what to do or say to her, one way, I don’t want to disrespect her but then I have to do my job,” everything hurt. Is this how one feels when he or she gives all of the love they can give to their spouse? What happens then is that spouse dies? Will the other partner be lonely or join the other spouse in the grave? Will that be our case?
I have never been so confused in my lifetime than now and at this point, I am vulnerable to any emotion. Speaking of vulnerability, the door creaked open but I didn’t stop looking at her face but I figured it was Denzel.
“Is she here yet?” I asked, not caring is Denzel saw me crying because I knew that he wouldn’t judge me but no response came up and before I could look up, a voice that I remembered always spoke up.
“No, son, it isn’t Denzel but me; I came as soon as I heard,” My dad spoke and for the first time since I was a teenager, I didn’t loathe him like I always did or was repulsed by his presence, I just felt empty.
“How did you know?” I sighed; reclining to the chair I sat on then looked up at him and noticed the man who was supposed to be my father, looking more pale than usual.
“It is all over the news station but they haven’t been able to ascertain if she is alive or not and like I said, I rushed down here, how is she doing?”
“Take a seat, dad. The doctor said that we can only hope and pray that she wakes up because it is dependent on her now. Anyway, how is your health? I heard that you were sick and getting treatment, what is the progress like?”
“Well, the doctors are hopeful and are waiting for a matching heart donor so the transplant can be made, but I will be fine,”
“I see, you will be fine; I remember when mum was here and I was with her. I remember her pale face and her holding onto dear life. I stayed here with her for weeks, I expected you to show up for her but you never dead and it hurt me that she kept defending you every time I brought your matter up and it didn’t last long and she died, so I ask you dad, what are you really doing here?” I placed Phoenix’s hand by her side and then turned to look at him squarely, “Go ahead, tell me and please, not another lie because I know when you tell lies,”
“I came here to show my support. I know that I failed you and your mother and I have carried that guilt with me for years and I didn’t know how to make amends but I can start now, with you and Phoenix, in any way I can. You may find it hard to forgive me but I am willingly to wait until you do so from your heart,” He said, holding his walking cane or walk man or whatever is it called, looking at me and just like that, the walls came crashing in on me again and I felt utterly vulnerable before my dad.
“Dad, I don’t want her to end up like mum. I don’t know what I will do if she does and it hurts so much that I can’t even breathe and it hurts more that I can save her. For the second time in history I feel helpless and it is killing me inside. Why can a good thing remain with me? Why does it always get snatched from my hands? Am I cursed?”
I felt helpless as I continued to cry before my dad, not minding my exterior composure. I was a mess at the moment and for the first time, it felt relieving to cry and let it all out, even though it was just a bit of it; like me trying to forgive my dad after years of hate.
In the midst of this storm, there was a little bit of peace concerning that matter and while I was thinking of everything, a knock interrupted us.
“Hey man, I am sorry for interrupting anything but I think some guys are here looking for you and they are with some woman. I heard them trying to get in through security and I brought them in; do you know anything about that?” I heard Denzel ask and I nodded in affirmation.
“Tell them to leave her there and I will get back to them later today,”
“Okay, I will do that right away but what about the meal, I brought it,”
“Okay then, you guys should have yours; I will be there in a while,”
“Sure thing, man; hang in there,”