I tossed my bag carelessly on the sofa and dropped the boxes on top of the glass table. Without delay, I ran out the door, my hands pulling my hair in panic as I rushed to the nurse's station. But before I could even reach it, I met Grey in the hallway.
“Where’s Mom?” I asked, biting back a sob. My legs felt weak and on the verge of collapse, but I willed myself to hold steady.
“In the emergency room,” Grey replied. His face showed no emotion, but he looked a little pale. “I just arrived and found the room empty. I immediately went to the nurse's station to ask,” he explained, as though he read my thoughts.
We rushed in the direction of the emergency room and found Celine seated on the bench outside. When she spotted us approaching, she immediately rose from her seat while still clutching her phone in her hand.
“I was about to call you, Lily, but I’m glad you’re finally here,” Celine said, her face ashen with terror.
“What happened?” It was Grey who asked.
Celine quickly responded, “I tried to wake her up, Lily, but she wouldn’t wake up. I got worried and called the nurse, who called a doctor after checking her. Her oxygen level dropped, and so did her heart rate, and she was rushed here. It happened just minutes ago before the two of you arrived.” Celine explained, overcome with tears.
My legs felt weak, and before I could collapse on the floor, I slumped onto the bench in shock, numbed with pain.
Why did this have to happen today? Why on Mom's birthday when we were supposed to be celebrating a happy occasion? I asked myself, wondering if the gods were trying to punish me for something.
I buried my face in my palms and forced myself to calm down. But despite trying to keep my emotions under control, tears streamed down my flushed cheeks.
It’s impossible not to cry when Mom’s life is in danger. She’s the only family I have now. If she leaves me, my life will be for nothing. With the source of my strength gone, what in life is worth fighting for?
Grey sat on the bench beside me. His hand went to my back as though he was trying to remind me he was still here, but I barely noticed him at all. I fell into a dark limbo, inwardly screaming to wake up from this nightmare.
I don’t know how long I’d been seated on the bench when the door to the emergency room opened and the doctor came out. I got to my feet and rushed to his side. “H-how is my mom?” I asked, unable to keep my voice steady.
His sad, tired eyes looked at me. Just the look of pain in those intelligent eyes confirmed my greatest fear. When he spoke, I felt the weight of my world collapse on my shoulders.
“I’m so sorry. She wasn’t able to make it. We did our best to save her, but we couldn’t. I’m so sorry.”
The doctor’s words slammed through me with force.
This is not happening! This is not happening! I screamed inwardly, but no voice came out of my mouth. My horrified gaze returned to the doctor’s face, and I witnessed pity and sadness emerge from his eyes.
Like a melted candle snuffed out of its flame, I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air. But before the cold floor could catch my body, something warm caught my arms. Was it Grey? But before I could answer my question, darkness came crashing down on me.
Before I lost consciousness, I heard a woman’s panicked scream, then everything went black.
“Be strong, Lily.” A soft voice whispered against my ears, making me open my eyes wide. However, when I opened my eyes, a blinding light hurt them, and I snapped my eyes shut.
“Is that you, Mom?” I whimpered wretchedly, but the voice didn’t answer my question. Instead, something soft and warm touched my cheeks.
“I have to go, darling. Just always remember Mommy loves you so much. I know you love me too, darling, and I just want to let you know that I’m the luckiest mother in the world for having you. When the day comes and you know the truth, I hope you will forgive me as you remind yourself how much I loved you.”
I opened my lips to say a word, but nothing emerged. Tears flowed down my cheeks like a waterfall. I opened my eyes and finally saw Mom’s soft, serene face smiling back at me. I reached for her, but she floated away. Then she was gone, never to be seen again.
My eyes slowly opened, and I found myself staring at a pristine white ceiling. The room was silent except for the hum of the air conditioning unit and the soft beep of the monitor beside me. I was still inside the hospital, I thought to myself, surveying my surroundings for the first time and noticing a small plastic tube attached to the back of my hand.
When my gaze dropped to the door, it suddenly opened, and Celine sauntered inside carrying a tray of food in her hand. As though she sensed someone was looking at her, her eyes went to the bed, and our eyes met.
“Lily,” she blurted out loud, skittering across the room, almost spilling the contents of her tray on the floor. She lowered the tray on the table and hastily came to me.
“You made us all worried,” Celine murmured tearfully, taking my hand and wrapping it in her own. Her fingers were warm while mine were cold. The gesture not only warmed my hand but my heart as well.
“How long have I been unconscious?” I asked her.
“Three days,” she replied. I looked at her disbelievingly, expecting her to be joking. Celine’s expression remained serious, though, telling me she was telling the truth.
“That long?” I murmured. Now that I knew how long I’d been lying in bed, it explained the strain in my shoulder and my back.
“Yes,” she responded. “Grey never left your side the moment you were confined. He was so worried about you. If I hadn't forced him to leave your side, he wouldn’t have gone home to change clothes.”
The memories before I lost consciousness came crashing back to me. I jolted out of bed and willed myself to get up.
“Don’t strain yourself, please,” Celine pleaded, holding me tight to stop my attempt to get up.
“No! Let me go, Celine. I need to process Mom’s papers in the hospital and settle the bill,” I insisted between hysterics. I pushed her away, but she was so strong that no matter how hard I pushed, she didn't budge.
“Please let me go,” I whimpered, tears blurring my vision.
“No,” Celine replied firmly. “You don’t have to worry about anything. Grey settled the papers. He paid the bills too.” She added, this time pushing me back onto the bed until I was lying on my back.
YOU ARE READING
Billionaire's Pregnant Ex-wife
Romance[COMPLETED] Lily De Silva had been married to the devilishly handsome CEO of Bradford Enterprises for four years, but their marriage came to an abrupt end when he asked for a divorce due to her inability to bear him another son. Reluctantly, she let...
