Chapter 81: Chapter 81

Tiffany said they were at 10th Avenue and that's where I ran to, adrenaline pumping in me made it easy for me to run that long distance on heels without feeling pains.

A crowd had formed around them, "why are you guys standing there? Can't anyone call 911?" I screamed and the crowd of people watching and making videos. Juliet was unconscious and bleeding profusely in her leg and right ribs, blood trickled down her temple, I fell on my knees beside her and held her to my chest.

"pumpkin... Mommy is here, please open your eyes," I cried but she didn't respond.

Soon ambulance came and so did Jade.

"UK! what's going on?" He asked

"Oh Jade, Juliet..." I started crying and he drew me to himself.

"help is here, you don't have to worry, she'll be fine. Right now we need to go back to the award ceremony," he said

"no, I need to make sure she is safely at the hospital," I said

"UK listen to me, Juliet will be fine. Max and Hannah will be with her, now come we have an award ceremony to attend," he said dragging me to his car.

I looked down at my blood stained dress, good thing the dress had red flowers printed on it and so the blood wasn't that obvious, as for the stain on my hands, I turned my skirt to the back side and wiped my hands.

The event had already started by the time we got there, as soon as I came out, cameras turned to me, questions were thrown at me

"UK where did you run off to?"

"Is it really true you have a daughter?"

And so many questions were thrown at me but I didn't answer, I kept a straight face as I got inside. We located Ariel and sat beside her.

"Are you alright?" she asked and I nodded my head, "come here," she said hugging me.

"And now distinguished ladies and gentlemen, for the four main awards, I will hand the microphone to my partner" the MC said giving the microphone to a beautifully dressed woman beside him.

"UK, I'll be right back, I have something very urgent to do," Jade said

"Do you really have to leave now?" I asked

"yes, don't worry I will be here to cheer you when you're called up," he said

"you mean if I get called," I said

"hey, I know the whole Juliet thing has put you in a shock but don't give up, you have really worked hard and I know you will get an award. As for now, I really have to go do something urgent," he said kissing the back of my hand and off he went.

I sat there watching him go, "don't worry, one thing I know about Jade is that there is nothing he can't do. Everything will be fine," Ariel said holding my hand.

"How are you so calm and optimistic?" I asked her

"I trust Jade, I'm just surprised you don't," she said

"I..." I was interrupted by the clapping and cheering of the audience,

"I didn't even get to hear the person's name," Ariel said.

"Alright ladies and gentlemen, the person who would be receiving the award for the best supporting actress is chosen from the movie... Downtown Maid, acting as Maya Alderman... give it up for Ariel Donald," the female MC said and Ariel jumped up screaming in excitement.

"oh my God! I can't believe this," Ariel screamed excitedly. She held her gown and catwalked up to the stage.

"To you Miss Ariel Donald, I present this award of best supporting actress. congratulations," the MC said giving Ariel her award.

"Thank you so much," Ariel said kissing her award, she waved at the crowd and made her way back to her seat.

"Next is an award for the role of the best male lead. From the movie Winners, acting as Atlas Bell, our very own actor... Blake Jordan," the MC said and the crowd roared with cheers. Blake went up the stage, got his award and made a little thank you speech.

"Now to the most important part of this award ceremony, the part in which viewers all over the world pay more attention, the award for the role of the best female lead is..." someone climbed up the stage and whispered something to the MC, interrupting him mid sentence.

"oh boy, something big is about to happen tonight. That'll be after the award is presented. From the movie Cold Souls, acting as Raven the Sorceress, our very own popular actress... UK!" he screamed and the crowd roared

"UK! They called your name!" Ariel screamed

I stood up from my seat, it took my brain seconds to process everything and then my eyes widened in surprise, "they called my name!"

I made my way up to the stage, I couldn't explain how overjoyed I felt to stand there, when the cold golden award was placed in my hands, tears rolled down my cheeks.

"I believe those are happy tears?" The MC asked me

"yes, yes they are," I said dabbing the tears with my fingers.

"UK, do you mind if I ask you a question?" The MC asked

"Sure"

"Earlier this evening, we heard you say something about your daughter lying on the cold street of New York, are you telling us you have a child?"

"Yes, I have two daughters actually. Although one isn't my biological daughter, I love her as though I gave birth to her," I answered.

"Which of them were you referring to? Is it your biological daughter or the non biological one?"

"The non biological one".

"You were willing to forgo this ceremony, this award, just to save a child that isn't yours?" The female MC asked

"Yes" I said

"wow, that is so heartwarming. Alright, as promised, there is a big announcement that would be made, I won't tell you, I'll just leave you all to watch it." And with that, the two MCs went down the stage, I turned to leave but they told me to go back up.

Two people came and lifted the pulpit, one gave me a microphone and the lights went off.

"uh... what's going on?" I asked

The lights came up but instead of the bright light of before, dim and romantic setting lights filled the stage. I looked around trying to understand what was happening and then I saw him, walking towards me.

"Jade? what is all this?" I asked

"Something I should have done a long time ago, I kept waiting for a sign but it had been here all along. You are the sign I have been looking for, you came into my lonely life and made everything beautiful and radiant. Every moment I spend with you is the best in my life, I never believe you would abandon everything you have worked so hard just to save my daughter's life. She calls you Mommy UK but I want it to be more than just the name. And so before this crowd, in the presence of everyone all over the world watching this, I asked, Ukpono... will you make me the happiest man by marrying me?" Jade asked

"you... I... Yes. Yes I will marry you Jaden Kale" I said and the entire crowd roared, screaming and cheering filled my ears.

Jade took out the engagement ring and slipped in on my middle finger, I held him up and we kissed right there in front of everyone. "I love you Ukpono, sorry I never said it earlier" he whispered

"you said my full name, I don't care about you not saying earlier, this is the best. I love you so much Jade."

I don't think there was anybody present who didn't come to congratulate Jade and I, people wanted to take pictures with us. I kinda felt there were more "congratulations on your engagement" than "congratulations on receiving the award". Nevertheless, I was still very happy. If only Juliet didn't have an accident then today would have been fully a joyous day for me.

Cameras flashed at us all the way till we got into the car, "where to Mr Kale?" Scott asked.

"We're going home," Jade answered.

"No, we should be going to the hospital, Juliet needs us," I said.

"But..."

"No buts, I won't be able to sleep or do anything knowing fully well that Juliet is lying on the hospital bed alone," I said.

"Alright fine, please take us to the hospital Scott," Jade said.

"Thank you," I said to him.

"Anything for you my love," he said giving me a peck.

At the hospital, heads turned wherever we went, people clapped and cheered at us. Good thing Tiffany had Juliet taken to Dr Kimberly's hospital, so we didn't have to ask where Juliet was, we went straight to Kale's Private Ward. Natalie and Tiffany sat beside Juliet, they turned to us when we came in. My eyes fell on Juliet lying on the bed, her arm and leg was bandaged and and plaster on her forehead.

"oh my God Juliet," I said kneeling beside her. She looked so pale, I couldn't believe this is the same person that hugged me and wished me luck as I was leaving for the award ceremony.

"Tiffany!" Jade barked and Tiffany looked very scared.

"Jade don't..." I said walking up to him "please... today was supposed to be a happy day for us but because of Juliet's accident our happy mood has been dampened. I know you are angry at Tiffany and you have every right to be but don't confront her now, you don't wanna do something you'll regret in future. Right now we should just hope and pray that Juliet should get better soon and then when we get home, we would talk things out. If you go to your sister in this angry mood, you might hurt her really bad. I don't want Juliet to wake up and her aunt is lying in the next hospital room," I said to him.

"Fine, but I swear to God Tiff, if anything happens to my daughter, you'll wish you were the only child," Jade said and stormed out of the room.

"I'll go to him UK," Scott said and went after Jade.

Tiffany came over and hugged me tight, "thank you so much UK," she cried.

"That's enough, I won't let anything happen to you. At least not now," I said to her.

"I am so sorry, I turned your joyous day into a sad one. There is nothing I have to say to justify what I have done," she said.

"That's enough, that's enough," I said rubbing her back. I completely understood how Tiffany was feeling, having been at the receiving end of Jade's anger for three months straight, I understood how the great and mighty Tiffany felt.

Dr Kimberly came in to the hospital room with Jade right behind him, "good evening Miss Udofia," he greeted me.

"Good evening doctor, how is Juliet?" I asked.

"She is going to be okay, she has a dislocation in her left elbow, an ankle sprain and few scratches on her body," Dr Kimberly said.

"I don't understand, there was a lot of blood when I saw her earlier and what about her head? Did she sustain any head injury?" I asked.

"She has a shallow cut on her side but it hasn't affected any vital organ. She does have a little cut on her temple, don't worry it won't scar. As for the dislocation, it's nothing a simple cast and sling won't help," Dr Kimberly answered.

"Oh my poor baby," I said covering my mouth with my hands. Jade held me, rubbing my arms in a consoling way.

"But doctor if she hasn't sustained a serious internal injury then why is she unconscious?" Jade asked.

"In my opinion Mr Kale, I'd say it's the shock that jolted her to unconsciousness, she would wake anytime soon," he answered.

"Thank you so much doctor," I said to him. He shook hands with Jade and went out.

"UK, I think you should go home," Jade said.

"No, I'm not leaving, I wanna be here when Juliet wakes up," I said.

"Please don't be stubborn, look at yourself, you have blood stains on your dress, you look so stressed and you haven't had any food since morning. Go home, Nadia needs you. Take a shower, eat something good and feed Nadia, then have a good night sleep. You can come tomorrow morning, alright?" Jade said.

"Fine, I'll go." I said.

"I'll come with you," Tiffany said.

"Me too," Natalie said joining us.

Jade called me the following morning as I was having breakfast that Juliet was awake, I abandoned my food, told Hannah to pack up food for Jade and Juliet, got dressed Nadia up, packed some clean clothes and toiletries for Jade and drove to the hospital.

Juliet was sitting on the bed and Dr Kimberly was checking up on her when I arrived, my joy knew no bound when she said "Mommy". I went to her side and embraced her, "don't you ever scare me that way again," I said to her.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have tell Aunt Tiff to take me out," she said.

"If all is well then she would be discharged in few days," Dr Kimberly said.

"Thank you so much doctor," Jade said to him.