Chapter 68: Chapter 68

Derek paced the hospital as he waited for the doctor to give him a report on the status of his father, a worried frown creased his brow, it was all his fault, perhaps, he had neglected his father for such a long time, he hadn't been able to let go of the fact that his dad remarried just a year after his mom's death and of all the women in the world, he chooses to marry his mother's best friend, though he wasn't cool with it and still wasn't cool with it, but he doesn't want to lose his dad to the cold clutches of death either, he could vividly remember his mom battling for her life some years back, seeing his father doing so now scared him pitless, he felt a hand on his shoulders and he turned to see Kathleen, gazing at him with eyes filled with understanding, how could she understand what he was going through? She had never gone through such before, she might pretend she understood but he knows she doesn't but he must commend her for her effort.

"Nothing will happen to your dad" she whispered to him and his eyes filled with unshed tears, she shook her head seeing those in his eyes, silently telling him not to shed tears and Derek felt embarrassed about the tears, he couldn't remember the last time he cried, she hugged him and Marcella snorted.

"Pretending as if you care," she remarked but Kathleen ignored her jab.

Soon the doctor came out and they all ran towards him, "your father will have to stay in the hospital for a while".

"What's wrong with him doctor?" Derek's voice was filled with perplexity as he asked the doctor.

"Some vital organs in his body are damaged, we still haven't ascertained the cause of it, from the damage that has been done, he had 50-50 chance of survival"

Derek's heart thudded as if the doctor had just pronounced his father's death sentence, that means there's a fifty percent chance that his father might not live?

"There's fifty percent chance that he will live," Kathleen said as if reading his mind, "you mustn't give up hope Derek"

"No one is allowed to go in there for now" the doctor informed and Marcella immediately protested, "but I'm his wife, am I also forbidden from going inside?"

The doctor shook his head," it's in the best interest of the patient that none go inside for now"

"How long is he going to stay in a coma?"Kathleen asked and the doctor once more shook his head, "we have no idea, we just have to hope for the best".

Derek slowly walked towards the ER and stared at his father through the glass door, his heart pierced as he stared at all the tubes connected to his frail form, he suddenly realized how frail and thin his father looked, he promised himself to make it up to him, he would leave his side again, if not for anything but because he was the man his mother once loved.

The ringing of his phone interrupted his thoughts, it was from the office, "I guess the vice will have to attend to that as I won't be in the office for the next few days, I have to be with my dad" he listened to the protest on the other end, feeling agitated, he barked at them to handle whatever problem it was and promptly hung up.

"Trouble in the office?" Kathleen asked from behind him and he nodded dully

"They should be able to handle it in my absence, I'm not living dad alone"

"Who says you're leaving him alone, I'm here, I'll keep watch over him until you return"

"Kath...."

"Shhhh, you don't need to say anything, you mustn't let the company collapse in his absence, he must wake up to see how well you've handled everything"

Derek's gaze was filled with gratitude and he hugged her tightly, "I love you Kath" he whispered into her ears.

"I know, now go, I'm here and nothing happen to dad" Derek nodded, kissing her he left the hospital.

*

*

It's been a week since Derek's dad had been brought to the hospital and he was yet to show any sign of response, Kathleen spent most of her time in the hospital and never leave for anything when Derek was busy with work, he always come back early and gives her time to freshen up and rest a bit. Kathleen could see he was overworking it, she had this feeling he had something to prove to his father when he wakes up, he either spends his days in the hospital or at work, having little time to eat or do anything else.

Kathleen was standing by the glass door staring at Derek's dad, Derek had gone to attend a very crucial meeting, she frowned when she thought she saw his hands move, Marcella was nowhere to be found, she glance around for any nurse or doctor but couldn't see any, she saw his hand moved again and without thinking she ran inside, her heart thudding, at last, he had shown sign of life, Derek would be so happy, "Mr. Deloux, can you hear me?"

She asked frantically but there was no movement from him, not even the hand she thought she had seen, could it be her imagination? She sighed as she turned to leave, suddenly he gasped and his eyes opened wide, "help me..."

He struggled for breath and Kathleen tried to calm him down, "you're in the hospital, you'll be fine".

"Don't let her close to me.....no more soup"

He struggled to say as he removed his oxygen mask and Kathleen gasped, "please relax, you have to put this back on"

There was a beep and Kathleen could hear footsteps as the door finally opened and doctors came running inside, pushing her aside, the doctor promptly wore his oxygen mask back.

"Doctor, is he okay?" Kathleen asked concern creases her brow

Marcella quickly rushed inside and before Kathleen could say, Jack, her palm connected with Kathleen's cheek as she hissed, "what have you done to my husband?

She grabbed Kathleen's elbow, roughly pulling her away from the room, I don't want to see you close to him again, you can go home already"

Kathleen rubbed her cheek as she stared at Marcella, tempted to return the slap but held her peace, "I'm not leaving my husband's dad alone, Derek asked me to watch over him and I'll do just that"

"And you watching over him means going inside to remove his oxygen mask? You wanted to kill him"

"That's bullshit Marcella and you know it, I never tried to kill him, he removed it himself"

"Ha! Why would he remove it himself, you must have made him do it then"

"I didn't, he was trying to tell me something"

Marcella looked at Kathleen suspiciously, "what was he trying to say that would make him remove his mask?"

"He said......" Kathleen caught herself, she recalled the expression on Michael Deloux's face earlier, it was that of fear as he had pleaded for help, who was he referring to when he had said not to let her get close to him, who is her? Could it be that Marcella had something to do with his state?

"Go on, what did he tell you?" Marcella asked and Kathleen shrugged, "nothing, Don't bother with it"

The doctor soon came out and informed them that Deloux was out of danger and is free to receive visitors, only family members though and they won't spend so much time with him.

Kathleen breathe in relief, "thank goodness he's okay" she quickly brought out her phone to inform Derek who promised to be there as soon as he can.

" It's obvious my husband is okay now, you can go" Marcella informed her and turned to walk away

"I'm not leaving" Marcella stopped on her track at her words, "you'll leave if I say so"

"You have no choice but to obey her Kathleen" Kathleen turned to see Nicole walking towards them, why are they insisting she leaves, the more they insist, the more suspicious she gets and she couldn't get Michael Deloux's last word out of her head, he doesn't want her to leave him alone for reasons best known to him.

She raised her chin as she faced Nicole squarely, "and what right do you have to interfere in an obvious family matter"

Nicole snickered, "I am the heir's mother, I can be considered as family, right mother?" She turned to Marcella, who jumped on the opportunity, "oh yes, you're free to interfere, you're also a family"

Kathleen humphed, unperturbed, "I guess we could all stay here then, I'm not leaving, my husband asked me to watch over his father and I'll do just that"

"Who do you think you are, you're just a nobody picked up from the slum" Nicole gritted

"I was a nobody according to you, but right now I'm the legal wife of Derek Deloux, and you? You're not even fit to be called his mistress, you're just a container that harbored his seed" with that parting shot, she walked away without a second glance at Nicole and Marcella.