Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Martins kept pacing from one place to another as his clenched sweaty fist trembled from anxiety. His clenched his jaw and grinded his teeth while his lips trembled from worry. Stella on the other hand, was crying on the floor while Sarah sat beside her to console her.

“I’m… I’m scared mom…” Stella stammered as she said amidst tears. “She… She was covered in blood…”

“Shh Stella, everything would be fine. Nothing will happen to Aniyah.” Sarah patted her back with her trembling hands. They were thinking of how they were going to handle the whole thing with Akeyla and now, this happened. What was she going to do if anything happened to Ella? She and her friends were on their way to a party when they got into a ghastly accident and Ella was the one driving. Her friends were not badly injured; Rihanna who was sitting at the front seat needed surgery but she was already out while Lizzy sustained some injuries on her head and hand but that was all. Ella's case was more serious as she was badly injured and it had been more than five hours since she was taken into the operation room but they had not heard anything from the doctor or nurses since.

Just then, a doctor walked up to Martins while Stella and Sarah sprung up to their feet and ran over to him.

“How is she doctor?” Martins asked with a worried voice.

“The surgery was successful.” The doctor said.

Stella heaved a sigh of relief before turning to the doctor. “Can we see her now?”

“Um… Well, the surgery was successful but she would be in a vegetative state.” The doctor added and the already relieved look on their faces turned to a worried and anxious one.

“What does that mean doctor?” Sarah asked in panic.

“It means um… She would be awake but wouldn’t be aware of her surroundings. She would not be able to respond, speak or follow commands…”

“Oh God!” Stella screamed loudly and burst into tears again. “Why did this have to happen?” She lamented.

“For how long would she be in a vegetative state for?” Martins asked the doctor.

The doctor sighed, “If I should give you an estimated date, it could be up to a year or at most, two years based on medical readings.”

“What do you mean at most two years?!” Stella yelled at the doctor and grabbed his coat. “You don’t even know when she would wake up?!”

Sarah removed her hands from the doctor’s coat and continued to pat her. “All that matters is that she’s going to wake up Stella. It’s okay, stop crying.”

“She has been transferred to a private room already; you can go and see her.” The doctor said.

“Thank you doctor.” Martins said before he moved and squatted before Stella. “Stop crying honey, let’s go and see her. We are at least assured that she would be fine.”

Stella continued to cry while still on the floor. “I… I don’t want to lose my daughter Martins. I will die if anything happens to her.”

Martins sighed and pulled her up. “Nothing will happen to her, you heard the doctor; she is in a vegetative state and would wake up soon. It’s a good thing the doctor gave us an estimated date, what if he had said he had no idea when she would wake up?”

“God forbid.” Stella said as she shook her head abruptly. “She would come back to me.”

“Of course she will. She will come back to us, so trust God, okay?” He patted her back.

“Follow me; let me take you to her room.” A nurse said before she started leading them over to the room. Martins held Stella and Sarah by their shoulder while they followed the nurse.

TWO MONTHS LATER.

“Since she’s sick, does it mean the engagement is off?” Jayson asked his father was seatrd across the table opposite him, with his leg crossed over the other.

“We can’t say yet but if there are no changes in less than a month, we will call it off.”

Jayson heaved a sigh of relief. “I feel bad for her that an accident had to break our engagement. I hope she gets better.”

Richard scoffed, “Do you mean that?”

“Of course. Why would I not wish her a safe recovery? I might feel relieved that this would finally get the whole marriage thing off my shoulders but I still feel bad for her.” Jayson said before he continued going through the multiple files on his desks. Yes, he did feel bad for her but he actually did not wish her a quick recovery. Why would he wish her a quick recovery when that would only bring back the burden he had been struggling to get rid of?

Richard smirked, “Oh, you think just because she’s sick you will not have to marry someone else?”

Jayson paused with what he was doing and looked at his father. “What do you mean?”

Richard stood up from the chair and smiled. “I had no much thing to gain from the engagement anyway and so what happened is for the best. You will have to marry Flora James, the daughter of Jordan James of Erico Industries." He hovered on the table and grinned at Jayson. “We would gain a better partnership with them instead.”

Jayson stared at his father in disbelief. “And what makes you think I will agree to that?”

“You have no choice but to play the card, Jayson. There’s no difference, is there?” He smiled at him. “I will leave you to continue your work.” He said before he walked out of the office.

Jayson clenched his fist in anger. His father had no regard for his feelings and he just did things as he liked. While the family of his fake fiancée is saddened by the incident, here his father was, cooking up plans on how he was going to engage him with someone else.

“Eric!” He called his assistant who quickly rushed over to him. “Get me a glass of coffee.”

Eric, who knew that his boss only asked for coffee whenever he was stressed or angry, quickly dashed off to get it.

*******************

Martins sat down on his bed in his room as he pondered on what he was going to do. Richard had just called him that they should call the engagement off since Ella was hospitalized. Ella and Jayson were supposed to carry out the contract marriage next month for the partnership to be finalized but since Ella is sick, that would not be possible.

If they lose this partnership, then it would be hell for his family. He was glad that nothing happened to his daughter but he still had to something about the engagement and there was only one thing he could do. Yes, her twin, Ella’s twin.

That would be the only thing he could do at this state. He needed to find a way to make her act as Ella’s substitute because that was his only choice left. He quickly walked over to the table and took out a picture of Ella and held it tightly in his hands. He put on his suit jacket and made his way downstairs before going to the garage. First, he needed to find her.

XOXO