Chapter 59: Chapter 59

CHAPTER 16

Beep. .Beep. . .Beep. . . .

I open my eyes. "Doctor, she's conscious!" I hear a soft female voice say. I look around, taking in my environment. I am in a hospital. My eyes are still heavy.

"Ma'am, can you hear me?" The doctor asks me. I nod.

"Okay, that’s good. Can you raise both your hands?" She asks and I raise them both. "Good. Can you try moving your legs?" I move my legs, although, they feel really heavy.

"Do you feel any pain?" He asks, but I zone out, concentrating on getting the oxygen mask on top of my nose.

"Don't take it off. Would you like to say something?"

I take off the mask and fling it on the floor. "Where's my purse? My phone?" I ask, remembering the details of the bus. "Please, I need my phone." I ask again, as I struggle to get up, breathing heavily. The nurse passes me my purse. She helps me open it and brings out my phone. Immediately, I dial Judge Lahey's number. He doesn't pick the first time. I try again. He takes the call.

"I need a favor. BD5IRST." I say recalling the vehicle's plate number, "Find out who's name it's registered under. I need it done now." I say as I hang up. I point at the oxygen mask laying on the floor, and the nurse hands it over.

I am beyond exasperated, hoping the things running through my mind were false. My mind flashes back to the day I had the incident. It was crystal clear now that the bus that hit me a few months ago, was the same one that I'd been seeing around my house. It was definitely not a coincidence that the same bus tried to hit me again. Who could try to harm me or even worse, kill me, apart from Luke? Internally, I begin to pray, pray that I was wrong, pray that although Luke had done terrible things, he wouldn't go as far as trying to murder me.

I run my hands through my hair.

"Ma'am!" The doctor yells, getting my attention.

"Sorry. . .Um, I'm fine, can I have some privacy please?"

"Yes, you may, but we've just flushed out your system, you have to rest properly. You were poisoned. Do you know how? What was the last thing you ate?" The doctor asks.

"Doctor, please, leave." I say, getting irritated. I had better things to worry about.

Surely, Luke wouldn't go this far, would he? I begin to clean my face, as I begin to sweat. I look around and the air-con is on. I take my phone and dial Lydia's number. She picks.

"I'm at Griffith's Memorial hospital. Can you please, come get me?" I ask. She responds and I put down the phone. My stomach was churning, tied in knots, my head, hot.

My mind flashes back and forth, between my first accident and the one that almost occurred today. It was not a coincidence. I was sure. The glasses were tinted, so I could see not identify whom ever was inside.

My phone rings, again. It's the Judge. My heartbeat intensifies. My hands are shaky, legs numb. I take the call.

"It belongs to your company— he says, and immediately, I end the call. It's as though the world had stopped. I lay on my bed. A straight line of tears begin to fall from my right eye. I hold my knees, unable to speak. I take off the oxygen mask. I hold my mouth in an effort to stop myself from crying. I nod my head violently, wanting to convince myself that I probably heard wrong. I know I didn't. I heard him correct.

***

Flashback — The day of the accident

"The baby, save the baby, my baby." I keep repeating like a mantra. I was ready to die if it meant my son would live.

The anesthesia was already kicking in, I could see the doctors begin with the operation. My child would be delivered through cesarean section. Although, he was due ending of May, I was giving birth already, because of the accident.

I fall into nothingness.

**

My eyes widen as I snap out of my flashback. Louis would've died. There was a slim chance Louis would've died! No! My subconscious barks at me, like a mama bear ready to protect her child. I clean my tears and get up. I take my purse and phone. I realize that there are needles attached to my body. I take them off and head out. My vision is blurry, but I don't care. I needed to see my son. I ignore the stares from other patients and head for the exit. Luckily, there are no nurses around to stop me.

"Oh my God, Natalie?" Lydia says as she enters. She supports me and escorts me to the car.

"What the hell happened? You were just fine last night. What happened?"

"I poisoned myself."

She gasps. "Are you crazy? What? Why?!"

"Luke." I say, fighting the urge to cry. "Please, settle the bill. I want to go home. How's Louis?" I ask.

"Okay. Louis fine. I called your aunt before leaving, she should be with him now. I'll be right back." Lydia says. I nod.

***

Ashley opens the door for us. "Oh my God! Ms. Richardson!" She yells as soon as she takes in my attire. "You look pale, and you're dressed in hospital clothes. Are you okay?"

I nod, "I'm fine, Ashley. Where's Louis?"

"He just had a bottle, now he's sleeping. Aunt Ruth's with him." She says, and I rush to Louis bedroom to see him. As I'm about to open the door, aunt Ruth beats me to it. I'm about to enter, but she pushes me outside. She slaps me. I don't bother asking why, because I know why she hit me. Lydia has told her.

"How dare you? Do you know you put Louis’ life at stake?! His future?! How can you be so greedy?!" She gasps. She continues, "I don't even know you anymore. Who are you?!" She yells as she grabs both my shoulders. "Why would go as far as poisoning yourself? Are you mad?"

"Because, aunt, at times, to sell a pail of water, one must first, create a fire." I respond.

"What is she saying?" Aunt Ruth asks Lydia. "Forget about this revenge of yours, Natalie, my love. Vengeance is for the lord! Francis would never be in peace knowing his daughter has become so. . .Scary!"

"Never! Now, aunt, I will not forgive. I will not forget. My anger has become even more disastrous, and I will not have mercy. I will destroy whoever gets in my way, I promise. Now, it's an eye for an eye. I will not rest until I destroy Luke, and believe you me, no harm will come to me as long as I've not fulfilled my goal." I say, and shove her out of the way. I rush to Louis crib and carry him out of it.

"Mommy's here, my love. Nobody can touch you. No one will."

"Forgive me." I say, as I drop a bouquet of roses on my fathers grave. "I have to tarnish your name. It breaks my heart to do it, but in order to avenge you, I'll have to do it. The biggest mistake of my life was marrying that vile monster, but it's also my greatest blessing because I was blessed with my son." I kneel, and touch the tombstone. "I promise you here, today, I will bring ashes from the company when I burn it down to the ground. I will make Lucas fall on his knees and beg me to spare him. I'm no murderer and I don't intend on becoming one, but he will beg me for death. Louis bears the Richardson name because I'll be damned if my son carries forth his lineage.”