Chapter 49: Chapter 49
~ RICHIE’S POV
One month later~
My heart crumbles in pain every single time I recall how Rachel left and never turned to look at me, she just left and it hurts me to know that I deserve it, that I'm not worthy of her glance. I messed up big time and maybe I won’t be able to make it up to her or myself. That incident has always hunted me, I can never forget how is shot her, and now that I know she was Rachel’s mother I feel worse than before. If I can’t forget that incident how could Rachel? I feel really bad, I keep trying to figure out how I can make everything better but each time I do I realize that this isn’t a mistake; it’s a sin and that’s why sometimes, someday, I feel like a dog wanting to be out but afraid to walk around alone. I wish Rachel finds a way to forgive me.
It’s been weeks, a whole month to say in full since the kidnap incident and well my break up with Rachel. I haven’t spoken to her since then, not that I don’t want to but she doesn’t give me the chance. Even when I got discharged from the hospital, she wouldn’t want to speak or meet me. It hurts me so much to know that my love hates me and that all I get since she left is the love I have locked in my heart; I’m never letting it go.
Everyone now knows about Rachel and I not being together but I have never let anyone question Rachel for leaving because I know it was the right decision. I wouldn’t want to stay with me either. And if Rachel never forgives me, which I hope she does, I will always be glad that I got to spend time with her even though it lasted for just a while.
"Mr. Maranzano." My thoughts start to get drawn away when I hear my secretary call my name. I don’t respond to her as I get dowel with the memories of Rachel.
"Mr. Maranzano, are you with us?" I hear her say again. Yet again, I don’t respond.
"Mr Maranzano." She says, a little louder than earlier
"Yes," I respond, drawing my attention to her and the group of people sitting in the boardroom with me.
"We just discussed the contract terms and conditions, are you with us?" She inquires
"Umm….Yeah, yes I’m with you."
"Okay. Do you have any clarification or want an adjustment on this?" She asks
"No, it’s all good," I say. I don’t know what the terms and conditions are but since this isn’t my first time investing in this business, I don’t think there is any problem.
"Okay, well, in that case, let’s sign it and get into business."
"Sure." I say. She places the contract on the table and I sign on it.
"Congratulations Mr. Maranzano. You are now a fifty percent partner of Roy's embassy." Luke Logan says. He is the owner of the company.
"Thank you," I respond.
After the rest of this team thank and congrats me for the partnership, I head out of the office and drive to the flower store.
"Good morning." I say, Maya. Maya is the woman behind the counter, I’m familiar with her because I come here every day to get flowers before I head to the hospital which is just a few minutes from here.
"Welcome Mr. Maranzano, I thought you wouldn’t be coming today. You are two hours later than usual."
"I got caught up with work."
"No worries, so tell me what kind of flower do you want today?" She inquires
"What kind haven’t I bought before?"
"Wait a second."
She turns around and picks up a bouquet "Here you go. Those are dahlias, it has a very strong and beautiful scent."
I take the flower from her. I sniff it before I respond "It sure does smell good."
"It’s one of a kind."
I chortle "You say that to all your flowers."
"That’s because it’s true but I hope she likes this one."
With a sigh, I respond "I hope so too."
I pay Maya before heading out of the flower shop. Every single day for the past month I come here to get flowers and every time I come, I buy a different flower because I have no idea what Rachel’s favorite flower is but hopefully, I will someday. I love the smile on her face every time she sees the flower, it’s so beautiful, so sweet it gives me butterflies and that’s something I will hold onto till my lungs give up.
Every single thing in my life is now a mess, it’s almost like nothing makes sense without Rachel left. Nothing, absolutely nothing Is the same as it was for the last month, no one is the way they were before not even Alice. She changed, and it’s like her smile vanished, she’s now always quiet and disturbed, I guess John being in a coma is really affecting her. Everyone at home isn’t the best version of themselves either, Emily is dealing with a custody case and it’s not going well at all. The media pressure on the other hand is worse than anything else. I had to sue some paparazzi for trespassing into my home and for taking photos of Rachel while she was being operated in the hospital. That is just too much, I mean there are boundaries people need to respect but since that kidnap news spread around the city, it’s like people don’t know their boundaries in my life and sometimes they make me feel like I don’t know my life anymore. I mean, they keep coming up with a bunch of false stories about Rachel and me. Some say I dumped her while others claim that she was cheating on me with Aiden; just stupid accusations.
Sometimes I feel like my house is made of glass, people see every single thing I do, though I still wonder how and where they got the kidnap information from because I know I was very secretive about that.
I arrive at the hospital in a couple of minutes, parking the car I stepped into the hospital. I no longer walk around with bodyguards, after what Brad did, it became so hard for me to trust my bodyguards. I rather take them with me when I’m going to a public place or something like that. The hospital is likely to be a closed and personal place, I think I should be on my own,
Whenever I come to the hospital, I meet John’s doctors, make sure I get an update on his condition, and as usual, they tell me that he’s gonna be fine. I don’t know when or how long it’s gonna take for him to wake up and look Alice in the eyes; I know she craves that the most.
"Mr. Maranzano, there you are." My thoughts come to a halt when I hear a voice. I turn around to see the doctor walking in my direction "I was about to call you."
"Why? Is Rachel okay?" I feel my heart skip as I ask.
"Yes she's absolutely fine in fact she’d be discharged today but that’s not what I’m here to talk about. It’s about your brother."
"What about him? Did something happen?"
"Actually, something did happen but it’s a good thing or not."
"I don’t understand." I say
"You see, this morning he continuously made some noises which Is like a mumble. Though it’s good in terms of the possibility that he might regain his consciousness but bad in terms of his brain."
"I don’t understand doctor."
"Let me break it down to you, according to possibilities, your brother is likely to have brain damage."
"What?" Worrisome lace in my voice
"It’s just a possibility, Mr. Maranzano."
"Well, you have to do something about that. I mean, I can’t let anything happen to my brother."
"I know and I understand. We are trying our best, let’s just hope the brain scan comes out good otherwise…." He releases a breath
"Otherwise what?"
"We might have to give him brain surgery which can be very risky."
I release a deep breath before I speak "Whatever it is, please try to make sure that John will be fine. I want him back with me."
"My team and I are trying our best Mr. Maranzano. Now if you excuse me, I have a patient to attend to." He says once he hears his name being called from the sound system.
"Thank you, doctor." I say before he walks away.
A sigh escapes my mouth as I think of what he says. I just hope John gets fine. I don’t care what method they will use or how much it’s gonna cost, all I want is for John to be safe and sound. I owe Alice a lot for risking her life, I don’t want to owe her, her husband’s life.
As I approach Rachel’s hospital room door, I keep the flower on the floor, knock on the door, and Immediately went to hide behind the edge of the wall. I peak when I hear the door opening. A smile stretches its way across my face as I watch Rachel pick the flower, she sniffs it and a beautiful smile appears on her lips, this smile is more beautiful than anything so I guess this is the one; her favorite flower. A warming sensation fills my heart as I continue to watch her. I hate hiding every time I bring flowers to her but I can’t help it. She hates me and might forever will.
My heart aches so much that I feel my soul slipping away, as I think about that. I have never felt good without Rachel with me. I wish I could go back in time and change everything. I wish I had Rachel with me right now, I wish I can hold her in my arms and tell her how much I love her and how much she means to me. But I can’t do that, I guess not all wishes come to reality, some of them are just meant to be imagined. So maybe I just have to imagine mine.
I immediately hide back when Rachel looks around presumably to check who kept the flower. Once I feel the coaster is clear, I peek again she still has that beautiful smile on her face. I wish I can make her smile like the flower does.
I love you Rachel and it does matter if you don’t feel the same way.