"Who are you to the patient?" the doctor asked, his eyes fixed on with professional urgency.
"I’m... I’m... her husband," I blurted out before I could stop myself.
The words slipped out so naturally, yet they hit just as hard as they did anyone listening. For a brief second, everything felt still, like ti itself paused to acknowledge what I had just claid.
Before the doctor could respond, Damon stepped out from the theater.
Apparently, he had entered through another door, which explained why I hadn’t seen him go in earlier.
"Jas, don’t worry. I got this," Damon said calmly.
Jas nodded without hesitation and walked away, leaving the responsibility in Damon’s hands.
"How is she, Damon?" I asked again, my voice quieter this ti, uncertain... almost afraid of the answer.
Damon hesitated, and that alone made my chest tighten.
"She is fine, Raymond... but I’m sorry, we couldn’t save the baby."
His words landed like a crushing blow. My heart constricted instantly, a sharp, unbearable pain spreading through my chest. It was the kind of pain words could never fully capture, raw, hollow, suffocating.
"We had to remove it because her life was at stake," he continued. "She sustained multiple injuries, both physical and internal."
For a mont, I couldn’t breathe. My mind painted images I didn’t want to see... Lena is in pain, fighting for her life, alone.
"Can I see her?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You can," Damon replied, looking over carefully, "but you need to clean up first. She’ll be rolled out soon and taken to the ICU. By then, you should have washed up, and you can see her."
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Co on, man. Let’s get you cleaned up so you can be with her. And... I’m sorry about your child."
I nodded slowly, though I wasn’t sure if I was responding to his words or just trying to hold myself together.
I tried to take a step forward, but suddenly, my head spun violently. The world tilted, and before I could steady myself, everything went dark around the edges.
I felt my body giving in.
"Raymond!"
Voices echoed around , distant, frantic.
Sylvia, Bertha, Mama... they all rushed toward .
"Raymond, are you okay?"
I tried to respond, to reassure them, but my body refused to cooperate.
"Oh my God, what is wrong with him? Damon, do sothing!" Mama’s voice rang out in panic.
And then... everything went black.
When I opened my eyes again, the world felt different, quiet, heavy.
I found myself lying on a hospital bed.
I tried to move, but my body resisted. My right arm felt unusually heavy, and when I glanced at it, I noticed it was bandaged.
Slowly, I turned my head and saw Mama sitting beside , her eyes closed, exhaustion evident on her face.
"What... happened to ?" I asked weakly.
Her eyes snapped open imdiately.
"Oh my God, you’re awake!" she exclaid, relief flooding her expression. "Thank God... thank God you’re awake."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she moved closer, grabbing my left arm tightly.
"What will I tell your mother? I couldn’t even take care of her only son..." she said, her voice breaking as she began to cry.
I sighed softly.
"You don’t need to tell her anything," I said gently.
"As a matter of fact... I’m more of your son too."
She froze for a mont, clearly not expecting that.
"And trust ," I continued, my voice steady despite everything, "even if I were to die today, my mother would be grateful for all you’ve done for ."
It wasn’t sothing I said often, if ever, but I ant every word.
I saw the surprise flicker in her eyes, followed by a warm smile that slowly spread across her face. She nodded in agreent.
"Even at that, you must not neglect your health the way you did yesterday," she said, regaining her composure.
"What?" I frowned. "Yesterday?"
A sudden realization hit .
"What happened to ?"
"You fainted due to blood loss," she replied. "Didn’t you know you were shot?"
Shot.
Now I rembered.
Yes... I had been shot.
But at that mont, I hadn’t felt anything. The only thing on my mind had been Lena.
Nothing else mattered.
"How long have I been out?" I asked again.
"Since yesterday," she said.
My heart skipped.
"What about Lena? Is she okay?"
"She’s fine," Mama reassured quickly, nodding.
"But she’s still in a coma. Damon said she could wake up anyti now. Her brain has started showing activity."
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.
"I need to see her," I said firmly.
Ignoring the pain, I forced myself up from the bed. I pulled out the needle still attached to my hand without thinking. A small stream of blood followed imdiately.
"Easy, Raymond! You’re not supposed to do that," Mama said, alard. "Let get Damon—he’ll assist you."
Without waiting for my response, she hurried out of the room.
The mont she left, I swung my legs off the bed and stood up. My body wobbled slightly, and a wave of dizziness hit , but I steadied myself.
My arms still felt heavy, my body weak—but none of that mattered.
I had to see her.
Slowly but determined, I made my way out of the room.
I didn’t get far before I ran into Damon in the hallway.
"You know you’re supposed to still be in bed," he said, raising an eyebrow. "You almost gave us a scare yesterday."
I stopped and looked at him, offering a wry smile.
He walked toward , grabbing my left arm to support .
"I’m sorry for that," I said. "But I need to see Lena. Now."
"I figured as much," he replied. "Let’s go."
Mama caught up with us and quietly followed behind.
"You do know I can walk by myself, Damon?" I said, slightly annoyed. "I’m not that helpless."
He ignored completely.
"You know," Damon began, shaking his head, "if soone had told a day like this would co, where the pain in your heart would outweigh the pain of a bullet wound, I wouldn’t have believed it. But... strange things happen every day don’t they?."
"That’s one way to put it," I replied dryly. "Or you could just say I was worried about Lena and wanted to make sure she was okay before worrying about myself."
Damon chuckled.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Raymond. We’re here."
That was enough to shut up.
All my focus shifted to the door in front of us.
Damon pushed it open, and we stepped inside.
And then I saw her.
Lena lay motionless on the hospital bed, surrounded by machines. Tubes were connected to her body, monitors beeping steadily beside her.
For a mont, my heart nearly stopped.
My legs moved on their own, carrying to her side.
I sat down slowly, my eyes scanning every inch of her.
Her face... her body... there were faint marks and visible cuts everywhere.
Even her face hadn’t been spared.
A surge of anger rose within , burning through the pain.
I gently reached out and stroked her hair.
Looking at her like this... fragile, broken...
I made a silent vow.
No one would ever hurt her again.
And everyone involved in this, every single person, would pay.
"When is she going to wake up?" I asked, my voice low.
"This evening... or tomorrow," Damon replied.
"Her vitals are good."
I nodded.
"Good."
I turned slightly.
"I want her transferred to the mansion once she’s stable enough."
Damon nodded. "Alright."
"Thank you, Damon... for saving her," I added, eting his gaze. "It ans a lot to ."
He chuckled.
"I must say... since yesterday, there have been a lot of firsts for you. From fainting to the great Raymond Black apologizing? That’s new."
Mama smiled quietly behind us.
"I guess we should thank Lena," Damon continued with a smirk. "She’s brought a change we all welco."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Well," he added, pointing at my face, "that’s the Raymond I’ve been waiting for since you woke up."
A lazy smile crept onto my lips.
"Well... get used to seeing both sides of ," I said.
And this ti, I ant it.
Where is Liam?" I asked suddenly.
"I believe he is still on the island. There is much to do over there," he replied, giving nothing away, and I nodded.
"I would love feedback on the situation on the island, and I need to pass instructions on what to do next.
So there will be a eting here at the hospital. I want Liam, Scarface, Roman, Sullivan, Eric, Detective Patrick, and Sylvia present," I told Damon.
"Including you, of course. So please get Liam on the phone. I want to speak with them."
I gave Damon the instructions, and he went out to carry them out, not before calling a nurse to co in and treat my hand after I had pulled the needle out, even though I protested. Mama left not long after promising to return later in the day and I agreed with much happiness
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