Chapter 33: Awake

In Richard’s lounge, he got a dress for Genesis and told her to take a shower. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she didn’t see Richard in the room. She was glad he was out as she cleaned her body and changed into another dress.

She didn’t come for relaxation but to keep a watch over her friend, hence she didn’t put on a night dress. She made her hair into a ponytail and waited for Richard to come back.

An hour passed before he eventually returned to check on her. He saw that Genesis was still awake. He chuckled and asked “aren’t you asleep already? Well, I came to check on you” he said.

“What about you? You should rest” Genesis gestured for him to come over but Richard said no. “I’m fine. I will have tomorrow off. I will rest however I want at home” he answered.

“Fine. Wake me up after two hours” Genesis requested. Two hours later she would go and check on Arianna and then come back and lie down.

“Okay. Do you need anything else?” Richard asked and Genesis said no. He nodded, walked over to her and kissed her temple “Sleep well” and went out.

Richard didn’t sleep at all. He was in the office and kept himself busy. Three hours passed and soon, went back to check on Genesis.

“Genesis” he called once, twice and the third time, she yawned and stretched herself. She saw Richard standing by the doorway.

She rose herself and adjusted her dress. She’s a terrible sleeper and could guess that she probably would have spread herself out on the bed.

“Let’s go and check on Arianna now. She would be awake any moment soon” Richard declared and Genesis stood up quickly, accompanying him out.

Richard held her into a side hug and kissed her hair. They got back to the ICU where Arianna was laid. Genesis sat down and waited, Richard stood with his back to the wall and kept his gaze on Arianna.

There is something about Arianna that he is yet to lay his fingers on. The desire to help her, to protect her is way too strong in him. The pull he felt towards her is such that he hadn’t experienced before.

Who is she? Had they met before somewhere before he met her in X-City? He cannot explain what he feels for her but one thing he is certain of, is that he doesn’t want her to get hurt.

Suddenly, Arianna’s pupil shrunk. Her fingers moved and Genesis’ eyes lit up for excitement. She stood up and kept her gaze on her friend. Richard remained where he was, with a faint smile on his lips.

Arianna’s eyes opened slowly. Her mind was blank. She saw Genesis staring down at her with a smile. “Aria, my love,” Genesis whispered.

“Gene” Arianna mumbled. She looked around and saw Richard staring at her with a smile. She is in the hospital. The respirator was still fixed on her nostril and the intravenous drip on her wrist.

She knew she had wanted to end her life. But opening her eyes to find herself in the hospital implied that she was rescued. She’s got another chance to live.

Few hours later, Arianna was being spoon fed by Genesis. She looked better and it doesn’t seem like she just came out of a coma a few hours ago. Except that she felt fatigued, there isn’t any sign that she almost died the day before.

“I’m full Gene” Arianna declared. Genesis nodded and put the dishes aside. She offered Arianna a glass of water and she drank a little from it.

“You almost scared the life out of me”Genesis frowned. She couldn’t think of anything properly from the moment she found Arianna in her room, looking lifeless.

“I’m sorry I had to make you and Richard terrified. I’m sorry, my emotions clouded my reasoning” Arianna apologised.

“Apologies accepted. But no matter what happened in the future, suicide is never an option, do you understand that, Arianna?” Genesis advised.

“Yes, I do,” Arianna answered. She thought about the actions she took, and greatly regretted it. How will Eli feel when he gets to know that his mother is dead.

She doesn’t want Eli growing up a motherless child like she was. She definitely wouldn’t take that decision again.

“Promise me Arianna, that this is going to be the last time this will happen?” Genesis said, raising her pinky finger to her.

“I promise” Arianna gave her word. She smiled and raised her own pinky and intertwined it with Gene’s Pinky.

Chase stopped by at the hospital. He was glad when he saw that Arianna was awake. He took a deep breath and walked over to her, kissing her chin.

“Aria, I’m sorry about everything that happened,”Chase said. His eyes went hazy. After that day at the restaurant, he hadn’t set his eyes on Arianna again until the previous evening when he stopped by at the hospital.

He remembered the torture that Arianna went through that day simply because he forced her to accompany him to lunch. Jace really dealt with her for doing nothing.

She did nothing. She was just unlucky to be Jace’s son’s mother. She met Jace Hudson at the time when his aloofness had taken away his tenderness.

Chase took her hands in his. “I know everything you’ve been through with my brother. How he treated and humiliated you. But I promise you that you won’t experience that anymore.

Jace Hudson, my brother, wasn’t so in the past. Something happened that made him so. But he would change, I promise you that no one is going to stop you from being with your son. That’s my promise to you” Chase promised.

Arianna sniffled and said nothing. She raised her head and glanced at Chase with misty eyes. She didn’t know what to say but just nodded all the same.

Chase Hudson hugged her and kissed her temple again before leaving. He went to the receptionist and said all the hospital bills for Miss Arianna Jason should be forwarded to him.

Jace Hudson got all the birth documents for Eli and changed his last name to Hudson. He enrolled him in the most expensive school in Z-City.

The school was reputed for its Excellency and the kids found in the school were children from the high class family.

A special chauffeur was hired for Eli. His bodyguards were the best from Jace’s men. His nannies were trained professionals. Jace ensured that Eli was given the best treatment and the best that any child could ever have.

But when he arrived at the office, he received an anonymous text: