Arabel's POV
Shock punches through the tatters of my anger. And my heart leaps with fear.
After the loud noise, I shoot to my feet and listen attentively to the voices coming from the distance.
Quickly, I call out. “Richard? Are you there? Are you okay? Richard?!”
No reply.
My heart skips another beat. My mouth becomes dry with indecision. Whether to believe what is going through my head and rush out or just sit back and wait for his call.
But how can I do the latter when the call is still ongoing and I can't hear his voice? What the hell happened?
“It's a man. Get an ambulance!” A strange voice shouts, making me step backwards with my hand over my mouth. I miss my step and fall on my buttocks.
“An ambulance!” Another voice shouts over, and I finally disconnect the call.
Shivering, I force myself back up and rush out of the room I just checked into less than thirty minutes ago.
Richard. Please. Let it not be what I am thinking. Please.
Tears are already streaming down my eyes. I don't know what is wrong, but I can feel it. Something has happened.
Perhaps an accident.
Was he on the road when he called me?
I am practically running out of the hotel, my head spinning with lots of unanswered questions. When I am safely tucked into the car with my seat belts on, I try to exhale to calm my nerves.
But nothing is working.
Fear freezes my fingers, and my body trembles with terror.
After a few more exhales, I dial Ashley's phone, and she picks up almost immediately, attacking me. “Where have you been?”
“Do you know where Richard is?” I ignore her question and ask instead, forcing myself to breathe normally.
“He was here earlier. What happened?”
Then I start to cry. “I don't know Ashley. I was there, and he kissed me, so I left and bumped into Eve at the elevator. He saw me watching him from outside, and I did that just to find out how long Eve was going to stay there with him. I left angrily and checked into a hotel because I knew he was going to find me at your place. Now I don't know what has happened, but Richard...”
I don't know.
“What happened?” Panic fills her tone as well. “Did something happen?”
“I don't know. He was on a call with me, and then suddenly, I couldn't hear him. I heard a strange sound, like a car crash. Oh, God, I don't know Ashley…”
“What?!” She exclaims loudly. “He was here. He went searching for you. Was he in an accident?”
At the mention of an accident, I let all my guards down and break down completely. I didn't want to think in that direction. I didn't want to assume Richard just got involved in an accident.
I wanted to just assume it was something else. Something else, not as big as an accident.
What if…
What if…
“Where can we find him?” I find myself asking her in a hurry, wiping my tears, and forcing my numb fingers to get to work as I ignite the car into action.
“I don't know. Perhaps he was on the way to his mom's to check on you…oh…God, I don't know…” Her voice is breaking, and suddenly, Caleb's tone reaches my ears.
“Bella, calm down, ok?”
I nod, as though he can see me.
“Richard is going to be fine, but first, where are you?”
“Atlantic hotel. Thirty minutes drive from his penthouse,” I reply, turning to the hotel's entrance.
"Call his number again, please, and let us know if anyone picks up," he instructs, and I quickly disconnect the call to dial Richard's number again.
It rings continuously before going to voicemail.
No!
No, Richard. Don't do this to me. Please.
I try again but it is still the same thing. Ringing with no answer, making dread of panic course through me.
My nightmare is coming to play.
I drive out in a hurry, tears streaming down my eyes as I continue calling his phone. I won't stop until someone picks me up.
Someone I hope will be Richard.
With his soft voice calling to me again and pleading with me.
This time, I won't act stubborn or unconcerned. I will forgive him without hesitation.
I was so stupid. I should have known he would never let her back into his life, not after what she did to him. He hurt her. Allowing him to hurt me in return.
Perhaps she also recognized me but pretended not to. Perhaps she came in on purpose just to cause this drift between us. Perhaps this is all planned work, and I fell for it.
Richard, please. Stay alive.
This is all my fault. If I hadn't stayed back after seeing her go in, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. He saw me and came after me so he could explain so I wouldn't get the wrong idea, and now this.
He was in an accident because of me.
This is all my fault!
Richard, forgive me. Please stay alive.
My silent tears turn into whimpers, but after reminding myself that I am driving at a high speed and my tears are almost blinding me, I wipe them away.
I don't know where to find him. I'm unsure of the direction he took in pursuit of me. The only thing I can do right now is go to Ashley so we can find him together.
Just then, my phone begins to ring.
My gut churns, thinking it is Richard or a strange number. But it is not.
It is Ashley.
“Where are you, Bella?” Ashley's concerned voice booms into my ears.
“I'm on my way to you. I have called him several times, but he is not picking up. Let's meet halfway, I can barely drive.”
“Ok. Let's meet at Sweden Road. Be careful.” She cuts the call, and I wipe another lone tear, determined to get there again before breaking down.
Nothing must happen to Richard, or I will blame myself.
Ten minutes later, I come to an abrupt stop, glancing around to see if they are here. As soon as I step out, their car appears. Glad that Daisy isn't with them, I rush into Ashley's arms.
In that embrace, I feel as if a fist is closing around my heart, no matter how hard I try to refrain myself from crying.
“Babe, you should drive Bella. I will drive ours. Let's drive around the penthouse and see if we can get a clue or something,” Caleb says to Ashley, who pulls away from the hug and nods.
Without a word, Ashley leads me to the passenger's seat, tugging me in with the seatbelt before running over to the driver's seat.
From where I am seated, I see Caleb in their car too, looking really worried. He drives past us, and Ashley follows suit.
When my phone begins to ring, I turn to it quickly, letting go of my balled fist. A strange number flashes across the screen, and my heart hammers.
Instead of picking, my body trembles without control.
“Bella?” Ashley calls. “Pick the call.”
I want to, but I dread what the person on the other end wants to tell me. What if he talks about Richard and how he is lying half-dead somewhere? What if he is calling to tell me that Richard is…”
No.
When Ashley makes a move to grab the phone, I see her hand trembling, so I beat her to it.
As soon as I pick up the call, I put it on a loud speaker and drop it back where it was earlier, like a hot potato.
“Hello, is this Mr. Giodano's wife?” The voice calls out, but I can't open my mouth. It feels as if a force is restricting me from saying yes or no.
Even though I wonder why he is calling me that. Did Richard save my number as he used to?
“Yes, who is this?” Ashley replies on my behalf.
“I am calling from St. Gerald Hospital. I'm Sylvester. On our way home, my friend and I witnessed a car crash, and Mr. Richard was in the car. We thought of informing you.”
Ashley and I share a knowing look. I lean forward in anticipation. “How is he? Is he okay?”
“I'm not sure. He has been rushed into the ICU. Be sure to come in as soon as you can,” he mutters before disconnecting the call.