Arabel's POV
For days, I haven't moved a muscle from where I am seated, right next to Richard's bed.
The more days we spend here, the less my hope diminishes, leaving me with nothing but doubts and fear.
I have cried. Pleaded. Prayed. Apologized. Hoped. And I wished for nothing but for him to open his eyes, smile at me, and tell me he loves me or that he would love to kiss me again.
Just anything.
Anything would do.
But he has been silent. Eyes closed. And unconscious.
It makes me wonder just how long he is going to be this way, even though I don't stop praying for him to come out of it.
“Arabel?” Someone calls, coming into the room as I look over my shoulder. It is Mother. “Why aren't you sleeping? Did you even sleep at all?”
It is just the break of dawn, but I haven't slept a wink in days. Most times, I don't cheat nature, and I make up for it by sleeping during the day, but at night, my eyes are always wide open, staring at Richard and hoping for a miracle.
I shake my head without a word, and she moves closer. She rests her hands on my shoulder and murmurs something. “I already told you not to worry, didn't I? Richard will be fine. He is in excellent hands and he is a strong man.”
I nod again.
That has been my word of solace. Every time I want to give up on ever seeing his bright smile again, I always remember what she said. About how strong he is and how my presence can help him survive this.
It's been almost a week now, and there is nothing.
The doctor said he could be out for a week, weeks, a month, months, a year, or even years.
A week was what I prayed for. And tomorrow will make it exactly one week since he has been in a coma.
“Mommy?” Daisy's voice makes me whirl around to see her.
She rushes at me, and I embrace her tightly. Ashley and Caleb walk in too.
I haven't seen my child in almost a week. At first, I was hoping she wouldn't have to see Richard like this, but now I can't help. I miss her. She is my source of strength.
We talk on the phone, but I didn't allow Ashley to bring her here so she wouldn't feel bad that her dad was dying again when he had just come back.
“Daddy?” She calls, staring at his lifeless body on the bed. Quickly, she disengages from me and goes to the bed to hold his cold fingers.
The fingers I always try to keep warm. But they are always cold. And stiff.
No movement. There are no traces of life.
It makes tears spring to my eyes again.
“Is Daddy sleeping, Mommy?” Daisy asks innocently, and I nod intermittently, a tear rolling down my eyes. “He looks like a child. Just like how I sleep, right?”
I nod again.
She pecks his forehead and moves back to me. For a moment, I almost think she knows he is ill because of how tightly she hugs me, as if to give me strength and emotional support. Then she begins to cry.
Apparently, she doesn't believe my lie about him sleeping. No one sleeps in a hospital the way he does, unless he is ill.
“Shhhh, it's okay.”
“Will he be fine?” She demands, making me realize how brilliant she is. She figured it out already. Daisy is just too sharp for her age.
Wiping my own tears and wondering if that was what gave me away, I nod. “Yes, baby. Daddy is strong, just like Superman.”
“Really?” She looks up with a tear-stricken face.
“Yes, baby. When he returns, he will buy you ice cream again, so you don't have to take it from anyone else. He will take you anywhere you want, ok?”
“Yes, Mommy.”
“So stop crying. Don't disturb Daddy with your cries.”
Ashley looks like she has something to tell me, so I disengage from Daisy before signaling to Caleb to take her out.
As soon as Caleb and Daisy are out, she announces sharply, "Bella, we saw Eve."
Mother and I share a knowing glance. Since we didn't have the necessary evidence, we knew something of this nature was likely to occur. She was released on bail.
She continues, "She has been released, and it seems she is on her way here as well. What are you going to do?”
“Nothing.” I shrug indifferently. “What I know is that she cannot harm him while I am here. She can do whatever she wants, but once Richard is awake, she is going back to the prison she is coming from.”
Ashley's fear diminishes a little.
Before Mother can say anything, the door opens to reveal the bitch.
"Talk of the devil," With a sheepish mutter, I turn to face her, letting her know that I am prepared for any tricks she might have up her sleeves this time.
Looking innocent, she waves at me. “Hi.”
She does the same to Mother and Ashley before moving close to Richard. Leaning down, she pecks him on the forehead, and I almost lose my temper.
“Arabel!” Mother warns me against rising up to deal with her before throwing her out.
Who the hell does she think he is?
“Actually, I came bearing news,” she sniffs, pretending to be sad. Before she can go any further about the so-called news, two policemen arrive.
“I am pregnant for Richard, which was why we got married in secret. That had always been the plan, even prior to your divorce. We were to be married in secret if his mother didn't approve of our relationship. So, that gives me the full right to be with him. It gives me rights over you because you are his ex-wife and I am his current wife. I don't trust you or anyone else to take care of my husband. This is why you have to excuse me…”
“What?!” Mother exclaims in disbelief. I don't know if the exclamation is meant for Eve's announcement of her fake pregnancy and marriage in secret with Richard or if it is because we are about to be kicked out again.
I can see through Eve.
It makes me wonder why the rest can't see how evil she is. And how determined she is to ruin us all!
“I am going nowhere. Either we stay here together or you leave for me.” I stand my ground, not moving an inch. “I have been here for almost a week, taking care of him. I have a child for him, and I would never hurt him. It doesn't matter if we are divorced or not. We had already made plans to get married again.” I am trying to play along despite my weariness.
Her jaws drop. “You have a child for Richard?”
“What do you think?” I smirk mischievously, feeling victorious. She can stay, but only with me here. All of this is just a phase. She will leave as soon as Richard wakes up.
She turns to the police.
“Mrs. Giodano and Mrs. Russo, we are sorry, but you have to exit the building…”
“What?!” Mother exclaims again. “He is my son.”
“We know he is, but we have information about some people trying to murder him. We want to be sure he is in safe hands, which is why his wife is here…”
“She is not his wife!” She snaps at them. I want to signal to her to obey, but she isn't sparing me a glance.
She is fuming in anger.
After more arguments between them, Ashley guides her out by whispering something into her ears, causing a wave of relief to wash over me.
Finally, I am left with Eve.
“Did you know that Richard never loved you?” She begins, smiling sheepishly like a fool. “Did you know that he…”
“Shut the f**k up, or I am going to strike you hard in the face!” I snap at her, rage coming up inside of me.
My threats get to her, and she goes silent immediately.
With a scowl, I look away from her to focus my attention back on Richard when I notice a movement.
His finger.
His index finger just moved.
“Richard?!” I call, shooting to my feet to touch him and have him open his eyes to see me first, but he goes still again.
His body is still cold, and his fingers are now stiff.
“Richard!” I exclaim loudly with a mixture of frustration and desperation.