The night was shrouded in darkness, and the dim glow of streetlights painted a solemn path as Alexander steered the car toward Newton Hospital.
Camilla sat in the passenger seat, her gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, eyes filled with worry as her fingers repeatedly tugged on the wristband she wore, a nervous habit that had intensified during this trying time.
The call she had received from her father in the middle of the night to inform her of her mother's situation had left her in great turmoil as he feared Alessia might not make it and wanted Camilla to at least see her if the worst were to happen.
Alexander, ever the pillar of support, in a brief moment when his gaze could safely leave the road, turned to only see Camilla's worried expression and reached out, gently clasping one of her trembling hands.
His reassuring grip offered comfort amid the storm of emotions. "Don't worry," he whispered, his voice a soothing balm to her anxiety. "She's going to be okay."
Camilla nodded, her lips curving into a hesitant smile in acknowledgment of his support, though her apprehension still lingered like a shadow.
The minutes dragged on, each passing second a reminder of the uncertainty that awaited them at the hospital.
Finally, they arrived at the imposing entrance of Newton Hospital and Camilla wasted no time, her heart pounding as she exited the vehicle.
The large hospital glass doors slid open, and Camilla practically rushed through them, her footsteps echoing through the quiet, and sterile hospital lobby.
Alexander followed closely behind her, his presence serving as a steady anchor amidst her turmoil.
Approaching the front desk, Camilla didn't waste a moment on formalities.
Her words tumbled out in a rush, a reflection of her urgent need to see her mother.
"My name is Camilla Kings," she said breathlessly. "I'm here to see my mom, Alessia Kings. She was admitted here yesterday afternoon."
The nurse behind the desk, an older woman with a compassionate demeanor, looked up from her computer screen.
She met Camilla's worried gaze with understanding. "Of course, dear," she said soothingly. "Let me check for you."
As the nurse began typing, Camilla's anxiety intensified.
She anxiously tapped her fingers on the counter, feeling time press heavily upon her shoulders.
After a brief moment, the nurse looked up, her expression serious but empathetic.
"Mrs. Kings is in ward 305 on the third floor. Just take the elevator up, and you'll find it on your left."
Camilla managed a quick nod of gratitude before hurrying toward the elevator, her heart pounding with anticipation.
As she reached ward 305, she grasped the doorknob firmly, pushing the door open to reveal her father, Fernando, alongside the doctor, a nurse, and her grandmother, all standing inside.
Instantly, their attention shifted to her and Alexander, who stood just behind her.
Without hesitation, her father was the first to break the silence, his words laden with anger as he pointedly addressed Alexander, "Cosa ci fa questo bastardo qui? (What's this bastard doing here?)" in his rich Italian accent.
Before Camilla could respond, her grandmother's voice broke the silence as she approached and hugged Camilla tightly. "Oh amore mio... Sono così felice di vederti,(Oh my love... I'm so happy to see you,)" she whispered, tears glistening in her eyes as she held Camilla.
"Good evening, ma'am," Alexander greeted, and the older woman's attention shifted from Camilla to him.
"You...." She uttered, her voice carrying a hint of malice. But before the situation could escalate, Camilla intervened.
"Nonna... Papà, so che siete entrambi scioccati nel vedere Alexander qui con me, ma ora non è il momento... per favore, voglio solo vedere mia madre,(Grandma... Dad, I know you both are shocked to see Alexander here with me, but now is not the time... please, I just want to see my mom,)"
Camilla implored, trying to defuse the tension.
The two of them stared at her, along with the doctor who had been patiently waiting for their conversation to conclude.
Alexander, standing behind Camilla, couldn't understand their words but could sense the tension in the room, understanding that his presence was not exactly welcome given his history with Camilla.
When neither of them said a word, Camilla turned to the doctor. "Doctor, please, how's my mom... Is she going to make it?" She asked hesitantly. The doctor responded with a bright smile on his face.
"Certainly... her condition has stabilized greatly since noon; all we need now is for her to wake up," the doctor reassured her.
Camilla heaved a sigh of relief and turned to face Alexander.
"Can you wait for me outside... I need to see my mom," she said softly.
Alexander nodded, saying, "Sure... I'll wait for you outside," as he squeezed her shoulder affectionately. He then turned around and closed the door behind him.
Alexander took a seat on a chair outside the ward, the weight of the tense encounter inside still hanging in the air.
He understood the complexities of the situation, the history between him and Camilla's family, and the emotions they were all grappling with.
Time seemed to crawl, each minute feeling like an hour as he waited in the sterile hallway.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door to the ward opened. The doctor was the first to come out, followed by Fernando and Camilla's grandmother.
Upon getting out, the doctor turned to Fernando, saying, "Mr. Kings, we'll keep monitoring Mrs. Kings closely. As I mentioned to your daughter, her condition has stabilized, and we're hopeful she'll wake up soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to the nursing staff."
Fernando nodded, his expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. "Thank you, doctor. We appreciate your care."
The doctor gave him an encouraging smile before excusing himself and making his way down the corridor.
Camilla's grandmother stepped forward, her gaze lingering on Alexander for a moment.
She seemed to be searching for something in his eyes, and after a tense pause, she spoke in Italian, "E allora perché sei qui? (So why are you here?)" Alexander, not understanding Italian, simply stared at her in confusion, uncertain of what she had just said.
Fernando let out a tired sigh, realizing his mother's frustration with the language barrier.
He rubbed his forehead briefly before turning his gaze towards Alexander.
After a moment of contemplation, he echoed his mother's earlier question, maintaining a stern tone as he looked directly at Alexander. "What are you doing here?"
Alexander, grasping the meaning now, met Fernando's eyes with sincerity.
"I'm here because Camilla needed support," he responded, his voice steady and genuine. "I care about her deeply, and I want to be here for her during this difficult time."
His reply prompted Camilla's grandmother to switch to English, her voice carrying a subtle undercurrent of hostility due to her Italian accent.
"Oh, so now you care about her? I'm sorry, but she doesn't need your care. She has us-her family, and we're more than sufficient for her. She doesn't need someone as unreliable as you."
Alexander found himself speechless, understanding their skepticism but unable to fully convey that his actions were driven by concern for Camilla's safety.
Fernando stepped forward, gently pulling his mother back and addressing her in Italian.
"Mamma... va bene. Ci penso io, eh?... Perché non esci un po' a prendere aria o dovrei chiamare qualcuno per venirti a prendere a casa?" (Mom... it's okay. I'll handle him, okay?... Why don't you go out for some fresh air or should I call someone to come pick you up?)
However, the older woman waved her hand dismissively, "No, aspetto con te... Se vuoi gestirlo da solo..." (No, I'll wait with you... If you want to handle him on your own...), she said before giving Alexander a disapproving glance and then turning her attention back to her son, "...Va bene, allora... Ti lascio da solo con lui." (...Then fine...I'll leave you alone with him.)
Once Camilla's grandmother had left, Fernando faced Alexander, his arms crossed firmly over his chest.
"So you say you're here to support my daughter... as what, if I may ask?" he questioned sternly.
Alexander met Fernando's gaze, understanding the skepticism in his eyes. He took a deep breath before responding, "...As a friend," he said.
Fernando let out a humorless chuckle before returning to his stern demeanor.
He approached Alexander closely and spoke firmly, "Don't play with me, boy... I don't play when it comes to my family, especially my daughter."
He locked eyes with Alexander for a moment, waiting for his words to sink in, before taking a step back and continuing, "Before my wife had a heart attack, she told me that our daughter confessed to her that she cheated on that musician, Edward Caruso."
"And when she asked if she cheated with you, Camilla changed the subject and said her goodbyes."
Fernando paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words hang in the air, and then continued, "Now, I know my daughter, but above all, her mother knew her better than anyone in this world."
"My wife believed it was you she cheated with. So, I'll ask again, what is your relationship with Camilla? And this time, don't give me that bullshit story about coming here as her friend."
Alexander took a deep breath, recognizing the gravity of the situation. He knew he needed to be honest and clear in his response.
"I understand that my past with Camilla has been complicated, and I've made mistakes. But despite it all..." He trailed off.
"..despite what happened between Camilla and me in the past... my feelings for your daughter never stopped, not even for a second," Alexander began, his tone steady.
"I want to be there for her in any way she needs, whether that's as a friend or something more, if she's willing to give me a chance to make amends... and not because I owe her that much... but because... I love her."
Fernando's expression remained skeptical, but there was a hint of willingness to accept Alexander's words reflected in his brown eyes.
His tone softened slightly as he responded, "You hurt her deeply in the past, Alexander. I can't ignore that... but above all, I trust my daughter."
"If she's willing to give you a second chance and lets you be a part of her life, then I can support her and be there for her as a father when she needs me."
"But..." Fernando paused, the emphasis on that word evident in his tone, "If you dare hurt my daughter like you did the last time... then I swear on my father's grave and on the day my wife brought our daughter into this world... I will destroy you, Alexander Cena." Fernando issued a dark and ominous threat.
Alexander subtly nodded in response, his tone resolute as he replied, "I won't, sir."
With a final nod, Fernando seemed to accept Alexander's presence, at least for the time being. The tension between them had eased somewhat.
Then, in that very moment, the hospital ward door flung open suddenly, causing both men to turn their attention to Camilla.
She burst into the corridor with excitement, exclaiming, "Doctor... where's the doctor? She's awake!" Her voice was filled with exhilaration and relief as she scanned the hospital's corridor.