Part 96

96

Effortlessly, she overtook the taxi and drove ahead, then on a straight and relatively empty road, Celine turned around to face the taxi directly. She floored the gas pedal, pushing it all the way down, and closed her eyes, ready to either take Alexa's life or land herself in prison.

"Oh my God, Van... it's only been a few minutes," Alexa sighed, receiving a video call from her husband. She could see clearly that Vano was in a car.

"Never mind. I want to see my beautiful wife's face. Is that not allowed?"

"It's allowed, but not now."

"I understand, but I can't be far from you. If only the office and campus were in the same direction, I would go with you."

Alexa laughed. "You're really something."

"Lex,"

"Yes?"

"I'm falling..."

"Driver, that car..." Alexa startled when she saw Celine's car heading toward her.

In a matter of seconds, the accident couldn't be avoided because Celine had done it suddenly. The taxi driver had no time to react at all.

"Alexa!" Vano screamed, watching and hearing the clear sound of the collision, and the phone showed Alexa's current condition. Vano urged the taxi driver to turn around so he could meet his wife.

"No, Lexa, you have to survive. God... Isn't my mother's sacrifice enough?" he whispered, his gaze unfocused. He watched the crowd of people surrounding the wrecked taxi.

"Eca, I didn't get a chance to tell you that I've fallen in love with you. God... please, Eca, don't..."

Vano massaged his temples. The pain was unbearable as he opened his eyes, trying to pull himself back into consciousness.

"Alexa," he murmured, uttering a single name that had him unconscious. He witnessed the devastation of the taxi his wife was in.

These images rotated in his head, alternating with the memory of when his mother passed away. Could he handle another loss?

"Mama, promise me that when you come back, you'll accompany me to the class monitor's birthday party!" Vano hugged his mother tightly before getting into the car.

"Yes, I promise. I'll accompany you," she reassured him, stroking his head. "I have to go now. You take care of yourself."

"Ma..." Vano called out, trying to reach the woman who had given birth to him.

"Eca, I want to take you to Japan once our child is born and old enough to fly."

"No, I don't want to."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid of heights."

"You can close your eyes and hug me. I'll take care of you."

"If you can take care of me, then let's go."

"Alexa..."

"Yes, I'm falling..."

Vano choked back his emotions. "I'm in love with you," he whispered.

He tried to sit up, fighting the pain that dominated his head.

"Van..." Chelsea hurried over to Vano when she saw him trying to sit up.

"Where's Alexa?"

"Alexa..."

"Tell me where she is!" he demanded, as if he had forgotten who Chelsea was.

"I'll take you there. But first, don't you want to meet your daughter?"

"My daughter?"

"Yes, your daughter. She was born prematurely and is currently in an incubator."

"My daughter?"

"I'll take you there." Chelsea guided Vano to get out of the hospital bed, taking along the IV stand that had been with him for several hours.

"How long have I been asleep?" Vano muttered, wiping the glass separating him and the incubator. It was where their child was fighting for life. A tiny, premature baby, forced into the world because her mother was in critical condition.

"Nearly a day."

"Alexa?"

"She's in the ICU. Her condition is critical. That's why they performed a cesarean section to save one of them. The doctor recommended saving your daughter because Alexa..." Chelsea stroked Vano's arm. "The chances of Alexa surviving are much lower than your baby's."

Vano nodded, unable to hold back his tears.

"Take me to Alexa."

No more words were needed. Chelsea led him to Alexa, who was fighting for her life. Even the doctor hadn't expected Alexa to survive this long, even though she had lost a lot of blood and had a cracked rib.

Alexa seemed to be struggling to stay conscious, hoping to hear Vano declare his love.

"Van," Carlos called out when he saw Vano and Chelsea approaching. He momentarily left the police who were questioning him.

"Can I see her?"

"You sit down first. I'll ask the doctor," Carlos replied, leading Vano to a chair. He understood the pain his son was feeling. Watching his wife have an accident right in front of his eyes.

"I hope this case goes to court even if she's disabled," he said firmly. He wouldn't forgive Celine, who had caused grief in their family.

Enough was enough. In the past, he and Vano had lost their angel. Now, they couldn't let it happen a second time.

Vano's face lifted as he looked at his father who was talking to two policemen who had approached him. Vano tried hard to restrain himself from interrupting the conversation between his father and the police officers.

He was really impatient to hear the explanation for what Carlos had just said. The man had stated that he wouldn't settle, even if someone was left disabled due to yesterday's accident.

"You don't need to ask Daddy who it is. Daddy is sure you can clearly guess why suddenly your wife had an accident, right when you let her go alone. Until now, you've always been together, and nothing bad has happened to your wife. But just today, you were careless, and an accident happened, just like what happened to your mother in the past. When Daddy had to use a driver to work, suddenly he got the news that an accident had taken your mother's life.

Lucky or not, Daddy doesn't know, because Alexa is still alive even though she has to fight again to stay alive. To keep accompanying you and raising your child.

You wait here." Carlos patted Vano's shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. "I'll see the doctor first and ask if Alexa can be visited or not. Chelsea wanted to see her last night, but the doctor still refused." Vano could only nod quietly, letting Carlos handle all the issues at hand.

Vano admitted that he currently had no strength or energy to retaliate against all of Celine's actions. He had never imagined that Celine could be so cruel to his wife. Even though the woman had a grudge against him, she had the heart to harm Alexa, who was pregnant.

Where had Celine's conscience gone that she had no empathy or pity for his wife and their unborn child? Did Celine not think for a moment about how her actions could harm someone, especially the innocent taxi driver who had done nothing wrong, yet had to lose his life due to her actions?

"Just ten minutes. And only one person will be allowed to enter because the room needs to stay sterile."

Vano resigned himself, ready to wait for his turn if it hadn't come yet. He wished he could enter, but he couldn't prioritize himself over others.

"Go ahead, Van!" Celine's father reached for Vano's hand and held it. "I'm sure she's waiting for you inside. She wants support from the husband she loves so much."

Vano's gaze became even more tearful hearing Alexa's father's words.

"You know, almost every day, she contacts us. She never gets tired of saying how much she loves you more with each passing day. Her love grows day by day. She also says how incredibly happy she is to be your wife. To be loved and treated like a queen. Especially since she also has in-laws who love her very much. Go meet her. Bring her home."

Vano nodded, deeply moved by Alexa's father's words. He had never known just how much Alexa adored him all this time.

Vano entered the room, passing through the sterilization process and changing into special clothing to ensure Alexa's room remained sterile. His body felt completely powerless as he gazed at his wife lying there, helpless.

No more complaints. No more of Alexa's lips puckering when she was upset because he returned home late. No more Alexa's scolding because he forgot to put the towel back where it belonged.

All of that was gone. None remained. What was left were the echoing sounds of medical devices, filling the room.