CADE'S CONDITION

Two other nurses pushed a new stretcher toward Cruz and he was immediately laid on it. 

They knew well that Cruz would never agree to stay out of the operation room even though he was already practically losing his mind so they had to take extreme measures.

"Take him upstairs, and place a few securities there until we are done here." Mrs. Robertinstructed and the nurse did as instructed before she also entered the Operation room.

Some nurses prepared the main VIP operation room on the third floor. Soon a few notable surgeons at the hospital surrounded the operation room and each taking turns to be the first and second surgery assistants for the operating surgeon. 

A few hours to midnight and Cruz woke up to find himself laying on a medium-sized hospital bed in the VIP ward. 

"Cade!" He called out as he jumped up from the bed and walked toward him 

Just when he attempted to open the door, Mrs. Robertpushed the door open first. 

"Where is Cade? Did you already perform the surgery? Is he alright?" He asked curiously. 

"Yeah! He's fine. We successfully concluded the first round of the surgery. He will be observed till tomorrow before a decision can be made on the conduction of another operation." Mrs. Robertreplied. 

"Where is he now? I need to see him for myself." He asked curiously and Mrs. Robertjust pointed the next word to where Cruz was. 

He hurried to the next ward and with much difficulty and pain, he opened the door. 

Cade was laying there his head, left leg, and hand was bandaged and he had a few tiny scratches on his face. Hot tears rolled down Cruz's eyes without his knowledge as he dragged his feet towards Cade. 

"I...I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." He apologized in a muffled voice. 

He went on his knees beside Cade and slowly caressed his face and traced his hand down Cade's straight brow. 

"I was going to lose the bet to Daniel and apologize to her because of Tyler but not anymore." He paused briefly, as he stood up to his feet with his hands on his torso. 

"I promise I will make her pay for this! For embarrassing you and hurting your pride, I'm going to make her lose what she values the most. Her self-respect or Pride! I will tarnish it all over WeCom and she will cry, more than I am now!" He confirmed with so much certainty before bringing out his phone from the pocket of his black Trousers. 

He paused briefly to look at his stained tuxedo and heaved a sigh before dialing a number on his phone. The number he dialed was switched off and he assumed it was because it was already midnight. 

Though he couldn't reach the caller, something else caught her attention. Notifications about Cade's accident on the news kept entering his phone and when he checked online, he was highly displeased with the pictures of the crash posted online so he hurriedly called his personal assistant at his Fashion House Company THE Westham INC. 

"Dave, contact all the media houses to take down anything related to Cade or I swear I will sue them all!" I lashed out angrily as soon as his assistant answered the call. 

All through the night, he watched over Cade and prayed earnestly for his safe recovery. 

THE ONE ESTATE CLINIC

Jessica was finally awake the next morning and she met Leah resting her head on the bed while sitting on the chair beside the bed. 

The first thing that came to her mind as soon as she regained her consciousness was Cade. 

'How is he doing now?' She thought to herself.

She moved restlessly on the bed causing Leah to wake up in a panic. 

"Are you alright?" She asked inquisitively.

"Leah, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me and you shouldn't have brought me here." Jessica complained, avoiding eye contact with Leah. 

Leah flared up by Jessica's statement as she was highly provoked by it. 

"Are you out of your mind at all? You almost killed yourself and you're saying rubbish as soon as you're up?" She asked angrily, standing up from her seat and pacing about the room. 

Jessica immediately felt guilty for making Leah worry over her through the night. 

"I'm sorry Leah, I didn't mean to scare you. I just didn't know how I passed out." She claimed and just then, Tyler entered the room, his warm ivory undertone face haggard with worry. 

"Jessica, what were you thinking? Do you have any idea how worried we were?" He reprimanded as he drew to Leah. 

"I'm sor…"

"Save your apologies and tell me why you had to go to that extent to think of committing suicide?" Leah interrupted in a trembling voice as it always does when she's very angry. 

"Calm down, she's fine now." Tyler consoled as he moved closer to her and pulled her into a hug. 

"God! Leah, why would you even think I will do that? I just passed out in the water because my thoughts were somewhere far away!" Jessica explained, sitting up on the bed and relaxing her back on the metal headboard. 

"What could you be thinking?" Tyler asked, pressing Leah into himself to prevent her from talking more. 

"Well…I never knew that rude kid in my class was Cruz Westham's younger brother. Today we had and I vent my anger for Cruz on him and he tried to commit suicide afterward. I just...feel...I feel so terrible and guilty for his... condition." Jessica explained tears prickling at the corner of her eyes. 

Leah finally released herself from Tyler's grip to give Jessica a comforting hug. 

"From what I read, he didn't try to commit suicide. He tried to drive his brother's car and met with an accident within the car park." Leah explained. 

"But it was my fault. If I didn't say those mean and hurtful words to him because of my hatred for his brother…he wouldn't have thought of running away to hide from me and he definitely wouldn't have tried to ride a car if he isn't good at it." She complained, hanging her head in disappointment.

"Cade means the world to Cruz, I just hope nothing worse happens to him," Tyler mumbled as he lowered his head and sat beside Jessica's bed. 

Soon the doctor came and did another round of checks up on Jessica before dimming it fit to discharge her.

Leah and Jessica took Leah's car home while Tyler came on his. 

They arrived first before Tyler and they were happy to see that the house had been neatly arranged by him since this was where he passed the night. 

"Where is my phone? I need to report my absence from the school." Jessica asked and Tyler who was just coming in answered, 

"It's in your room. I already made the report. You just have to eat and rest up, I also prepared Breakfast, I will serve it so you both should wash up and come back here." He instructed, heading towards the kitchen. 

Leah and Jessica did as told and went to their separate rooms. 

Jessica quickly had a brief shower before wearing mint hot pants and a halter blouse. 

As she was about to step out of her room, her phone which was laying on the table in her room started buzzing off and when she ran to check who it was, it was a new number but it looked quite familiar to her so she answered it.

"Hell…" 

"Miss Jessica Vegas! Congratulations, your prophecy about my brother's failure will surely manifest now, but I hope you remember this saying...An eye for an eye! You will pay." Cruz's unnerving voice hit her ear and a chill ran down her spine. 

"Mr. Westham…"

"That line sounds familiar, right? This isn't the first time I'm making that promise but now you will surely pay. Just pray…" Cruz stopped talking abruptly but he didn't end the call and Jessica could hear some background commotion and noises. 

"CADE! CADE DON'T DO THIS!" Cruz yelled in horror. 

She heard some huffing and puffing and she could tell Cruz was conducting CPR on Cade. 

"Nurse, fetch me the fucking defibrillator, his heart isn't beating normally!" He announced and Jessica's phone slipped from her hand, hitting the table in an audible bang that Leah who was just passing by the room could hear.