Five

5

Xavier's POV

It's late around 8pm, I closed late today for work  being the CEO of a huge company has never been so easy. I hit the road heading home with my car. I was driving through the lonely streets, this has been a daily route after a late -night work at the company.

I spotted someone who looks exactly like Anna by the roadside. It's her!

The cold air turned her cheeks red and her eyes are looking red and puffy as if she cried throughout the day for a long time. She was staggering as if she could barely carry herself up. Something is truly off. I quickly pulled over with so much concern.

As I stepped out, I saw two men surrounding her and probably trying to harasse her. I walked to her in panic.

“Hey!” I shouted, trying to draw their attention away from her. My mind was racing in anger.

The men turned, and their surprise quickly advanced to me.

“And who are you? What's your business with her.” They asked. They staggered towards me.

Before they could finish talking,I was on them in seconds, my training coming into play as I fended them off. They retreated immediately and ran off mumbling threats as they disappeared into the night. I turned back to Anna. 

She staggered weakly and faced me, her face looks so pale and drawn. I rushed to her side and held her. 

 “Anna!” I called out, shaking her gently. Her eyes blinked open and close. “What happened? Where are you going?”

 “I….i…” she stammered and fainted immediately. Her body was freezing cold and I guessed she might have been out here for a long time now. I got her into my car as quickly as I could and drove to the nearest hospital.

I paced around restlessly in the emergency room as the staffs moved passed me swiftly. My heart pounding faster as I waited for news. Each ticking sound grew my nervousness and curiosity.

Soon, a nurse finally approached me, her face was stern and looks serious.

“Mr. Xavier?” she addressed me, to indicate the formality of the situation. And making sure that I was the one.

“Yes, how is she?” I asked, my voice was tight. I robbed my wet sweaty palms together nervously.

“For now, she’s stable,” the nurse replied. Making my heart calm a bit.“ I think the issue with this patient is that she is still having a severe reaction to the medication. The medication is too much in her system, she took too much of it. We’re monitoring her closely.”

“Medication?” My mind skips a beat. Although recently, Mom told me that she will mix a concoction for Anna to drink, but I didn't know the kind of medication. “What kind of medication?”

The nurse breathed out, she stared at me with atom of sympathy “It was a type of herbal mixture intended to help with fertility. From our diagnosis, it appears that  she might have taken more than the recommended dosage.”

I bent my face with sympathy. I knew the pressure Anna had been under with her fertility issues, but I had no idea it was driving her into doing so many hurtful things to herself and endangering herself. I really wanted to see her and needed answers.

 Finally, I was led to her room. She was just lying there, an IV drip was attached directly to her arm, her face was pale and hoarse.

I pulled achair and sat close to her bedside, watching her sleep. She's still looking so beautiful as usual.

Anna had always been such a quiet soul and a determined woman, but tonight had revealed a side of her that I haven't seen before. She looks so hopelessness. I just wanted to understand the reason why she tried to end her life, to help her if I could.

I slept off beside her, and not long, I felt someone tap my back. I jerked up immediately and it was her. She smiled faintly. I realized that I slept beside her. She looked directly at me.

“Xavier?” she whispered, her voice was weak.

“Yes, it’s me,” I said softly, I placed her hands on top of mine and smiled at her. “You’re at the hospital. You fainted yesterday night. How are you feeling now?.”

“I'm fine now. Thank you so much for your help.” She muttered. Her breathing wasn't straight. 

She tried to sit up, but I gently pushed her back down. “No Anna , don't try to be strong. You should rest. So tell me,What were you doing out there last night ? And why were those men after you?”

Tears rolled down in her eyes, and she looked away, as if she couldn’t bear to face me with her tears. “It’s all my fault,” she murmured, her voice cracking. “I... I took the medicine. I wanted to get pregnant so badly. I urgently needed a baby. I thought if I took more, I was thinking that it might help. But it didn’t work.”

The way she speaks truthful made me want to shade teares on her behalf. The pain she was into, the desperation, it all became clearer to me. “Anna, you shouldn’t have had to go through this alone,” I said, my voice firm but gentle. “Why didn’t you tell anyone? Why didn’t you reach out to me when all this things were going on?”

“I didn’t want anyone to know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t want anyone to see how weak I was. I don't want to bother anyone's life. And now... now my whole world is falling apart everything is going down the drain. Xavier I lost everything!”

Her words made my heart bleed. I wanted to console her, but only words is not really enough “Michael... he’s the reason for all this, isn’t he?” I asked quietly, almost afraid to hear the answer. 

Just immediately, tears began to flow freely. “ Could you believe that he’s been cheating on me. He already left me for another woman, Sophie. And the worst part is that, she’s pregnant. I gave Michael everything to this marriage, and now I’m being thrown away like I was nothing, like a piece of paper!.”

I was stood up shocked at the things she just said. Michael, my own brother, had betrayed her in the most hurtful way possible. I'm so disappointed in him, I never imagined he could hurt her so deeply. My heart ached and I felt the importance of protecting Anna.

“I’m so sorry, Anna, you had to go through so much difficult situations on your own,” I said, squeezing her hand. “I had no idea. You didn’t deserve any of this.”

Her eyes met mine, filled with a pale smile and pains “Thank you so much for saving me tonight,” she said. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come and my outcome with those criminals”

“I’m really happy that I did,” I replied, trying to offer her a reassuring smile. “You mean a lot to me Anna. I don’t want you to go through this alone. You need to focus on getting better for now.”

Anna’s expression changed immediately

“I don’t want to stay here anymore,” she said through her tears. “I don’t want to be pregnant. I don’t want to be anywhere near them”

Her tones are final“Anna, you’re not alone. You don’t have to face this alone,” I said, my voice steady. “I won’t let you go through this alone.”

Her eyes widened in shock, “What are you saying? Like, how do you mean?”

“I’m trying to say that you’re staying with me,” I said firmly. “We’ll figure this out together. I will support you and protect you, I will make sure no one or nothing makes you cry or ahead tears again. And...”

“And what?” she asked, her was voice trembling. She looks lost.

“And tomorrow,” I said, taking a deep breath, I finally found courage and let it out. “we’re getting married.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “What? Are you serious? Getting married? How?”

“Yes, I’m serious about this,” I replied holding her hands. “I know it sounds sudden, but I can’t stand to see you hurting like this. You deserve someone who will stand by you, who will support you unconditionally. I want to be that person for you Anna.”

“But why? How can I marry you? How is that possible?” She asked again. She looks so confused.

“Because you deserve to be loved and cared for,” I said softly. “And because I can’t stand to see you suffer like this. You’re important to me, Anna, more than you know.”

“What? Are you out of your mind?” she asked in disbelief and in shock.

“I have been harboring this for a long time and I think it's high time I tell you. I won’t let you face this alone. And because I love you. Give love a second chance Anna.” I pleaded staring directly into her eyes.

Anna looked away confused about the whole situation. Anna’s eyes filled with tears, as she covered her mouth with her left palms. I brought out my handkerchief and wiped her tears.

“I can’t... I don’t know if I can do this,” she murmured, shaking her head, but I reached out to her, cupping her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me.

“You can,” I said with a firm voice. “And you won’t have to do it alone. We’ll face this together. Please, Anna, let me be there for you.” I pleaded. Her gaze stuck on me.