3. Secret Daughter

Chapter 3

Nicole's POV

I had barely packed the car before he jumped out, racing his way through the 

Emergency entrance. I needed to ask around before I was directed to the children’s VIP ward, where I found him talking to a doctor loudly.

And that would be putting it lightly because it was a commotion in front of the rooms.

Xavier had the doctor in a chokehold, gripping the collar of the middle-aged man and spitting threats in his face.

Threats that he would carry out, and the doctor was aware of them too. That was the only way to explain his ashen white face.

The nurse behind him, who was carrying a chart, was helpless and could only plead and make promises on the side.

“We are doing our best, but she was brought in delirious and unconscious. We are currently running tests while keeping her under strict observation. Our first guess is that she had an untreated cold that escalated after she fell into the cold water of the swimming pool because she was brought in drenched.

“You'd better find a way around this. "Whether it’s a fucking cold or because she fell in a swimming pool, nothing must happen to my daughter.” Xavier didn’t, for once, loosen his grip on the doctor’s shirt. And the nurse didn’t dare separate them.

Not when she looked like a high schooler beside his towering height.

“Mr. Wolfe, we are trying our best. And we will certainly give you a good result, we brought in the best Pediatrician in the state to treat her. All will be well.” the doctor croaked with a pleading tone.

At this rate, he would actually get choked before he could treat his daughter.

I didn’t need to have lived with them to know that Loise meant a lot to him.

And that’s why I needed to step in.

“Xavier,” I called and hurried to his side, holding his arm to appease him enough to drop his grip on the doctor.

His muscles flexed underneath my hold as he glanced at me briefly with a short flash of recognition.

“This hospital will be razed to the ground if you don’t do something and fast!” he said as he threw the doctor against the wall.

“Yes yes,” the doctor said between coughs and looked at me with a gaze of gratitude.

He got to his feet then straightened his collar as another doctor ran out and whispered some things in his ears.

There was a lot of medical gibberish in his not-so-silent whisper, but I could definitely pick up the words ‘shock’ and ‘emergency’.

I looked up at Xavier who had a scowl on his face and could imagine what would ensue if he took any action at all.

“Hey, she will be fine, the doctor promised,” I jumped in between Xavier and the doctor whose face widened with horror after the oblivious doctor said those words.

“I need to go now, please excuse me,” the three of them turned around but the first doctor paused and said.

“Ma’am, please help restrain your husband from barging into the emergency room. It could disorient our attending doctor."

“I’ll do my best,” I said instead of correcting the doctor that I was nothing more than his secretary who doubles as an assistant because the others couldn’t handle his attitude enough to stay. And the only thing special about me was that 

I’d stayed for four years.

Not because I was his wife.

As soon as the doctor returned to the hospital ward, Xavier collapsed inward with a heavy sigh.

“What have I done? Why didn’t they let me know when she had a cold in the first place?” his eyes were focused on me, but the questions were all over the place.

“Her nanny, her home tutor. None of them said anything until she actually collapsed,” he slapped his face and rubbed it up and down aggressively and when he let his hands fall to his sides, he revealed red-rimmed eyes.

And that was when it occurred to me that everything he had done just now had been an attempt to stay in control, but now that he was all alone, he started to spiral out of it.

“I’ve been a terrible dad,” his voice broke as he turned around.

“I left her all by herself, I couldn’t bring myself to be a good parent because her mom wasn’t around. It’s my fault her mom died and the guilt,” he doubled over holding his knees to support his posture.

“I wasn’t there for her mom and now this is happening. I claim to love her yet she fell sick and fell into the pool. This is all my fault,” his voice croaked and he broke down without a care for his image.

I squatted in front of him and placed my hands on either side of his shoulders.

“Children fall sick. That’s pretty normal. It’s normal for them to fall into pools too, but if you feel guilty for your absence, then you should make more time for her. 

You can at least control that to make it up to her,” I said and he raised his head with tears streaming down his face.

“But her mom is dead and I don’t know how to. I have accomplished all the success in the business world but I’m still a failure when it comes to showing love to the one person that matters the most to me. I’m such a failure,” he said with anguish as he hit his chest really hard.

It pained me to see the man I loved and held in the highest esteem in so much pain. I wanted to do anything, everything to help and lift the burden away and even though my only experience with kids was when I babysat during the holidays, I still offered.

“I’ll help,” I said as I leaned in and pulled him into a hug.

It was awkward but he didn’t pull back. We remained in that awkwardly confusing position until his breathing was stable again.

“Let’s go take a sit and wait for the doctor’s good news,” I pointed to the chairs in the sitting area.

We sat just in time for the clock to strike 10.

“Can you really help? I will pay you anything. I just…” his voice croaked and I held his hand in mine, interlacing our fingers together then patted the back of his palm with my other hand.

This wasn’t about the money. I wanted to genuinely help him.

“It’s okay. I will do my best for you and your daughter,” I said and we sat in silence for another couple of hours until two doctors came out with smiles on their faces.

Xavier didn’t react at first then I turned to see that he had fallen asleep on my shoulders... that he had found me comfortable enough to sleep on my shoulders. 

My heart did a somersault in happiness as I tapped him.

He jerked awake, dark circles under his red eyes.

“The doctors have something to say,” I told him and he jumped to his feet, letting my hand fall to the side.

I didn’t feel disappointed because we had held hands for five hours straight.

“Good morning, Mr. Wolfe,” the doctor said. He still had a weary look from having his shirt locked, but when he looked at the smile on my face, he seemed to relax.

Again, I had another chance to tell him that I wasn’t Xavier’s wife but missed it.

“What happened? Can I see Loise now?”

“We have been able to stabilise her condition but she will need to be placed under strict observation for another three days in case of an infection. As you already know, her immune system is not on the strong side…”

“I asked if I could see her now."

“I’m sorry but you are not in the right place physically, mentally and hygienically to see your daughter. I would advise you go home, get some rest and a change of clothes. She wouldn’t be awake until another five to seven hours,” the doctor said.

Fletchestepped forward in an aggressive stance and once again, I came in between them with a pleading gaze.

“Let’s just do what he said. It’s best for your daughter. Trust me, she would be worried if she saw you like this,” I said, hoping my reason would get to him and where I expected some sort of argument, he asked. “Really?”

“Yes really. Trust me,” I said again and held his hand.

He relaxed and I turned to thank the doctors.

“It’s no problem ma’am.”

“I’ll go home to have a change of clothes then meet you here in another two hours,” I said to Xavier, but he shook his head and grabbed my wrists.

“No need. You’re coming home with me.”