Hard times we faced

Chapter Five- Hard times we faced

The air in the hospital felt heavy, like the walls were soaked in pain and anticipation. I wasn’t planning to run into Nathan today. After everything that happened between us, I told myself I needed distance. I needed space to figure things out. But fate, as always, had other plans.

I had just stepped out of the ICU after donating blood. My legs felt like jelly, but my heart was calm. Knowing that I helped save someone’s life, even if it was someone I didn’t know, gave me a strange sense of peace. I was about to find a seat to gather myself when I heard the sound of panicked footsteps.

"Where is my sister?!" a familiar voice boomed, cracking with emotion.

My heart skipped.

It was Nathan.

He looked nothing like the Nathan I knew. Gone was the intimidating CEO who spoke like his words could slice through steel. Standing before me was a man crumbling under the weight of fear. His designer coat was unbuttoned, his hair tousled and his tie hung loosely around his neck. He looked as if he had run a marathon from hell.

"Mr. Nathan, you are here," the doctor I had spoken to earlier said as he approached.

"Yes, doctor. I received a call about my sister being involved in an accident. Where is she?? Doctor, please... I hope she is alright. She is all I got..."

I watched as Nathan’s voice broke and he covered his face with one hand. His personal assistant stood a few steps behind him, looking helpless, unsure of what to say or do.

"Mr. Nathan," the doctor said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder, "you do not need to be worried. Yes, her life was in danger, but she was saved by an angel."

"What do you mean by she was saved by an angel? Who is this angel?"

The doctor turned slowly and pointed at me.

Nathan’s head turned, and for the first time since he stormed into the hospital, his eyes met mine.

His expression was of shock, gratitude and remorse.

They flickered across his face like an unfinished painting.

"She is the angel," the doctor said. "Your sister's blood type is B-negative. It wasn’t in the blood bank, and time was running out. Your sister would have died if she hadn’t stepped up."

Nathan looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time. His steps were hesitant and his voice so.. fragile.

"Elena... You saved Bella?"

I nodded.

He didn't say a word. He just stared for a long time, then the doctor added, "You can see your sister now, though she's still unconscious."

He nodded at the doctor and turned to me again.

"I... I'll be back," he said softly, like it hurt him to tear his gaze from me.

As they disappeared into the room, I sat on one of the hospital benches, resting my head against the wall. I could've left. I should've but something in me told me to stay.

Minutes passed then hours and when he finally came out, his eyes were red-rimmed and his steps were slower.

He stopped in front of me. I stood up to speak, but before I could say a word, he pulled me into a hug.

The hug was tight, raw and unspoken.

His entire body trembled as he buried his face in my shoulder.

"Thank you, Elena. What would have happened if you weren’t here today? I have been nothing but cruel to you, and still, you... you helped me," he whispered.

I could feel his tears soaking into my blouse.

"It's alright, Nathan. What matters is that your sister is safe. I'm glad I could help."

He pulled back slightly, still holding my arms.

"Come with me........ please. Let me treat you to something special. No expectations. I just... I need company right now."

I hesitated.

But something about the vulnerability in his voice, the ache in his eyes, made me nod.

"Okay. Let’s go."

"Aiden, stay here and look after Bella, call me if anything comes up"

"Yes boss."

...................................

The ride to the hotel was quiet, except for the hum of the engine. Soft jazz played in the background, his fingers tapping anxiously against the wheel. When we arrived, the staff greeted him with bows, ushering us through a private entrance. The hotel was grand. It looked so modern with a touch of classic elegance.

Gold trimmings. Velvet drapes. O.M.G............ Everything screamed luxury.

We settled into a private suite. A bottle of wine was served as he ordered dinner. The room was filled with the gentle aroma of sandalwood and the lights dimmed to a warm amber hue.

"I needed this," he said, breaking the silence. "Not the wine, not the room. Just... someone who gets it."

"You don't seem like the type who talks about feelings," I said with a smile.

"I’m not," he admitted, chuckling. "But today... I can't bottle it in. I thought I was going to lose Bella."

His voice broke again, and I reached out, gently placing my hand over his.

"Tell me about her."

To my surprise, he did. He even told me more.

He told me about his mother. How she was thrown out when his father remarried. How Jasper's mother manipulated her way into the family, and his father fell for it. Nathan's mother was pregnant with Bella at that time and after giving birth, she raised both him and Bella on her own, struggling, sacrificing and surviving.

"I had a choice to live a lavish life, because as my father’s first child, he gave me a chance to stay with him and be his heir or go with my mother and suffer. I couldn’t bear to leave my mother on her own so I chose my mother’s side."

"I had to grow up fast," he said. "I became her protector and her wall."

He looked at me, his eyes shimmering. "And that hardened me. It made me shut people out."

I listened attentively.

Then I told him about myself. How I always visited my mother, Maya in the hospital who had been in a coma for nearly twenty years. How Mrs. Rivers and Cas treated me badly and how I always lived every day with hope that things would get better, one day.

He sat back, stunned.

"Wait, your mother’s name is Maya?"

I nodded.

"My father also knows someone named Maya. He never talks about her, but sometimes... sometimes I caught him staring at her picture in his old album."

My chest tightened.

"What if..." I began, but the thought was too wild to complete.

Dinner arrived. We laughed, talked and connected to an extent.

I felt something bloom in the spaces between our words.

After dinner, I excused myself to use the restroom.

I stared into the mirror, wondering if this was real. If this new version of Nathan was real. If the soft smile I wore was allowed to stay.

I opened the door.

And there he stood.

Not Nathan.

But Jasper.