章 16: Heartattack And A Deal

"Valerie," her mother began, her voice sharp and cutting. "I need to speak with you. Privately."

Valerie stiffened, her fingers clenching around her wine glass. "If you have something to say, you can say it in front of everyone."

Her mother's gaze swept the table, discomfort flashing across her face. "This isn't for strangers to hear."

"We should give them some privacy," I whispered, starting to rise, but Valerie's pleading look pinned me to my seat.

"I said," Valerie repeated, her voice cold and tight, "if you have something to say, you can say it in front of everyone."

Her mother hesitated then sighed heavily. "I… I want to apologize, Valerie. For everything."

Valerie's expression remained stony. "For what? Ruining my wedding? Nearly costing me the biggest opportunity of my career? Be specific."

Her mother's gaze dropped, her voice wavering. "I was scared... scared for you."

"For me?" Valerie snapped. "You were only thinking of yourself, like always."

Her mother swallowed hard, glancing nervously over her shoulder. "I was doing what was best for you. Ethan... he wasn't the right choice. "

"Ethan wasn't a rich man's son, that's why you never approved of him," Valerie said flatly.

Her mother fumbled, her voice lowering to a whisper. "It wasn't my plan..."

She froze, realizing too late what she'd said. Her eyes darted nervously towards Sylus, whose expression turned dark.

"Don't stop now," Sylus murmured, his voice low and menacing. "Keep going."

Valerie's mother's eyes widened, but before she could speak, she gasped and clutched her chest, staggering backward.

"Mom?!" Valerie's voice cracked, terror dawning on her face as her mother collapsed. "Mom!"

Chaos erupted. People jumped to their feet, shouting for help. Nathan rushed to Valerie's side as she knelt by her mother's motionless body.

"Call an ambulance!" I yelled, fumbling with my phone. My hands shook so badly it took me three tries to dial.

Valerie's mother lay on the ground, her breaths coming in shallow gasps, eyes fluttering as if clinging to consciousness.

"Mom, stay with me," Valerie pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "Please, don't do this. I forgive you, just stay with me."

Sylus crouched beside them, his jaw tight as he checked her pulse. "It's weak. We don't have much time."

"I'm on the line with them," I stammered, relaying the situation to the operator. "Yes, she's having a heart attack. Hurry, please!"

Minutes felt like an eternity. Valerie clutched her mother's hand, her voice breaking as she whispered desperate apologies.

Her mother's eyes flickered, lips parting as if trying to speak, but all that came out was a ragged wheeze before her body went limp.

"No!" Valerie screamed, shaking her mother's shoulders. "Mom, wake up, please! Don't leave me!"

Nathan knelt beside her, pulling her into his arms, though his voice trembled as much as hers. "Valerie, it's going to be okay. The ambulance is almost here."

In the distance, sirens blared, getting louder with each second.

I stepped back, my heart pounding. My eyes flicked to Sylus, whose face remained unreadable, though his gaze never wavered from Valerie's mother.

Paramedics arrived in a blur of motion, moving with practiced efficiency. They quickly assessed her condition, began CPR, and loaded her onto a stretcher. Valerie fought against Nathan's hold, her sobs piercing the air as they wheeled her mother toward the ambulance.

I stood frozen, feeling utterly helpless, as the vehicle sped away with the wail of its siren echoing into the distance.

"We need to follow them," Sylus said, his voice a calm contrast to the chaos around him. He placed a hand on Valerie's shoulder. "She'll need you there."

Valerie nodded, too shaken to respond. Nathan helped her to the car, while Sylus gave me a steady look. "You okay?"

I nodded, though my hands hadn't stopped trembling since I made the call. "Yeah... I'm fine."

The ride to the hospital felt agonizingly long. Inside the emergency room, the sterile smell of disinfectant filled the air, mingling with the tension of waiting. Valerie sat beside me, her fingers twisting in her lap. Nathan hovered nearby, ready to offer comfort but just as shaken.

Sylus stood leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, eyes distant, yet ever watchful.

Finally, after what felt like hours, a doctor emerged. "Who's here for Mrs. Kingsley?"

Valerie leapt to her feet, her voice trembling. "I am. I'm her daughter."

Nathan stood close by, his arm around her. "I'm her son-in-law."

The doctor glanced at all of us before addressing Valerie directly. "Your mother suffered a severe heart attack, likely brought on by stress. We've stabilized her, but… she's fallen into a coma."

Valerie's legs buckled beneath her, and Nathan caught her just in time, lowering her gently back into her seat. She stared at the doctor, her mouth opening and closing, but no words came.

The doctor continued gently, "We'll monitor her condition, but it's hard to say when—or if—she'll wake up."

A sob tore from Valerie's throat, raw and broken. "No, no, no, she can't be in a coma," she whispered, her voice cracking as she buried her face in Nathan's chest.

The doctor murmured his condolences before stepping away, leaving us in the harsh, sterile light of the waiting room.

I reached out, placing a hand on Valerie's shoulder. "I'm so sorry," I whispered, but nothing I said seemed to reach her.

My own hands began to tremble again, the weight of everything hitting me all at once.

Without a word, Sylus stepped closer, his hand warm and steady as he grasped my shaking hands. He leaned down, his lips brushing my ear. "Breathe, Freya," he whispered softly. "I've got you."

Sylus straightened up, his dark eyes finding Nathan. "I'll be taking Freya back now," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Call us if anything changes."

Nathan nodded, too busy comforting Valerie to respond verbally. I said my goodbye to Valerie and Sylus guided me out of the hospital.

We stepped into the cool night air, and I realized just how exhausted I felt. My legs wobbled as I followed Sylus toward his car, my mind foggy from everything that had happened. As soon as we got in, I sat quietly, staring out the window at the blur of streetlights.

For a few minutes, there was only silence between us, the gentle hum of the car engine the only sound. I was lost in my thoughts, replaying the scene over and over in my head. Valerie's mother collapsing, it has just been a really long day.

Suddenly, I felt the warmth of Sylus's hand on my thigh. The simple touch jolted me out of my daze, bringing me back to the present. I turned to look at him, my lips parting in surprise.

"You've been quiet," he said, his tone soft but with a hint of concern. "Are you okay?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could, my stomach betrayed me with a loud rumble. Sylus chuckled, the sound deep and rich, filling the quiet car. My face flushed with embarrassment, and I quickly turned away, pressing a hand over my stomach.

"I guess I could eat," I mumbled, still mortified.

"Anything in mind?" Sylus asked, one eyebrow raised in amusement.

I shook my head. "I don't know…"

He let out a playful sigh. "You women, never knowing what you want to eat."

I narrowed my eyes, fighting back a smile. "That's not true! It's just… I haven't seen the options."

"Uh-huh," Sylus teased, his tone laced with skepticism. "If you saw the options, you'd know what you want?"

I nodded confidently. "Absolutely."

Sylus's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Alright, then let's make a bet. I show you a few options, and if you still can't decide, you owe me something."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what if I win?"

"Then I'll owe you a favor. Anything you want."

I smiled, the tension in my chest easing just a bit. "Deal."

クリエイターの想い
Jasmyne_

Thank you @UNNATI_AWASTHI for being the first reader to give my book power stones. I appreciate it. This chapter is for you. I hope you continue to support my book. Enjoy the story.

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