Chapter 91
VERA'S POV
I had gotten so used to Jack’s soft side that I almost forgot how mean and ruthless he could be.
His words didn’t really hurt me, I was just shocked at how much he had changed. I forgot he used to be this way.
To be honest, he’s worked really hard to change because of me, and I love him even more for that.
When he collapsed, the timing was perfect. I was waiting for him to get tired and drag himself back inside with all that pride of his. But karma beat me to it.
The look on his face when the emergency team lifted him onto the stretcher almost made me laugh, but I held it in. I didn’t want to look foolish in front of everyone.
Sure, I was embarrassed by how he yelled at me in front of the crowd. But I wasn’t bothered by what anyone thought. People will always talk, no matter what.
They stare at me like I’m the villain. They whisper behind my back, scoff at my name, act like I’m cursed whether something good or bad happens to me.
I’ve learned to face it all with a smile and a strong heart.
So when a young police officer named Harry told me what happened in my house, that’s when fear really hit me.
He said the young girl and Nathan were both rushed to the same hospital. I almost ran straight to Nathan’s room to check on him.
"Does my face look that bad, huh?" he tried to smile but winced.
"Oh, Nat. You shouldn’t have gone inside when you suspected she was there. You could’ve called the police right away. What if… what if they came too late?" I said as I sat beside him.
He didn’t seem to have any internal injuries, but his face… It was going to scar for a long time. They even shaved parts of his hair to treat the wounds properly.
"I was gonna take her down anyway," he mumbled. "I’m glad you’re okay, Vera," he added as he gently touched my hair.
I held back the words I almost said.
I felt guilty, especially when I looked at him like this. Nathan had only ever cared about me, and I’d only hurt him.
Why didn’t we end up together? How could one day with Jack pull me into a whirlwind I couldn’t escape from?
When I look at it differently, I think maybe it’s fate. Maybe God set our paths the way He thought would be best.
Maybe I was too wild for Nathan. He’s always been a gentleman, calm, thoughtful, never reckless.
But Jack? I loved his ruthlessness. His recklessness and boldness pulled me in from the very first day I walked into his office just a few months ago.
Who said the rich don’t bleed? Jack has been through heartache, bad dreams, headaches, and long nights. Just like the rest of us.
"What?" Nathan asked, pulling me back to reality.
"Oh… I thank you," I whispered.
He squeezed my hands, a small smile lighting up his battered face.
"What about Jack?"
"His stubbornness got him tied up in a hospital bed."
And we both laughed.
When we heard the girl had woken up, the police went straight to her ward. Nathan and I followed them. Officer Harry didn’t mind.
I was dying to know who had caused all this pain. When they said it was a young girl, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. What had I ever done to deserve all that from her?
When I stepped into the room, I stopped at the door. The girl was seated with her back to us, facing the wall. She was sitting beside the bed.
Dark-skinned, slim… and as she turned around, I saw her striking blue eyes. Her hair was cut short, like a boy’s, barely reaching her ears. Her piercings…
She looked up at me, opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, then lowered her gaze to the floor.
Her lips were full, her teeth bright white. She wasn’t just pretty, she was beautiful. Her skin glowed.
Then it hit me, Christmas Eve! Recognition slammed into me.
The two police officers sat on the bed. Nathan, as if sensing I was about to explode, pulled me to a chair beside the bed.
I understood. Let the police do their job. But I shot Nathan a sharp look, if they couldn’t get to the bottom of this, I was ready to step in and tear the girl apart.
"How are you feeling?" Officer Jr. Grayson asked kindly.
"I’m never gonna be okay. Please… I don’t want to go to jail," she whispered, pleading.
"Why did you commit a crime if you’re so scared of jail?" Harry asked, his tone a mix of pity and frustration.
He was young too. Maybe that’s why his eyes softened a little. Maybe he understood her in a way. Just a thought.
"I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt anyone," she said, lifting her eyes to meet mine.
"You never meant to hurt anyone?!" I repeated, stunned. "You didn’t just hurt anyone, you hurt everyone around me! Who the hell are you?!" I yelled.
Nathan’s hand gripped my shoulder, pulling me back down. If he hadn’t, I’d have stood and slapped her right across the face. I was furious, and I wanted her to pay. Why were the police being so gentle with her?
Then she started crying. Her eyes shimmered with tears, and soon they were rolling down her cheeks.
She shifted awkwardly in her seat like she wanted to kneel, but her body was too weak.
That’s when I noticed the handcuffs. One arm was bandaged, and one leg was tied to the bed.
She was a criminal. And honestly, it fit. She deserved it.
Still, something about her sad face tugged at my chest. She cried silently, her shoulders trembling.
Grayson, who had been taking notes, finally looked up.
"What’s your name and how old are you?" he asked gently.
I muttered under my breath, frustrated. "Why are they treating her like a lost little girl instead of holding her accountable?"
"Please, calm down and let them do their job," Nathan said as he squeezed my shoulder.
"Then they better do it. Maybe throw her in an interrogation room and scare some truth out of her!" I snapped.
"Miss Santos, please," Harry said softly.
"My name is Natalie Bells, but I’m known as Negro Brown. I’ll be twenty by the end of the month," she answered shakily.
That name rang a bell, just like her face. I’d seen her before. Christmas Eve. And yes, I had heard that name.
"American? Are you a student?" Harry asked.
Why ask that? Her accent and looks clearly said otherwise. She didn’t sound American, and her skin was too dull-toned for that.
"I’m African-American, although I grew up in Africa. But it was easy for me to move here. I only finished high school," she replied.
"How did you meet Miss Santos? Why did you do all this, knowing it would hurt her so much?" Harry finally got to the right question.
"I met her on the streets in Africa. Well… she met me. She saved me, and I followed her. She probably didn’t notice. She never looked back."
She was so detailed. I was about to ask a question when her words clicked.
Yes, Africa. That trip with my friends. I remembered seeing her face. I remembered her name.
And yes… I was the one who didn’t stop to think about that dark-skinned girl I passed multiple times.
I had no idea she would follow me. Get obsessed enough to stalk me.
Or come all the way to America to haunt me!