CHAPTER 074

CHAPTER 074
«JARVIS POINT OF VIEW»

I curled up my knees to my chest, disregarding the pungent pain from my thigh. The wound was wrapped in a white bandage, but fresh blood had already started seeping through, staining it red again. It had been only two hours since the nurse changed it, and it was already ruddy.

Maybe it was because I was fretting too much, overthinking every sensation, ignoring the doctor’s continuous warning to keep my leg stretched. Even with the red flag of disability hanging over my head, I couldn’t stop myself from toiling, fussing, and fearing. I wrapped my arms around my legs, pulling them closer to my chest.

Fear squirmed through my veins like something alive. Anxiety followed right behind it. I twitched internally. My eyes kept trying to flutter shut every chance they got, but I forced them open, glued to the door, waiting, anticipating it to open at any second.

It had been more than twenty-four hours already. What was taking them so long?

Even with a gun pointed at my head, I didn’t feel this much fear. But this… this was Levi we were talking about. Everything about me revolved around him.

I shivered again as the memory hit me; him falling off the cliff flashed before my eyes. His hand clenched over his chest, his face twisted in pain and regret. The way his eyes rolled to the back of his head… and then he was gone.

The bloody idiot fell off in front of me. Where did he even come from? How did he get that close without me noticing?

My body throbbed as I recalled the red pool staining through his shirt. I hugged myself tightly, my breathing suddenly coming out faster while my head drummed and my heart quickened its pace.

The sound of the door opening pulled me out of my reverie. I lifted my head, expecting to see my parents or an officer bringing news that they had found him, but it was Tristan.

A small smile crept up my lips despite everything, just from seeing him. My best friend. The one person who always showed up.

I watched as he rushed over to my bed.

"What are you doing? You’re going to go disabled!" he panicked, instantly grabbing my injured leg and trying to stretch it out. I cried out at the sudden, intense pain, the tears I had been holding back crashing down at once, soaking into the sheets as my shoulders trembled and a sob broke free from my throat.

"Oh my gosh, man. Come here."

He grabbed my arm and pulled me into his chest, and I found myself wailing into him. "He's gone, he's gone!" I squealed, my heart doing painful, erratic flips in my chest.

"It's okay," he said, patting my head repeatedly. "He's not gone. They’ll find him." His voice was steady, reassuring.

And somehow… that made it a little better.

Minutes passed, and I stayed pressed against his chest, something so unusual for me. Eventually, I pulled away and wiped my tear-stained face with the back of my palm. "I'm such a crybaby," I sniffed, and he chuckled softly.

"It's understandable. I’d probably be wailing louder than you, which is very ladylike, by the way. I can’t allow girls to see me like that." He cringed at himself, then sighed. “Anyway, I arrived earlier, and your parents explained everything, but no one knew you were in here fussing.”

I stared at him with doe eyes, my voice breaking again. "Do you think he will be alright? He was shot in the chest… he probably couldn’t swim or breathe and… died." Fresh tears streamed down my face again.

"Stop being pessimistic, will you? Look on the bright side—the police could have found him before the current washed him away. Levi is going to be fine," he assured me once more, and I nodded slowly, trying to believe it. "Sorry, I couldn't come earlier. Dad wouldn't allow me to leave Toronto, and I’m starting to wonder if I’m even an adult."

I shook my head faintly. "It's fine."

I watched him sigh, his shoulders dropping slightly. "Dad has been nothing but a bloody bastard, trying so hard to get me to marry some despondent bitch. I can't abandon my Playboy status unless I have dropped them... since I don’t find girls attractive anymore." He paused, then added more casually, "I’ve already stopped trying to get my memories back. It always lands me at the hospital. I can’t be gay, right?"

He looked at me then, his dim green eyes now brighter, more alive than before. He had regained the weight he lost during his time in Toronto, and his sandy hair looked fuller, healthier. He looked better… too normal, as none of this had ever shaken him.

I sighed and averted my gaze, not wanting to feel the weight of guilt creeping in. If only he knew how important those memories were… he wouldn’t have stopped trying. They were what changed everything, what added color to his life. Dr. Sean had a lot of explaining to do. And if Tristan suddenly remembered everything… I’d be dead meat.

Tristan would kill me if he found out I had been lying to him.

"Are you going to cry again? Stop making that face," he said lightly, playfully poking my cheek and pulling my attention back. I immediately pushed his hand away.

"Of course not. What do you take me for? Some outrageous crybaby?"

"Your words, not mine," he teased, before his eyes dropped to my leg. My stomach tightened—I had completely forgotten about it.

"I’ll go get the doctor," he said, standing up, but before he could leave, Mom and Dad walked in with a police officer behind them. My breath hitched instantly, knowing what was coming.

"Oh my God, Jarvis. What happened to you?!" Mom panicked, rushing over to take Tristan’s place, cupping my face as though she could fix everything just by touching me.

"I'm fine, Mom. Nothing to worry about," I assured her before turning to the officer. "Have you found him?"

The cop shook his head, and my heart sank instantly, my vision blurring with unshed tears.

"Not yet. Our men are still searching since the current leads to an ocean beside a small village. There’s a possibility he may have been washed into the ocean… or that villagers found him," he explained carefully.

Mom pulled me into a tight hug.

"And Miss Stella?" I asked quietly.

"She’s been locked up again. You don’t have to worry about her anymore."

"Thank you, officers."

The cop nodded. "We’ll let you know of any updates. Excuse me." He turned and left the room while Dad saw him out.

My chest tightened painfully.

Where are you, Levi? Please… be alive.