Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Zoya's POV
I sped through the stark white halls of the hospital, my breath coming in quick, uneven bursts. Sebastian was beside me, his long strides struggling to keep up with my frantic pace.
"Zoya, slow down!" he called, his voice strained, but I barely heard him.
"She must be devastated," I muttered, the words tumbling out as I pushed myself to move faster, my chest tightening with every step.
When I finally spotted her, my heart clenched painfully. Oli was pacing outside the ICU, her movements restless and frantic. Her makeup was smeared, dark streaks lining her tear-streaked face, and her hair was hastily shoved into a messy bun. She looked broken-more fragile than I'd ever seen her.
"Oli," I called softly, my voice trembling as I ran toward her.
She froze mid-step, her head snapping up. For a moment, shock flickered in her wide, tear-filled eyes. But then her arms opened, and I didn't hesitate. I threw myself into her embrace, wrapping her tightly in mine.
Her whole body trembled against me, the fragile weight of her shaking form grounding my own rising panic. She felt so frail, as if the world had already taken too much from her. I held her closer, afraid she might shatter if I let go.
"What happened?" I asked carefully, letting go of her but still gripping her forearms tightly, as though anchoring her to reality.
"We had an argument," she began, her voice shaky and strained. "He freaked out-started shouting, throwing things around-and before I knew it... he just collapsed." Her fingers shakily brushed a few strands of hair away from her tear-streaked face, the strands stuck to her skin like remnants of her pain.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "What did the doctors say?" I asked softly after a brief, tense silence. Deep down, I already knew what this argument had been about-her and me. Guilt gnawed at the edges of my resolve, threatening to consume me.
"Something with his heart." Her voice cracked, and she let out a shaky exhale. "I literally broke his heart, Zoya," she choked out, a loud sob escaping her lips. The sound hit me like a blow to the chest, and my heart clenched painfully.
"Olivia, this is not your fault," Sebastian interjected firmly, his voice cutting through the thick air of anguish. "Yes, you developed feelings for Zoya, but you decided to step on your own heart-and hers-for him."
His words stung, sharp and unrelenting, piercing through my guilt-ridden haze. Even in this moment, with Elijah in a hospital bed, my love for her clouded my judgment. I hated myself for it.
"Shh," I hissed, cutting Sebastian off abruptly. My eyes darted around the bustling hallway. We were in a public space, and the news of Elijah's condition had already spread. Paparazzi could be lurking nearby, waiting to pounce on any morsel of vulnerability.
"This is neither the place nor the time," I scolded Sebastian, guiding Olivia to a nearby chair as gently as I could.
"What are you doing here?" came a voice from behind me, sharp and unwelcome. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was, and the irritation bubbling inside me only grew. Why was everyone so focused on anything but what truly mattered?
"Ava, don't start," Olivia snapped, her voice edged with exhaustion. Her sharp tone made Ava hesitate, her mouth closing as if she'd bitten back whatever she wanted to say.
But only for a moment.
"If Elijah knew she was here, it would make things worse," Ava muttered, her glare now fixed squarely on me.
"Elijah is in the ICU, and Zoya is here as a friend," Sebastian interjected, his voice firm and steady. "It's normal for her to be here. If she weren't, people would speculate even more. So why don't you back off?" His words hung in the air, and I could feel the tension crackling between all of us like a live wire.
I glanced at Sebastian, then at Ava. Things were spiraling. Taking a deep breath, I gave Sebastian a pleading look. "Sebastian, why don't you take Ava to the cafeteria? Get Olivia something to eat and drink. She needs it."
"I'm not going anywhere," Ava shot back, crossing her arms defiantly.
"Just go," I snapped, unable to contain my frustration any longer. My voice was sharp, cutting through the charged silence. "Don't you see you're making things worse for Oli?"
Ava's gaze flicked to Olivia, who sat silently, her face a storm of suppressed emotion, her tears barely held back. Something in Ava's posture shifted. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, not bothering to wait for Sebastian.
Sebastian hesitated, giving me a small nod before following her. The tension lingered, heavy and oppressive, but at least for now, it was quieter.
I sat beside Olivia, and as soon as I did, she leaned her head against my shoulder. I let her rest, my hand lightly brushing against hers, and we sat together in a quiet, comfortable silence that stretched for what felt like both seconds and hours.