Chapter 54 Philippe is dead

Chapter 54 Philippe is dead
KAITLYN

“Philippe!”

My eyes fly open, and light pierces into them. I throw my head to the side and groan loudly as pain shoots through my body.

“You're awake," someone whispers beside me, and my body stiffens.

I slowly turn my head to the side, my heart sinking in my belly when my eyes fall on Nikolai's face.

“Philippe, where is Philippe?" I ask, my voice trembling.

His lips slant, and his eyes glitter in what seems to be happiness. But the happiness isn't there because I am alive and awake but because of the question I asked.

“Dead. If you care so much, you can join him," he mutters, and my heart stops beating for a minute.

My jaw drops, and my heart races as shock sparks through me.

The beeping from the monitor increases and goes faster.

He purses his lips and flicks his eyes towards the monitor, looking unbothered.

"This is not how people die," he mutters.

I hold my breath and burst out into a whimper when I can't hold in the pain anymore.

The scene of the car that ran into his and wrecked him flashes into my mind, and my heart tightens even more.

I grip the sheets and sink my teeth into my bottom lip, shaking from pain and regret while his last words and the sound of that roaring car engine echo in my head.

It is my fault. Everything is my fault, and I will never forgive myself for what happened to Philippe. Never.

"You wanted to run away with him, didn't you?" Nikolai suddenly asks, and my whimpers stop. My body paralyzes for a second as his words repeat in my mind along with his warning.

I slowly turn my head in his direction, my eyes blinding with tears.

“You did this, didn't you?" I ask.

His lips stretch further into a smirk, and he tilts his head to the side.

“I warned you, didn't I?" He says, and my heart drops.

I don't want to believe he killed the son of his godfather without thinking twice. There was no way. No way!

I jerk up and tear the needle out of my hand, then grab his collar, glaring hatefully at him.

“How dare you? How dare you kill Philippe?! Why are you such a monster!" I growl and spit on his face.

He swings his head to the side and takes out a handkerchief, then wipes off the phlegm before facing me again.

"What did I warn you about, mi amor? You should have listened and stayed away from him,” he mutters and I grit my teeth in anger.

"I hate you!” I spit out, and he smirks.

"I know, mi amor, I know.”

My heart crushes and I let his collar go, slumping down into the bed again.

He gets up and straightens his collar and cuff.

"I will call the doctor to check on you, sleep well, mi amor,” he says and begins to trudge out of the room.

"Does his father know about this?” I ask as he reaches the door.

He pauses and cranes his neck back, his face expressionless.

"What?”

I grip my hand and stare dead into his eyes.

"Does your godfather know you killed his son?” I blurt out.

Surprise flashes across his eyes in a second, but his face remains the same– unreadable.

He chuckles and turns the knob, his eyes still fixed on me as he walks out of the room.

I burst into tears when he walked out. I press my knuckles into the sheets, crying out in pain.

I can't stop blaming myself for his death. It is impossible to believe. Philippe can't just die like that. No. Never

I won't believe a single word from that bastard's lips until it's confirmed with my eyes or by someone trustworthy.

Philippe is still alive, and that is all I care about.

I slowly get out of bed and begin to walk towards the door. I need to confirm this myself.

Just when I reach out to grab the knob, the door pulls open, and a doctor walks in. He freezes in his tracks when he raises his head.

“Mrs Rider, you're not supposed to be walking around now," he says with a false smile on his lips and stretches out his hand to lead me back to the prison Nikolai has me put in, but I slap his hand away, glaring hatefully at him.

“I'm perfectly fine!" I snap and try to get out, but he grabs my arm, that smile disappearing for a second before returning.

“Mrs Rider, please, let me attend to you first and make sure you get some rest before you can stroll around," he says. It sounds like he is pleading with me for his life with those wide eyes.

I scoff loudly and tilt my head, my lips twitching up.

“Why? Are you scared he'll have your head on a stake?" I ask.

The smile on his face finally fades, and he jerks his head back, his eyes dimming.

"What? Who are you talking about?” He asks, confused.

I press my lips against each other and sigh loudly. I guess he hasn't been threatened by the monster.

“I want to see Philippe," I say in a sharp tone.

He jerks his head back again, acting like he doesn't understand what I am saying.

“Philippe? Oh, the patient that was brought in with you?" He asks, and my body tenses.

Relief and anxiety sweep over my body as I nod my head in agreement.

I am sure I saw a dark cloud dart over his face when he realized who I was talking about.

No, there is nothing like that.

I shake my head at the thought and less on the positive thoughts instead.

“Can I see him… please?” I ask, looking up at him with such eyes that will make anyone agree to my demand.

He sighs and sweeps his head around, contemplating my words.

"Just for a minute,” he says and I hastily nod.

He looks back and opens the door wider then beckons that I come with him. I follow him out of the room and walk down the bustling corridors to an empty one that barely has any patients or medical staff in it.

"Where are we?” I ask as my heart begins to race again.

What if this is just one of Nikolai's tricks to get me locked up?

The doctor looks at me and smiles warmly, but I know damn well that there is no warmth in that body. Neither is there a single warmth in the corridor we are walking down to.

"Where are we?” I ask again in a louder voice.

"You will find out soon," he mutters and pulls a door open.

I am almost panicking but I won't leave either. I will see whatever he wants to show me, be it good, bad, or a trap.

I walk into another corridor and a chill rushes down my spine when I realize where I am.

This is a morgue! A fucking morgue!

I turn my head to the side and glare at the man, questions filling my eyes.

It wasn't true, was it?

“It is true, Mrs Rider," the doctor says and I jerk my head up.

Did he read my thoughts or did I say that out loud? I can hardly focus or think clearly.

He pats my shoulder and points at a screen before me. I look up at the screen and my heart drops in horror.

I grip the gown I am wearing and stagger forward, my jaw dropping.

I slam my hands on the cold screen and lean forward, my body shaking.

Right there behind the screen is a ghostly body lying still and straight on a metal stretcher.

Tears fill my eyes and my heart clenches so hard and tight that I can no longer breathe.

I gasp and lean closer, staring at the body and the face. That pale ghostly yet handsome face.

"It can't be true,” I whisper in a trembling voice full of disbelief.

"I'm sorry, Mrs Rider, we tried our best to save him, but we couldn't,” the doctor mutters behind me, and my heart breaks even more.

I moan and slide down to the ground, gripping my constricting chest.

“It is not true. I don't believe it!" I cry out.

It feels like I am dying. No, it feels like I am dead already. How will I live with such a reminder?

I shake my head, still doubting, still believing he is alive.

"I told you, didn
't I?” A voice speaks up behind me, and I freeze, drowning in pain, agony, and anger.

Footsteps approach me and so does his scent. I grip my fist tighter, shaking in rage the closer he gets to where I am helplessly sitting.

"Philippe is dead.”