Chapter 43-- Fated Lovers

Chapter 43-- Fated Lovers
Her partially numb fingers subconsciously tried moving around the satin white sheets of the hospital bed but every movement proved abortive and was barred by a severe pain that flowed through the young woman's battered up body.

The state of being dead isn't suppose to be painful is it?
Death comes with absolute numbness to everything and every one around you. It is a peaceful darkness that embraces you. It pulls you into its forever dark abyss and shuts down all your senses. It makes you forget both your pain and your happiness.

But she could remember everything---the horrifying murder scene she stumbled upon, her eagerness to escape and the dangerous over speeding, the hot chase of Leonardo and his men as they tried to stop her from escaping and lastly the bloody crash of her Mercedes through the banister of the bridge.

It was a vociferous crash that sparked a million pain cells within her.

Crystal was completely immersed into darkness following that horrific accident.
She welcome her death. At least she was free and away from Leonardo--or as she thought.

A faint beeping sound rang in her ears.
It sounded like it was coming from a faraway place. The beeping continued steadily, this time more louder.

It disturbed the blurry, hazy images of her accident that was reoccurring in her head and sucked her out of her shadowy abyss of darkness.

An electric jolt ran through her body causing Crystal to fly her eyes opene.
A blinding white room welcomed her vision.
White ceilings, white walls, white bed sheets, eveything was white. It was oddly painful on her weak eyes but hospitable and comforting.

Her chest rose and fell with each breath she took but it felt very painful. Her lungs felt like it had been stabbed repeatedly causing her breathing to seem a bit difficult.

A white mass was restricting her arm movement to a very wide degree. Her eyes trailed to look at her bruised and battered body. A gypsum was wrapped from her right wrists to its elbow whilst a bandage was wrapped around her head. Her body was in pain despite the medications and treatment that she was on.

A resuscitator mask was placed on her face. Crystal felt her vision gradually adjusting to the oddly white but comforting environment.

Something was grasping on to her hand. She felt a tender squeeze on one her free pale hand. Curious, her eyes followed the source of the touch. A large hand held on to her hand, his slender fingers intertwined with it.

Tattooed fingers left on full display, messy hair cascaded over his face and slumped on a mettalic stool was seated Leonardo.
He was asleep but even in his slumber, he was still able to grasp on to her fingers.

His eyebrows were creased into a deep frown. He looked very exhausted. Crystal felt the need to free her fingers from his hold but her body wanted otherwise.

He looked so peaceful in his sleep. Like he hadn't committed a crime of any sort. His well groomed hair looked longer than usual and it was wild and unkempt.

The last thing she remembered was the car crashing into the river. She thought she would die but here she was alive. How?

"I'm alive"Crystal whispered which sounded more like a question.
It aroused Leonardo from his slumber. Leonardo stirred in his sleep. Her whisper was barely even audible but he heard her.

His eyes opened, dull and blue rimmed. Once they met with hers, he inched closer in an instant.
"Crystal" his groggy voice called her.

His eyes had a pained stare in them. Watching her fall to her death felt like a part of him had been ripped out and crushed to dust.
"I thought I had lost you Crystal"he said, his hands caressing her cheek.

"How am I alive?"she inquired with one breath. Talking felt very difficult with the resuscitator mask placed over her face and it also felt painful too.

"I pulled you out of the water Crystal. I was so scared...I thought I lost you" he admitted, his tone raspy and carrying fear, regret and pain.

Crystal tried sitting up straight but her effort was met with a lot of pain.
"No don't" Leonardo ordered making her lie back on the bed.

"How long have I been unconscious?"

"Three weeks"he replied with a broken stare. "You suffered internal injuries and undergoed surgery. You had to be induced into a medical infused coma"

A painful silence settled between them. Neither of them wanting to discuss the issues bothering them.

Leonardo downcasted his head,running his hand down his locks and taking his hair in his hand.

"Crystal that man I killed..."He began, his face gradually coming up.

"I don't want to hear it Leonardo"she somehow scoffed at him. She didn't want to listen to his side.

Crystal closed her eyes shut before forcing it open with an exhale.
Her eyes locked with Leonardo's troubled and pained gaze.

"Crystal...You have to hear me out please. I didn't just kill him for no reason. That man was the one who shot you. He was the assassin that wanted to gun me down but it hit you instead"Leonardo explained.

It felt like the veil had been removed from Crystal's eyes.
She suddenly seemed dumbstruck. Her eyes widened in amazement and also in disbelief.

"I...are you serious?"her shaky voice asked.

Leonardo nodded. "You tried running away from me because you see me as nothing but a killer. You think I am not capable of doing good. Maybe that's all that I am and will ever be to you"

Crystal could feel the pain in his speech with each word he uttered.
She could see the hurt in his beautiful face as he spoke to her.

"Leo...I....that's not how.."she tried to speak up but Leonardo hoisted an arm at her, stopping her from talking.

"Yes I know I have done pretty much bad things. To you inclusive in the past. But one thing I'm very sure off is that I love you and I can never watch you getting hurt. I'll fight the whole world for you Crystal"
He exhaled deeply, tears pooling in his eyes.

Crystal opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off once again. "You don't want to be with me. You dont have to say it. Your actions that day--you were so eager to get away from me that you even hit a guard with the car. You wanted to go as far away from me as possible because you see me as just a monster"

Crystal felt tears streaming down her cheeks as she listened to Leonardo pour out his feelings.

He took a deep breath as if struggling to control his raging emotions and gave her a faint smile. "I love you so much that I am willing to do anything to make you happy. I wouldn't want you to stay with me against your will anymore"

Crystal felt her heart drop a million miles towards a bottomless pits. She shook her head in tears. "Why does this seem like you are telling me goodbye?"

"Because I'm setting you free. We made a deal-- you sell yourself to me in exchange to pay off your fathers debt. Well now you are free. You've fulfilled your part and you are free to go back to your life"Leonardo told Crystal.
Crystal felt like her heart had been stabbed and broken. She felt this immense pain and it was not coming from her injuries.

One would have expected her to jump at this opportunity because this was what she wanted but her mind was screaming at her.

Leonardo let go of her hand which got Crystal to flinch. All the while, she had almost forgotten their hands were still interlocked.

Crystal watched in horror as he pulled back and stood up, wiping the tears that stung his eyes.
"I've taken care of your hospital bills Crystal. I'll be coming to check up on you until you are able to get back on your feet. Once you've fully recuperated, I myself will personally drop you back with your sister Mabel. I'll also send you money so you can use to take care of yourself. I love you but if sacrificing my love will make you happy then I'll willingly sacrifice my love for you"

Crystal sobbed deeply, the resuscitator mask preventing her from being very audible.
Leonardo gave her a faint smile before turning around. This was the hardest decision he had ever made.
But all he wanted was to see the only woman he ever loved happy.

Crystal couldn't keep it within her anymore. A part of her head told her not to say it. This was the opportunity to get back her normal life but a bigger part told her to take the risk and be with the one she loved.

She placed her hand on the mask, pulling it down to confess the four words she had been holding in for such a long time.
"I love you leonardo"

Leonardo stopped in his tracks. He was already about stepping out of the ward. He turned back immedately and Crystal smiled in between her tears at him, nodding her head whilst at it.

"I love you. I love you more than anything. I thought I needed to leave you to be happy but my happiness...it lies with you Leonardo. I don't regret falling inlove with you. Please don't leave me please. I don't want to go away from you"Crystal confessed the moment Leonardo sat by her once again.

"Do you mean all these Bella?" Leonardo asked, a broad smile perfectly situated on his handsome face.

Crystal nodded her head in an instant.
"I love you Leo. Please stay with me"

That was the only confirmation he needed from her. In the blink of an eye, his lips locked with hers and she kissed him back with equal passion.

Their love was forbidden but she didn't mind. She loved him. He was her life. She was willing to sacrifice it all to be with him.