Chapter 38

Chapter 38


Katarina got off the van as soon as they got to the hospital. A medical team was waiting for them already and without questions, they took Annabel onto the stretcher and wheeled her into the hospital with speed.

Katarina followed closely behind, her fingers tightening around her phone as texts from Luca buzzed in one after another.

"Let's get this going quick," she said, trying not to snap. Her eyes were sharp and commanding, but there was a tremble in her voice that betrayed her fear.

As the stretcher rolled into the emergency ward, the head nurse approached. "Vitals?"

"Stable but unresponsive. Eyes open, no response to voice or touch. No oral intake for the past 36 hours," one of the paramedics answered quickly.

"Was there any trauma to the head?"

"No, but she was stabbed and kicked in the abdomen. She had a miscarriage," Katarina added, her voice shaky and barely above a whisper.

The nurse's face tightened. "Get Dr. Simeon. We'll need a full neuro and psych eval."

Annabel was transferred gently onto the hospital bed. Electrodes were attached to her chest and temples. Monitors began to beep rhythmically. Despite the movement, she didn’t blink. Her gaze remained fixed on a spot above her head like the world didn’t exist around her.

Katarina stood frozen beside the bed, her arms tightly folded over her chest. "Please... wake up. Say something," she whispered.

Moments later, Dr. Simeon entered. His white coat fluttered as he approached with purposeful strides. He had seen this before.

He examined her thoroughly, lifting her eyelids, checking her pupils, listening to her heartbeat, and then lightly pinching her wrist. Nothing. No recoil. No flinch. Just that empty, soulless stare.

"Catatonia," he finally muttered. "She's trapped inside herself."

Katarina turned sharply. "What does that mean?"

Dr. Simeon spoke calmly. "It's a psychiatric condition. Happens after intense trauma. She's awake but psychologically shut down. Her body is functioning, but her mind has disconnected. It’s like her brain is shielding her from pain that’s too much to bear."

Katarina blinked quickly, trying to hold back her tears. "What do we do? Can we bring her back?"

He nodded. "We try. There’s something called the Lorazepam challenge. If it’s catatonia, she should respond. If she does, we’ll start a psychiatric care plan immediately."

He turned to the nurse. "1 mg IV lorazepam. Monitor vitals closely."

The nurse nodded and prepped the injection. Katarina reached for Annabel's cold hand, gripping it gently. "You’re not alone, Annabel. Come back to us. Please."

The lorazepam went in. The seconds stretched into minutes. The machines beeped steadily, the only sound in the room aside from Katarina’s breathing and the distant murmur of hospital life.

Five minutes passed. Then ten.

Suddenly, Annabel blinked.

Katarina gasped. "Did you see that? She blinked. She blinked!"

Dr. Simeon leaned closer. "Annabel? Can you hear me? Can you move your fingers?"

Her gaze slowly shifted. Her eyes weren’t vacant anymore. They were filled with confusion… then pain.

She swallowed hard, her throat visibly moving. "Where..."

"You’re safe," Katarina said, brushing back a strand of hair from her forehead. "You’re in the hospital."

Annabel's brows furrowed. Her hand weakly moved to her stomach.

"No... the baby... where’s—"

Her voice cracked. Her entire body began to tremble.

"Don’t," Katarina said, trying to hold her gently. "Don’t do this now. Please don’t."

Annabel shook her head slowly. "I felt it. When he kicked me. I knew. I just... I didn’t want to believe it."

Tears streamed down her face. She cried without sound, her shoulders trembling, her hand still placed protectively over the space where her baby had once been.

Dr. Simeon motioned to the nurse. "Increase IV fluids. Let’s keep her monitored. Call psych for an urgent consult. We need to stabilize her before we even consider the next steps."

Annabel turned her head toward Katarina. "Did I do something wrong? Was it my fault?"

"No," Katarina said firmly, sitting beside her on the bed. "You were attacked. None of this is your fault, do you hear me? Not one bit."

The door opened again, and Raffaele stepped in. It was obvious he had dashed over as he glanced ag Katarina and back at Annabel. Katarina immediately stood up immediately she noticed his presence.

“Don.” She called and he just strode towards Annabel. Annabel noticed him but just turned her head away, looking at the other side of the room.

Raffaele didn't say anything either and just stared at her. He had his hands firmly clenched into a fist. Katarina just stood there, staring at the two of them.

“What do you need to take care of her alone, Katarina?” He asked, his gaze still on her.

“Excuse…”

“You heard me! If you can't, should I count you as incompetent?” He asked, his voice raised enough to scare her.

“I should be able to care for her with some medications and equipments. I'll also be needing another person experienced in her condition treatment.” Katarina requested.

“It'll be prepared. We are returning to Graviano family mansion.”

“E-excuse me. What?”

That was the last place she was expecting him to return to. And now, he just declared that they would be moved there?

Her shock immediately outweighed the complaint of too much relocation she wanted to voice out.

“Prepare towards that with the doctor. She leaves here as soon as she can.”