Chapter 67: News

Isabelle Reinhart.

The waiting room was thick with tension. Alex and I sat side by side on the chairs, both of us tense with worry. Each tick of the clock seemed to stretch time, intensifying the anxious drumbeat in my chest.

Then, a familiar figure entered, the same elderly man I remembered from the first event I attended with Ace. William.

God, that felt like ages ago.

Alex stood up, embracing the man with an affectionate pat on the back. Another young man, probably around my age accompanied William and I tilted my head to the side.

He looked awfully a lot like Ace.

Then it struck me. That was Noah — Ace’s half brother.

His features held a resemblance to Ace, and yet there were distinct differences that set them apart. It was a strange feeling, being in the presence of someone so closely connected to Ace, yet a virtual stranger to me.

“I didn’t tell Emily yet. You know how much she worries and with her being pregnant, I really didn’t wanna see her lose it,” Noah said to Alex and he nodded his head and mumbled something along the lines of ‘did the right thing’.

Both of them took the seats opposite to us. The worry visible in their every expression.

“Hey, Isabelle. How you holding up, my dear?” William asked, settling on the seat and I gave him a small smile.

“Fine, I guess,” I muttered, leaning back into the chair and he gave me a sympathetic nod.

Alex continued the conversation with both of them while I mostly stared at the ceiling or fidgeted with my phone. Hoping for some news on Ace.

“Have you guys eaten anything?” William’s voice broke my chain of thoughts and Alex shook his head.

William sighed in disappointment before standing up, “I’ll get you guys something to eat from the cafeteria.”

“Hold up. I’ll come with you,” Alex stood up and followed William as he put his hands around William’s shoulders. I smiled at that. It felt good seeing all of them have such a close bond with each other.

“So, the infamous Isabelle,” Noah said after a moment of silence and I brought my eyes to him, my eyebrows knitting in confusion.

“What…”

"You know," Noah began with a casual tone, "I'll probably be dead at Ace’s hand for spilling the beans, but Ace doesn’t shut up about you."

Heat crept onto my cheeks, and my fingers fidgeted in my lap. The revelation that Ace discussed me with his brother caught me off guard. It was a mixture of emotions—flattery, curiosity, and a touch of vulnerability.

"Really?" I murmured, glancing at Noah and then looking down at my hands.

Noah's grin was knowing, his eyes holding an amused expression, "Yes, he does. It’s baffling honestly."

Noah and I exchanged small talk about random stuff. He told me about his wife Emily, who Ace had conveniently left out of the story and I listened to everything he had to say about Ace.

*****

The minutes seemed to stretch into eternity as we awaited news about Ace's condition. Noah had gone back home to Emily since she was worried that him and William had both left in the middle of the night.

William was attending a call at the end of the corridor as a group of doctors emerged from the operation theatre, clad in their white coats. My heart raced as they approached, and Alex and I stood up in unison, our eyes locked on them.

One of the doctors, a man with a solemn expression, met our gaze. The gravity in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine, my fingers gripping the edge of my shirt in nervous anticipation.

"Mr. Kingston?" the doctor addressed Alex, his voice calm yet weighted.

"Yes," Alex replied, his tone tense.

"I'm Dr. Williams," the doctor introduced himself, his eyes shifting between us. "I'm sorry, but I have some bad news."

The room seemed to close in on me, the air thick with tension. My heart pounded in my chest, and I held my breath, waiting for the doctor's words.

"Mr. Rhodes suffered a severe trauma to his head," Dr. Williams explained, his voice gentle yet laden with gravity. "He's in a coma right now."

My world shattered in that moment, the words ringing in my ears like a dirge. A cold chill swept through me, and my hands began to tremble.

"Coma?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. The reality of the situation crashed over me like a tidal wave.

I couldn’t lose another person. I just couldn’t.

Dr. Williams nodded solemnly. "Yes. It's a serious situation. Most people don't survive such trauma. But somehow, Ace has held on."

My eyes stung with unshed tears, and my chest tightened with a mix of grief and disbelief.

"He might wake up within the next 24 hours," the doctor continued, his words a glimmer of hope in the darkness. "Or he might never wake up at all."

The weight of his words crashed down on me, and a sob escaped my lips. Alex's arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a tight hug. The tears I had been holding back flowed freely, my body shaking with each sob.

“Alex I’m scared,” I cried into his chest.

"He's strong," Alex muttered against my hair, his voice choked with emotion. "Ace is strong, Isabelle."

I clung to Alex, my emotions pouring out as grief and fear intertwined. The reality of the situation was overwhelming.

The doctor's voice cut through my sobs, "I'm sorry for the news. We're doing everything we can for Mr. Rhodes. Please let us know if you have any questions."

"He'll wake up," Alex whispered, his voice carrying a conviction that I struggled to find. "He has to."

I clung to that hope, the sliver of possibility that we were given. The next 24 hours would be a tense wait, each passing moment a reminder of the fragility of life and the power of hope.