Chapter 42-1

Chapter 42 Crystal's POV My mind was floating when I entered the hospital alone. Fabio just dropped me off, he had to catch a flight back to Brazil later that evening. I composed myself as I approached the front desk. The woman informed me that Liam was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The senior nurse who called me earlier immediately appeared and showed me the way to the ICU. "Dr. Brooks was calling your name again and again before he passed out." She said. "His doctor said that we might as well call you." "Thank you. I appreciate that a lot." I exhaled heavily, hoping to relieve a little weight off my chest. "Why is he in ICU? Is his condition really bad?" "Yeah. He needs strict monitoring." She opened a door and we entered a restricted area. "He was in a terrible state when he was brought here by some witnesses. He was soaked in his own blood. His head was bleeding and he had an ugly cut in his arm. He had laboratory tests, X-ray, and CT scan already. You can ask his doctor for the result." The moment we arrived at the ICU area, I immediately saw Lisa and Alessandro. They were outside the room, in the waiting area. Lisa was sobbing, while Alessandro was comforting her. I turned to the clear glass walls of the ICU room, and there I saw Liam lying unconscious on the bed. I gasped aloud and stopped breathing for a few seconds. My heart was crushed painfully seeing him in a terrible condition. He was unrecognizable with the heavy bandage wrapped around his head. He had an oxygen mask on, an IV line in his arm, neck brace, a cast on his leg, and some apparatus attached on his body. I shook my head, denying what I saw. This is not happening. This is just a horrible nightmare. But it was not a dream. It was Liam inside the ICU room, attended by two doctors and a nurse. A sob broke inside of me and hot tears rolled down my cheeks. I covered my mouth to suppress the sound I was making. I was worried, confused, and upset. I was also anxious to help in any way I can...anything and everything to make him recover. "Crystal." Alessandro called me to take a seat. Blinded with tears, I went to sit beside him and Lisa. "How is he?" I asked Lisa. "He hasn't woken up yet, and I'm praying so hard that he would." Lisa replied, tears welled in her eyes. "His condition is really bad. He has broken ribs, a leg fracture, a deep laceration in his left arm, and a nasty blow on his head." "Oh god..." My shoulders slumped in extreme sadness. "What really happened?" Alessandro explained to me the incident. "The CCTV showed that he was on his way to his car at the parking lot when a black car suddenly appeared and hit him. He was thrown into the air before his head hit a concrete wall and landed on the metal railings. The footage looked really bad." "Did they find the driver?" "Not yet. The NYPD is tracking the car in the city's surveillance cameras. They will not stop until they find the driver." He answered. The doctors and nurse went out of the room and talked to us. "We have to strictly monitor him. His vital signs are not yet stable. We have to wait also for the result of his brain CT scan." The older doctor, Dr. Joseph Nevine, Neurologist, as printed on his white coat, said. "Let's hope that tomorrow morning he'll wake up." "What if not, Dr. Nevine? What is the probability of him getting into a coma?" Lisa's voice trembled. "Let's not go that far. We're doing the best that we can. We can't lose our best cardiothoracic surgeon. Tomorrow, there will be more tests. MRI, EEG, and some laboratory tests." "Thank you, Dr. Nevine." Lisa answered. "Are you Crystal Petrakis?" The younger doctor asked. His name on his white coat, Dr. John Mark Cruz, Cardiologist. "Yeah." I answered. "Dr. Brooks was asking for you before he lost consciousness. It would help if you talk to him, give him all the encouragement he needs in order to fight." I nodded, happy for the chance to be near Liam at that depressing moment. "We have a protocol to follow though in ICU, the nurse will instruct you." "Thank you." I answered and was about to turn to the nurse, when Dr. Nevine asked. "You're a Petrakis? How are you related to Jade?" I faced him, surprised that he knew Mom. "She's my mother." Dr. Nevine's eyes studied me intently. "She's a very good friend of mine. We grew up together in New Jersey with her sister, Sapphire." "Oh really?" I was surprised and happy that mom's friend was taking care of Liam. He nodded. "I met Zion and Emerald when they were kids. I never thought that she would have another child, and very pretty." "Thank you." I answered in a strained voice. "Will talk again soon, okay? Right now, go and talk to Liam. Tell him everything you need to tell him, straight from your heart. I had a mistake of holding back my feelings before and it got me nowhere. I lost the only woman that I loved to a billionaire asshole." He smirked then left with the other doctor. After five minutes, I was on a chair, at Liam's bedside, wearing personal protective equipment. It took me awhile to talk. I was sobbing so hard and choking on my own tears. My hand trembled as I held his hand, squeezing it gently to get a response. But his hand was cold, stiff, and lifeless. "Liam. It's me, Crystal. I'm here... I'm here for you now." I said slowly, trying to control my trembling voice. "I'm terribly sorry for those harsh words I've said to you. I was so wrong to protect my feelings against you. I was afraid of getting hurt again...not realizing that not being with you hurt the most. I love you, Liam. I love you so much. Let's give our love another chance and be so happy together. So please, I'm begging you, fight for our love, Liam. I need you so much in my life. I can't live without you, Liam. Please..." The nurse entered, indicating that I had to leave. I kissed Liam's knuckles and with a heavy heart, I left the room. When I got out of the ICU room, Alessandro left and Liam's parents arrived. I greeted them with hello, but they just acted cold and only nodded at me. I just let it go. They still hated me because they did not know the whole truth. I just hoped that once they get to know, their opinion of me would change. I was standing and staring at Liam. I was praying at the same time. I could hear his mom's sobbing and felt her misery. I turned around when I heard someone arrived. A very beautiful stunning woman wearing an all white business suit. Her jet-black straight shiny hair was too long, it touched her waist. She looked like a living statue of Mother Mary. "Oh Alice, I'm so glad you're here." Liam's mom, Yvonne Brooks stood up and hugged Alice. "Did you get your award?" "Yeah, I did. I left right away." Alice went to Lisa and hugged her.