Chapter 12 The Hug She Didn’t Ask For
I feel an intense anger rising inside me. It’s as if this girl has made up her mind that she won’t listen to a single word I say. I’m exercising in the garden, sweat flowing down my forehead and neck, and she… without asking me anything, without saying even a single word, walks straight past me. As if I don’t matter at all.
I clench my jaw tightly. The anger starts boiling inside me. I grab a towel and roughly wipe the sweat off my face. My breathing is heavy—not just because of the exercise, but because of her stubborn silence and defiance.
That’s when my eyes fall on Diana. She’s slowly walking toward me. There’s that same old spark in her eyes, and she’s biting her lower lip while looking at me. I know her well. I know exactly what she wants, the expectations she carries as she approaches me. But today, I don’t have even a second for her.
I completely ignore her. Still, she doesn’t stop. She comes and stands right in front of me and says with a soft smile,
“Hey, Michael… let’s go somewhere, just the two of us.”
There’s familiarity in her voice, a sense of entitlement. Without looking at her, I turn away and reply coldly,
“I have work.”
I don’t waste a single extra word on her. I head straight into the mansion, go to my room, and start getting ready. Even while changing my clothes, the same image keeps replaying in my mind—her walking away silently, without saying anything.
As soon as I’m ready, I come downstairs, get into the car, and leave without looking at anyone. The car speeds through the roads, but my mind is somewhere else.
A short while later, the car stops in front of the hospital. I step out and walk straight inside. The moment people see me, the staff and others standing around pause for a second. But I don’t give anyone any importance. Ignoring everyone, I reach the ICU and walk straight in.
The sight inside makes my steps halt for a moment. In front of me, Sara is sitting on a chair, crying uncontrollably. Her sobs echo through the entire room. On the bed, Ira lies unconscious, machines surrounding her, their sounds revealing the fragile state of her breathing.
Seeing Sara cry like this feels wrong… unbearable. Her pain pierces straight through my chest. I move toward her and ask,
“What happened?”
But she doesn’t answer. She just keeps sobbing, as if she no longer has the strength to speak. I turn to the doctor and ask in a firm voice,
“What happened here? How is her condition?”
The doctor replies with a serious expression,
“The patient’s condition is very critical. Anything can happen.”
Her words hang heavy in the air. I stand there for a few moments, my body present but my mind elsewhere. I don’t know why, but I can’t tolerate seeing Sara cry like this. I walk up to her and, without saying a word, without thinking twice, pull her into my arms.
I know… at this moment she doesn’t need questions or answers—she only needs support. The moment I touch her, she completely breaks down. Sara clings to me tightly and starts crying even harder. Her head rests against my chest, and her sobs make my heart feel even heavier.
I hold her firmly in my arms as well, refusing to let her go.
Holding her tightly in my arms, I speak softly,
“Shh… don’t cry. Please, calm down.”
My voice isn’t harsh this time; for the first time, it softens. But her tears refuse to stop. Clinging to my chest, she sobs and speaks through her pain,
“Why does everything always happen to me? My mom and dad left me too… why does everyone leave me alone? And today, my sister is lying in this condition…”
Hearing her words, my grip tightens around her. Her pain is not just in her words—it’s buried deep in her broken sobs. I gently stroke her back, the way one comforts a frightened child. In a low, steady voice, I say, “Shh… nothing will happen. She’ll be fine.”
To be honest, it feels strange to me. I’m not used to comforting anyone like this. It feels awkward, unfamiliar. But at this moment, this is the only way I know to calm her.
Suddenly, she lifts her head and looks at me. Her eyes are red, swollen with tears. For a brief second, our eyes meet… and the very next moment, she pulls away from me sharply. As if reality crashes down on her, where she is, and whose arms she was in.
She turns her face away from me. I watch her and immediately understand she remembers everything from last night. My words. My anger. My threats. All of it.
An uncomfortable silence fills the room. Breaking it, I call out sharply, “Doctor…!!”
My voice turns cold again. The doctor rushes in, visibly nervous. “Yes, sir?”
I glare at her and say in a deadly calm tone,
“Nothing should happen to this girl. If anything happens to her… none of you will survive.”
The doctor nods quickly in fear. Her face turns pale as she immediately gets back to work without saying another word.
I look back at Sara. Without thinking any further, I grab her hand and start walking toward the hospital exit. She tries to pull her hand away, struggling against my grip.
But it has no effect. My hold is firm stronger than I even realize myself to be. I keep moving forward with her beside me, without stopping, without looking back.
She snaps angrily, “Let me go.”
I shoot her a furious glare at her. She falls silent and starts walking beside me without a word.
I walk straight to the car and shove her inside with a sharp jerk, then sit right beside her. The driver starts the car. Her hand is still trapped in mine.
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!