Chapter 32 Sake Of Our Love
I slowly… very slowly regain consciousness.
It feels as if I am rising up from the depths of a deep ocean of sleep, but my eyelids are heavy, unwilling to open. Still, I gather all my strength and try to open my eyes. Everything appears blurry, hazy, unreal.
After a moment, it starts to make sense… I am in a hospital.
My head feels heavy, as if someone has placed a weight on my mind. I look toward my hands there is a drip attached to my wrist, and I can see the medicine flowing slowly through the transparent tube into my veins. Breathing feels a little difficult, and that’s when I realize there is an oxygen mask placed over my face.
Confusion fills my eyes, “How did I get here? What happened to me?”
I try to remember, but my memories are scattered like broken pieces of pictures that refuse to come together to form a complete story.
Then suddenly… Bang!!!!!!!
The door bursts open, I flinch instantly. My eyes dart toward the door. My heartbeat quickens. The moment I see the person who enters, my breath catches for a second.
Michael.
But this isn’t the Michael I know he is neither confident nor strong, neither calm nor in control. His face is completely pale. Fear, panic, and restlessness are clearly visible in his eyes. His hair is messy, as if he has run here without a second thought. His breathing is uneven, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
He doesn’t stop for even a second. He almost runs to my bed.
He comes so close that I can feel his warm breath. Without thinking, he grabs my hand so tightly, His hands are trembling. This trembling isn’t because of exhaustion… it’s because of fear.
He bends down and looks at my face. His eyes are red, as if he has been holding back tears… or maybe he has already cried.
His voice breaks as he speaks, “Sara… are you okay?”
There is so much desperation in that single question that my heart starts pounding harder.
I am stunned, I just keep looking at him.
I have never seen Michael like this. Never. He has always appeared strong, firm in every situation, unshakable in every decision. But at this moment… he looks completely broken. As if my opening my eyes is a matter of life and death for him.
A strange thought rises in my mind, “Is all this… because of me?”
Did my condition scare him this much? Did he truly fear losing me?
My throat tightens. Behind the oxygen mask, my breathing grows faster. I want to speak, I want to reassure him, but no sound comes out.
Michael tightens his grip on my hand even more. His eyes fill with tears, yet he doesn’t look away from me.
I speak softly, my voice weak but my emotions sincere, “I’m fine… I don’t know how I suddenly fainted.”
Michael takes a deep breath after hearing me. Guilt is clearly visible on his face. He can’t bring himself to meet my eyes. Then suddenly he speaks, as if trying to lighten the burden on his heart, “I know… everything happened because of me. I killed Diana in front of you… and you got scared after seeing all that. During pregnancy, these things affect a woman deeply.”
My heart starts pounding violently as I hear his words. My fingers unknowingly clutch the bedsheet. Michael sits on the edge of the bed, occupying a small space near me. I am already sitting up. Slowly, I remove the oxygen mask from my face.
He immediately says, “Sara, lie down… you need to rest right now.”
I look straight at him and shake my head lightly, “No, I’m fine.”
Before I can finish my sentence, Michael pulls me into his arms while still sitting there. His hug is tight and protective… as if he never wants to lose me again. I’m a little surprised and say softly, “You were angry with me, weren’t you?”
He gives a faint smile and replies, “Yes… I was angry.”
Then he pauses, holds me even tighter, and says in a low voice, “But what can I do… I love you. I can’t bear even the slightest pain coming to you.”
My heart melts, but his next sentence jolts me, “But I will never forgive you for this… that you put my unborn child, who hadn’t even come into this world yet, in danger for Ira.”
His words echo in my ears. I am completely stunned.
My eyes widen, panic spreads across my face. I ask in a trembling voice, “Ira…? Where is my Ira?”
A flash of jealousy appears in Michael’s eyes. He steps back slightly and says coldly, “You’re still attached to Diana’s daughter? After everything she did to you.”
His words make my blood boil. I shout in anger,
“Whatever happened was because of Diana! That innocent child is not at fault! Bring Ira to me… right now! Please… I need her right now!”
My voice shakes, tears fill my eyes. Michael keeps looking at me for a few moments. Then he takes a deep breath, as if trying to control himself. Suddenly, he claps his hands.
Clap!!!!
The door opens.
A bodyguard walks in… holding little Ira in his arms. At that moment, my entire world freezes. I am left speechless.
Ira’s entire face has turned red from crying. Her tiny eyes are filled with tears, her lips trembling. She is still sobbing softly.
My heart breaks. I immediately open my arms wide. As the bodyguard brings Ira closer, I take her into my lap and press her tightly against my chest. I gently stroke her hair and pat her back soothingly.
She looks at me with her tear-filled eyes and asks innocently, “Mumma… are you okay?”
Tears stream down my face. I nod my head and say, “Yes, my child. I’m fine. Stop crying now.”
She slowly starts to calm down and hides her face in my chest. I look at Michael. He is staring at me with strange eyes.
Holding Ira close to my chest, I say, “Look… how innocent she is.”
Michael’s eyes harden. In a cold tone, he replies, “No matter how innocent she is… in the end, she is Diana’s daughter.”
I say firmly, my voice trembling with emotion, “I don’t know anything else… she is our daughter.”
He looks at me and replies coldly, “She is your daughter.”
Tears instantly fill my eyes. My vision blurs as I struggle to hold myself together. In a broken, pleading voice, I say, “Can’t you accept Ira for the sake of our love?”
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!
Will Michael accept Ira?