Chapter 232 Hurt Scarlett
Chapter 232 Hurt Scarlett
CHAPTER 232
Hurt Scarlett.
ROMAN
Waking up feels like being submerged in an ice-cold lake.
I feel the air hit my lungs, and I look around, disoriented, and panic.
“Scarlett?” I wheeze, trying to stand up, only to realise I am bound to the bed. I do not immediately understand that I am not bound, that this is not a torture room, that I haven’t been captured. The bright light floods my eyes, and my instinct kicks in. It is easy for me to come up with the worst-case scenario. Something has happened. Emiliano has me. Scarlett has been taken from me again.
“SCARLETT!” I roar, ripping off the drip in my arms. I rip it off too roughly, and blood spills out, but I barely feel it. My heart is roaring, and blood is rushing through my ears, almost deafening.
The door slams open, and I clench my fist tight.
“Calm down, Roman, you are f –” A strange man walks up to me. I can’t see him clearly through my blurred vision, but I know he is holding something. To a normal person, he is obviously holding a stethoscope, but to my deranged self, I think it is a weapon, so I reach for him roughly and slam him against the wall.
More people rush in, and they hold me down.
“GET AWAY FROM ME!” I snarl, rage flooding my bloodstream. “I AM GOING TO KILL EVERYONE OF YOU FOR KEEPING ME AWAY FROM SCARLETT. I WILL K –”
I do not get to speak because immediately, a lull overwhelms me, and I fall. This time, it isn’t a dark, endless pit, but Scarlett isn’t here, so it might as well be one.
__
Waking up for the second time is gentler, but my heart rate picks up again.
“Hi, my love.” I hear softly, and my heart jumps to my throat.
It takes a few minutes for my eyes to clear, for me to realise where I am. I am in a hospital, and Scarlett is seated beside me.
I blink, staring at her. She is a vision. She looks normal, wearing a casual outfit, staring at me warmly.
Frowning, I look away from her and rest against the pillow. I do not trust what I am seeing. What if this is another figment of my imagination? What if she isn’t real? Am I real? Did we really make it out? Is she here with me?
“You know, I have been trying to figure out why you chose Poland.” She whispers tenderly.
I keep my gaze on the ceiling, emotions crashing into me from all angles. My body hasn’t stopped thrumming. The rage is still beneath my fingertips, and the violence seems to have found a home in my sternum.
“Why Poland? You are a very intentional man, so there has to be a reason for this. So, tell me, husband, why Poland?”
I look at her, and she’s smiling, eyes glistening with tears.
“You …” I begin, my voice cracking. “You have been to so many places in the world, and I … I wanted to create new memories for you. I wanted to give you a clean slate, Scarlett. You deserve a home away from the chaos, away from monsters.”
She stares at me and smiles. She’s about to respond when the door opens.
Immediately, my pulse quickens and I clench my fists.
The doctors hesitate by the door, staring at me with wide eyes. He has a bruise on his neck, from where I probably grabbed him earlier.
“Come in.” Scarlett urges sweetly, smiling at him. She leans in and places her palm on mine.
Carefully, she unclenches my fist and links her hand with mine. The tension leaves my body, at least a little bit of it. So, this is why she is here: to hold me back. How strange that I became a monster to protect her from monsters.
“How do … how are you, Mr Sterling?” The doctor smiles at me, and two nurses trail in behind him.
I narrow my gaze at them, checking them for threats. I can take them with just one hand if need be. I can take everyone if need be. No one is getting behind me again like before. I refuse to be fooled.
“Rome.” Scarlett nudges me, and I look at her.
“Do you feel any pain? Are you aching anywhere?” The doctor stands a foot away from me.
“No,” I answer gruffily. “How soon can I get out of here?”
“You were stabbed, Mr Sterling and we had to have two emergency surgeries on you. You need to let your body heal, and I … I recommend seeing a therapist for your –”
I tilt my head at him, and he stops talking.
“I would like to leave now.” I decide calmly, done with being held to this fucking bed.
“Romeo?” Scarlett nudges me again. “You need to heal.”
“I will heal with you.” I tell her sharply, and glance at the doctors, “Get this nonsense off me, or I rip it off.”
He hesitates and nods. He steps closer and takes his time unhooking me from the machine. Exhaustion crashes into me, but I’ll rest better in bed, not here. He checks my vitals and seems satisfied with the results.
“Would it be possible for us to take a walk, doctor? I’m sure he doesn’t want to sleep.” Scarlett looks at him, smiling.
“Of course, Scarlett. That is a wonderful idea. Do you want any of the nurses to accompany you?” He asks, and I raise my brow. Why would the nurses accompany us?
“Not necessary.” She shakes her head, standing up.
“Are you sure?” The doctor insists.
“Are you implying that I will hurt her? Hurt Scarlett? I will hurt you, but never her.” I whisper calmly, ready to smash his head in.
“Oh – no, no, for her – her baby. Her sugar level is low, and she might need the nurses close by.” He stammers, stepping back.
It crashes into me. Baby. Our baby. I look at Scarlett and see her fully. Her little round belly. My baby is growing in her. Fuck.