Chapter 219 The Waiting Room

Chapter 219 The Waiting Room


Regaining her freedom and being back in Rico's arms had been the greatest feeling ever. But watching Rico's body give in and collapse right in front of her, had caused her heart to stop beating for a whole minute.

Calla followed the stretcher closely as Rico was being rolled hurriedly into the hospital and straight to the emergency room. 

She tried to stay upright, but her body was giving in. Her feet and arms hurt from being tied for too long. She couldn't keep up with the nurses' and Ezio's hurried steps.

"Rico..." she called out, her bruised hand touching the side of his face lightly. Too lightly, afraid she might graze him at the place where it hurt.

Her eyes were glued to his bloodied neck and shirt. She sniffed, pushing forward with them as they turned a corner. 

The nurses yelled softly for the path to be cleared. And they continued rolling him in.

They reached the large emergency doors, and a nurse stopped them. "I'm sorry, you can't go in from here."

Calla and Ezio halted. Rico was pushed through the doors till he disappeared behind them. Calla finally looked away from the door, and her eyes fell on the nurse. 

"I—I know... I know," she stuttered, tears seriously streaming down her face. "But can't I just stay with him? He— he needs me."

The nurse shook her head. "That's not allowed, Miss. You have to wait out here so you don't interfere with the doctors while the operation is going on," she explained with a soft tone then left in a rush.

Calla tried to go after her, but Ezio held her. She turned and looked at him. He shook his head.

"We have to wait, Lyra." 

"I know, but—" her words died in her throat as fresh sobs took over. She held her face in her palms, crying into them. "I just don't want to lose him. I ca— I don't want to lose him."

Her tears shone under the bright hospital lights, her eyes red from crying too much, and bruises over her face and hands. She glanced at her trembling hands, the image of Rico slumping staying hot in her mind.

Ezio sighed. He watched as she broke down, her shoulders shaking as she cried. 

He wasn't good at consoling someone. He wouldn't know what to say or how to do it. But seeing how broken she was, he knew he had to do something.

He bit the insides of his jaw, his finger tapping against his sides. He hesitated for a moment before placing his hand on her shoulder.

"He will be fine," Ezio said, his voice barely above a whisper. Calla placed her head on his shoulders and cried even more. Ezio paused for a bit, before sighing and patting her back. "You know how Rico is... a small hit to the head wouldn't faze him."

After a while, Calla had settled and she pulled away. She cleaned her eyes and cheeks with the back of her hand, sniffing in.

She sat on the vacant chair by the side. Her eyes glanced at the door now and then.

Ezio walked up to her and sat beside her. "You were also hurt. You should get yourself checked," he said.

Calla glanced at him briefly, then looked away. She shook her head and stood up. "No, I'm fine." She rubbed her shoulder and continued looking at the door.

Ezio didn't push her. He exhaled and leaned back. They both waited in silence.



More than two hours had passed, and Calla had spent most of that time pacing around the waiting area.

Every few minutes, she would stop near the doors leading to the emergency room, stare at them for a second, then begin pacing again.

Ezio watched her the entire time from where he sat. He had already told her that she needed rest, but she flatly refused. So eventually, he stopped trying.

Calla paused mid-step when she suddenly heard approaching footsteps. Her head snapped toward the hallway, and a few seconds later, Donna Marta appeared.

Behind her were Sophia, Eli, Bruno, and Costa.

The moment Calla saw them, her eyes instantly filled with tears. Donna Marta looked no better. The older woman looked exhausted. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and her hands trembled slightly as she hurried forward.

“Lyra, cara…” she whispered softly and that was all it took. Calla rushed toward her, and Donna Marta immediately pulled her into a tight embrace.

The moment the older woman’s arms wrapped around her, Calla broke down again. Fresh tears poured from her eyes as she buried her face into Donna Marta’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry…” she cried. “I’m so sorry.”

Donna Marta held her tighter. “No, no, my dear,” she whispered shakily. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”

Calla shook her head against her shoulder. “It was my fault,” she sobbed. “I left the mansion. I should have listened.”

Donna Marta closed her eyes as tears gathered in them too. “What happened wasn’t your fault,” she said softly. “That monster is responsible for this.”

Calla cried harder, she had finally succeeded in holding herself together, trying to stay strong while Rico was being treated. But now, standing in Donna Marta’s arms, she couldn't hold back any longer, she allowed herself to fall apart.

Nearby, Sophia wiped her own eyes. Even Eli looked close to crying again, a big pout on his lips. The little boy slowly walked forward and tugged on Calla’s sleeve.

Calla looked down immediately. Without saying a word, Eli wrapped his arms around her waist.

That was enough to make her cry again. She quickly crouched and hugged him tightly. “Oh, Eli…”

“I’m sorry,” Eli whispered, his voice breaking. “I got taken.”

Calla’s heart shattered, and she pressed him closer. “No,” she said immediately, pulling back to look at him. “No, sweetpea. None of this is your fault.” Eli nodded, but fresh tears still slipped down his cheeks.

Sophia finally stepped closer too and threw her arms around Calla. Calla hugged her back immediately. The two of them stood there holding onto each other while Donna Marta rested a hand on both their shoulders.

Nobody spoke for a moment, they were simply grateful to be alive.

The silence lasted until Costa suddenly cleared his throat. “Well…” he muttered awkwardly. “This family reunion is making me emotional.”

Bruno snorted beside him. “You’ve been emotional all day, and you cried in the car.”

“I did not cry.”

“You absolutely cried.”

Costa pointed at him immediately. “Watch your mouth.”

A tiny laugh escaped Sophia for the first time that night. And even Calla managed a weak smile through her tears.

The small moment of warmth didn’t last long, however. Because almost immediately, everyone’s eyes drifted back toward the closed doors leading to the emergency room.

Their smiles faded, and the worry returned. And once again, silence settled over the waiting area.



The heavy silence hanging over the waiting area was suddenly broken when the doors of the emergency room opened.

Everyone immediately got to their feet. Calla’s heart jumped into her throat as a doctor stepped out, removing his surgical cap.

“Doctor?” she called before he could even take two steps. “H-how is he? How is Rico doing?”

Her heart felt lodged in her throat as she waited for the doctor’s response. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t calm her nerves.

Did Rico make it? He had to. He just had to. But she had seen the blood. There had been so much of it.

Why did he have to lose that much blood? Why hadn’t he gone to the hospital the moment he was hurt? Why did he always put everyone else before himself?

He should have left her there. She knew it was a horrible thing to think, but she couldn’t stop herself.

She would rather have died in that box than see Rico covered in blood. At least then he would have been safe, and he wouldn’t be fighting for his life because of her.

The thought made her eyes burn with fresh tears. Rico had chosen her again, and she wasn’t sure she deserved it.

Calla swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on the doctor as countless terrible thoughts raced through her mind.

For the past two hours, she had been imagining every possible outcome, and none of them had brought her any peace.

Now, all she could do was wait for the words that would either break her… or let her breathe again.