Chapter 33 The Fear I Couldn’t Name

Chapter 33 The Fear I Couldn’t Name
Neil and I stand restlessly in the hospital corridor. The corridor, filled with harsh white light, feels even more empty and cold to me. Every second stretches into an eternity.

My ears hear only one sound the rapid beating of my own heart. Near the gate, little Ria stands quietly. Her tiny shoulders tremble as she sobs softly. The tears streaming from her eyes pierce straight through my heart.

Mrs. Grace is admitted inside. The doctors have already told us that she has lost a lot of blood and that the operation is in progress. The moment I hear this, my breath almost stops. Neil is terribly distressed.

Anger, pain, and restlessness are clearly visible on his face all at once. He keeps pacing back and forth, clenching his fists again and again. Every few moments, he vents his anger on his bodyguards sometimes shouting, sometimes glaring at them.

I stand completely still. Calm on the outside, but utterly broken within. I don’t have the courage to console Neil.

The darkness in his eyes at this moment the fire burning there terrifies me deeply. Right now, he doesn’t look like the Neil I love. He seems like someone else entirely more dangerous, consumed by rage.

Suddenly, the door of the operation theatre opens. A doctor steps out. There is exhaustion on her face, but reassurance in her voice, “The operation was successful. You may meet her now.”

Hearing this, Neil rushes inside without wasting a second. His steps are fast, as if he isn’t running away from something, but racing toward someone he needs. Ria follows him with her tiny steps. I walk in after them, slowly.

Inside, the room is calm. The soft beeping of machines echoes in the background. Mrs. Grace lies on the bed. Her eyes are open, and the moment she sees us, a faint glow appears in them. I hurry to her side and hold her hand.
“Mom?” My voice trembles. “Are you okay now?”

She gives a faint smile and says, “I’m fine, child.”

Neil’s anger rises again. He steps forward and asks in a heavy voice, “Mom, how did all this happen? Who came here? Who dared to look toward my house?”

Mrs. Grace takes a deep breath. Her voice is weak, but every word is clear, “I don’t know, Neil. There were a few men… and their boss was with them. I only know that they came to kill Ria. But Ria wasn’t there. I overheard their conversation. I was about to call you, but before I could, they attacked me.”

As soon as he hears this, Neil’s expression completely changes. Rage erupts in his eyes. He shouts loudly, “Guards!”

His voice echoes off the walls of the room. Instantly, the bodyguards rush inside. Neil roars at them, “I want that man within the next one hour. If he isn’t found, today will be your last day.”

There is no hint of a joke in his words only a clear threat. Hearing this, all the guards hurry out of the room.

My soul trembles. This is the first time I see Neil in such a terrifying rage. My body feels numb. Then I feel Ria clinging to my leg.

I look down. Her big eyes are filled with tears. Her little face has turned pale with fear. She is terrified of Neil too.

I immediately bend down and lift her into my arms. As soon as she is in my embrace, she tightly shuts her eyes and hides her face in my chest. Her tiny hands grip my dress firmly. I stroke her hair gently and hold her close to my heart.

Mrs. Grace speaks in a soft voice, “Take me home.”

The moment I hear her, I immediately refuse, “No, Mom. You need to stay here for now. You need complete rest.”

She insists gently, a hint of stubbornness in her tone. “No, I don’t want to stay here. I’ll be more comfortable in my own home.” The longing for home is clearly visible in her eyes.

Just then, the doctor steps forward and says, “If you wish, you may take her home. But you’ll need to take very good care of her medicines on time, proper rest, and no stress at all.”

I listen and slowly nod in agreement. A heavy sense of responsibility settles in my heart, but along with it comes relief Mom will be in her own home.

A little while later, we all reach home. The house is quiet and peaceful, yet inside my heart, the hospital’s anxiety still lingers.

I am in Mrs. Grace’s room. I gently help her lie down on the bed and adjust her pillows. Little Ria is clinging to me tightly. Today, she refuses to let go of me. Her tiny hands grip my dress firmly, as if letting go might cause something terrible to happen.

Mrs. Grace looks at me with mild concern and asks, “What happened to Ria today? Why is she clinging to you like this?”

I reply softly, “She got scared of Neil, Mom. He was very angry… that’s why she’s frightened.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Grace’s brows knit together. She takes a deep breath and says, “I’m really worried about that boy. I don’t understand why he gets so angry. Anger breaks a person and those who love him.”

Before she can say anything more, Neil enters the room. He is holding Mrs. Grace’s medicines in his hand. His face looks calm now, but behind that calmness, there is still a hidden hardness. He walks up to me and hands me the medicines, saying, “Make sure Mom gets these on time.”

I simply nod. At that moment, I have no words left to speak. Neil’s eyes fall on Ria sitting in my lap. He steps forward slowly and reaches out to lift her.

Ria slowly looks up at him… and in the very next moment, she screams loudly. Her scream shakes the entire room. Neil immediately lets go of her hand. Ria bursts into tears. The sound of her crying pierces straight through my chest.

I instantly pull her close to my heart, gently patting her back as I whisper, “Ria… calm down, sweetheart. I’m here.”

She curls deeper into my arms, hiding her face in my chest again. Her tears soak into my dress.

Neil asks, confused and worried, “What happened to her?”

I am about to speak when Mrs. Grace answers instead, “She got scared because of your anger, Neil.”

Neil’s gaze instantly shifts to me. He looks at me as if searching for answers in my eyes. I say nothing. My lips don’t move, and I can’t bring myself to meet his gaze.

Suddenly, I feel something strange. A sharp pain rises in my chest, my breathing becomes heavy, and everything starts spinning before my eyes. My heart pounds violently, as if it’s about to burst out of my chest.

Without saying a word, without looking at anyone, I suddenly run out of the room.
I hear Neil call out, “Kiara…?”

But I don’t stop. I don’t listen. I just keep running away.

TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!

What do you think happened to me ?