Chapter 25 Confrontations
Arielle's POV
It was a close shave, despite his goofiness and attractive silliness, Zane is very sensitive and doesn't let the littlest of information slide past him unless he wants it to. Though it hasn't been years since I've known, it wasn't hard to figure that one out.
“How long have I been out?” I asked, shifting the equilibrium, totally.
Zane tuts and leaned back, arrogantly cocking his increasingly handsome face. I blinked in an attempt to wipe off the perverted image of his face up mine that haunted my brain.
“About a week.” He casually said, as if it were few minutes
My eyeballs almost popped out of its sockets as I lunged forward, almsot leaping out of the bed. “A week? Was I in a fucking coma?”
Zane burst into a deal of laughter, he laughed so hard that he almsot doubled over and fell. He held his stomach while pointing at me, as if he just watched a comic in action. I pealed my eyes away from him and darted it towards Leo who despite frowning, was trying very hard not to burst into laughter again.
“Is it funny?” I pouted, slightly annoyed.
“You should've seen your face. I was just pulling your legs, you've been unconscious for two days.” He said, between fits of laughter and I let out a sigh of relief.
Two days wasn't too bad. “I had photoshoots scheduled and-”
“It's fine, I had it all rescheduled. You'll attend to it at your own pacing.” Leo cut me off.
“Oh.”
“Yes, no sit back and recover. I can't believe you'd chose to faint at the exact moment I came back home, you're such a drama queen.” Zane said, apparently he's stopped laughing.
I stared him down and pretended to hurl something at him but he didn't flinch. Instead, he pulled me in for a hug and I inhaled the scent of his perfume, it reeked of comfort and I held on to my just a bit longer, letting the feeling of safety linger.
“You're fine little bear, I'm here now.” Zane assured me and I didn't counter, didn't argue, those were the words I needed to hear.
When he finally let go, I was a bit sad, wanting to fall asleep in that posture but who was I deceiving.
“You're going to be discharged by the end of the week and that's in three days’ time but until then, you're stuck with me and this is going to be my remote office. See me as your personal nanny. “ Zane announced, dramatically.
I laughed, thinking he was just being extra, as usual but the wasn't. For the next three days, he was with me and wouldn't let me lift as much as a finger. He'd brush my hair and even offer to bathe me which I was honestly tempted to agree to.
He'd feed and basically do everything for me. It was as if I am a baby and he's scared to death of anything happening to me and truthfully, I enjoyed every moment.
While he processed the discharge, I escaped from him, saying I needed to use the washroom.
“I'll be right back, don't you dare send any of your men to spy on me else I'd run away and become a fugitive.” I had jokingly threatened him.
I walked down a quiet yet familiar hallway, was I intending to use the washroom or simply needed some breathing space and fresh air? No. I was searching for a particular ward, one so familiar that its permanently etched in my memory.
Two minutes later, I halted in front of a room. The transparent portion of its door gave me access to what's inside; it was just as I remembered, the quiet white-washed room where everything ended and everything began at the same time. The room where my life was stolen from me and given to someone else.
‘Isn't it ironic, me standing right here?’ I asked no one in particular, just the air that swoosh past.
‘I was brought in here, charred but now I'll raze you the ground even if it's the last thing I do, along with everyone who stood in this room that night, every last one of you.’ I swore, softly.
Hatred coursed through my veins like wildfire but I wore a contrasting calm look. Was it a coincidence that the hospital he saved me from was the same one he brought me to be saved? Knowing Zane, I knew it wasn't. It was a silent reminder of the war that begun the day the universe decided to be unfair to me. The difference between now and then is that now, I'll destroy whatever is in my path, I call the shots.
I turned on my heels and left, not wanting Zane to come looking for me. Avoid the route I initially took, I decided to take a quick detour and passed through the out patient department instead and there I saw someone who instantly ruined my mood, I didn't want to deal with drama, at least not today but she saw me, too late.
“Arielle!” She called out but I just kept walking away.
As I was about to walk past her, she grabbed my arm and forced me to halt.
“Didn't I warn you that the next time you lay your hands on me would be the last time your hands ever functioned?” I scowled.
Lisa snickered and folded her arms. She looks stressed, as if she were under a lot of pressure and even the thick lager of foundation she wore wasn't enough to cover the dark circles under her eyes. I cocked my head, wondering what torments her, don't get me wrong, I love that she looks miserable but only of I'm the cause of her misery.
“You think you've won didn't you?” Shw asked me, rudely.
“Move aside.” I said, warningly.
She let out a mocking cackle. “I know you're a desperate botch but how could you do this to your own mother? Did you have to take things this far?”
I had no idea what she meant and I was tempted to ask, afterall Mira was still my mother but I didn't ask, instead, I looked away.
“This fight is between you and I, why did you drag her into this?”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Cut the crap! I kmow you're Arielle posing to be some whore and you're pained becuase though I'm adopted, mom loves me more than she'll ever love you and Yes, I sent someone after you but that's because you're being a bitch and when I didn't hear from him I knew you must have done something to him but then I got a call that someone attacked Mom and she's now in a coma, don't you have a heart?”
Her teary eyes were a sign that she wasn't lying but I just didn't care.
“I didn't attack your Mother or whatsoever, do you know what the fine for defamation and false accusation is? You'd better watch your mouth.” I warned her.
“You slimy bitch! If she dies I swear to go-”
“If she dies then it's her luck.” I cur her short and I could see that she was visibly shaken by my words which gave me more courage to maintain my stoic look. “I don't know who you think you are but yes, you sent a goon after me and he's regretting it now, don't think I'm letting it slide and I don't know anything about your mother, or give a fuck about it, besides; whatever happened is none of my business but if you gp around spewing rubbish, I won't spare you, got that? Now get lost, I have business to attend to.”
Triumphantly, I walked away from her but she caught my hair and dragged me back, she raised her hands to slap me but I caught it mid-air, infuriated by her audacity.
“How dare you?” I thundered and slapped her hard across the face, she staggered two steps backwards.
I pointed my middle finger at her. “You don't know what's coming for you and unlike you, I don't play petty dirty games, I'd harm uou in the most painful way ever so don't you dare raise your hands or voice at me.” I spat, letting it sink in her head.
She still held her face, disoriented and bewildered. “Besides, your mother probably got what she deserved. You say she has always favored you; a bastard and adopted orphan over her own daughter? That's her karma and I hope it fucks her so hard she is traumatized for life. Don't be in a haste to seek for your own Karma bitch, I'll come to you when I'm ready.”
I didn't let her say a word and walked away, my head held up high. I've never been so proud of myself. When I finally went back to Zane, he was already waiting for me and the cars were parked right outside.
“You look happy, did something intense happen while you went to the washroom?” Zane asked as he held the car door for me and I got inside.
The emphasis he laid on the word ‘washroom’ shows that he wasn't totally ignorant of what had happened.
“Oh darling.” I drawled, “you have no idea.”