Chapter 199 I'm A Fool (CALIA)

Chapter 199 I'm A Fool (CALIA)
Dimitry sprang to his feet the moment he saw me step out of the elevator. His expression tightened when he saw Elion walking behind me.
"Any updates on Lea's condition?"
"She’s stable, but she needs a blood transfusion immediately."
"I’ll give my blood to my daughter," Elion said arrogantly.
"Alright. Follow me."
I appreciated Dimitry’s professionalism. He remained composed, even though, deep down, he disliked Elion.
Two nurses were already waiting in the blood transfusion room. After Elion lay down on the gurney, they began the procedure, inserting the needle into his vein and setting up the equipment.
"I’ll wait outside."
"No," Elion gripped my wrist.
"You’re staying right here with me."
Dimitry looked at me and nodded before stepping out. I felt guilty toward him.
"You’re my lover. Don’t even think about cheating on me behind my back. Especially with that motherfucker."
"His name is Dimitry. Could you try being nice to him?"
“I don’t play nice toward men like him.”
"Whatever. I’m too tired to argue with you."
"Then don't start it."
I dragged a chair closer to the gurney and sank onto it. I felt utterly exhausted. My face was sticky from crying so much. The silence gave me a moment to relax. I bowed my head, staring at the floor, thinking about everything that had happened to me in the last twenty-four hours. When I woke up this morning, my head was full of ideas for having fun with Lea. I never expected that the things I’d planned with such joy would turn into a disaster.
"Do you regret it?"
"No. I’d do anything to save Lea."
"What’s her name?"
"Azalea."
"A beautiful name. When did you find out you were pregnant?"
"When I fainted at the restaurant. Dimitry took me to the hospital, and the doctor told me I was pregnant."
"You didn't realize it all that time?"
I shook my head.
"Because of the shot?"
"Yes."
"The frequency of our sex must have overridden the injections."
"I got pregnant after we came back from Las Vegas, but I never realized it."
"That’s why you always felt nauseous whenever you were near me."
"Your cologne made me sick."
He sighed softly, staring at the ceiling. His blood flowed through the clear tubing into the collection bag. It was halfway full. Once it was full, the nurse would draw blood from his other arm, since Lea needed two bags.
"Why didn't you tell me when I saw you at the hospital?"
"Because you brought me divorce papers you’d already signed. That woman was clinging to your side, whispering nasty things about me in your ear."
"You were right about Christine. She was a traitor. I killed her while she was with Arthur."
"What was her motive?"
"She was obsessed with me, and she hated you."
"Because you married me?"
"Because I love you."
If he had spoken those words of love four years ago, I would have wept with happiness in his arms. But things have changed since then. There were so many things that made me afraid to believe in love again.
"Don't you want to say something?"
"What should I say? I have no words."
"Do you love me?"
"I used to."
"And now?"
"My priority is raising Lea and making her happy. I’m not thinking about love or any romantic relationships."
"You haven't dated anyone in four years?"
I shot him a sharp look. Had he turned stupid after four years?
"My focus has been entirely on Lea and my career for the past four years."
"I asked you: are you dating?"
He gripped my hand just as I was about to stand up.
"Your blood bag is full. I'll call Nurse Jane."
"You haven't answered me."
"Because your question doesn't deserve an answer."
I shook off his hand and strode out. Leaning my back against the door, I pressed my palm to my chest, feeling my heart pounding wildly against my ribcage. My heart hadn't raced this chaotically in the last four years. No man could turn my life upside down the way Elion did.
The blood bag had been removed from his right arm, and Nurse Jane was now drawing blood from his left. Actually, I could have handled that myself without calling Nurse Jane, but I just wanted to escape him to calm my racing heart.
When I returned to the room, Elion had done the blood draw. He was standing beside the gurney, rolling down his shirt sleeve.
"Thank you. Your blood is being transfused to Lea right now.”
"I want to see her."
"Alright. Follow me."
Lea’s room was on the sixth floor. We waited for the elevator in silence. I heard Elion groan beside me. I turned toward him, his face was pale, and his palm was resting against the wall.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. Just a little dizzy."
"You need to rest."
"I'm fine."
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside first. Elion stumbled along behind me. I held onto his arm, worried he might collapse.
"I told you, I'm fine."
"Don't be stubborn. You clearly don't look fine. It's okay not to be okay."
He didn't argue back after that. I could sense that something was wrong. His body was cold, and I heard him groan a few times.
"You aren't okay, Elion. I'll call Jack to come pick you up."
"I said I'm damn well fine. Don't treat me like some sickly invalid."
"I'm just trying to help."
We were shouting at each other inside the elevator. Our stubbornness kept us from backing down.
"I don't need your help. Just mind your business."
"Fine. I won't care anymore whether you're sick or not."
I walked ahead of him toward Lea's room. My daughter was sleeping on the gurney. He eyes were closed peacefully. Two bags of Elion's blood were being transfused into her body. My eyes welled up at the sight. No matter how hard I tried to keep Lea and her father apart, fate always found a way to bring them back together—as father and daughter.
"Lea is past the critical stage."
Elion stood stiffly beside the gurney, his gaze fixed on Lea's small frame.
"She looks so much like you."
"She has your hair."
"But her eyes and facial features are yours. When you came to my apartment and saw Lea, I was certain you’d realize it."
"Yes, and I wanted to claim her as my daughter."
Elion held Lea's hand. He remained solemn for a moment before suddenly pulling his hand away.
"I have to go."
"You really need to rest."
"Someone is waiting for me."
"A woman?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he strode out of Lea's room, leaving me behind in a fit of anger.
"Asshole. You haven't changed a bit, Elion. And I just gave myself to an asshole like you. I'm a damn fool."