Chapter 78
Imelda’s POV
Small Apartment – Early morning
The morning light stretched across the wooden floor.
I hadn’t slept the whole night.
My eyes kept drifting between my phone and the round map I received from my source.
The whole night I kept aligning the time.
I penned down the traffic timings and rush hours.
I was holding a muffin as I said to myself.
“Veronica will go to pick Janet around two and will pass the intersection in exactly seven minutes p>
“According to the force calculated, it won’t be fatal,” I repeated softly. “Only a little critical.
After all, I didn’t want a death on my hands.
I just wanted to put an end to this cat and mouse game.
I wanted his dependency.
I wanted his urgency towards me.
If there was one thing I knew p>
It was urgency that always stripped the person of emotions.
And revealed the truth of a person’s heart.
Jonathan’s heart, to be more precise.
My fingers tapped against the desk.
Today, I would force him.
This time p>
I was sure he would have no other option but to choose me.
An Intersection of the city
I sat in a rented car idle near the curve as I was told by my source.
The engine was low as my hands were steady on the steering wheel.
The road ahead of me was a narrow one. Just enough to give me a limit reaction time.
And that was perfect.
I checked the time on my wristwatch.
I was right on schedule.
Then p>
I noticed Veronica’s car coming closer.
I inhaled slowly.
I griped the steering wheel.
I didn’t hesitate and I didn’t doubt myself.
I knew exactly what I was going to do.
I placed my foot on the accelerator.
My grip was controlled.
There wasn’t going to be any chaos,
just a pre-planned design.
As her car approached the planned spot, I drove with full force.
The impact came sharp with a violent force.
Two car metals collided.
Glass shattered everywhere.
Sounds tore through the air as sirens blared far away.
My body jerked forward but was restrained as I was wearing my seatbelt and the force was planned.
Pain flared in my arm p>
It was manageable as it was calculated.
I turned my head and saw Veronica’s car in front of me with her unconscious in it.
Her car was in front of me p>
She was unconscious, but it was different from what I planned.
Her side took the worst of what I expected.
“Damn!” I cursed under my breath.
“She can’t die, or he won’t leave me p>
She had a deep cut on her arm from the shattered glass and was bleeding heavily. She seemed to have been knocked unconscious from the sudden force of the air-bag. But her breathing was still steady p>
A relief for me.
It looked fatal.
I hoped it wouldn’t be too fatal.
The sirens grew closer.
Then I saw a medic trying to pry open the door.
Phase one complete.
I smiled.
The voices were overlapping.
“Two females…one severe…one probably fractured arm p>
“Put them in…quick…quick p>
Once I was in the ambulance, I allowed myself to go limp.
I wasn’t unconscious as I planned all of this, just convincing enough to get immediate help with Veronica.
I had to make sure I looked serious or else they would have sent me to the nearby hospital and taken her to the main one.
I glanced sideways and could see Veronica laying motionless.
Good.
Now the real test will begin once Jonathan arrives at the hospital.
Pearl River Hospital – An Hour later
The hospital lights passed overhead.
Seeing no one was attentive to me p>
I gasped sharply, gripping my head.
“Pain…my head I forced the words out to look weak as possible, voice trembling enough to convince them.
A nurse came over to check on me.
“The doctor said she had a hairline fracture in her arm, why the headache?” The nurse said as she was examining me.
Just then her hand stilled.
A louder voice cut through the operating room.
“Severe blood loss! AB negative blood needed immediately p>
The words cut through the air.
Every word was urgent and critical.
I stilled internally.
As my plan was working.
Just Jonathan wasn’t here and if he came late, he would choose her.
I let out another strained cry to draw back her attention.
“I…can’t breathe…I p>
I curled a bit to convince her.
“Where are the family members p>
Yes! The main question finally came.
“The patient with the deep cut arm injury husband is on the way,” a nurse said.
“The other arm fracture…her father is in jail and under-age son is in boarding school p>
Just then a familiar face stepped forward.
The Harmon’s official doctor.
He checked my eyes, then pulse.
“Seems like she’s bleeding internally,” he said firmly, pointing towards me.
“Transfer the blood immediately p>
“But the other patient with a deep cut has lost—” another doctor frowned, pointing towards Veronica.
“That is Fredrick Harmon’s only daughter,” he said.
“If he finds out, this hospital won’t be standing.
“Doctor, the deep cut didn’t suffer any head trauma, but the broken glass has cut an artery in her arm. Blood pressure is dropping from excessive blood loss. She needs AB negative blood immediately. The other patient can be stabilized. She’s a A negative.” A nurse said frantically. The operating room fell into chaos between the two doctors.
Two critical patients.
Limited blood stock.
Conflict of urgency.
“Doctor’s, whom do we transfuse first?” a nurse asked, panicking.
I remained still but inside I was smiling.
The delay was good for me, it meant they won’t react unless Jonathan comes.
“Where are her family members?” A senior doctor asked urgently.
“Her fiance is on the way,” my doctor said, referring to Jonathan.
“We’ll need his signature to transfuse p>
“She’s deteriorating,” he added. “I’ll call him to come over faster p>
An urgent confirmation was placed.
Now all he had to do was push harder.
The staff and other doctors were still hesitating and waiting for her husband.
They had stabilized her, but without her family’s consent, they can’t operate.
Pressure was rising.
Confusion was thickening.
Perfect.
Now p>
All that remained was p>
Jonathan.
Just then I heard footsteps running towards us.
My pulse steadied.
Jonathan has come.
My doctor approached him the moment he stepped inside.
“Mr. Rollings, Ms. Harmon is critical..she needs p>
I smiled as now he would ask about me.
But p>
Jonathan cut his words midway.
“Where’s my wife?” His words roared through the room. “Mr. Rollings,” my doctor said.
“Your fiancée p>
“I’m asking about my wife Veronica Rollings!” His voice hitting the roof.
“Where the hell is she p>
My fingers tightened on the blanket beneath me.
He didn’t even ask about me let alone look at me.
“Your wife my doctor trailed off a bit.
“Mrs. Rollings has been stabilized.” He said in calculated words.
“Though she needs blood transfusion…she can wait for the other blood supply to arrive p>
“But Ms. Imelda needs immediate blood transfusion.” He said.
A beat followed.
My doctor hesitated a little.
“Please sign for Ms. Imelda so p>
Another beat followed.
The words fell heavier than what I expected but they were clear and final.
The choice was already crystal clear.
He has to choose me.
I watched him closely.
Even though I put myself at risk, now it was worth it.
His sign would state my position in his life…in front of her eyes p>
Or at least when she wakes up.
He didn’t answer.
He didn’t take hold of the pen to sign.
It was like he didn’t even acknowledge what my doctor told him.
Instead p>
He looked over from me.
Then walked past me.
Veronica was on the other side.
My breath got caught.
“No p>
He was standing here beside me.
Now he’s beside p>
Her.
Beside Veronica.
I heard his voice.
Low, steady.
He held her hand.
“It’s alright.” He said towering over her as he gently kissed her on her forehead.
“I’m here Nicky,” he said warmly.
It was as if only they both were in the room.
I stared at him.
He didn’t hesitate.
There was no conflict in his mind or heart.
The doors opened abruptly again.
A specialized team entered carrying two insulated boxes.
“AB negative units…four in all p>
I froze as hope was still soaring in my heart.
My doctor and the senior doctor stood before him with a pen in hand.
Jonathan immediately took the pen from the senior doctor.
He didn’t pause.
He didn’t doubt his decision.
“Save my wife, I don’t care about the cost. Call in doctors if you have to p>
The team began to move as fast as they could.
Veronica was prepped immediately as the doctors and nurses began treating her.
He kept holding her hand during the transfusion.
The moment the blood got pumped in her veins, the color returned to her face. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around the bright room…completely awake.
Jonathan let out a long breath and squeezed her hand tightly in his.
“Nicky, are you hurt anywhere? Do you feel pain?” he asked, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Veronica held her arms up gesturing to him to hug her.
Jonathan looked at the doctors for approval then slowly lifted her and gently hugged her.
“I’m fine, Johnny,” Veronica whispered into his ears.
“This wasn’t an accident. She crashed on purpose, I saw her car before I reached the intersection. She was slow, then she drove full on p>
“I know,” Jonathan’s jaw tightened. “I’ve gotten the dashcam footage. She won’t get a second chance to hurt you p>
“Doctor, how’s my wife?” Jonathan asked looking up.
“For safety, we’d like to keep Mrs. Rollings for observation.” the doctor said. “If everything is fine, you can take her home this evening.” My chest tightened.
Not me.
Again.
He didn’t choose me.
He passed by me completely.
The chaos settled down a bit.
Urgency was replaced by quietness.
I saw him typing away as the senior doctor came over.
“Mr. Rollings,” he said. “Mrs. Rollings is stable. We’re waiting for the CT scan to check if there’s any internal injury or any bleeding p>
“Else than that,” he continued. “Looks like a concussion p>
He handed the board to Jonathan.
“I don’t know if you know about this p>
Jonathan’s eyes widened in shock.
“Yes, my wife was stabbed right years back p>
Just then a new doctor approached him.
“Mr. Rollings, you called for me p>
Jonathan turned around towards me.
“Please check on her condition.” His voice was cold, distant.
My doctor stepped forward.
“Ms. Harmon has a concussion, and a fracture in her arm. She’s lost a lot of blood and…needed immediate blood transfusion but Mr. Rollings p>
“Check!” Jonathan ordered.
The new doctor examined me and then the reports.
“She has a minor concussion. No internal or external injuries. A hairline fracture to the right arm. She did lose blood, six hundred would be sufficient p>
Silence followed cold and absolute. I couldn’t see my doctor.
Was he replaced or p>
Removed p>
But the truth stood before me.
Jonathan didn’t look at me.
He didn’t even ask about me.
“We’ll shift Mrs. Rollings to the ward. You can see her then.” The senior doctor said.
He walked away as her bed was being rolled out.
I heard the doctor say.
“Take Ms. Harmon to her room p>
I lay in my room all alone.
Again without him beside him.
My fingers curler tightly on the bedsheet beneath me.
Today’s choice wasn’t a miscalculation.
It was a preference.
I understood that clearly.
If I was to get my control over him back p>
I have to remove the ability to override choosing her over me.
My gaze hardened.
“Day three execute,” I whispered under my breath.