In The Darkest Hour

Part One - Chapter Twenty-Three: The Truth Revealed

“Why are we here?” Gerard muttered annoyed as he looked around the boardroom that he had been brought into, he looked at the people that were gathered and he wondered what was going on.

Kathleen took his hand and looked at Antonella, she was just as curious about what was going on and she was worried; she already knew that Isabel had died in this very hospital.

Montserrat took a deep breath, her heart breaking at what she was about to do but it needed to be done; Isla name would be cleared even if it was too late, she didn’t know what Gerard would do when the truth was out.

“Gerard… this is Dr. Sharon Gomez,” Montserrat started signalling to the woman that had caused all of this, she was disgusted and wouldn’t be calling Sharon a doctor for much longer.

If she had her way Sharon would be going to prison for what she had done, Sharon had ruined lives and covered up her own mess with help; those who helped her would now be punished.

“I know who she is,” Gerard replied looking at the doctor, she looked like she’d been drinking and he recalled that Sharon had been the one to deliver Milan; she had also been the one who had tried to save Isabel after Isla killed her.

Kathleen was silent a horrible feeling what was about to happen and she felt sick, she held onto Gerard’s hand wanting nothing more than to pretend that everything was going to be okay.

The couple had been dating for nearly two months and Kathleen had been looking forward to their first Christmas together; it all looked like it was about to collapse with whatever his mother had to say.

“Gerard… Dr. Gomez gave Isabel the overdose that killed her,” Montserrat revealed watching her son, she knew it would be hard to believe but tomorrow the truth would be released for the entire world to know.

Gerard stared at his mother while the words sunk in, his stomach dropped and he shook his head recalling his fight with Isla and what he had done to get his revenge.

Everyone was silent as the news sank in, they had all been so sure that Isla had been guilty and now to discover that she wasn’t was a nasty shock.

“But Isla was fired…” Antonella spluttered trying to wrap her head around this news, this changed so many things and she knew that it wouldn’t end well for anyone in this room.

Gerard opened and closed his mouth, Isla had told him that she had been fired for Isabel’s death; he had been so sure it was because she had done something wrong like the hospital had said.

“Isla was used as a scapegoat,” Montserrat muttered disgusted at what had happened, she had been completely innocent and her life had been destroyed for nothing.

Gerard pulled his hand from Kathleen’s feeling sick, his stomach turned at how he had treated Isla and he hoped that she would forgive him; he needed to speak to her and soon.

“It was Isla who brought the cover-up to my attention, the hospital had done this before,” Montserrat continued wanting the truth to be revealed about how bad things had been at the hospital; it would all be out in the press tomorrow and she doubted the hospital would survive what was coming.

Kathleen was silent, she had threatened an innocent woman whose life was collapsing around her; she had heard so much about Isla from Daniella and Antonella and they had been so sure that the brunette was guilty.

“Why?” Gerard whispered staring at Sharon, he didn’t know how to feel right now and he couldn’t imagine what had been going through her mind when she had framed Isla for her mistake; he wanted to strangle her for what she had done.

Sharon didn’t look at Gerard, she was still in shock at the fact that she had been found out and now she would have to face consequences for her actions; everything she had worked hard for was gone.

Everyone flinched when Gerard slammed his fist into the table, he didn’t even flinch but there was no doubting that he had probably just injured himself; he shook his head getting to his feet.

“I need to speak with Isla…” Gerard murmured flexing his injured, he had to tell her how sorry he was for what had happened; he wanted to make amends even if she wanted nothing to do with him.

There was a part of Gerard that stilled loved her and he knew he hadn’t reacted in the best way; he had no idea what he would do to make this right with her.

“Gerard,” Montserrat whispered not sure how to tell him what had happened, she knew how guilty he would feel and she could only imagine what he would do.

Kathleen stared at her boyfriend, she had known for a while that he still held feelings for Isla and she guessed it spelt the end for them now that she was proven innocent; she looked away knowing that she just wanted him to be happy.

“No I need to apologise, I ruined her life,” Gerard whispered shaking his head, he felt sick at what he had done and he wanted to make things right; he had been horrible to her and she hadn’t deserved it.

The hospital had been clever when they had covered up for Sharon, they had made sure that Isla looked guilty as hell and it was only Montserrat’s investigation that proved that she was innocent.

“Gerard… she’s here,” Montserrat said stopping her son, she truly worried what he would do when he found out what had happened; she was going to have to tell him herself since she doubted it would end well if she didn’t.

“Here?” Gerard breathed surprised, he hadn’t thought that Isla would come back to this hospital and his heart pounded in his chest; he was going to grovel at her feet for what he had done.

Montserrat nodded her head, she watched her son carefully as he stared at her; he looked so hopeful and it broke her heart that she was about to tell him what Isla had done because of his actions.

“I don’t know how to tell you but Gerard… she tried to take her life,” Montserrat said as carefully as she could, she watched Gerard concerned when he slowly started to shake his head not wanting to believe what his mother had just told him; he slowly backed away from her before dashing out of the room.

Gerard’s ears rang as he rushed down the corridor, he pumped into several people as he tried to figure out where they would have her.

“Isla Cortez,” Gerard demanded grabbing onto the nearest doctor, he wanted to see Isla and he feared that his mother was telling the truth; he didn’t want to believe that Isla had tried to take her own life.

The doctor didn’t have a chance to respond before Lionel pulled his friend from him, he had never see Gerard like this before and it scared him.

“You!” shouted a voice making Gerard blink before a woman launched herself at him, she started hitting him with everything that she had wanted to hurt him.

Gerard opened his mouth to protest, he had no idea who she was and he wanted her to stop; he needed to see Isla and make sure that she was okay.

“You’re the reason my daughter tried to kill herself,” Tracy screeched being pulled away from Gerard by her husband, she had tears streaming down her face and she wanted nothing more than to hurt him.

Gerard’s heart stopped when he realised that these were Isla’s parents, his heart crumbled at the looks on their faces; guilt consumed him at the idea that he had caused them to suffer as well.

“This is all your fault,” Tracy spat before she started to weep, Theodore lead her way knowing that Isla was going to need them to be strong right now.

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Author's Note: 

Because this story has changed so much since I started writing my original ending that I had planned no longer fits... so there will be a Part 2 for this story x