A DEAL FOR A LIFETIME

chapter 9

Sorry, it is short, please bear with me.

                 
   
                      Rico Shawn POV

She scratched her body, and I could see her becoming dizzy. Panic surged through me as her movements grew more erratic, her eyes unfocused, and her breath shallow.

"Can you try standing up?" I asked, my voice trembling with concern. She nodded weakly, attempting to rise, but her legs wobbled like jelly. I quickly wrapped my arm around her waist to support her, feeling the heat radiating from her skin.

"We need to get her to the hospital! Oh my God, look at her body!" Mum yelled, her voice breaking with fear and urgency. Before I could respond, she collapsed in my arms, unconscious. Adrenaline kicked in, and I scooped her up, my heart racing, and rushed her to the car.

"Give me the keys!" I demanded from one of my drivers, my voice shaking with urgency and desperation.

"But sir..."

"I said, give me the damn keys!" I yelled, my frustration and fear spilling over. He handed them over without further protest, his hands trembling. I jumped into the car and sped off, my heart pounding in my chest, each beat a reminder of the gravity of the situation.

What have I done? I thought, panic rising like bile in my throat. I knew I closed the bottle, but how did everything pour into the water? I only meant to put a drop in, just to make her itchy and avoid dinner. It was supposed to be a harmless prank. Now, it had spiraled into something much worse. I needed to figure out who could have done this. As I reached the hospital, I rushed her inside, my mind racing with fear and guilt. The nurses brought out a stretcher, and I gently laid her on it, my hands trembling, joining them as they wheeled her inside. She opened her eyes briefly and smiled at me, a weak, pained smile, before closing them again.

I just wanted to prank her. I didn't mean for this to happen. What if she dies? The thought gripped my heart with icy fear. I could go to prison for this. The very idea terrified me, and I followed the nurses into the emergency room.

"Sorry, sir, but can you please step outside?" a nurse asked gently, her eyes pleading for my cooperation.

"No, I'm not going anywhere," I snapped, my voice tinged with desperation and anger. "Just do your job." She flinched and left, returning with a doctor.

"Sir, please, we need you to leave so we can treat your wife," the doctor said calmly, his eyes steady.

I stared at him, my anger barely contained. "If anything happens to her, I swear I'll hold you and this entire hospital accountable," I said before reluctantly stepping outside, my heart heavy with dread.

I slumped into a chair, my head in my hands, feeling the weight of my actions. I needed to check the CCTV cameras to understand what happened, but right now, I had to stay here. Not because I cared about her that much, but because I didn’t want to be responsible for her death. I glanced at the window, but the curtains were drawn. Feeling helpless, I sank back into the chair, staring at the floor, the minutes dragging by like hours.

Nine hours later, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I jolted awake and saw the same nurse standing there, looking hesitant.

"Why did you touch me?" I snapped, my voice laced with frustration and exhaustion.

"I'm sorry, sir, but the doctor wants to see you in his office," she said, backing away slightly.

"How am I supposed to find his office? Do I look like a mind reader?" I retorted, my patience worn thin.

"Sorry, sir. I'll show you the way," she replied, her voice calm despite my outburst.

I followed her to the doctor’s office and entered. He stood up as soon as he saw me, his expression serious.

"Good morning, Mr. Rico Shawn," he said, extending his hand.

"I don't do handshakes," I said coldly. He withdrew his hand, looking embarrassed and a bit hurt.

"So, do you have any updates?" I asked, my voice tense, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Yes. Your wife took a bath with a full bottle of a medication called Aquagenic Hives. It's a rare condition that causes an itchy and painful rash," he explained, his voice steady.

"So... can I see her now?" I asked, hoping for some good news, a lifeline to cling to.

"Yes, but she's in a coma," he said. His words hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless.

"Come again, doctor. Can you repeat that?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, my mind struggling to process his words.

"We're sorry, sir, but she fell into a coma due to the pain. If you had brought her in earlier, we might have prevented this," he said, his tone regretful.

I knew I fucked up real bad and I also knew that I didn't open the bottle, Someone did it. And I would get to the bottom of it.

A few hours later, I entered our room and turned on the TV. I had CCTV cameras everywhere except the maid’s toilet. Bethel didn’t know about the one in our bathroom. If she had, I would have removed it. I watched as she undressed and got into the tub. She fell asleep shortly after. Why would someone sleep in a tub? Then, the door opened, and someone walked into the bathroom.

"What the f**k?" I muttered, my eyes widening in shock as I watched the footage unfold, my heart sinking with dread and disbelief.

TBC

    
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