Someone Like Hugh -Draft Complete And EDITING-

Chapter Thirty One

Hugh's POV:

The doors to the operating room finally opened. A doctor came out and explained that they had completed the surgery successfully, but her body was under duress.

She would likely be unconscious for a few days. They led me to a private hospital room requested by her stepfather. It was a spacious room, with a small table and a couple chairs, a pull out couch and a couple of other amenities.

When I entered the room she looked so pale and so weak. This was all my fault. If I hadn't been so shocked, I could have pushed Jennifer away sooner. I could have explained before Amelia ran. Now she was fighting for her life in more ways than one.

"I don't know if you can hear me Amelia, my love. But I'm going to tell you anyway, just as I will tell you when you wake," I sat on the edge of the bed, holding her bandaged hand.

"Jennifer had a crush on me growing up, but I was always with Joanna. Today she saw us, and decided to try and take a chance. She kissed me. I didn't pull away at first because I was stunned, not because I wanted it, or anything with her. I love you, and I want to be with you," I spoke kisding her hand. "I should have been able to protect you."

Her heart rate sped up for a moment and lowered, making the heart monitor move faster.

"You can hear me, can you?" I spoke hopefully and her finger twitched. I kissed her gently, and sat back down on her bed just as her Stepfather and brothers entered the room. Without looking away from Amelia I asked them. "How much do you know?"

"About what?" Her stepfather asked, Jason, Josh, and James stood quietly.

"About what your wife does to your daughter?" I spat.

"We know that she verbally abuses her, and occasionally she slaps her," her stepfather answered.

"It's gotten worse. Amelia swore me to secrecy, but mother has been beating her. I saw it once. She wanted to get us out of there, she had a plan," James spoke sadly. His brothers and father looked at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Her stepfather asked. "I could have helped."

"But would have helped though? You've seen what you've seen and never stepped up. I told you the truth when I was a kid, mother pushed me down those steps to get Amelia to come back home. She endures it to keep us safe," James soar back at his father. He froze.

"She doesn't just beat her," I spoke. "Did you know Amelia is sick?" They all shook their heads. "Amelia is dying, yet every day she sacrifices what little time she has for all of you. She cooks, she cleans, she does your errands, she entertains your guests, and she takes punishments like this, that she hasn't earned," I spoke turning her slightly and opening her gown so they could see the healing wounds from being whipped.  "She told Delilah she was ill and she beat her and accused her of trying to get money and attention. Sge knows that all if you have to live with her, and she didn't want to put you in the middle and draw her wrath."

They all looked horrified, and they should. Enough was enough. "Delilah threatened to turn all of this back on you if she left. So she planned to stay until your 18th birthday, enduring it all so that you could eventually come live with her, free of your mother's abuse. She protected you, cared for you, and practically raised you. Now it's up to all of you to protect her."

"How sick is she?" He stepfather spoke. I looked at him and tears were running down his face.

"You need to understand. Me telling you all if this isn't an attempt to hurt you. You need to know the truth so you can help fix it. She has a genetic liver disease. Without a transplant, she won't make it until the new year," I spoke softly, returning my gaze to Amelia. I stroked her hair lovingly.

"You love her," Joshua spoke.

"I do. Joanna was my best friend, my little sister, but never the love if my life. Your sister is," I smiled sadly. "Now I just wish she'd wake up so I can tell her myself. We had a bit of a misunderstanding, but I hope I get the chance to make it up to her," I spoke leaning down and kissing her forehead.

Her heart monitor spiked again at the soft kiss.