Cruel twist of fate

CHAPTER 22

Sophia pov

The universe was on my side, and though the last couple of weeks had been difficult for me, I chose to look at the bright side only. I tried to forget about Richard and focus on Lilly's surgery which was in a few hours. I was thankful to the anonymous person who donated the kidney.

" Good morning Lilly, how are you this morning" the white-haired doctor walked in with his team. I stood up to greet him, and he moved towards Lilly to pat her hair, she smiled at him, they had gotten fond of each other in the weeks she has been in the hospital.

" I'm doing fine doctor, but I don't want to take any more drugs, " she said softly.

", I promise you won't have to take those drugs anymore, " he said and turned towards me, " it's time miss Sophia"

I nodded my head, fighting off the fear that clutched my heart.

" promise mummy you won't give up and you will come out strong, " I said squeezing her arms softly, and the tears I held back, finally dropped.

" Don't cry mummy, I will be fine, " she said dauntlessly, as they moved her into the operating theater.

I sat in front of the operating theater, praying to God to bring my baby back safely, I glanced over my shoulder and my eyes noticed David at the corner, he avoided eye contact with me and walked away but I moved towards him.

" what are you doing here David? " I asked.

" hmmm I.. I... I wanted to check up on Lilly, know if she is okay," he said still avoiding eye contact with me.

"If Richard asked you to do this, go tell him,  he should stay away from me and my daughter, "  I said angrily.

"I get that you are mad at him but Richard is not that kind of guy, he cares about.."  I cut him off before he could complete his statement.

" I don't care, just tell him to stay away from us,"  I said and turned to walk away, I didn't like that I extended my anger towards Richard to him, but I needed to cut every tie I had with them.

" you know I didn't want to say this, but do you know who Lilly's donor is?"  he asked.

"What do you mean? Do you know who it is? " I asked, hoping it wasn't what I was thinking.

" he begged me not to tell you but listening to you curse him out, makes me upset,"  he said angrily.

"Is it  Richard? Tell me did he decide to give Lilly his kidney anonymously? " I asked 

" yes he did, even when the doctors advised him, that it might be dangerous " I fell to the ground and my shoulders dropped, I had no idea how to feel about what I heard, all the anger and resentment I felt towards him disappeared, I wanted to run in there and tell him to please come out alive but it was already late, the last words I said to him kept ringing in my head. I instantly regretted my actions.

Two weeks after the surgery, Lilly was healthy again and she was discharged but Richard was still unconscious the doctors had no idea if he will ever wake up, and he had already signed an informed consent form, meaning he was aware of the dangers and went ahead, therefore the doctors may not take liability for whatever happens to him.

"I'm so sorry I called you a predator, I promise I'll listen to you if you just open your eyes," I said as I mopped his motionless body, he was unconscious and pale, yet he looked peaceful and still handsome, his eyebrows furrowed and I wondered what he must be thinking of while unconscious.

"Is something worrying you Richard? Are you at peace? If you wake up, I'll let you see Lilly, I won't leave your side" I said yet I got no reaction, I had made it a habit to have conversations with him with the hope that he will hear me and wake up.

I needed to thank him for saving lily, I needed to hear his side of the story,  to know if he was a predator like I thought he was.

I turned to water the daisies on the side of the bed that Lorna brought to wish him a safe recovery.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Sophia" I heard Richard call out softly, he opened his eyes and looked around, tears were in his eyes as he gazed at me and I ran towards him and hugged him.

" thank you, thank you for coming back alive !" I cried out.

" Lilly! Where is Lilly, ? is she okay? " he asked weakly searching around for her, I released my grip and examined his face, he was genuinely worried about her.

" worry about yourself first Richard, you are the one who almost died " I scolded him, and he instantly detected from my reaction that she was fine, he sighed in relief.

"I'll go tell the doctor you are awake, " I said turning to move away, he grabbed my hands and pulled me back.

"You are that girl, right? The girl I..... The one... I.... " he stammered.

Richards Pov

While I was still unconscious, I could still hear her voice begging me to come back alive, I thought it was just a dream until I woke up and she was right by my side.

Before the surgery, I begged David to help me find the girl I had hurt that night, after meeting with the doctors from the hospital she was admitted to six years, I realized Sophia was the woman from that night and that she conceived that night.

When I decided to give Lilly my kidney, I had no idea she was my daughter but when I realized it, I took it as an opportunity to give her a gift for all her birthdays I missed. A part of me wished I wouldn't come out alive because I didn't know how to face Sophia and I didn't deserve to be called a father, I couldn't even recognize my child and the woman I had hurt, I didn't deserve to be pardoned.

"You are that girl from that party, six years ago? " I asked, she looked at me in shock, I knew after the news broke out, she knew I was the man from that night.

She pushed my hand away slowly, ignoring my questions she said " the doctors need to know you are awake "

I gathered my strength and pulled myself out of the bed, and fell on my knees, I had waited for this moment when I come face to face with her and begged for forgiveness.

" what are you doing Richard, you are not strong enough to do this, please, " she said as she tried to pull me back up.

" I don't care about anything else. The only reason I hoped to come back alive was to do this and I don't care what happens to me after this " 

" How can you say that, why are you so selfish? How will I live with myself if something happens to you? " she said with tears in her eyes, I wasn't expecting her reaction, I expected her to be mad at me instead she was worried.

"I didn't mean to hurt you that night, I'm sorry I didn't do this sooner, I'm sorry about the pain you went through, I deserve to die for what I did to you " 

" stop talking about dying Richard, please..... She said, her eyes pleading.

" I know you don't believe me but I..... "  she cut me off before I could

" I believe you, you have never been perfect but I know you are not the kind of person to hurt anyone, once you are strong, I promise I will listen to everything," she said.

I wasn't expecting her to listen or forgive me, but here she was willing to hear my side of the story.

Sophia pov.

I was willing to listen to him, I was willing to believe him, I wanted to trust him, and I wanted to see beneath the mask, but right now I was more bothered about his life, I didn't know what I would do with myself if something happened to him.