Helena picked up Bella from the school. The toddler noticed her mother's puffy and red eyes.
"Momma", she called out in her soft voice.
"Yes, love", Helena replied in a shaky tone, trying her best to sound normal.
"Momma, were you crying", she asked worriedly.
Helena shook her head for a no while as she teared up again.
"Momma, is something wrong? Why are you crying", the toddler asked as her little eyes got teary too.
"Baby, let's get home. We'll talk about it there", Helena said as she took her home.
They walked home. As soon as they reached, Helena took Bella in her arms and sat on the couch, causing her to sit on her lap.
"Baby, Momma made a mistake", Helena cried again.
"Momma, it is all right. I forgive you. Please don't cry", the little one cried.
"Bella, listen to me. I am buying tickets. We are going to Dada", she said while crying.
"Dada? Really", Bella said, as she stopped crying.
Her face showed the widest smile as she clapped her hands happily.
"I always wanted to see my Dada", she giggled.
Helena smiled through her tears while nodding.
"I am sorry sweetheart. I did bad with Dad and you. I stopped you two from the meeting. Your Dada is a very nice man. I know you will love him a lot, right?"
"I will love Dada a lot."
Taking the earliest flight back home, Helena reached there finally two days after the arrival of the letter. Boarding a taxi, she reached Edwin's mansion. She got down after paying the fare to the chauffeur and held Bella in her arms.
"We are here, Bella", she said softly.
"I want to meet Dada", she said excitedly.
She walked to the gate of the mansion and asked the guard for Edwin. The guards, all changed, did not recognize her.
"Ma'am, we were not informed about your arrival by Sir", the guard coldly said.
"Can you at least call him and inform him? I am his wife, Helena. This is our daughter. We have come from very far to meet him", Helena said desperately.
"Okay, ma'am. Give me a minute", the guard said as he dialed a number.
The male voice on the other side asked him to send them inside.
"Okay, ma'am. You can go inside", the guard said and let them in.
"Momma, dada's house is so big and green", Bella said as she admired the mansion with her big doe eyes.
"Yes, it is. You like it", Helena asked her.
A maid approached them quickly and asked them to wait in the living room. After waiting for around twenty minutes, the maid informed them that the Boss had arrived. Helena looked at the entrance when she heard footsteps. It was Damian, looking the same as he did three years back. Just a little stressed.
"Hi Helena", he greeted her with a light smile.
"Hi Damian", Helena said with a smile.
"Dada", Bella squealed, causing Helena and Damian to chuckle at her innocence.
He picked her up in his arms.
"Baby, I am your Damian uncle She takes after Edwin", he said with a sad smile as he looked at her.
"Yeah, you are right. Where is Edwin? I received his package. I want to meet him badly", she said with a heavy heart.
Damian looked at her and nodded while looking down. He seemed off, and Helena sensed it.
"Damian, is something wrong", she asked worriedly.
He sat down beside Helena and whispered in her ear.
"Edwin is not okay."
Helena looked at him worriedly.
"What do you mean by that", she said worriedly.
"Shh, quiet. You have a kid with you. Let me arrange something for her. I cannot let her know", he said as he got her a big bag of toys.
"Bella, baby, why don't you play with these toys in that room", he said as he took her to the room and placed her on the bed with the toys.
He returned to Helena and sat beside her, his eyes looking down.
"Damian, you are worrying me. What is wrong", she pleaded to him.
"Helena, Edwin is in the ICU", Damian said quietly.
Helena froze in fear.
"What", she whispered, not able to speak.
"He had a very dangerous meeting with a rival mafia boss the next day. He told me how much he missed you. He was jotting down something two weeks back, and I saw that he was writing this letter to you. He kept it inside the drawer. He never intended to post this to you, but I knew he wanted you to read this. So I secretly sent it to you. He wrote this as he knew he might never be able to come back alive", Damian said as a tear rolled down his eye.
"I am so sorry Damian", Helena said as she sniffled sadly while hugging him.
"He got shot twice. The bullets were removed successfully, but he was having complications. He has been in the ICU ever since. There is very little hope", Damian broke down into sobs.
"Can you take me there? Please? I want him to see Bella. I will never be able to forgive myself if I don't let him see her face", Helena said while sobbing.
Damian nodded as he got up. He called the driver as Helena took Bella in her arms.
"Mommy, what is happening? Where are we going-"
"Bella, baby, we are going to meet Dada. Now, no more questions", Helena said shakily, holding her close.
They arrived at the hospital. Helena rushed upstairs to the fourth floor, with Bella in her arms.
"Helena, let's take the lift instead", Damian yelled from behind.
"I don't have time. I need to see him", she said desperately while running.
They reached the fourth floor. Helena ran helplessly to the ICU, peeping into each room.
"Helena, here this one", Damian pointed in the other direction.
Helena ran there and pushed open the door to enter.
"EDWIN", she yelled loudly and ran to his hospital bed.
He lay there unconscious, machines connected to his body everywhere. His face had bruises and he looked very weak.
"Ed", Helena whispered his name while cupping her cheek, tears rolling down her eyes.
He moved a bit, groaning from pain. He opened his eyes slightly. Looking at Helena, his face visibly relaxed. He tried to remove his oxygen mask when Helena stopped him.
"No, Ed, do not remove it", she said softly, caressing his face gently.
She lifted Bella in her arms.
"Ed, she is our Bella", Helena said softly.
"Hello Dada", Bella said in her childish voice, making him smile weakly.
"Ed, I am sorry. I got selfish, love. I-"
He shook his head in a no, his eyes showing a strange peace. He felt happy and peaceful. All the sadness of his life vanished in a single second. A tear rolled down his right eye as he stared at her daughter's face.
"I love you both a lot", he whispered weakly.
Suddenly, the machine started ringing very loudly. Edwin's pulse dropped and nurses flooded the room.
"You have to leave the room, Ma'am!"
YOU ARE READING
CAN I ESCAPE?
Mystery / Thriller"I want a divorce. I don't want to live here. I know everything now", she said with pain and anger. His eyes turned red and he clenched his fists. He approached her and hugged her softly. Placing a kiss on her forehead, he said, "My sweet princess...
