Christiana’s POV.
I managed to regain control of myself and shoved Alex away from me. My heart pounded as I looked up at him, trying to steady my breath. “Are you insane?” I demanded, my voice sharp and filled with disbelief. The anger that had been simmering inside me was now boiling over, and I needed to put some distance between us.
Alex, still oozing the authority that had once made him so imposing, met my gaze with defiance and desperation. Despite the water dripping from his clothes, his presence was commanding. His eyes locked onto mine, intense and unyielding. “Be mine again, Christiana,” he said, his voice low and compelling. “I want you back.”
His words were like a punch to the gut. I stared at him, feeling a surge of frustration and betrayal. “You’re unbelievable,” I spat out, unable to contain my rage any longer. “After everything, you think a kiss will fix this? You think you can just come back into my life and expect me to forget all the pain?”
I didn’t wait for a response. I turned sharply, the anger fueling my movements as I slid into the driver’s seat of my car. The engine roared to life, and I slammed the gear into drive, the tires screeching as I sped away from him.
In the rearview mirror, 1 caught one last glimpse of Alex standing there, his expression was of regret and something else that I couldn’t decipher. It was the last image I had of him before I drove into the night, my mind racing with a lot of emotions.
As I was driving home, my mind was still consumed by the heated encounter with Alex. His unexpected visit and those wild declarations left me upset. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice the man crossing until it was almost too late. The screech of my tires barely masked the thud that followed.
I slammed the brakes and my heart nearly leaped out of my chest as I looked in my rearview mirror. There, sprawled on the ground, was a man who had been almost hit. My breath caught in my throat. Panic surged through me as I rushed out of the car, my heels clicking urgently against the pavement.
“Are you okay?” I shouted, hurrying over to him. “I’m so sorry, are you hurt?”
The man was picking himself up, brushing dirt off his clothes with a look of annoyance. “Watch where you’re going!” he snapped, his voice sharp. “You could have seriously injured someone.”
“I’m really sorry,” I said, my voice shaky as I approached him. “Please, let me take you to the hospital”
He shook his head, still visibly irritated. “No need for that. You should probably get some proper driving lessons instead. Might help you avoid this kind of thing in the future.”
His words stung, hitting harder than I expected. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “I’m truly sorry. I just…. wasn’t paying attention.”
He sighed, obviously frustrated but not seriously hurt. “Just be more careful next time.” He turned on his heel and started walking toward his car.
As I was pulling away from the scene, my mind still racing from the encounter with Alex, I heard a loud thud behind me. I turned to see the man I’d almost hit earlier had bumped into a streetlight pole. He was on the ground, groaning, with blood trickling down from his head.
Panic surged through me again as I raced back to him, my heart pounding in my chest. “Oh my God!” I exclaimed, kneeling beside him. “Are you okay? What happened?”
He cursed violently, his face contorted in pain. “Dammit! Why can’t you just watch where you’re going? Look at what you’ve done!” And it was himself he was scolding.
Seeing him in such a state, with a growing pool of blood beneath him, made my stomach churn. “You’re not in any condition to drive. I’m taking you to the hospital
He looked at me with a mixture of anger and disbelief. “Are you doing this just to ease your conscience? I don’t need your help. I can get to the hospital by myself.”
“You look like you can barely move,” I said firmly, my voice filled with concern. “Let me help you.“)
After a moment of hesitation, he seemed to relent. “Fine. But I’m not doing this because I want to.”
0
Chapter 19
I helped him into the passenger seat of my car, his face pale and grimacing in pain. The drive to the hospital was tense and quiet, with him only groaning occasionally. I pulled into the emergency entrance, rushing inside to get help.
A nurse and a doctor quickly assessed his condition. “He’s got a concussion,” the doctor explained to me, his face serious as he looked at the man now lying on a stretcher. “We’ll need to keep him under observation for a few hours.”
I nodded, feeling a deep sense of guilt. I watched as the nurse wheeled him away, while he seemed to be in such a terrible position. My frustration bubbled over.
“Damn it, Alex!” I muttered under my breath, pacing in the waiting area. “If you hadn’t made me so upset, I wouldn’t have been driving like a lunatic. I almost killed this man! Because of you, he’s lying there with a concussion.”
The doctor approached me, breaking into my rant. “Ma’am, you can wait in the waiting area. We’ll update you once we have more information.”
I nodded, still fuming. My emotions were a storm of regret, frustration, and anger. As I sank into a chair in the sterile waiting room, I could only curse Alex silently, wishing that today had gone differently.
After what felt like an eternity, the nurse finally appeared, wheeling the man out in a wheelchair. I let out a sigh of relief as I saw him, though the sight of the bandage wrapped around his head and his pale complexion made my stomach clench.
“Miss, he’s been stabilized, the nurse said, giving me a reassuring smile. “He has a concussion and needs plenty of rest. We’ve given him medication to help with the pain and to assist with his recovery. Make sure he takes these as directed” She handed me a small prescription bottle. “No strenuous activity or driving for at least a week.”
The man, looking faint, murmured, “I feel so dizzy.” His voice was barely above a whisper.
The nurse nodded sympathetically. “That’s normal. Rest is the best thing for him right now. I’m sure he’ll feel better with some sleep.”
I moved quickly to his side, helping him into my car. His face showed a mixture of exhaustion and discomfort. “Thank you
ou for everything.” I said to the nurse as she watched us leave.
The man managed a faint smile. “I’m Daniel Brooks, by the way, I appreciate your help. I’d prefer to be taken home rather than a hotel. I’ll have someone retrieve my car later.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath as I helped him settle into the passenger seat. “Alright, Daniel. I’ll get you home.”
As I started the car and pulled out of the hospital parking lot, Daniel gave me directions. His voice was soft, and he seemed to be drifting in and out of sleep. Turn left… then right at the next street…”
I glanced over at him, my concern growing. His head lolled slightly, and he appeared close to falling asleep. Despite the strange circumstances, I could see the vulnerability in him, and it made me feel even more responsible for his well–being
“Just hang on a bit longer,” I said softly, my voice firm but soothing. “We’re almost there.
With each turn, I focused on the road, silently cursing the series of events that led to this moment. My thoughts were a jumble of anger and guilt, but for now, my priority was to get Daniel home safely,
As I finally pulled up to Daniel’s apartment, I glanced at him. His eyes were closed, and he looked as though he might fall asleep any second. I parked the car, turned off the engine, and gently shook him. “We’re here, Daniel. This is the place. You said to knock and your family would help you in?”
He stirred slightly and nodded. “Yes, my grandmother and my brothers. They’ll help. Just knock…”
I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. The night air was cool against my skin as I walked up to the apartment door. I hesitated for a moment before knocking firmly. The seconds ticked by, and then the door creaked open.
An elderly woman in her mid–seventies appeared, her face lined with years but still sharp. She wore a calm, neutral expression as she looked at me.
“Hello,” I said, forcing a polite smile. “I’m Christiana. I brought Daniel home. He had an accident and…”
Before I could finish, she stepped aside and let me in. “Come in, dear. You must be tired. Let me see him.”
0
10:20 PM
Chapter 19
As I walked through the doorway, she called out, “Boys! Daniel’s injured! Quick, help him inside!”
Within moments, two young men appeared. They were quick and efficient, carefully helping Daniel out of the car and into the apartment. He groaned sofily but remained mostly unconscious. I watched, feeling a pang of sympathy for the scene unfolding.
The elderly woman turned to me as the men helped Daniel inside. “Thank you for bringing him. I’m glad he wasn’t left alone.”
“I’m just glad he’s going to be okay,” I replied. “I really need to get going, though. My children will be worried.”
She nodded understandingly. “Of course. We’ll take good care of him. Please, before you go, do stay for some tea. You must be
tired”
I shook my head with a polite smile. “I appreciate the offer, but I really must go. It’s late, and I have to get back to my kids.”
The woman gave a warm smile. “Very well. Thank you again for everything.”
I nodded and stepped back outside, closing the door behind me. The night air was still cool as I walked back to my car. As 1 drove away, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in my chest. I was anxious to get back to my children and check on them. The night had taken an unexpected turn, and the burden of the day weighed heavily on me.
I finally walked through the front door, weary and drained from the evening’s events. The house was quiet for a moment before my children’s voices broke the silence, filled with relief and concern.
“Mommy, where have you been?” Ethan asked, his eyes wide with worry. “We were so worried about you. Why did it take so long?”
Emma was right beside him, her tiny face scrunched up with concern. “Yeah, what happened? We missed you.”
I tried to catch my breath, feeling the weight of their concern pressing down on me. I was at a loss for words, struggling to figure out how to explain my extended absence. I glanced around the room, the chaotic thoughts of the day swirling in my mind
Before I could answer, Ethan’s voice cut through the confusion. “Mom, Emma and I want to visit Daddy.”
I froze, stunned by the sudden request. “What? Why would you want to do that?”
Emma’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she blurted out, “He sent us fancy gifts!”
I blinked, trying to process their words. “Fancy gifts? What are you talking about?”
Both children grabbed my hands, tugging me eagerly toward the living room. There, in the corner, were several large boxes wrapped in glossy paper, ribbons gleaming in the light. Expensive–looking toys, gadgets, and plush toys, the kind that seemed way too extravagant for children their age
I felt a wave of exasperation wash over me. Alex was pulling out all the stops to win them over, and it seemed to be working. I shook my head, frustrated. “This is ridiculous. He’s trying way too hard.”
Ethan, with a hopeful expression, said, “Daddy seems nice. We want to spend some time with him too.”
The weight of their words hit me like a ton of bricks. My frustration with Alex flared up again, and I struggled to keep my emotions in check. I had barely managed to get through the evening and now this? It felt like an uphill battle.
“Look,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s not that simple. We need to talk about this. I’ll think about it, okay?”
The kids nodded, their excitement undampened by my hesitation. I felt like I was caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to fully grasp the s
ituation but knowing I had to address it somehow.
As I looked at their hopeful faces and the lavish gifts, a deep sigh escaped me.
