THE BILLIONAIRE’S PERFECT MATE

Hillary just stood still, unable to answer Mr. Evans’ question.

“Am I dumb? I am not even sure she is my mother yet. How could I have said that?” Hillary had thought, closing her eyes and forcing her saliva down her throat when she realized she had no explanation to give to all the eyes on her. She was praying for a way out and just then, a nurse who was staying by Natalia’s side came seeking for the doctor, requesting for his attention.

“Doctor, I think you need to check up on her. She is crying from her sleep and yelling someone’s name. Her heart rate has increased and she is finding it difficult to breathe” the nurse said with urgency in her voice, which hinted that Natalia’s life was at risk. Hillary became more scared and tears had begin to roll down her eyes. The doctor rushed in and Hillary followed suit, without thinking twice. Even though the nurses tried to stop her from entering, she didn’t budge and forcefully made her way pass them into the room. Mr. Evans and Richard too followed suit. Hillary rushed to Natalia’s bedside with tears in her eyes, upon seeing how she was finding it difficult to breathe with her eyes closed, which showed she was unconscious. She watched as the medical team tried their best to steady her breathing but all their efforts proved abortive. She saw Natalia’s mouth moving, as if she was saying something. She moved close to her and upon placing her ear close to her mouth, she heard her mutter: “Lily, please stay with me. Mummy is sorry”. Natalia kept on repeating those words with tears rolling down her cheeks, which got Hillary more emotional. By this time, the medical team were losing control over Natalia and the monitor had began to beep, with her heart rate which was high before now dropping at a high speed, which showed her soul was slowly leaving her body.

The doctor began to yell, dishing out different kinds of instructions to the rest of the medical team, just to save Natalia. It was at that moment, Hillary realized how serious Natalia’s condition was and that she might lose her mother, whom she had finally meet again after 15 years of assuming she was dead.

“Mum, please don’t do this to me. You can’t do this to me. Your daughter is finally here. Your Lily is here. I admit. I admit that I am Lily and not Hillary nor Ellie. So, please wake up. You can’t leave me all alone now mum. For my sake, please fight to stay alive. I am begging you, Mum” Hillary, who was now sitting on the floor, holding Natalia’s hand and crying bitterly, pleaded to everyone’s surprise.

It was as if Natalia heard her daughter’s cry as her heartbeat went back to normal.

“We have got her back. She is under control now” the doctor finally said, which made relief wash over everyone, including Hillary who was still holding Natalia’s hand with her eyes glued on her. She looked at her now calm face, with drops of tears still on cheeks. Although Natalia was now calm and was in a deep sleep, Hillary was still worried and scared. She wouldn’t get up from the floor and just kept on staring at Natalia’s calm but worried face.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“Miss, she is out of danger now but she needs to rest. You will have to wait for her outside until she wakes up” the doctor said, motioning for Hillary to get up and leave the room.

“I am not going anywhere. I am staying here beside her, until she wakes up” Hillary said with a decisive tone, while giving the doctor a scornful look at the same time.

“But Miss, you can’t be …….” the doctor continued, wanting to make her understand that she couldn’t stay there but he was interrupted by Mr. Evans.

“Let her be. If she insists on staying with her, that’s fine” Mr. Evans said, cautioning the doctor not to drag the matter further.

“OK, sir. If you do not mind Mr. Evans, can I see you in my office to discuss about her condition?” the doctor asked.

“Yes, let’s do just that” he said, gesturing for the doctor to lead the way to his office. Before Mr. Evans left the room, he walked up to Hillary and said: “Your mum will be fine. Do not panic”, while patting her shoulder. The other medical team members also exited the room, leaving Richard, Hillary and Natalia all alone.

“I am confused right now but I know you will explain everything to me once you are in the right state of mind. Why don’t you seat on the chair, while we watch over her together?” Richard said, stretching his hand forth, trying to console her and assure her that everything will be fine. Holding Richard’s extended hand, she got up from the floor and sat on the chair very close to Natalia’s bed. She held her mum’s hand in hers tightly while staring at her face, which had begin to age a little. Richard just kept on staring at her as he had never seen her looking that distraught and disdain. He was confused no doubt, but he knew that was not the right moment to probe her.

“Let me get you a bottle of water. I will be right back” Richard said, excusing himself out of the room, heading to get Hillary, who looked thirsty a bottle of water.

Edward, who had been hiding in a corner watching as everything unfolded, saw the perfect opportunity to approach Hillary with Richard not being there. He made his to the door of the room but upon holding the door handle, he couldn’t bring himself to open the door. He just stared at Hillary who looked tired and stressed out. There were still leftovers of the tears she had shed on her cheeks. He felt pity for her and his heart ached upon seeing how hurt she was. He was so engrossed in looking at her that he was only brought back to reality by Richard’s voice.

“What are you doing here?” Richard’s stern voice asked.

“I am just here to check up on Hillary. I witnessed all that happened” Edward responded, facing Richard.

“I don’t think you should be here. I heard your wife is also hospitalized. I think you should be with instead of being. I will stay with my fiancee, while you should stay with your wife. Let’s put into practice minding each other’s business. Let’s avoid each other’s partner from now on. You may leave” Richard said in a voice, that sounded more of a threat than a warning. Not wanting to create a scene, Edward reluctantly obliged and walked away. Richard joined Hillary in the room and forced her to take some water while they watch over Natalia although, she didn’t want to. He stayed by her side all through the night, as she watched over her mother.

Mr. Evans on the other hand, was standing in front of his wife’s ward after having left the doctor’s office. The doctor had told him Natalia fainted due to shock and seemed like she saw or remembered an event of the past, which triggered her memory and made her traumatized. He wanted to enter the room and stay beside his wife but he decided not to. He wanted Hillary and Natalia to share some time together. Although he was shocked by Hillary’s revelation earlier, he got over it quickly and believed her to be his wife’s daughter as Natalia had always told him how Hillary resembled and reminded her of her dead daughter a lot.

“I have always been with her every day of my life. I believe I should leave them alone tonight” he thought, while having his seat on the chair outside his wife’s ward, where he sat all night, waiting for Natalia to wake up.

Hillary didn’t have a wink of a sleep as she stayed up all through the night, waiting for her mother to regain her consciousness. As the morning came, she began to slowly get drift away by sleep but just as she was about allowing the cold hands of sleep to take her away, she heard a voice called her name softly.

“Lily” Natalia weakly said, upon opening her eyes and seeing her beloved daughter beside her.