Jonathan's POV
I thought the only thing that can hurt one…is dying.
But today I realized nothing is more painful than the thought of Veronica dying.
Veronica was lying in a pool of blood when I ran over to her and held her head in my arms.
Just then the medical team arrived and quickly lifted her onto the stretcher and took her down the elevator. I quickly took the other one and came down just in time to see them pushing her in.
"Sorry," the nurse said. "Only family members."
Imelda held my hand to stop me, but I jerked my hand out.
"I'm her husband."
"Get in!" she said. As she closed the door, the ambulance dove off towards the hospital.
"She's my wife!" I said. "Save her!"
"Y…yes, Mr Rollings!" the doctor said frantically.
The medic team rushed her to the operation room with me falling onto my knees.
After a few seconds, I got up and began to pace in front of the door. The red light above the operating room's door was glowing like a warning I just couldn't ignore. My mind kept showing me her pale face–too pale face.
I couldn't recall the last time I even looked at her properly. The past few years revolved around my office, my mansion and my meeting with Imelda. I didn't even realize I hadn't taken her to my mansion, her real home and still made her live in that small rented apartment, making her pay for it.
I was the one who moved on, Veronica was still there, raising our daughter, in the apartment we rented.
And, today, when she needed me the most, I punished her and made her climb twenty-three floors.
When I saw my watch, I realized it was time to pick Janet from school.
"I can't leave here, and Janet…" I said in my mind.
"Yes," I removed my phone and was shocked.
I scrolled through the contacts.
I had…
Adrian' principal's number.
His headroom teacher's number.
His day-care number.
Even his friends.
But…
Apart from Veronica's number saved as 'Assistant', I had no other number.
"What do I do?" I said frantically running my hands through my hair.
This truth hit me harder than any accusation could. I knew everything about Adrian and Imelda, yet my own daughter-nothing. My own wife was labeled 'assistant', while another woman was labeled 'honey' in my contact list.
A bitter feeling crept in my chest. When did I start neglecting them to this extent?
Janet was supposed to be the most precious thing for me. Veronica was supposed to be my life.
And, I was the one who made her a total stranger in my own life.
Just then a nurse came running out holding a board.
"Veronica Smith family members!"
"Yes!!"
"We need to remove her uterus immediately to save her. A family member please sign."
"What??" I was shocked. "What the hell are you saying?"
"She's bleeding! What's your relationship with the patient?" The nurse asked me.
I took the board from her.
"I'm—"
"She's my employee." Imelda said, coming over. "And, he's my husband."
The nurse took the board back.
"You can't sign." And went back in saying, "Doctor, the patient has no family."
"NO! SHE DOES! I'M HER HUSBAND! STOP!"
"Jonathan!" Imelda pulled me back. "Are you out of your mind? This is a charity hospital. Every elite here knows me, and everyone knows you're my husband. How can—"
A sharp sound echoed through the hall as Imelda staggered back holding her reddening cheek.
"You hit me!" she said, grinding her teeth.
I held her by her collar.
"The nurse said her uterus has to be removed." I said with fury in my eyes. "And you–"
"Jonathan." she said. "We both are in this to get our benefits. Now over a small issue—"
"A small issue??!" I was shocked. "Getting your uterus removed is a small issue?"
"Oh come on," she said in a sarcastic voice. "She already has a daughter, and with her pay, it's best—"
Again another sound echoed through the hall.
"Imelda, don't forget." I said glaring at her. "Everything that I have belongs to Veronica and Janet."
Just then the door opened, and they rolled her out—unconscious.
"Doctor!" I said. "How's she, and what happened?"
"Who are you to the patient?" He said.
"I'm her—"
Imelda pulled me by my arm again, but I pulled myself away from her.
"Doctor, she's my wife." I showed our marriage certificate.
"Then why didn't you sign?" the doctor asked. "I took the decision on the basis of saving a life."
"Doctor," I said pleading. "I was asking the nurse why, when she (I pointed towards Imelda) came in the way."
The doctor sighed.
"Sister, please take Miss—"
"Mrs Rollings." I said in a stern tone.
"Mrs Rollings to her room." Then the doctor gestured for me to follow.
As the doctor sat on his chair, I and Imelda also sat in the chairs in front of his table.
"Mr Rollings, your wife's uterus was ruptured, causing internal bleeding. So, we had to remove it to save her life."
"But doctor, she just had surgery for being stabbed in the stomach." I said frantically. "Now, a few days later you say, 'her uterus is ruptured. Why didn't you find out then?"
"Yes," Imelda said. "We thought her stitches from the stab broke."
"Mr Rollings, I was her surgeon then as well." the doctor said. "Actually, it was a silent rupture. These types of ruptures, at times, are not detected in early scans."
"I'm sorry, but according to the nurse, you have a daughter," he said. "Cherish her from now on."
"Doctor, Janet is my life and Veronica is my heart."
I saw Imelda clutching her skirt.
I took a deep breath.
"Doctor, please," I said. "I don't care about the money. I want my wife to be healthy."
"Don't worry Mr Rollings." the doctor said. "We'll give the best."
As the doctor left, I felt a little dizzy.
The next moment everything went dark.
I woke up with a pang in my head.
"Joanathan!" Imelda said as she was holding my hand.
"Mr Rollings!" the nurse said. "You're awake! Your wife has been—"
I pulled my hand out of Imelda's hand.
"She's my business partner." I said. "My wife is Veronica Smith."
The nurse said, "Oh sorry." And left.
"Jonathan!" Imelda yelled at me. "Are you out of your mind? You're going to expose me. If dad finds out—"
"He won't." I said. "And even if he does, I won't allow my wife or daughter's health, let alone life be played with."
Imelda got up and began to laugh hysterically.
"Don't play with your daughter's health?" she said laughing.
"Back at the party," Imelda said. "It was clear Janet ate a mango pastry. And, Adrain was the one who gave it to her. Then, why didn't you care about your daughter's health then?"
"What??" I was shocked. "Adrian said he wanted to eat a mango pastry. He didn't say, 'he was going to give it to Janet." Then I lowered my voice, "But if Adrian had forced her to eat even one bite, I would have dealt with him my—"
"JONATHAN!"
"QUIET!" I said. "Your Son is your little prince-charming, even if his father betrayed you, and he wasn't even part of your life's plan. Janet is mine and my legal wife's only child. A symbol of our love. Tell me how much I should love her?"
Just then a staff-boy came over.
"Miss Harmon," he said. "Some reporters saw you coming here, and want to know if the visit was related to the kidnapping?"
"Yes!" she said excitedly. "And..and tell, 'My secretary Veronica Smith lost her uterus saving me. And I will take care of her financial—"
"LEAVE!" I said to the staff-boy and as he left, this time the sound echoed in the room.
"JONATHAN!"
"IMELDA," I snarled at her. "Dare use Nicky or Janet for your profits. If I can help you get your profits, I can take them away as well."
"Okay," she said, caressing her cheek. "Sorry, I got a little excited."
"Now leave," I said, getting out of bed. "I want to spend some time with my wife."
On entering Veronica's room, I wiped a tear that had left my eye when I saw Veronica rolled out.
She looked smaller than I remembered her.
The strong woman who stood beside me in my hardest times, now lay motionless, weak on the stretcher. Tubes and monitors surrounded her, with a steady beep telling me she was alive, but barely.
I sat beside her on the chair near her, and held her hand.
Her hand was cold. Too cold.
"Nicky," I said in a determined voice. "I swear to make all, including me, pay for the harm they did to you."
But I didn't know Veronica had already planned her leave.
And the moment she would disappear…
Would be the moment everything I thought I was doing for Veronica and Janet, would end up collapsing.