Chapter One Hundred and four

Damien's POV;

I had never felt so broken on the inside. If this was how love was then I truly wished I never felt it. I wished Amy hadn't open my eyes to realize that I was in love with this woman.

It hurt even more that I knew she felt something for me but was not willing to fight for it. Was I not worth fighting for? Did I not deserve to be loved? Was this my punishment for being so cruel to all the women I had come across. I had broken so many hearts so nonchalantly because I didn't know what it felt like to be in such a situation. And now, the only woman that made me say that cursed L-word had my heart shattered to pieces. Lessons learnt.

I was driving in the outskirts of LA and was somewhat absentminded because of how downtrodden I was feeling.

I was speeding a little too much on a one-way road and I just wanted to slow down and take a bend when a speeding truck came at me. I swerved quickly to avoid a fatal collision. Then, I lost control when the car tumbled off the highway and summersaulted a few times in the bushes.

I groaned as a spasm of pain shot through my scalp and blood trickled down my face, blinding me in the face. I tried my best to stay awake but I soon felt myself shutting my eyes as I slipped into unconsciousness.

***

Ariana's POV;

I raised my glass of water to my lips and it suddenly shattered into pieces. I didn't know how to take it. I've never been a superstitious person so I didn't know what to make of it.

I picked up my phone to google what just happened and I saw that some cultures saw glass breaking unintentionally as a good sign, a new beginning of some sort.

But, my intuition kept telling me something was wrong. Something was really wrong. I held on to the locket around my neck and rubbed on it continuously. Then, I shut my eyes and went on my knees in prayer.

"Dear God keep all my loved ones safe wherever they are. Keep us all safe." I whispered. Those were the only words I managed to get out but prayers continued in my heart.

The shrill sound of my ringtone filled the room all of a sudden.

"Miguel?"

"Mrs Kingston, there's a situation." He said breathlessly.

I stood abruptly.

"What happened?"

"Sir Damien just got into an accident."

Alarm bells went ringing in my ears within the next few seconds after hearing the petrifying news. My heart pounded against my chest and my legs shook even as cold sweat broke out on my face.

"Ma'am are you there?"

"Where are you? Where is he?" I managed to steady my breath and speak up.

"We just got to the hospital."

"Text me the address." I blurted out quickly.

"Right away ma'am."

I dropped the call and screamed.

"Oh my goodness! What do I do? This is all my fault, this is all my fault."

If I hadn't chased him out maybe the accident would have been avoided. Why did I tell him to leave? I should have accepted him, I should have. I couldn't afford to lose him or anyone else for that matter. I would just go crazy.

"Okay deep breaths Ariana. No over thinking. He's going to be fine." I said to myself as I took calming breaths.

It was at times like these that I regretted not taking the car Damien had gotten me.

Thinking of Damien brought a searing surge of pain in my heart. My husband was probably fighting for his life wherever he was and I was thinking of a car.

I booked a flight ticket and uber simultaneously and packed a little luggage for my trip. I wasn't going to be there for long, I just had to make sure he was okay because this was basically my fault.

I dragged my suitcase out and shut all the doors and windows before hopping into the Uber that took me to the airport. In about an hour, I would be in LAX finding my way down to where Damien was.

Anxiety seeped through my veins even as my heart kept beating rapidly.

We touched down in LA and I was literally running like a mad woman out of the airport.

I picked up my phone to answer whoever had been calling non-stop as I sat in the back of the uber.

"Hey Brianna." I said, panting breathlessly from all that running.

"What's up? I just saw Damien's car wreck in the news few minutes ago."

As usual, everyone had heard.

"Yes Brie it's all my fault." My voice shook as I tried to explain a little bit of what had transpired only a few hours earlier.

"Take it easy on yourself Ari. Where are you currently?"

"I'm on my way to the hospital. I just left the airport." I replied.

"That's good. Just take it easy and be there for him. Your man needs you more than ever now." Her words did nothing to comfort my troubled heart but I assured her I was just fine.

The ride took a long time due to traffic. I found myself tapping my feet furiously on the floor of the vehicle and I saw the driver glance at me severally through the rear view mirror. He surely wouldn't understand the many emotions that rushed through me all at once while I was seated in this vehicle.

"Lord let him be safe." I said barely above a whisper as I stared at one of the several pictures I had of Damien on my phone and dropped a kiss on the screen.

****

"Ma'am this is too much." The driver said as I dropped a wad of dollar bills in his hand, not caring to count how much it was.

"Keep the change." I hurriedly said as I hoisted my luggage, slammed the car door, and ran into the hospital without looking back.

"Miguel!" I called out as I saw him pacing the lobby taking a phonecall.

"Ma'am." He took quick strides towards me.

"Where is he? How is he?"

He shook his head in the negative, heightening my fears.

"We haven't heard anything from the doctor. He's in the ER."

I sat down, with my hands running through my mess of hair that had gotten disheveled from all that hassling.

"Ariana!"

I looked up in the direction of the sound of my name and abruptly stood up. A warm, soft scenting body soon engulfed me in an embrace.

"Mom," I said as I inhaled her warm scent, hoping it would calm me but I ended up crying because I was drowning in guilt.

"Don't cry honey. He'll be fine." She said, giving me soothing rubs even as Aiden joined us.

"Mom, it's all my fault." I choked on a sob.

"What happened?" Her eyes darted between Miguel and I.

"If I hadn't sent him away when he came over, this wouldn't have happened. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything happens to him." I cried out.

Mom shushed me immediately.

"Damien is going to be perfectly fine, nothing's going to happen to him. Don't blame yourself for it okay?" She looked like she was holding back her own tears. She turned to Miguel as we both sat down.

"Miguel how long has it been?"

"Over two hours now ma'am." He replied, glancing at his watch.

"Aiden what do you think we should do?"

"I already called for the helicopter. Once we get the clear from the doctors here, we'll move him over to the family hospital." He said. His eyes fell on me and he gave me a pat on the shoulder.

"Don't fret so much. I'm sure he'll be fine." He said softly and I managed a nod.

"You're here for Mr Damien Kingston?" A petite nurse popped up and I abruptly stood up.

"Yes we are." Aiden said.

"The doctor will see you now. We need just two of you."

"Aiden, Ariana, you two go." Mom said. She looked to terrified to follow us.

"It's alright, we'll go." Aiden said.

We followed the nurse to the doctor's office and sat down in waiting.

The doctor came in and shook hands with Aiden and I.

"How are you related to the patient?" The hazel eyed middle aged man had asked us.

"I'm his best friend. Brother from another mother."

"I'm his wife..."

My voice came out shaky. Sitting in the hospital brought back memories of a time that wasn't so long ago. I just wanted run and hide.

"Please calm down ma'am." The doctor said giving me a concerned glance while Aiden gave my palm a squeeze.

"I'm fine. How is he?" I inquired, trying to steady my voice.

"The only major injury he sustained was a pretty deep gash to his scalp, we've stitched that up. Asides that, he just has a few bruises that will heel in no time. He is going to suffer through severe headaches but with the right medication and care, he'll surely live."

I listened to the doctor's analysis with my eyes shut as a relieved look took over my face.

"That's a great relief." Aiden exhaled with a slight grin.

"So we want to know if he's in the clear. We'd like to take him to another hospital, one that isn't so far away from his residence."

"I'll have my team prepare him for evacuation."

"Thank you doctor." We said and shook hands with him once again.

The helicopter arrived about thirty minutes later and Damien was rolled out of the hospital, all strapped up on the stretcher.

My heart sunk at how pale and lifeless he looked with the bandages wrapped around his head.

I got in and held my breath as the flight ascended. I could not enjoy the thrill of the ride as well as the spectacular view from up there because my mind was obviously flooded with thoughts of the unconscious man laid in front of me.

I entwined my fingers with his and flinched at the contact due to how low his body temperature had gone.

My eyes drooped in sadness and what followed was a sinking feeling in my stomach that had me panicking.

Something was wrong, I could feel it.