Ms. Natalie looked at Anne with so much anguish on her face. "Anastasia, my grandson has always been good to you. Why did you make him go through so much pain? He loved you so much, and yet you didn't want him. You broke his heart, and now he's suffering" Tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke. "My poor grandson," she sobbed. "What have you done?"
The room was heavy with emotion, as Anne stood there, stunned by the grandmother's words. She had never seen this side of her. Even Sasha was moved by the pain and sadness in Ms. Natalie's eyes. It was clear that nothing could heal her broken heart, except for Carl to wake up.
Anne bowed her head due to the guilt that was weighing heavily on her. She had not only caused Carl pain but also caused so much sadness for his family. Her heart was racing and she could feel the tears welling up in her own eyes.
Dexter desperately wanted to clear the air and explain to Ms. Natalie what really happened, but the words got stuck in his throat. He knew he could tell her that Anne was also a victim in all of this, but he didn't think she would believe him. He felt helpless as he watched Carl's grandma continue to cry.
He looked at his sister and saw the pain in her eyes. It was clear that she was struggling with her own emotions, and he wanted to comfort her. But what could he say that would make any difference?
As for Anne, the guilt she was feeling was too much to bear that she wanted to disappear. She felt like running away from this moment and all of its consequences. She felt so bad about herself and she couldn't stop the tears from falling. Maybe this was her punishment. Maybe she deserved this.
Ms. Natalie added "I blame Carl for being so obsessed with you. He was so blinded by his feelings for you that he could no longer think straight. Tell me why you let him get shot in his heart" She yelled.
Suddenly, she gripped Anne's shirt, her hands shaking with rage. "Why didn't you stop him?" she yelled.
Anne was taken aback by the ferocity of Ms. Natalie's words. She felt like a small child being scolded for something she had no control over.
However, Sasha was enjoying the chaos she had created. She was happy to see Anne quiver under the harsh words of Carl's grandmother, knowing that she had caused all of this. Sasha was overjoyed to see Anne suffer, and she couldn't help but feel satisfied about the whole situation. It was sickening, but she couldn't help herself.
Just then, Noah entered the waiting room with the head doctor who was with Carl in the ICU. They were greeted by a scene of chaos. Ms. Natalie was yelling at Anne, her hands gripping Anne's shirt as if she wanted to tear it off. It was clear that Ms. Natalie was taking her anger and grief out on Anne, who stood there frozen and trembling. Neither Carl's grandma nor Anne noticed Noah and the doctor's arrival.
"Ms. Natalie," Noah called out to interrupt whatever was going on. He wanted to stop the madness before it got any worse. He knew the truth about what had happened and he knew that Anne was innocent. She was only used as bait to lure Carl into a trap.
As soon as Noah called her name, Ms. Natalie's demeanor changed. Her shoulders relaxed, and she released her grip on Anne's shirt. Her eyes darted to Noah, recognizing him as one of Carl's employees. Then, she saw the doctor standing next to him.
She walked closer to the doctor, wiping the tears in her eyes "Doc.. Doctor," she stuttered "Doctor, how's my grandson. Please tell me he's going to be okay, please" she said with pleading hands desperately hoping to hear a good news from the doctor.
"Ms. Natalie," the doctor said, "while your grandson's condition is still critical, there has been some improvement. His heart has started to beat again, which is a positive sign. He is still in a coma, but we are hopeful that he will recover" The doctor spoke with a professional and reassuring tone, wanting to give Ms. Natalie as much hope as possible.
He knew this was a difficult situation, and he wanted to offer whatever comfort he could. But he also knew that the road ahead would be long and uncertain.
Anne hearing what the doctor said breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad to hear that Carl's heart was beating again. Dexter and Sasha were also happy to hear the news but Natalie's reaction was different. She wanted Carl to wake up and tell her that he was alright. She needed to hear it from him, not just from the doctor.
"When will my grandson wake up?" Carl's grandma asked. "I need to see him. I need to talk to him. I can't wait any longer" She looked at the doctor, her eyes pleading for an answer. But the doctor remained silent unable to give the answer that Ms. Natalie so desperately wanted.
While he was hopeful that Carl would eventually recover, he knew that there were no guarantees. The location of the gunshot wound which was the heart was a serious concern. The outcome was still very much in question. The doctor knew that it was too soon to make any promises.
When Ms. Natalie heard that Carl had been shot in the heart, it brought back painful memories of a similar tragedy. Her son, Charles McAlester, was killed by his mistress who shot him in his heart. Though it was two years ago, the memory was still fresh and painful as the day it had happened.
Ms. Natalie had already lost so much, and she couldn't imagine going through that kind of pain again. That was why she was scared to death when she heard the news about her grandson, Carl.
Nevertheless, Carl's grandma had to be strong for Carl's sake. She couldn't let her fear and grief overwhelm her. She needed to be there for him, no matter what.
......…
It was late at night and almost everyone had gone home to rest including Sasha and Noah. Though, Ms. Natalie was still in the hospital ward where Carl was. The hospital room was quiet and the only thing she could hear was the beeping sound of the heart monitor next to Carl's bed.
The old woman sat on the chair next to Carl, her eyes fixed on his sleeping form. Carl's face was pale and still, and a thin tube ran from his mouth to the ventilator that was helping him to breathe. An IV drip, fed medication into his arm, keeping him stable.
Ms. Natalie reached out and took Carl's hand in hers, squeezing it gently. She wished that he would wake up and squeeze her hand back, but she knew that it was not likely.
The grandmother took a deep breath and whispered a silent prayer, asking for strength and her grandson's recovery. She wiped the tears from her eyes and slowly got up from her chair, leaving the hospital room and closing the door behind her.
As she turned to the corner, she nearly ran into Anne, who was walking down the corridor towards Carl's room. The two women stood face to face, and for a moment, neither one of them knew what to say.
Ms. Natalie couldn't help but wonder why Anne was still at the hospital so late at night. Most of the other visitors had left hours ago, but Anne was still there same as Dexter. They were both willing to stay until Carl woke up even if it took all night.
"Why are you still here?" Ms. Natalie demanded in a harsh tone.
Anne began to stammer, struggling to find the right words to say. "Gran.. Um... Ms. Natalie. I... I just wanted to... to apologize," she finally managed to say, looking at Ms. Natalie with pleading eyes. "I'm so sorry for everything I've done. I know I've caused a lot of problems, and I'm sorry"
"You're sorry?" Ms. Natalie snapped. "Sorry is not going to bring my grandson out of his coma! You've put him through so much, and now you have the nerve to say you're sorry?" Her voice shook with anger and grief.
"Please," Anne begged, tears streaming down her face. "I know I've made a terrible mistake. I'm so sorry, and I would do anything to take it back... Please, just let me apologize"
"Get out of my sight. I never want to see you again" Ms. Natalie cried out.
"Please," Anne continued pleading.
"I said get out!" she yelled with her might. "I don't want you near this hospital or get close to my grandson ever again,"
Ms. Natalie's words hit Anne like a brick wall. She was devastated, feeling like she had been given a death sentence. She wanted nothing more than to stay by Carl's side, but she knew that Ms. Natalie would never allow it.
Anne sobbed uncontrollably, not knowing what to do. She was heartbroken.
******
Anne and Dexter eventually got home because they were forced to leave by the doctors and it was all Ms. Natalie's order. The McAlester family owned the hospital so the doctors and nurses were all under the family's control. They had to follow Ms. Natalie's orders.
Anne didn't know what to do next. All she could do was go home and hope that Carl would wake up and make a full recovery.
Anne walked straight to the shower to have a bath and wash off the blood stains in her palms. She couldn't stop crying, she felt like a terrible person, undeserving of anyone's love or respect. She felt dirty, both physically and emotionally.
As she stood under the shower, the hot water beat down on her body while she sobbed uncontrollably. The sound of the water hitting the floor of the shower seemed to amplify her cries, making them echo off the walls of the bathroom.
The warm water was soothing, but it couldn't wash away the guilt and regret she felt. She kept replaying the events of the last few hours in her mind, wishing she could go back and do things differently.
She hated herself for the way she had treated Carl in the past when he had only ever shown her kindness and love.
Anne was crying loudly in the shower that Dexter, her brother could hear her from his room. He felt his heart ache for his sister, knowing how much she was suffering. He wanted nothing more than for her to stop blaming herself, and for Carl to wake up. The thought of Carl lying in the hospital bed, unconscious and unaware of what was going on, was unbearable.