She looked down at his hand and saw him holding out a bottle of water.
"That doesn't belong to me." She whispered.
"I know but you should have it. I bought it for you." He said.
"Thank you." She collected the bottle of water but didn't care to open it. She hailed a cab and it stopped in front of them. "I should be on my way now."
"I wanted to offer you a ride." The guy said.
"Well, it's too late now."
"Can I at least get your number, if you don't mind?" Diamond gave him a weird and judging look. "I just want to be a friend...nothing more."
"Hmm." She hummed. "Your phone?"
He gave her his phone and she put down her number then gave it back to him.
"Diamond, right?"
"How...?"
"The jerk mentioned your name a lot in there. I'm sure everyone knows your name now." He joked.
"Ah." Diamond forced a smiled to her face. "I see."
"I'm Amir, by the way."
"Okay Amir. I really need to get going." She opened the cab door.
"Okay." He waved.
She entered and the cab drove away.
ITALY
OSPEDALE DEL SOLE (SUNSHINE HOSPITAL)
"Where is she?" He asked the nurse at the front desk. "dove cazzo è mia moglie!?" (Where the fuck is my wife?)
"per favore calmati." (Please calm down) The nurse pleaded.
"Don't fucking tell me to calm down! Where is she?"
"Nurse Rosie," The nurse called out to one other nurse. "Please attend to them."
Nurse Rosie stepped forward. "Good_"
"Where is my wife?" He cut her off.
"The pregnant woman who was rushed down here few minutes ago?" She asked.
"Yes. Diamond Bruni." He answered.
"Come with me." She led them to the ward where the doctors were attending to Diamond. "Wait here, the doctor will be out soon." She left afterwards.
Mikhail paced about the hallway, praying silently for the intervention of God in his wife's situation.
He can't lose her.
Marcello tried to calm him down but his words fell into deaf ears so he decided to quit and wait patiently for the doctor.
Finally the doctor walked out of the ward, taking off his gloves with an expressionless look on his face.
He stared at Mikhail.
"Are you the husband of Mrs Diamond Bruni?" He asked.
Mikhail quickly nodded. "Yes. How is she?"
He sighed. "She...She was shot in the chest. Close to her heart."
"What?" The world seem to have stopped moving as soon as the doctor said those words.
"Twice." The doctor added. "We have to operate on her as soon as possible to take out the bullet but," He gave Mikhail a sad look. "We can't guarantee that both mother and child will survive."
"What do you mean?" Mikhail questioned.
"You will have to make a choice, sir. We will do everything possible to save both but there is no assurance of the two surviving it."
Hot tears trailed down Mikhail's face. His heart stopped beating for a slight second.
He can't lose his wife and neither does he want to lose their child.
He remembered the promise he made to her...
~FLASHBACK~
"Can you promise me something?"
"Anything for you."
"If anything ever happens to me..."
"Wait, what?" He tensed up.
"Shhh, listen to what I have to say first." She said pleadingly.
"Okay?" He slowly relaxed.
"If anything ever happens to me during labor...please," She looked up at him. "save our child."
~FLASHBACK ENDS~
He also remembered her last words...
|"Mi...Mik...Mikhail" Her husky voice rung in his ear. "Sa...save o... our...baby."|
He clenched his fist tightly as he said the words.
"Save the baby."
*****
EVENING
LA
Bff's Apartment**
"Phew. I feel so exhausted." Zara said, dropping her back on the couch.
Ayden walked out of the kitchen.
"You are back from work."
"Yeah..."
"How was you day?"
"Exhausting." She yawned. "Please tell me you made dinner."
"As your personal chef or what?" Ayden rolled his eyes.
"You didn't?"
"Unfortunately, I did." He dropped on the couch. "And that's only because of Diamond."
"And what about me?"
"You ate this morning but she didn't, remember?"
"Wait, she's not yet back from the meeting?"
"Nope. I wonder why."
"Did Donna ask her to finish the story at her office or what?"
"Nah, she won't do that. Though I sent Diamond a text message but there was no reply."
"Me too." Zara frowned. "Do you think she's fine?"
"I'm sure_" Ayden was interrupted by the sound of the door.
Diamond stormed inside and then slammed the door shut very hard.
"Ah, there she is." Zara heaved out a deep breath of relief. "Diamond_"
Diamond ignored them completely as she rushed upstairs and disappeared into her room.
Ayden and Zara exchanged glances.
"What just happened?" Zara mumbled.
"Something doesn't feel right." Ayden muttered. "Let's go check on her."
"You are right."
They went upstairs.
***
Diamond's Bedroom**
"Diamond?" Ayden knocked on the door, calling out to her.
She ignored them, crying her eyes out in the bathroom.
The shower was left running so they didn't hear her sobs.
Diamond cried while clenching her chest as she could feel it breaking into billion pieces.
She loved this guy with her life. She trusted him and supported him with whatever he does or want. How could he have betray her life this? How could he have been dating his own 'suppose' best friend for two good fucking years?
Was she stupid not to have seen the chemistry between them or was she just ignorant?
Seven years. She has been with him for that long and this is how it ended. She wasted her life for a jerk like Felix and she regret everything.
"Let's just give her space, don't you think?" Ayden asked.
"I think so. I'm sure she will talk to us when she's ready."
"Yeah."
They both walked away from the door.
*****
ITALY
TWO DAYS LATER
OSPEDALE DEL SOLE (SUNSHINE HOSPITAL)
She was looking so pale and weak.
Different wires were connected to her beautiful body.
She couldn't breath without the use of the oxygen mask.
Mikhail couldn't take his eyes off his angel who haven't opened her eyes since the operation.
He saved their baby which was the best decision he had to make. For his dear wife, for himself and for Aurora.
Most people will think he's the sick one because of how unkept he looks.
He hasn't left the hospital since the operation neither have he stopped crying.
He should never have let her go to the hospital by herself.
He should have been there to protect her.
What was he fucking thinking when he stupidly let her go to the hospital all by herself?
He blames himself for this. For everything.
He hasn't stopped searching. Looking for the sick bastard who had the nerves to do this to his Amore and he won't stop searching until he find them and make them pay even if it means breaking the promise he made to Diamond.
"Per favore svegliati. non fermi questo. Per favore apri gli occhi." (please wake up. Don't do this to me. Please open your eyes). He sobbed, holding her small hands in his large ones.
LA
TWO DAYS LATER
Diamond's bedroom**
It's been two days and she hasn't stepped out of her room.
Her friends have tried everything possible to get her to talk to them or better still leave the room but all their efforts were to no avail.
Ayden even threatened to break down the door but Diamond refused to fall for it.
Her room was a complete mess. And she in the other hand, she wasn't far from looking like her messed up room. She haven't had her bath for over two days.
Her phone have been left under the bed. She had lot of calls and text message but she didn't make any attempt to either take the call or reply the text.
Neither have she written a word for her story.
Her life seemed to be on hold and it was all because of Felix.
No, she hasn't gotten over him. Yet.
Love can't simply work that way. You can't just forget the guy you've been in love with for over seven years just like that.
It felt like her heart have been ripped out of her chest and she could hardly breathe or...feel.
Is this how heartbreak feels? She never want to go through this shit ever again.
There was a harsh and impatient knock on the door.
Diamond stared at it without making a move or attempt to get the door. She just remained on her bed, wrapped up in her thick blue duvet.
"Diamond?" Ayden called worriedly. "You've been in there for over two days now, can you fucking come out already?"
She stayed quiet.
"Can you at least let us know if you are still alive? We are damn worried." Zara said.
Diamond didn't say anything.
"I swear I will break down this door." Be threatened.
She was motionless.
"I think you should break the door." Zara muttered to Ayden.
"Step back." He told her.
"Hmm."
"Diamond, I am going to break this door at the count of three." He informed. "One....Two....Thr_"
The door was unlocked and pulled open.
"Don't bother." Diamond's voice came out huskily.
"Oh my God." Zara exclaimed in shock, storming inside. She took in the condition of the room and her friend. "What the fuck happened in here?"