I am so sorry for the late update. 😭😑

***

"So have you been able to talk to Prince?" I asked. There was some rumble at the other end of the line before Freddy's reply. "Yeah".

"Really? What did he say?"

"He ignored me. The guy is cold right now. He literally just walked away from me. He also rose his fist at me. What's wrong with him?" Freddy exclaimed.

"I don't know oo," I bawled and shut my eyes. "Is it that he is angry? Did he look angry?"

"I can't tell. Everything happened so fast. I'm following him though. He is in his office. The moment he leaves, I will also follow him to wherever he goes. When he is alone, I will confront him. He needs to explain himself."

"Okay!" I sighed. "Thanks. I have to go now. I have somewhere to be".

"To save lives?" He chuckled.

"Yes! You are a fast learner"

"You love to say that," he laughed.

"I'm actually going to another hospital. We have a patient to check up".

"Oh okay," he replied. "We can talk later".

"Yeah," I shut my eyes and took in a deep breath. "Please inform me about Prince though".

"Don't worry, Anita. Everything will be alright"

"Thanks a lot! I'm so glad my sister met a loving guy like you," I said with a smile on my face.

"Awwn! I'm blushing," he said with a hearty laughter.

"Are you serious?"

"Nah!" his laughter increased. "I'm smiling not blushing".

"What's the difference?" I hissed.

"There is a different, sis"

"I would like to argue this wity you but I'm sure Naomi would love to do it herself," I snickered. "Bye!"

"You're right. I should call her and ask," he exclaimed.

"Ensure you have enough airtime oo. The argument go long die," I laughed. "Bye!"

"Sure! Bye"

The call ended and I went back to my locker. I was in the locker room for nurses and I was just changing into my scrub. I couldn't tell how my day was going to be. However, I decided to go with flow. My heart and mind weren't so....ready for drama. That's why I easily agreed to Stephen's offer.

I glanced at my phone and then, the name saved as Idiot in my contact.  I dialed it. It rang but was ignored. I shook my head as if to clear my head of all it's thoughts. I got out of the locker room and bumped into Stephen. His toothy smile freaked me out the moment I saw it.

"You are coming, right?" he asked me.

"I said yes earlier. Stop asking the same question," I sneered with an eyeroll.

Stephen had insisted I follow his crew to a hospital close by. He had a patient to attend to and he said it would inspire me towards neurosurgery if I watched him work. I doubted if I would ever do that. I wanted to major in  surgery related to children.

"Shall we go? The bus is here," he announced.

I couldn't stop an eyeroll. I don't know why I'm going with him but I am. "I will be back. I want to check on one of my patients".

He nodded and I noticed some of his crew stroll to him. I stalked down the hallway and into the room of a patient I have grown to love.

"Hey, champ" I voiced and winked at her. Clara smiled and rose to a sitting position on the bed. "I have good news".

"Really? What?" Her eyes brimmed in their sockets.

"You will be discharged tomorrow. Your recovery was fast. You will be starting school soon after your little rest. Your life will be back to normal. Your parents want to throw a welcome home party. You are a brave girl, I'm so proud of you".

She froze, her mouth ajar.

"Congratulations!" I shrieked and rushed to her. I pulled her into a big hug and kissed her forehead. "Celebrate!"

Tears welled in her eyes and she asked, "I am going home?"

"Yes!"

She burst into tears of joy and Me, who is already vulnerable, joined in. After a few minutes, I got myself and soothed her till all tears were dried up.

"I found a Prince. Now he wants to leave me?" I sighed out after she was calm.

"What? Princes don't leave their princesses," she exclaimed and pouted. My eyes softened at the sight of her cute face.

"That's in movies. Not real life," I shook my head in disappointment.

"I will pray for you. He will come back or you will get a new one," she took my hands in hers.

"I don't want a new one"

"Then he will come back"

"I pray so," I forced a smile. "I love him".

"Awwn! I thought you said you aren't the kind to love?"

"Smart babe! You are using my words against me," I chuckled and patted her shoulder. "I have to go. I will come back to check on you. I love you".

"I love you too"

When I got to the bus, the other nurses and doctors stared at me as though they wanted to break me. Stephen was the only one happy to see me despite the time I wasted to arrive. I got in, ignoring their stares. I sat at the window and muted everyone and every words directed to me. Stephen did all his best to start a conversation with me. It didn't work. I definitely didn't have his time. We got to the hospital and we all got out. Stephen asked the receptionist the room of the patient we were to see. As we all ascended the stairs, I spotted a familiar face and scurried towards the individual. I grabbed Freddy's arm and pulled him to a corner.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my breath hitched.

"Huh?" he rose a brow at me. He did a double take of me and asked, "What are YOU doing here?"

"This is the hospital I told you I was...."

He cut in, "Oh!"

"Yeah! And you?"

"I'm just following Prince," he replied with a shrug and narrowed his eyes at a nurse that passed. "I need answers and that nurse looks useful".

"Why? What happened?"

"Come with me," he took my hand in his and we went down the stairs to a hospital room. He picked a nose mask and handed it to me. "You are a doctor, aren't you?"

"Well— "

He cut in again, "You look like one".

"Freddy, can you explain what's going on?"

"Have you met Prince's family before?"

"Yeah!"

"Then, wear this mask, go in and find out what they are talking about," he said and pushed me into a patient's room. As I glanced at the patients, a thrill rushed down my spine. Prince's siblings, Barbara and Daniel, sat still, staring at me. I adjusted the nose mask on my face and with a thinner voice, I said: "I'm sorry to interrupt. I just need to check umm..."

I got closer to the young man on the bed with a drip connected to his hand. "I need to check your drip," I continued. "And temperature".

He nodded and turned his gaze to his sister.  "We just have to allow it. We have no choice"

She sighed, "I know! It's so sad. He doesn't deserve this".

"At all," he exclaimed and groaned. They fell silent and I peered at them. Prince's sister was on a wheel chair with a cast on one leg and his brother had a bandage on his arm. "I'll be back".

As soon as I walked out, Freddy stared, expectant.

"I do remember Prince saying he was having a family emergency. That's why he rushed out of Abuja," I pondered. "Something happened to Prince and his family".

"Exactly," Freddy exclaimed. "He is in this hospital but I don't know where he is".

"Anita," Stephen's voice called out. "Where have you been?" He arrived at my side and titled his head as he regarded me. I took off the nose mask and shrugged.

"Come with me. We need to meet the patient," he said.

I nodded with a stern look. I took some steps closer to Freddy and whispered, "Please, go and find Prince. Find out how he is doing". He bobbed his head in agreement and walked out.

I followed Stephen and we got to the room. "The patient is..." he trailed off and opened the door for me. I walked in and straight to the bed. "The patient is in a coma".

"I..." my words hung in my throat when I sa the people in the room. It was like the world just loved surprising me. My gaze darted from Prince's unconscious father and moved to his grim face. It stopped at Amarachi's fake gloomy look.

Prince didn't notice my presence since his eyes were on his father.

"Oh...." Stephen growled. "You?"

Prince rose his head and his eyes drilled into mine. I caught it. I caught it in his eyes. It just lasted for a second but I noticed it. He looked at me with an emotion that was akin to love. Amarachi immediately laced her fingers with Prince's and Stephen wrapped his arm around my waist. I paused and my blood drained.

"It's nice to see you here," Stephen blurted out sarcastically. "Who's the babe beside you?"

"I'm his fiance. We will be getting married soon," Amarachi replied while eyeing me.

"Oh, wow!" Stephen laughed. "Reserve front row seat for us cos Anita and I will definitely be coming".

I snapped my head to his direction. "Yes, we are coming to this wedding," he insisted. "Well done, Prince. You messed up".

My eyes widened. How could Stephen just react like that? It infuriated me which led to the icy glare I was sending at him.

"Are you the doctor to attend to my dad?" Prince asked, ignoring his previous words. I turned to him and our eyes met again.

"Yes," Stephen replied, more professionally.

"How is he?" he quizzed.

There was silence and it prompted me to glance at Stephen. He shrugged and said, "I can't say but I am not sure if he will survive. His case is critical".

Prince's fists balled. His body trembled and he bit his bottom lip. "Your dad will be fine," Amarachi said and ran her fingers down his arm.

He shoved her hands off him and stomped out of the room.

I just stood where I was. At that moment, my goal was to digest everything that had happened between Prince and me, and his family at large. I wanted to see sense in it.

          --------------------------------------

I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE! *hides behind a door* 🥺

What do you think of this chapter? I hope you enjoyed it.

What should Anita and Freddy do?

Do you think Prince will tell them all that's happening?

Will Amarachi win?

Thanks for reading. ❤️❤️❤️ Please vote and comment. 🥺 I haven't been able to reply all comments but I will still ensure to do that. Thanks again. ☺️☺️

That's right,
Itz Mabel 🥰🥰