The last straw
Chapter 4
The last straw
I struggled to breath as the sterile smell of the environment hits my nose. I've been here before and the memory of my mother lying helplessly on the bed made me anxious the more. I opened my eyes and gasped for air as my eyes met the white walls and ceiling,confirming my thoughts. It was the hospital. The tube fastened to my nose made inhaling difficult and I struggled to remove it.
I finally got it done and became thirsty.I looked but found no water. Why was I at the hospital and where is Royce? After my mother's death, I had vowed to never set foot in hospitals again, so why was I here? Memories from the wedding anniversary flooded my mind. I remembered getting dressed and going to the hangar to board the plane. We had landed safely and I had taken a taxi to the hotel to meet Royce, but I couldn't remember all that happened after that. Did anything happen to me and Royce? Why am I here, connected to wires and machines, beeping crazily?
I winced in pain as I tried to stand up and return to laying on my back, with a dull ache radiating from my head and ribs. I noticed the emergency button beside my bed and pressed it with all of my might. It didn't take long before a nurse rushed in.
“You are awake?” She said and froze with her mouth agape immediately she saw me. It took her a minute to register whatever she thought she saw and then she ran outside. What the hell is going on? Am I dead? I thought as I looked around. I'm in the hospital,not heaven for god's sake.
The door opened again and this time, several doctors flooded the room looking at me as if something was wrong and then I began to panic.
“What's going on? Where's my husband?” I asked and they all looked at me, pale as white. One of them moved forward to me and took my vitals, then he opened my eyes widely and shone a light in it asking me a series of questions.
“I just told you I'm fine, why am I here and where is my husband for goodness sake. I need Royce to come here now!” I shouted with need.
“Ofcourse, we'll let him know you are awake. In the meantime, do you feel any discomfort or dizziness? The doctor asked but I didn't answer. All I did was glare back at him. He took that as his clue that I wasn't ready to talk until I saw my husband and left me alone. The other doctors followed him too and they scurried outside.
For hours, no one attended to me nor gave me an explanation of what was going on. All I did was try to remember how and why I was in the hospital but nothing came up. My memory from the night seems void and I was on the verge of frustration.
Just then, the door opened and a man walked in. He looked around the same age as Royce and had the same gait as him but he wasn't my husband.
“Who are you and what are you doing here? I asked for my husband and you are not him,” I said softly but he chuckled and walked close to me.
“Of course I'm not your husband. And by the way, I am Percy King and I happen to be the man to save your ass from knocking on death's door five months again,” he said and I began to think he was sick in the head. Save who from death’s door? Five months ago? My stomach churned and I held it in panic.
“I don't care what your name is and why is the welfare of this hospital so poor? All I asked is for Royce to come here and you showered up?” I asked tensely
“Actually, Royce would not be showing up. You see your husband Royce stole what belonged to both of us and covert it to his alone. So, you my darling, you are my hostage and I wouldn't be letting you go until you do my bidding.” He declared.
“Your bidding? I think you are getting it wrong. I don't give a damn about who you are and whatever business you have with my husband. Do you even know me? Do you know what I can do to you for this nonsense?” I said with annoyance.
“Oh dear, such a fiery one! I love that but you see, you better do what I ask of you or you'll knock on that death door,” he said threatening me. He removed a sharp knife from his pockets and brought it closer to my eyes.
“I've been taking care of you for months and believe me when I say the husband of yours you are dying to see isn't even looking for you. So right now, what you'll do is punch his fucking line here,” he commanded and gave me his phone.
I took the phone from him and wondered about the nonsensical statements he spewed from his mouth. I held the phone with a shaky hand and pressed the contact icon.
Minutes later I discovered that I haven't been able to punch a single number on the phone. I tried hard to remember his number but my mind was totally blank, and I began to feel distressed.
“Why is it taking you forever to do that?” He thundered
“I can't remember a thing.” He looked at me with doubt and raised his eyebrows.
“I'm not lying,” I said and began crying. He opened the door and returned with the arrays of doctors who prodded me with questions but I had no answer to them. I knew my name and Royce's name but other information concerning both of us were lost in my brain.
“You'll have to be patient with her,Mr King. She has partial amnesia. No one can say exactly when she'd get the fragments back but they'll be back.” The doctor explained and left me with Percy.
“You better try to remember them or I swear you'll wish you were dead. I didn't bring you here to be useless and no matter how hard it takes, I'll make you remember everything. And if you are thinking of escaping, I'd rather you dead the thoughts because I have men outside. If you try to prove stubborn, I'll have them restrain you,” he sneered and walked to the door. He opened it and pointed to the two hefty men and smirked again before closing the door.
Immediately he left, I tried again to remember anything at all that was important to me but I couldn't. This filled me with terror and I cried bitterly.
The incessant ringing of the alarm woke me up from my deep sleep. I stood up and listened carefully, only to hear a voice instructing everyone to vacate the hospital as fire broke out.
I ran barefooted out of the door and noticed that the men placed there were nowhere to be found. They must have run for their own safety too. I took the stairs and ran in my hospital gown, not minding the pains under my feet.
I took the first cab I saw and told him to move as far as he could from the hospital. While Percy was shouting at me, I remembered the location of our penthouse in Italy but I didn't tell him because I don't know what he'd do with it. I told the driver the location and he drove there. I had taken Percy's wallet where he left it while he was fuming with anger earlier and thankfully, it was loaded with cash.
The car arrived at the location and I dropped. I walked to the gate and was met by the guards who told me to state my business and present my appointment card.
“An appointment card? Why would I need that? This is my house, bought for me by my husband, Royce Robben.” I stated firmly. The two guards looked at eachother and burst into laughter.
“You are not the boss’s wife. Do yourself a favor by leaving or we'll be forced to call the police , one of them said.” I scoffed and tried to march past them but they stopped before I could even take a few steps. They bundled me out of the premises and dumped me outside.
Tears threatened to stream down my face but I toughened up and held my shine high. All I have to do is wait till Royce comes and deals with them. I'd also make him find Percy and have him dealt with too.
After what seemed like eternity, Royce's call pulled up. I stood up and rushed in front of his car. The car came to a halt as he stepped on the break. He came out slowly and saw me
“Royce!” I shouted,I walked to him and jumped on his neck. I was happy to see and relief washed over me. The passenger's side opened and I saw Britney got out.
“Britney? Is that you? It's been a long time,” I said and she managed a smile looking at me and looking at Royce weirdly.
“Royce! Can you believe it? I'm so sorry I didn't show up for our wedding anniversary. I got here but I don't know what happened. I think I was kidnapped by this man called Percy King. He said you both are partners.” I explained
“Oh really?” Royce asked and I nodded.
“Can you please cut her off?” Britney demanded. “Kidnapped you ?Did you hit your head? It seems like you did. Well, you showed up at the hotel and you saw Royce and I together and you lost it.” Britney deadpanned.
“That's a stupid joke. Royce?” I called.
“Yes, you and I are divorced. I'm with Britney now. We already told family and friends that you eloped with a lover and died. In fact, I went as high as staging your death and presenting a body.
“Do us both a favor, remain dead Bella. I'm married to him now and we only came here for our honeymoon. Don't be a silly ass Bella and leave,never to return.” Britney seethed
At her harsh words, everything flooded back and I sank to the floor remembering the divorce,the threat and the fight. I walked to the side of the car and saw the scar on my face. It really was true. I thought as tears streamed down my face.
“You heard her Bella. If you keep showing up, I might decide to make you disappear for real,” he said and entered the car with Britney and drove into the compound, leaving me out in the cold.
As the car dropped me off at the front of the hospital, I saw a worried Percy and his men searching frantically around the hospital premises..
“Where the hell were you?” He said immediately he saw me. His shouting was the last straw that broke the camel's back because I burst into crying, drawing attention to us. He held me by my hands and led me to his car.
“I'll help you Percy, " I said after I had regained my composure. “I've gotten my memories back and I'm ready to deal with Royce Robben for betraying me. But first, I need you to help restructure my face. I want a new face and a new identity, only then would I help you.”