CHAPTER 331: BEGINNING OF SOMETHING (1)

Ella’s POV

I followed the doctor down the long hallway, my heart pounding harder with every step. All I could think about was Georgia. My best friend. My sister in every way that mattered. I was terrified of what I’d find when I saw her.

I silently thanked God she had listed me as her guardian; it was the only reason I was allowed through those ICU doors. Still, my stomach twisted as I replayed what the doctor had said earlier: she told them she’s single.

Why would she say that? Why would she deny Nick? My brain was running wild with theories, amnesia, trauma, and denial. I’d seen enough movies and dramas to know this could mean anything.

"She’s stable for now," the doctor said as we reached the room. His voice was calm, clinical. "The wound on her arm appears to be a gunshot graze. It didn’t hit bone, but it did require several stitches."

My eyes darted to Georgia’s still form on the bed. Her skin looked pale against the white sheets, her lips slightly parted as the monitors beside her beeped in a steady rhythm. She looked peaceful but too still. It made my chest ache.

"But... if it’s just a graze," I asked, my voice trembling, "why is she in the ICU? Is there something else you’re not telling me?"

The doctor sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before meeting my eyes. "She lost a significant amount of blood, but that wasn’t the only concern," he said. He handed me a clipboard, pointing to a section of the report.

My gaze dropped, and then froze. My eyes widened, and before I could stop myself, a gasp escaped my lips. I covered my mouth with my hand as tears burned my eyes. "Oh my God..."

The doctor nodded, his tone gentle now. "That’s one of the main reasons she’s here. We haven’t informed her yet since she hasn’t woken up from surgery. We want her to rest first. Once she regains consciousness, around four hours from now, we’ll have to tell her, and I’d prefer that you be there when we do."

My hand trembled as I held the clipboard, rereading the line over and over, unable to believe it. The words blurred through my tears.

"She told us she was pushed from a ship and left to die," the doctor continued. "Given the trauma she described, we’re concerned this new information could place her under extreme stress. And that could endanger... both conditions."

I swallowed hard, trying to compose myself. "Doctor, I understand. I’ll be here when she wakes up. But you need to know something, her story doesn’t add up."

The doctor frowned. "What do you mean?"

I took a shaky breath and stepped closer to Georgia, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "What she told you happened months ago. She really was pushed off a cruise ship, but she survived. Her husband, Nick, rescued her.

The incident last night was different. She was kidnapped with her daughter. Nick and our security team found them, but she was shot while trying to escape. We’ve been searching for her since then."

The doctor’s expression turned grave. "Then it’s possible she’s experiencing retrograde amnesia," he said thoughtfully. "Trauma—especially near-drowning and blood loss can trigger memory loss. If her last memory is the cruise incident, her brain might have reverted to that moment as a defense mechanism."

My chest tightened. "So she really doesn’t remember Nick?

"We won’t know until she wakes up," he said softly. "Her mind might be trying to protect her from reliving what just happened. What’s important now is keeping her calm. Too much stress could be... dangerous, considering her condition."

I glanced at Georgia again, at her pale cheeks and the faint tremor of her fingers against the blanket. My throat thickened. I wanted to reach out and hold her, to tell her she wasn’t alone, that Nick was outside, losing his mind waiting for her.

But then I looked back at the chart still clutched in my hand, the one that held the truth even Georgia didn’t know yet.

"I see," I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though my chest was tight. "Is it possible for us to move her to a different hospital? Somewhere closer to home, near where she lives?"

The doctor paused, his face thoughtful but firm. "I wouldn’t recommend it just yet," he replied. "Her bleeding hasn’t completely stopped, and moving her could put unnecessary stress on her body. Right now, the best thing for her is rest. She needs a calm environment to recover."

I nodded slowly, biting on my lip. "Alright, then... do you at least have a VIP room here? Because I’m telling you, her husband will move mountains to make sure she’s comfortable."

"Yes," the doctor said, his tone softening. "Actually, we were waiting for her family or guardian to arrive so we could get authorization to move her. If you approve, we can transfer her to a private suite right away."

"Then please do that," I said quickly. "Arrange everything and let me know where to sign. I’ll go talk to her husband."

The doctor nodded and walked away to coordinate with the staff, leaving me alone with Georgia once more.

The moment he was gone, I finally let my guard down. My knees felt weak as I walked back to her bedside. The sound of the heart monitor seemed louder now, steady but fragile. I sat beside her and gently took her hand in mine.

Tears blurred my vision as I brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. "You’ve been through hell, Georgia," I whispered, my voice breaking. "And yet you’re still here. Still fighting. God, you’re stronger than anyone I know."

I looked at her still face, so peaceful yet so distant. The sight of her like this hurt more than I could bear. "I don’t know if you can hear me, but this..." I glanced at the monitor again, my throat tightening. "This might be the beginning of something you’ve always wanted. So please, don’t give up now. Not when everything you ever dreamed of might finally be happening."

The tears I had been holding back finally spilled down my cheeks. I squeezed her hand gently and rested my forehead on the edge of her bed. "Please get better soon. Wendy and Katie need you. I need you. We all do," I murmured.

Leaning forward, I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "I’ll be back soon, okay? I’ll bring Wendy and Katie. We love you, bestie," I whispered, trying to smile through the tears.

I forced myself to let go of her hand and stood up. As I turned toward the door, I took one last look at her before walking away to join Nick and Vicky while still pondering if I should tell them what the doctor showed me or wait till later.

*******

Thank you for the Golden Tickets!

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KATHLEEN_COLL

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