CHAPTER 76: HER SECRET SCARS

Lucien’s POV

It felt like the world had tilted when I saw that suicidal message on her status.

AFTER I DIE NO ONE SHOULD GIVE ME Yellow Chrysanthemums. MY GHOST WILL BLEED AT THE SIGHT OF MY MURDER

HELP BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.

The rain was pouring heavily, and I could barely see the way through the storm. It didn’t stop me, instead, I drove faster staring at the red dot blinking from Braelyn’s location she was still at her place

All I could think of at that moment was whether she was pushed into doing something because of that bastard. Braelyn was in a difficult situation and I kind of understood her despite her lingering feelings she still has a lingering attachment to that marriage

If she walks out she loses everything. It wasn’t fair, but it was a chain that kept her there. She was finally awake, that was all I could think of watching the doctor check her condition from a corner of the room.

A frown remained on her face as she listened to a barrage of questions. The burning feeling in my chest was still there if she hadn’t woken up...

I shook my head at the thought I would rather not think of it

The room felt suffocating, so I decided to take a breather. She didn’t notice when I stepped out. The air had an unusual chill in it. Footsteps rushed towards the room, my attention was drawn to the brunette who was rushing in the direction of the room.

Genny’s eyes flickered once she saw me. She looked anxious and worried. "Is she still awake?" She asked, her hands curled up into fists. Guilt flickered across her gaze.

She has been filled with guilt since the first day. She blamed herself for not seeing Braelyn’s SOS call. I shared the mutual feeling that at least I was able to help in the end.

"She is awake, the doctors are attending to her now. I want to step out for a moment." I replied, and she visibly relaxed, releasing a breath which felt like she had been holding it for a while.

Genny finally smiled. "She really scared the shit out of me." She said with a silent understanding between us. None of us wanted to mention what led up to this incident..

"I thought you had a shoot today ", I asked her, staring at her heavy backpack containing her camera. She pursed her lips.

"I left, claiming it was a family emergency." She explained before adding.."I will go ahead to see her now." Genny walked past me while I headed towards the stairwell. I pushed the door open, then stepped into the dimly lit area.

My hand brushed through my hair before I pulled out a cigarette, placed it between my lips, and the flame flickered from the lighter. I drew in a long drag before puffing it out. Leaning against the wall my mind drifted off for a short while.

Time seemed to have drifted. It was over thirty minutes before I stepped out of the stairs area and, coincidentally, ran into her attending physicians. His gaze flickered at my sight before the calm expression returned.

"Mr Volkov. I was even searching for you. Do you have a minute?" He had asked. I nodded at him

"Is it related to Braelyn?" I had enquired. The faint scent of cigarettes still lingered on me. I had to go home soon to change.

"Yes, we need to talk about your wife’s condition in my office if you don’t mind." He politely said. The hospital has assumed Braelyn and I were married because of the similar surname and Mrs title attached to it.

I didn’t bother to correct them, that wasn’t necessary. What mattered was that she was being taken care of. It was a short walk to the doctor’s office. He didn’t mention anything on our way there. The hallway was less rowdy since this was the intensive care unit ward. She was moved from the emergency a few days back.

The doctor was very experienced, and we kind of had a personal relationship since he was my supervisor during my internship. Dr Scott was in his mid forties a few inches shorter than me with a few spots of grey hair mixed with his chocolate brown locks

When I had started my internship he had said, I didn’t look like this type to last in this profession. He was right and I trusted his judgement.

"This way," he beckoned. I followed him inside and sat across his desk after he sat up. Dr Scott sighed before leaning a bit on his seat

"These days have been hard on you. We are glad she got out of the danger zone." He mentioned reminding me of his earlier diagnosis. Braelyn was meant to wake up a few hours after she got to the hospital because she was responding well to treatment, but for an unknown reason, she didn’t wake up.

Dr Scott started speculating it had something to do with the state of her mind, and I didn’t like the thoughts of that.

"Concerning Mrs Volkov’s condition, she is doing well on the surface at least. The allergic breakout wasn’t severe since she took some control drugs after exposure but her underlying health condition was triggered " he explained

My jaw locked, remembering those times she had passed out during the funeral trip, she didn’t agree to speak of her condition. I had suspected there was something wrong she was hiding and from the doctor’s tone it felt grim

I should not be told this. We weren’t really married but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. "How long have you been married?" He suddenly asked. I was baffled for a moment, trying to figure out where the conversation was heading but without a second thought I replied

"4 years, almost 5." The doctor nodded, coming to a silent understanding.

"Let me guess you haven’t had a child in those years despite trying." Something shifted in me. I slowly nodded. My fist was clenching and unclenching under the table.

"That explains a lot. Her mental state is pretty fragile. I don’t know if she is ready to hear this now, but her childlessness has to do with her underlying health condition. You must be familiar with the term PCOS..." Then it all snapped into place

Dr Scott didn’t have to explain much about Braelyn’s condition. I had some medical knowledge. After he explained some details, I felt a heavy weight in my chest, understanding a part of her struggle...

******

I could hear her faint laughter from the room and my heart squeezed again. How much had she been blaming herself for everything? It was one cruel joke.

I understood now she had been dying long before the flowers.