Page 12 of Broken Bonds

“Are you sure, doctor?” Those words come out of my mouth before I can stop them, this whole situation is terrifying.

“We don’t know for sure, Mrs. Kral,” he says. “But the medical team in charge has made a good prognosis. The neurologist working with me is a world-renowned doctor. Dr. Cifuentes is very experienced. He’s getting the best ca—”

This time it’s Lionel’s mother who stops the doctor. “What about the wounds on the chest and abdomen?”

The doctor makes a face that to some may seem like a smile. “Your son was very lucky, no organ damage. We were surprised. If one of the bullets were a bit to the left…”

Just imagining it makes my skin crawl. A few inches could have meant that the mystics with the proverbial scissors would have cut his silver thread.

“Today is important. We’re going to monitor him closely. He isn’t going to wake up anytime soon so we advise you to go home and get some rest. You will need it.”

Why did he say that?

“We’re going to need it? What do you mean, doctor?” I can’t help wanting to know, since those words sounded so ominous.

“Although we hope he will overcome the danger, the recovery will be slow. The shoulder wound is going to need PT.”

After finishing his report, the doctor leaves, promising he’ll come back later. He’d told us he’s an internist, but in addition, Lionel is being attended by a neurologist, a cardiothoracic surgeon, an orthopedist, and a general surgeon.

A chill runs through me. His injuries must have been really severe to need a medical team this big.

I make myself as comfortable as I can in a waiting room chair. It doesn’t matter if Lionel spends the whole day sleeping, I’m not moving from here. I want to see him as soon as the nurse finishes the morning rounds. I heard what the doctor said, but I need to see with my own eyes that he’s still here, touch his warm skin, and listen to the monitor stating the rhythm of his heart beating, the same heart he once told me was mine.

That it would always be with me, wherever I go.

“You would have liked that, right?” Mrs. Kral tells me in a very low voice, but it sounds really threatening. At first, I have a hard time understanding what the hell she’s talking about. “If my son hadn’t been so lucky, you would be a very wealthy widow.”

This woman is totally clueless. Why is it so difficult for her to understand I really fell in love with Lionel?

Could that be the reason why Lionel never revealed his true identity to me? Because people usually see him for what he represents and not for who he really is?

Maybe he wanted to see my true feelings for him.

“Mrs. Kral, I had no idea your son was the owner of an empire until yesterday. I thought I was marrying the employee of a winery.”

She lets out a bitter laugh.

“Like anyone could believe that old tale…”

I jump up, she has been insulting me since the moment we met. And I haven’t done anything to deserve it.

“I don’t care whether you believe me or not. Lionel knows what is in my heart, and that is more than enough.”

She looks at me with narrowed eyes. “Don’t even think this is going to stay like this. I’m going to hire a private investigator. As we speak, my attorney is already hiring the best. Ethan certainly has lost his touch. I don’t believe he bought what you told him. You must have convinced Alexandra, that girl is his Achilles’ heel.”

I can almost justify her accusations because I suppose it isn’t easy that someone almost killed her only son. She must be upset.

However…

“Be my guest, hire the FBI, the CIA, or whomever you like. You won’t find anything, because there is nothing shady behind all this,” I refute with all the strength I have left, trying to sound convincing. Sure of myself and what happened between us.

She looks at me again, this time with raised eyebrows.

“Ah yes, we’ll see about that. Something smells fishy, Stella. And I’ll make sure to find out what it is as soon as possible.”

With that said, she walks down the hall without looking back.

I stand in the waiting room, unable to move, not knowing what to do.

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