Chapter 9
Gideon and I had just returned from a date when Rowan’s parents came to me in tears. His mother said, “Please go visit Ro, Geraldine! He’s at fault for everything that happened in the past -please stop being mad at him!”
I was about to turn her down when his father choked up and said, “He keeps calling your name, but he’s not waking up. The doctor said that if he doesn’t regain consciousness tonight, he’ll…
I frowned at that. Ultimately, I still got into their car. Rowan was my savior, after all. I had to help him, even if it was just this once.
When we arrived at Rowan’s hospital ward, we saw Riley trying to go in, her face wet with tears. The two bodyguards on duty stopped her, forbidding her from entering, no matter what she said.
She pointed at them and screeched, “Open your eyes and look at me! I’m Ro’s girlfriend! Who would have the right to go in there if I don’t?”
She stuck her hands on her hips and threw her weight around, acting like she owned the place. However, she was interrupted by Rowan’s mother storming forward and grabbing her by the hair.
Before Riley could react, Rowan’s mother slapped her hard a few times. She was about to scream when she realized who it was–Rowan’s mother had just insulted and humiliated every inch of her a few days ago.
Riley froze, her expression still twisted with anger. Then, she stammered out a greeting.
Rowan’s mother slapped her again. “Fuck you! Rowan wouldn’t be in the ICU if you hadn’t given him that cheap helmet! Why did you have to give him that when you couldn’t afford a good one? Even if that was what you wanted to get him, you could’ve pimped yourself out to earn more money to get him a better one!”
Riley turned ashen. She glared at Rowan’s mother, her eyes filled with humiliation and hatred.
“Get out of the way! We need to save Rowan; he’s waiting for Geraldine!” Rowan’s father cried. He dragged me into Rowan’s hospital ward.
Riley’s indignant roar came from behind. “How can Ro possibly want to see her? I’m the one he loves most!”
A few more slaps rang out after that. Then, the noise disappeared.
Rowan lay on the hospital bed. He looked as pale as a sheet, and layer after layer of gauze was wrapped around his head.
His father left the ward after taking me inside, leaving me alone with Rowan, who kept mumbling my name. “I’m sorry, Geraldine… Come back…”
I only spoke after listening to him repeat that for the umpteenth time. “I’m leaving if you still don’t get up, Rowan. Gideon’s waiting for me to eat with him.”
Rowan’s lids twitched at my words. Less than a minute later, he opened his eyes. “It really is you, Geraldine!”
He was so agitated that he wanted to sit up, but it didn’t mean anything. I checked the time and said icily, “Your parents begged me to come see you. I’m leaving now that you’re awake. I don’t want Gideon to get the wrong idea if I stay any longer.”
He froze, looking like he couldn’t believe his ears. He hurriedly stopped me when he saw I was about to leave. “Wait, don’t go! I have something to tell you.”
His gaze was pleading I hesitated before stopping. He asked, “Can you forgive me, Geraldine?”
He smiled bitterly and exuded sorrow. “I bet you can’t believe this, but I’ve fallen for you. I only understood how I felt when you defeated me on the racetrack the other day.
“I’ve been professing my love to Riley like crazy lately, but I actually just wanted to make you jealous. I wanted to make you come back to me! It’s stupid, isn’t it? I’ve only just realized how I truly feel.”
i looked at him and shook my head with a sigh. Rowan was so nervous that beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
I said, “You should know that Gideon is always the one who’s had my heart.”
He clenched his fists, his expression turned ashamed. I continued, “You got the Geraldine you wanted by pulling a dirty trick two years ago, yet you also destroyed her with your dumb ways.
“The woman who had eyes for only you is no longer here, and I am not her! You should understand that. In fact, I should thank you. That’s why I’m here to visit you despite you hurting me countless times. If you hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t have awakened my true self. Your Geraldine willingly became one with me.”
Rowan stared at me dazedly. Then he started laughing hysterically. Tears streamed down his face as he laughed. “You’re right. I lost the Geraldine who only had eyes for me. I’ll never have her love again…”
