"Hey, baby,"
Marcel heard that familiar voice as he stirred to life, breaking through the haze of blurriness. The sight finally cleared and he was finally treated to the sight of Arianna hovering over him with concern drawn all over her face.
"Arianna..." He meant to call her but his voice came out weak, and husky and did he forget to add that he was thirsty? Extremely thirsty.
As if Arianna knew that he wanted, she turned to the side table and poured out clean water from the bottle into the glass." Here," She reached beneath his pillow and pulled him up a bit so his head was raised as she helped feed him water.
"More." He demanded when he was done with that one and she gave him just what he wanted.
By the time Marcel was done chugging the rest of the water, he felt revitalized, the strength finally returning to him. He looked around his environment and came to discover that he was in a hospital, a private room to be exact. It had to be Natalie's hospital, she was the only one that could treat him without the police asking questions.
However, that was the least of his problems because when he tried moving, a sharp pain cut into his side and he winced, unable to hide the reaction from Arianna.
"Three broken ribs just so you know," Arianna told him and for some reason, he sensed a bit of resentment mixed with sarcasm in her tone.
Of course, why wouldn't she be mad when he left without telling her? Although, technically, he didn't exactly leave, but was abducted by Luca which was a plan all along.
Marcel cried out again when he tried to move his leg and that was when he looked down to discover the thick cast around his right leg. Its movement was restricted and his leg had never felt so heavy as now.
Following his line of gaze, Arianna announced to him, "You suffered a broken leg as well. Quite severe if I were to add, but then, you have a lot of money to buy the best treatment. My mother had a good time billing your people." She added, "Perhaps, I should have just asked her to drain you dry that way, who knows you would learn your lesson."
"Arianna love...." He reached for her but she pulled her hand out of his grasp as if he was poison and she fought to push down the emotion that clogged her throat.
She had pretended to be strong, for the sake of her, no, their child as her mother had encouraged her over the past two days he had been unconscious. But now that she saw Marcel in this state, his leg almost wrapped up like a mummified child, she couldn't hold it in anymore.
The emotions burst out like the dam was finally pulled down and though she had a lot of words to say to him like how she almost thought that he had died, she found herself sputtering through them. Her words were incomprehensible and the more she attempted to speak, the more fresh tears flowed out and it left her frustrated.
"Please, don't cry... " Marcel said, wanting to comfort her. To draw her into his arms and remind her that he was still alive, unfortunately, he couldn't sit up without the breath being knocked out of his lungs. It hurt like hell.
"I didn't die you know," He said and that was all it took for her to let it all out.
Crying at the top of her lungs, Arianna buried her face into Marcel's side and he let out a sharp gasp at the pain that ricochetted through him. But the pain was brief before it eased and he found out that controlling his breathing made it easier to manage.
"It's okay," Marcel breathed through the whole ordeal, running his hand through her scalp, providing a form of comfort - which was quite limited considering his situation.
"You don't know anything -!" Arianna spoke into his side, "E-everyone left me in the dark... Ezra... Ezra, he made him sleep."
"Shhh, it's okay now. I'm fine, Arianna." He promised her, "This will be the last time I would make you this worried. I'm not going anywhere, love, not without marrying you, the love of my life, and starting a life with our baby,"
Marcel lifted himself, albeit with quite a difficulty as his teeth gritted with the effort. Veins bulging in his head, he was panting hard as he attempted to kiss Arianna on the cheek and failed woefully. He gave up. He was going to die before attempting that kiss. And that was not exactly how he visioned his death. He didn't just survive Richardo, only to die because of a kiss. He had a feeling Arianna would pursue him down to hell if just to torment him for dying on her.
"Y-you promised?" Arianna finally lifted her head. Her beautiful green eyes searched his gaze, as if testing his promise this time.
"I promise," Marcel said with conviction. He has tormented her enough already.
And then she was leaning over him, as if about to kiss him when the door burst open and they had company.
"Well, welcome back to the land of the living." Victor went to him, smirking.
"I bet you couldn't wait to send me away so you could take my place?" Marcel grinned at him and though Arianna knew it was a joke, she still glared at him. Enough of death talks.
Victor told him, "God, never! Your position is cursed and I could never take it. Although my mother might enjoy that a bit before you're up on your feet considering Adele is in no position to lead either.".
"Oh," was all Marcel could say, the news taking him by surprise.
"But on the bright side, you would be bedridden for a while, and trust me, I know how that feels firsthand." Victor gleefully announced.
"Oh no," Marcel groaned. He hated hospitals and there was no way on earth he was about to be confined to a bed. Not to mention, it seems Victor was finally having his revenge at the same time.
