Chapter-27

Chapter-27

Annabelle Piccolo's POV

I clutch Lucas's shirt in my fist as I try to control my tears. I am wrapped in his arms as my face is buried in his chest. His effort to comfort me does nothing like it usually does. The image of Papa with all the wires hooked to him burns in my mind again and again and I feel like I might fall apart.

All of the family members are present here in the hospital. As soon as possible, we brought Papa to the hospital. It's been two hours and the doctor is still diagnosing him. Gemma is barely holding on too. Her face is smeared with tears. Felicia is trying to console. Anger swivels in my chest. The fact that she changed the pills... The fact that Papa has been put under danger...

I never felt this angry before. Not with all the injustices she has thrown my way.

The Doctor walks out with Papa's file and we all hold our breaths. Lucas's hold on me tightens. No amount of comfort from him is putting me at ease like it usually does.

"How is he?" The words leave my mouth before I can even comprehend.

"He is stable for now. We are changing the prescription to increase the dose." He gives out the prescription and Gemma takes it from him.

"What's the cause?" Gemma asks and my eyes immediately land on Felisa. She is looking at the Doctor intently waiting for him to answer.

"It seems there is no progress in his health. His Blood Pressure is high and this time it's a near miss. There is a high chance he could have another Heart Attack. He needs to be put in observation for two more days." My heart feels heavy and I let out a breath. "I am sorry to say this, but you can't visit him today. You can visit him tomorrow." He says as he leaves.

Everyone remains silent. Ms. Alberto goes to Felisa to console her and puts her hand on her shoulder. Felisa who doesn't look least sad then changes her expression and puts on a sad face. I feel anger course through me and I take a step towards her only to be stopped by Lucas. I then remember that I am still in his arms. My eyes find his and he shakes his head. Soon we hear a sob and find Gemma crying.

My heart lurches out. I want to hug her. How can I tell her that her own mother is trying to kill our father?! I look at Lucas and nod my head towards Gemma. I know she needs him the most now. He gives me the look.

Are you sure? His eyes speak. I give him an assuring nod.

It's fine. She needs you.

Okay. He places a kiss on my temple and gives me a squeeze before going to hug Gemma. She immediately breaks into sobs and I had to stifle my own. My eyes don't leave Felisa though. She pulls away from Ms. Alberto and sniffs. I can't believe her acting. I know that she is not the most kind person in the world, but I thought at least she never faked them. She is what she is whether people liked her or not. But going for Papa's health is not something I thought she is capable of. After all she always yearned for his love and attention.

"I will come back in a minute." She says and Ms. Alberto nods. Felisa leaves and something in me bugs me to follow her. I want to confront her. I know it's still not confirmed that she might be the one who changed the pills, but I know in my heart she is capable of that. There is no on in the world who would want to hurt him.

I stand there deciding on what to do as she leaves. My eyes meet Lucas's who is consoling Gemma. My eyes land on her crying form. I need to confront her. I have to. This is for Papa. I know it's her mother, but this is our father. I can't let anyone in this world harm him. No one.

Turning around, I walk away and turn around the corner to find Felisa on her phone. She is speaking in a low tone and I can't hear her. I slowly walk up to her. Her back is facing me so she can't see me.

"It's no use now. The pills you gave me worked but it's all over now!" She hisses into the mobile. My eyes widen. "All this time trying to switch those pills... That little bitch is with him and it's all over the news. Her mother took my husband and now she stole my daughter's future. That filthy cunt!" She yells. Her last words do not hurt. None of her words hurt me. I no longer care. "We need to switch to Plan B."

Do I need anymore proof?! She admitted herself! All of this to bring Gemma and Lucas together?! Does she have no regard for the opinion of her daughter?! Why is she so adamant about bringing them both together when Gemma said that she does not like Lucas that way? But what does it have to do with getting Papa sick?! How could she do that?!

"I can't let all this effort got to waste!" She sounds frustrated.

"How could you?!" Tears form my eyes. Anger takes over my body. The fact that something worse could have happened to Papa brings unknown fear and irrational thoughts to my mind. Her body freezes and she slowly turns to me. The fear of getting caught is clear in her eyes. Once she faces me, she cuts the call and she masks her fear very well.

"So you heard everything, huh?"

"I did. I had my doubts. But I thought you wouldn't hurt Papa." I am so stupid for believing that!

"Oh, I thought so too. I thought he would at least give me the least respect to choose a groom for my girl. But he took that away too!" She spits out.

"Gemma doesn't like Lucas that way." I have to say it. She needs to hear it to understand. "Had I thought for even a minute she loves him, I would have left by now. I don't want to be in the way of her happiness."

"Stop acting like you are the good person! Have you not been in the picture, Lucas would have fallen in love with Gemma." I shake my head at her.

"Why did you have to change Papa's pills though?" I am desperate for an answer. She sighs at my question and looks at me.

"It doesn't matter now. It's too late."

"It matters. You jeopardized his health!" She looks bored at my concern. "How can you do this to him?!" She scoffs.

"He cheated on me, married another woman while still married to me, brought you home once your mother passed away and rose right in front of me. Do you know how disrespectful it is to me? All these things that he had done to me... Everyone blames me when I was never in the wrong! No matter how hard I try for his love, no matter how hard I fight, it's always me that's in the wrong!"

Her frustration that's eating her all these years is clear in her eyes and voice. I feel a tiny bit pity for her.

"I am sick of all this!" She hisses. "I am sick people taking away what is mine and me just standing there and let people take advantage of me!" I nearly scoff this time.

"You can't keep playing victim your whole life!" I want to yell. She looks taken aback by my words.

"You have developed quite some courage since you started dating that Duke."

"It's not because I am dating him. It's because you hurt my father. You have pushed far too long, but I never spoke because if I did, Papa would get me out of there and Gemma would long for a father. I didn't want that. You have now attacked the core reason I am being patient all these years." She stays silent as I speak. "You broke my patience." I am not going to sit still have her to this to Papa.

"So what? You are going to tell everyone?" She seems so careless as she says that, but I know she is scared.

"I will." Whether they will believe or not is not the point. I need to bring this to light. I don't know how I am going to tell Gemma though, but I have to.

"Do you think I am so stupid to not have a back up?" Her words stun me. I just stare at her in confusion. What does she mean? "Any word about it goes out, your pretty is the next in line to get hurt."

What?! Did she jus threaten Lucas's life?! My eyes widen. My heart stops beating in chest for a second. It takes me a minute to accept what she just said. I feel like someone just squeezed my chest.

"You think I wouldn't do it?" She asks sarcastically. "Try it and see." Her voice contains such determination and mockery.

"I am not going to let you hurt him!" The fact that something could happen to him... No. No. No! My Lucas! The thought brings suck pain to my heart. I would die along with him.

"Then break up with him." Her words keep stopping me.

"You think this is a game?" How can she ask me that?! "How is that going to bring them together?"

"Simple. You break up with him. He is upset and Gemma consoles him and will be there with him. There is a high chance he would fall in love with her." She is stupid!

"That's not going to happen. You know that." I know for a fact that even if we did break-I don't even want to say the word. What he and Gemma has is not something that would develop into love. I know that.

"Love can happen anywhere, anytime and with anyone. It is not stupid."

"I am not breaking up with him." I sound determined. She shrugs.

"Your choice. You can choose to either save him or put his life in danger. The longer he is with you, the more danger he is in."

What does she mean? What does she plan to do?

"I never back down." She folds her hands near her chest. "You can make your choice."

She is asking me to choose life or death. I can't image a life without him. We have fought to be together and all of this for what? I can't let it go to waste.

"I am not breaking up with him." I am not going to let her stomp over me.

"As you wish." She gives me her sinister smile. "You know how much I loved your father. I didn't care about him when it came to Gemma. What makes you think I would care for any of you?"

A deep fear settles in my heart. I gasp and she smiles.

"Oh, your boy is here." She whispers and I feel a hand on my waist.

"Everything good?" He asks as he pulls me closer. His presence immediately brings comfort to me. His arm is wrapped protectively and possessively around me. The air between us is uncomfortable and I know he sensed it too.

"I wish everything is." Felisa puts on her sad face. She doesn't know that Lucas knows that she might have changed the pills. "Excuse me." She wipes those imaginary tears as she passes us. My heart feels heavy.

Break up with Lucas? She could have asked me to drive a knife through my heart.

"Don't let her affect you." He pulls me in for a hug. I hug him back tightly and he kisses the crown of my head.

Oh, but she did. I have to save you!

Even if it means breaking up with you!

A/N:

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