He was my Youth: My Billionaire First Love

Bella's phone was already ringing before she could get to it. Her fingers searched across the surface until they found it. She expected Rose, or perhaps someone from the hospital calling about her next shift, but the moment she answered, her mother's voice shattered the quiet of the room. “Bella…!” Her mother’s voice is breaking apart on the other end,thin and breaking, the kind of sound that didn’t belong to grief but to a panic that had already spilled past control and into collapse. Bella went completely still, her breath catching in her chest.She straightens instantly. “What happened?” There was a pause, a shaky inhale that never quite finished, and then her mother’s words came in a rush that Bella could barely process. “Maxwell… he—he just had an accident.Maxwell was just in a car accident on campus. He is in St John Hospital. They took him straight to the Emergency unit .You should hurry over. ".” Bella blinked rapidly, but the room refused to come back into focus. The floor shifted beneath her feet, and she reached for the nearest chair before her knees could give way. She didn’t remember grabbing her shoes or locking the door or making it down the stairs, only the blur of movement and the cold air hitting her face as she ran toward St. John, her heart pounding with a dread she couldn’t name. Before she could understand herself, she was already at the hospital's emergency room. The operating room was already closed, and a group of people was waiting outside the door. Two young nurses walked over, intending on scolding her to keep it down. They were surprised when they saw Bella. "Bella, are you the patient's family, too? " Bella nodded,though her throat felt too dry to speak. “Wendy, how's my little brother? What's his situation? " Wendy’s face softened with the kind of pity that made Bella’s stomach drop. “We don't know yet. But it was pretty scary when they brought him in. His heart rate was irregular, and his blood pressure was frighteningly high… The attending doctor is trying to save him. You have to wait for now. " “Okay, I understand. " But she didn’t really understand. But how could she? Only a few hours ago, he had been sitting across from her at a small restaurant , complaining dramatically about his classes while stealing food from her plate. “You're eating my chicken,” Bella had complained. Maxwell had calmly picked up another piece. “You ordered too much.” “I ordered enough for both of us.” “Exactly. I'm helping you finish it.” Bella had rolled her eyes, but she had been smiling. He had been wearing the same old denim jacket he refused to throw away, even though the sleeves had begun to fade. His guitar case had been leaning against the chair beside him, and every few minutes, he glanced at it as if it contained the answer to all his problems. “You have an exam tomorrow,” Bella had reminded him. “I know.” “And you have not studied.” “I know.” “And you're sitting here eating my food.” “I know.” She had stared at him. “Do you know anything besides 'I know'?” Maxwell had grinned. “I know that when I become famous through my music career, you'll regret ever doubting me.” “You still want to become a musician?” “More than anything.” The smile on his face had softened. “One day, Bella, I'm going to make it.” He had reached across the table stealing another piece of chicken. “You've spent your whole life taking care of everyone. You paid my school fees when Mom couldn't. You work until you're exhausted. You come home looking like you haven't slept in days, and you still ask whether I have eaten.” “That's what family does.” “I know.” He had reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “But one day, I'll do the same for you.” How could everything change in just one afternoon? Bella leaned against the wall, trying to remain strong. She felt the strength drain out of her body, she was close to collapsing. If anything were to happen to Maxwell, she couldn't imagine how she and her mother could continue living on this Earth. Five years ago, Gabriel's death had already veiled their family in a sheet of frost.She has never escaped her past. If something were to happen to her brother now, she was afraid that she would lose the courage to live. Three hours later, the doors to the operating room opened. Bella and her mother dashed up to the doctor at once, blocking his path. “Doctor Collins…” Bella’s voice shook. “How is my brother?” The doctor removed his mask slowly. His expression made Bella’s heart sink before he even spoke. “The situation is not good.” The words felt like a heavy blow. “We have done everything we can to stabilize him. However, there is hemorrhaging within his cranium.” Bella’s face went pale. “As a result, we need to perform another operation. But the location of the bleeding is extremely sensitive. The neurosurgery department will discuss the best approach, and we will explain the treatment plan to the family.” Hearing this, both Bella and her mother felt their knees give way under them. The situation doesn't look good' meant that he hadn't stabilized yet. Bella understood the theory behind cranium hemorrhaging.She was a nurse. She was also a staff member in that hospital. That day happened to be her off day.She knew how dangerous the situation was. It was a technically-demanding procedure, and the slightest mistake could result in lasting side-effects. Less severe cases could result in decreased cognitive function or compromised motor movements. Severe cases could outright cause paralysis or leave the patient in a coma. “Maxwell, my poor baby boy. What have I done to deserve this? " Elizabeth wailed, kneeling onto the ground. At that moment, Bella felt the sky fall down around her. “Keep your voices down. You can't be loud here. " A nurse arrived immediately to intervene. “Mom, please calm down. " But Elizabeth looked at her with eyes filled with pain. Then anger. “Shut up!” Bella was frightened. “This is your fault! , you little witch.” The words struck harder than anything else. “You caused the death of Maxwell's dad, and now you've come to take Maxwell. What could I have done to deserve such a cursed daughter? Such bad karma! " Elizabeth was crying and throwing punches at Bella. Then, Elizabeth suddenly grabbed Bella's collar and yelled “Did they do it ?. Bella stares at her Confused. “Mom, what are you talking about?” Her mother shakes her violently. “The Williams family!” she snaps. “This is their doing, isn’t it?! Tell me!” “Is this another retaliation because you're going after their son again? Tell me, tell me now! " Bella’s breath caught. She took a step backward, her eyes fixed on her. That name lands differently. Ashford Williams. A name she has tried buried too. A name connected to the happiest and most painful memories of her life. Her mother’s voice became louder. “I don't buy it. I don't believe it. It must be you. It must be that family. It has to be them! I'll kill them! " When she finished, Elizabeth ran towards the exit. “Mom…" Bella grabbed her hand. Tears fell down her face. “Please…” But Elizabeth’s body suddenly weakened. Before Bella could react, her mother collapsed. Her brother was not out of danger yet, and now her mom had fainted. She was standing between both disasters, feeling like the entire world was crushing on her. She was one breath away from breaking apart entirely. After making arrangements for her mother, she pulled herself together and walked away from the ICU. She finds a quiet corner.Her hands tremble as she scrolls through her searching for friends who could help. Until one name appeared. Richard. Her fingers stopped. For a moment, she stared at his name. Richard Theodore.Her ex-boyfriend. The man she thought she would spend her life with. But that was before Ashford Williams returned.Before Williams destroyed what they had. Bella still remembered the pain of that breakup.Richard had left her heartbroken, even after her explanations. After returning from America, Ashford had tried to come back into her life.He had appeared at places she visited.He had tried to speak to her.He had apologized. Bella had refused to listen. She had refused to forgive him. Not after what his family had done to her. And when Ashford discovered that Richard was the only man who had made Bella believe she might finally move on, he had interfered. Their relationship ended soon after. Bella had never forgotten that. Bella closed her eyes. Could Richard help her now?. She didn't know whether he would slam the door in my face or pretend he had never known me. Upstairs, Maxwell was bleeding, and downstairs, the billing office had already left two messages about the deposit required for the next surgery. Bella stared at the hospital bill, knowing her savings were already gone. She had poured everything into the wedding she was supposed to have with Richard, believing she was investing in a lifetime of happiness. Now, all she had left were memories and a brother who needed her to find a miracle. But she had run out of choices.She drew a shaky breath.Then she made a decision. But before leaving the hospital, she opened her mailbox and sent a message to someone so dire to her. “I'm in trouble”. The message disappeared. She slipped her phone into her pocket, wiped the tears from her face, and walked toward the hospital exit.