Regret? A Little too late

Chapter 4

Jacob's Pov

Staring at my computer screen, I couldn't help but pray for a sign or a miracle, maybe. I have been looking for her for so long.

Every time I thought you got close, I missed her. I ran my hand through my hair in frustration as I groaned to myself.

Overwhelmed, I threw some documents across the room in anger.

“Woah, easy there. Are you planning on murdering someone?" Alexander, my best friend asked, jokingly lifting his hands up.

“Hey man, I didn't know you were in town?” I said as we hugged warmly. Xander was like a brother to me; we had grown up together, our folks being friends and all.

“Well, I came for urgent business. Imagine my surprise to know you are in town too?” He asked, lifting his eyebrow at me.

“Sorry, man, got recent updates on finding what I've been working on, but it seems I hit another dead end,” I shrugged as I let my body hit the couch below me.

“Sorry man, you still have me and my connections; if she's anywhere in LA, trust me, man, we'll know,” Xander assured as he crushed beside me, patting my back.

The Moore family was the most prominent in almost every city in the states, as ours followed closely.

“Thanks, man, I appreciate it,” I said, feeling a bit better, knowing when he promises something, he always means business.

“So, my man, what brings you here?” he asked, his voice lit with excitement.

“There's this new club downtown; we should crash it and catch up. What do you say?” He added, not even letting me answer his previous question.

I chuckled at his excitement, to think many people feared him for being 'brutal' in business.

“Sorry man, am here for a procedure; I need to stay sober,” I answered as my mind drifted off on its own.

This patient was the reason I had hopes of finding my sister; somehow I just knew they were connected.

“Oooh, our hotshot doctor, I see,” Xander joked as he bumped his fists on my shoulder playfully.

I chuckled as he teased me, “It's not like you came here for pleasure yourself.” Just then my phone rang. “You know what? Treat yourself to anything as I pick this one.” I said, making Xander laugh out loud as I walked away.

As the call ended, I turned to walk back to the study room. I had to go to the event if it meant even a one percent chance of finding her.

“Hey man, how about you accompany me to some gala? I need to make an initial assessment of the patient and the family,” I said, making Xander look at me curiously.

“Mmm, initial assessment, really? Never heard of that one, son,” he said, laughing at me as if he saw through my lie.

“But seriously, man, I can't make it; I have a prior arrangement, but send me an address just in case,” Xander said as his face shifted to the businessman Alexander.

I nodded. “Alright, don't leave town without buying me those drinks you talked about.”

“Alright, Mr. Doctor, I will see you later,” he said as he made his way out of the room.

*******

The event didn't seem like much as I looked at the guests mingling around. My eyes couldn't leave the woman whose picture I had in my phone.

Could she really be my twin sister? I smiled at every possibility of that as my gaze followed her like a hawk.

I tried several times to master the courage to approach her, but I didn't know how. Especially not after the email I asked my PA to send discreetly. I wished I could protect her from all that but didn't know how.

Apparently I knew almost everything about her, and I really hoped she was our sister. My family would be so proud to see the woman she had become, strong and sophisticated.

The main door opened, ushering in a familiar face; everyone turned.

That must be the husband, Caleb Richards, who apparently had his mistress in his hands.

I was so focused on finding Ivy that I forgot to investigate some people around her. I clenched my fists. 'How dare he?' I didn't know if I should step in; all I had to show was the star-shaped birthmark on her left shoulder back, which she tried so much to hide with makeup.

The same as the one I had on my right shoulder. I watched her face turn from happy to hurt, deeply cut.

As they walked past her as if she were invisible, I breathed hard, holding in my anger. Everything was happening so fast, but I knew the Richards family couldn't stoop so low as to hurt her in public.

A woman flashed before my eyes, looking displeased as much as I was. I recognized her from Ivy's photos, assuming she was her best friend.

Worked as a nurse at City West General, the same hospital I was assigned to for the procedure.

“Hello , excuse me, Miss…” I called, making her halt as she looked at me in surprise.

“Mi… Miss Elena,” she said, stuttering as I reached for her hand.

“Jacob, nice to meet you, Miss Elena,” I said as I kissed her hand, her green emerald eyes glued to me. Her beautiful features were mesmerizing as I held her hand a little longer.

“That's your best friend there, I assume,” I asked, pointing at the podium ahead of us. Ivy and the eldest lady of the Richards were addressing the guests.

“Haa, yes, that's Vivi, my best friend, and her scumbag soon-to-be ex-husband,” she answered, letting the last part slip out in anger.

Immediately realizing that, she turned to me. “Sorry about that; I'm just so angry.”

I smiled at her apology, knowing that deep inside I also felt the same anger.

“It's okay, your opinion matches many of us here,” I answered, making her chuckle as she relaxed a bit. We chatted, making it feel like the rest of the room was empty, like it was just the two of us.

A shriek made us run towards the source of the noise rushing. My eyes falling onto the Richards family towering over Ivy, who lay on the ground crying out in pain.

My system rebooted as I dashed forward, pushing them aside. Behind me I could hear them shouting for the eldest lady, but that didn't concern me. I held Ivy in my hands as Elena called out to her in terror.

****

As the doctor's rushed her to the operation room I couldn't sit still. If I weren't professional, I couldn't even treat anyone from that family.

If anything happened to her, they would pay for everything.

A nurse came running out of the operating room, “Excuse me is anyone here related to the patient, she has lost a lot of blood and the blood type is rare,” she announced, making Elena shake her head continuously.

“Ooh God, get it from another hospital, Cindy. Come on,” she said as she wiped her tears.

“Sorry, Lena, the only available unit will take eight hours to get here; we don't have that much time,” she announced, making Elena's knees buckle below her. I quickly supported her from falling as the most unbelievable words came out from my mouth.

“I'll donate the blood myself.”

“But Sir, if you are not related, it's impossible to have the exact blood type,” she said, looking at me in sympathy. I helped Elena sit down as I pulled the nurse aside.

“Check mine, you never know what you could find,” I said, my instincts kicking in. If she was really my twin, then I would save her and confirm it permanently.

‘And God help me she is,’ I prayed silently in my mind, letting my positivity take the better part of me.