I Want All of You

Episode Three

T/W: Mentions of blood, death, and strong language in this episode.

Anastasia’s POV

It had been two long hours since we arrived at the hospital and I still hadn't gotten any update about my dad's condition. I paced to and fro, growing impatient with every passing second. Dad couldn't leave me, not especially now that I was planning to move to another country. I needed him to stay alive as mum wasn't here anymore.

I saw the doctor step out from the room my dad was rushed into and immediately walked hastily towards her.

“Doctor, tell me my dad is okay. He is okay right?”

“Fortunately, he is now stable…”

“Thank God,” I placed my sweaty palms on my forehead and let out a sigh of relief.

“But,”

“But? Doctor what do you mean by but?”

She paused momentarily then said, “he is in a comatose state and unfortunately I can't accurately tell how long he'd be in there. And with the way things are going, he’s going to be in a coma for nothing less than three months.”

My whole world came crashing down as I allowed the news to settle in my head. I wouldn't be able to speak to Dad for three months…three months??? No no no, this can't be.

“I-I don't understand what you mean doctor…you mean my dad will basically be unconscious for nothing less than three months?”

The doctor looked at me sadly then nodded in affirmation. “He suffered a severe case of heart attack that reduced his blood flow, depriving adequate oxygen from getting to his brain…”

I couldn’t listen any further and my eyes blurred with tears. “Can I go and see him now?”

“Yes, you can. He needs his loved ones around him at this crucial point.”

I walked into the room and saw my dad lying on the hospital bed, with all these machines connected to him. I had never seen dad look this way—vulnerable. He had always appeared strong and fierce, even after the death of mum, he didn’t shed a tear. The great Anthony Zenith, the fiercest and most respected business tycoon. But now, looking at him in that state made me see the side of him that he concealed all these years.

“Dad?” I sniffed.

“Can you hear me? I know you’re in there dad.”

“Please don’t stop fighting..I need you. I can’t survive if you aren’t here with me.” I placed my hands on his and held it up to my face.

There was no way I could leave for New York now, I had to be here beside my dad. I stayed there and watched him silently, wondering what could have happened that made him react that way. What did James tell my dad? And why is James refusing to tell me? I have to stay back and find out what they were hiding from me. Something that shocked my dad into a heart attack shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“I will be back dad,” I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stepped out of the room.

There were two bodyguards guarding my dad’s door. I scanned around and couldn’t find James, weird because he hardly left my dad’s side in the past.

“Where is he?”

The bodyguards looked at me in confusion.

I sighed then asked again, this time a little more specific, “where is James?”

“Oh, ma’am he stepped out to receive a call immediately you entered to see Mr. Zenith and he hasn't been back since then.”

“And he hasn't been back since then?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Not good. One of you should go out and look for him.”

“Ma’am?”

I signed in frustration then spoke coldly, my voice laced with a commanding tone, “ I said, one of you should go look for f*****g James.”

“Yes ma’am! I am on it!” One of the bodyguards replied as he immediately swung in action and started looking for James.

Great, now I can't even find the one person that can tell me what made my dad act up. Can today get any worse?

I paced around patiently waiting for the bodyguard to return back with James. Instead, I heard noises coming from somewhere in the hospital. Was there a celebrity here? I wondered.

“Anastasia,” A deep voice called abruptly from behind me some minutes after. A voice I could recognize anywhere and at any time. I watched his business interviews and listened to his voice before falling asleep every night. Yes, he was the one…I couldn't mistake him for anyone else. My stomach churned with excitement as I turned around to trace the voice that called out for me.

“Uncle Jason?” I said while fully facing him now.

He smiled warmly at me and stretched out his hands, signaling for a hug. I looked at him briefly then ran towards him and gave him the tightest hug.

After some minutes, we pulled away from the hug and he looked down at me now, his grey eyes filled with concern and worry.

“I flew to Toronto immediately I heard what happened to Anthony…”

“Dear, tell me— what happened?”

Something about that question made me burst into uncontrollable tears. I hadn't had the time to fully process what just happened, “I-I don't know, J-James told my dad…”

Jason pulled me into another hug and started to pat my head slightly, “hush now dear, I'm here, take your time. Everything’s going to be okay…I will make sure of that.” he said in a low voice.

Jason was here, and for that I felt a little relieved. He was going to see to the end of this.

“Um..Miss Zenith..” The bodyguard I had sent to look for James finally returned but James was nowhere around him.

“Mr. Sterling,” he bowed briefly in fear on seeing Uncle Jason then swallowed hard, “You both have to come see this.”

“See what?” I asked, wiping my eyes.

“It-it’s James”

“Where is he? Lead us to him,” Jason interjected fiercely.

The bodyguard led to a room on the last floor of the hospital. Slowly, he opened the door and revealed a graphic sight. James was on the floor, surrounded in a pool of his own blood, he had several stab wounds.

“Oh my God!” I screamed, my hands shaking in fear.