Four Years Later
Author's pov
"Aiden, I know what I'm about to tell you might upset you, but I'm your father and I must be honest with you." Aiden stood before his dad, his right hand affectionately holding young and beautiful Camila. Their reflections shimmered on the polished floor, beneath a grand chandelier hanging their overheads. Mark, Aiden's personal assistant, and two other men dressed in black suits, whom they had met at Sir Williams' house, stood at a distance.
"Dad, what do you want to tell me?" Aiden asked. Williams, a man in his late fifties with rolled-up sleeves, briefly glanced at Camila's face before returning his gaze to Aiden. His gesture indicated that he didn't want to say it in front of Camila.
"Can we go to my room?" His eyes were on Aiden, who then bent down to Camila's height and said,
"Please sit here. Your grandfather and I need to discuss something in his bedroom." He kissed the back of Camila's right hand and guided her to one of the black leather chairs. Aiden's eyes were filled with emotion as he left his daughter and followed his dad to the bedroom.
"Aiden, I can't wait any longer for you to get married. It's been four years since you found baby Camila on your doorstep. When will you tie the knot?"
"Dad, why am I the only one? My younger brother is there, and you've never pushed him like this..."
"You are my firstborn and my own flesh and blood. Four years have passed, and you've been searching for Camila's mother without success," he interrupted.
"Is that why you invited me?"
"Yes, what could be more important?"
"I have a three-day conference to attend. I need to go." Aiden turned and left, while Williams watched him until the thick blue curtain concealed his departure. Once the curtain settled from Aiden's touch, Williams picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Mr. Raymond, I need you to execute my plan. Find a stunning woman. I am prepared to offer her an initial deposit of ten million dollars." Just before ending the call, he hastily added, "How soon can you arrange for my son to meet this captivating lady?”
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Amber's pov
Not even my grandmother could prevent my aunt, Eunice, from burying my deceased child while I remained unconscious. I wasn't dead, merely unconscious due to the shock of a car accident on my way to the hospital to give birth. It's likely the accident wouldn't have occurred if Anthony or Eunice had agreed to drive me. Both of them refused, and my grandmother had to call a cab and because it was at night, it would affect my grandmother’s sight. I remember how Eunice prevented her from following the car.
Despite being in excruciating labor pain, my aunt and uncle despised me because I refused to terminate my own pregnancy. They denied me the chance to see the face of my baby, whom I carried for a full nine months, after enduring so much at the hands of Anthony and Eunice.
While struggling with pain in the backseat of the car on my way to the hospital, another car suddenly collided with ours, and that's the last thing I remember. When I regained consciousness hours later, I was informed that, in order to save my life, the doctors had to perform an emergency operation to deliver my baby, but she didn't survive.
What would have been the color of my baby's eyes? The shape of her lips that she would have used to smile at me? My grandmother was unable to stop Eunice, and Eunice took pride in telling me to my face that she was the one who buried my child.
Upon learning what happened to my baby, I immediately grew to hate everyone, feeling the need to distance myself from every member of my family. Once I regained strength, I left the hospital without notifying anyone, changed my phone number, and left the country.
I needed to leave because it seemed as though Anthony's words, when he said he would never live to see my baby alive, echoed in my mind. I couldn't bear to hear any more sarcastic remarks from them. Their previous insults were enough, and I needed to start anew.
Now, I am a certified physiotherapist, and my four years away from my family were not in vain. However, whenever I catch sight of young babies, tears uncontrollably stream down my face. It's as if something has been taken away from me. I long to have a child, but without a partner. This brings to mind the memory of my grandmother.
As I sat at my dining table, my dinner before me, I realized it must be cold by now. I lifted my gaze towards the window and all I could see was the faint hue of the setting orange sun.
My grandma has always been there for me in the past, and even though I later found out she wasn't my biological mother but my grandmother, she loved me wholeheartedly. Today marks four years since my child passed away, and it has been four years since I last spoke to my grandma and I have been angry at her for not preventing Eunice from burying my child. Why should I still hold grudges against her when my baby is gone? I felt an intense struggle with my emotions as I considered talking to my grandmother again. If I have truly forgiven her, then I should give her a call. Before dialing her number, I blinked my eyes, trying to hold back the tears that were welling up. Finally, I picked up my phone and dialed my grandmother's number.
"Hello grandma, it's Amber. How are you doing?"
"Amber!" she exclaimed. "My precious daughter, where are you?"
"Grandma, I'm fine."
"Where are you? Why did you change your phone number? Why did you leave? I came to the hospital and never saw you again. I searched everywhere for you. Why did you leave?" she asked, and I wasn't prepared to hide the truth, so I replied,
"Grandma, I left because I was angry. I left because Eunice didn't wait for me before burying my child. I felt betrayed. I wasn't given the chance to see my child before she was laid to rest."
"Amber, I have been waiting for this moment. Your baby is not dead. Come home, and I will tell you everything that transpired..."
"What?" I shouted, standing up. Goosebumps covered my body, and I began to sweat.
"Come home, Amber. There is so much to talk about."
When my grandma told me she knew where my daughter was, it felt like a dream. That night, I couldn't sleep, and the hours seemed to drag on. I eagerly awaited the arrival of the next day. What would my baby girl look like after four years? What name had she been given? Would she accept me as her mother? Were they mistreating her wherever she was now? Countless thoughts raced through my mind as I constantly thought about my daughter.
The next morning, I took the first flight back to my grandmother's place. On the plane, I nervously tapped my knees with the tips of my right fingers, and everything around me seemed sluggish and irritating. I arrived in my former city by 1 pm and rushed out of the airport. There was a burning flame within me, urging me to see my daughter the moment I stepped off the plane. As I emerged from the airport, I hopped into the first available taxi that caught my eye.
"Please hurry! I'm in a rush," I urged the driver, and he responded by trying to pick up the pace, eager to meet my urgent expression. Upon entering my grandma's house, an unusual silence greeted me, and to my surprise, the front door was unlocked.
"Grandma!" I hurried to her room, but she wasn't there, and the house seemed empty. Just as I was about to rush out upon hearing a car approaching, I saw Eunice stepping out of it.
"Where is my grandma?" I asked, breathless.
"We rushed mom to the hospital a few hours ago."
"Please, take me there. I need to talk to her."
"I don't think she'll be able to communicate right now." She sounded weak.
"Why? We spoke last night." Fear began to grip my heart. I noticed Eunice had come to lock the door, so I got into her car, and she drove us back to the hospital. As the car came to a stop, I hurriedly got out and rushed inside. That's when I encountered Anthony and the doctor, who handed him a sheet of paper. My arrival interrupted their conversation.
"Where is my grandma?" I asked.
"Your grandma is currently in a coma," Anthony replied.
"What? A coma? How come? What can we do to wake her up?" I pleaded while looking at the doctor.
"Take a look at this," Anthony caught my attention, and the doctor left. Anthony handed me the sheet of paper, and it became clear that it contained information about the funds required for intensive treatment to increase her chances of regaining consciousness. Before I could finish reading its contents, Eunice joined us.
"Grandma has that money in her bank account. Let's withdraw it and save her."
"Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars?" Anthony raised his voice, exchanging glances with Eunice. They sneered at me.
"If you truly want to wake up your grandma, go and find the money. We don't have that kind of money. Besides, who knows if she'll wake up after spending such money."
How can I gather the funds to revive my grandma? I also long to find out where my daughter is. It was evident that Eunice and Anthony had already made up their minds to divide my grandma's money once she passed away. All they were waiting for was her last breath. What can I do now? I don't have that kind of money. My grandma waking up is the key to finding my d
aughter. My heart pounded, tears streaming down my face.