Cara climbed into the passenger seat of Ben’s car and he drove on with a grim expression on his face. “How did it all happen? He was fine when I left him.” Doubt crept into her mind, making her repent her decision. Was he really fine? Maybe this could have been avoided if she hadn’t left him that night. Guilt washed over her and he looked at Ben Duncan, waiting for an answer.
“After you left, Mr. Donnelly left for New York. He handed the keys over to me to clean the place up and pack everything and send it over to his apartment in New York. I knew then that he wasn’t returning. But I was sick and couldn’t do as he had asked me to. When I went to clean the place after two days, I found him lying in a pool of blood in his studio with his wrist slit open. I immediately admitted him to the hospital. He was critical for the last two days. They just released him but he won’t allow me to inform his family. So I came here while he is asleep,” explained the old guard in a single breath. Cara’s mouth hung open hearing everything. The guilt intensified and at that point, all she wanted was to just nurse him back to health. But most of all, she wanted to hold him in her arms and comfort him. She wanted to surrender to him, to make him happy if she could.
“It’s all my fault, Uncle Ben. If I hadn’t left, all this would never have happened.” Ben Duncan shook his head realizing her mental condition.
“Don’t fret over it, my dear. Let’s just take care of him the best way we can.” Cara nodded knowing that was what she would do now. The rest of the way, uncle Ben concentrated on the traffic congestion all along the way while Cara looked out of the window. Her mind was numb as she remembered Marcus’s words and his kisses. It’s so difficult to comprehend from the surface the turbulent emotions a person is feeling deep inside his heart. Therefore she had no idea of what pain Marcus Donnelly was hiding in his soul. Maybe it was time to know the real Marcus Donnelly. She wanted to know him and heal him.
“Is he still critical?” She glanced at Ben Duncan crossing her fingers and hoping he would deny.
“Not as much as earlier but yes, still under sedatives.” Cara sighed and nodded, looking away.
“Does he know that you’ve come to get me?” she watched the old guard stutter. It was obvious that he had sneaked out while Marcus was still under the effect of the sedatives injected into his body.
“No, he doesn’t but I can’t take care of him. He needs someone better.” Cara nodded but her heart filled with dread. If he had declined his family, would he allow her near him?
“Don’t worry, Cara. He can never object to you.” Ben Duncan tried to soothe the young girl. He didn’t inform her about the condition of the studio where he found his young employer. His eyes had been dazed seeing paintings of Cara all around and many blank canvases with just her name written with blood! It was such a disturbing sight that he could hardly tell her anything. He didn’t want to scare her away. Marcus needed her more than anyone else in the world right now. He was sure that his employer was in love with the young girl!
They eventually reached the house and Cara followed Ben Duncan inside. The house was eerily quiet as if not a soul lived there. A tremor went down her spine to even think about how Marcus would react to her presence. She didn’t want his condition to worsen because of her.
“I don’t think he has woken up yet. He’s in the bedroom. Please call me through the intercom if you need help. Just dial 120. If you need anything for the house, any medicine, anything, don’t hesitate to tell me. The hospital will send a doctor tomorrow,” said Ben Duncan, walking towards his bedroom. Cara nodded as she meekly followed him with her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She had never imagined that she would come back to this house again. In fact, she had never thought that she would see him again. Memories of what they shared made her restless. Ben Duncan pushed the bedroom door and peered in.
“He’s still fast asleep. His diet chart and prescriptions are near his bedside. If you can’t figure them out, call the hospital on their helpline. They’ll connect you to the nursing station. I wish I could help you but all this deters me after everything I went through because of my wife and child.” Cara nodded in understanding. She would have to figure this out for Marcus’s sake.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Ben. I’ll figure it out.” The old man left while Cara walked into his room with her heart ready to burst out of its ribcage. She stood at his bedside and gazed at his disheveled state as he lay peacefully as if all the fight had left him already. His bandaged left wrist lay limp at his side and a sob escaped her mouth seeing the wound. At that moment, all she wanted was to hold him in her arms and tell him that she wouldn’t ever leave him. He suddenly stirred and Cara panicked. She noted the stubble on his face and realized that he might not have shaved since the day she had left him.
Marcus went back to sleep yet the sweet scent lingered all around him. He could never forget that scent ever because it belonged to Cara! Even under the effect of the sedative, he could feel his organ twitch to life. Although he knew that he was hallucinating, it felt so real as if she was near him somewhere. He battled in his head. How could that be possible? Cara had left forever, hadn’t she? “Cara!” he released a staggering breath. He had tried hard to paint her ever since she left him but sadly couldn’t produce anything. It seemed as if his painter’s block had returned and this time it was forever. After trying for days, he just lost the will to live. He was useless anyway, disappointing his family, his mentor but mostly disappointing his inspiration for life, Cara. Everyone was upset because of him. It had killed his wish to live.
Cara stood hypnotized, watching the strange emotions flitting across his handsome face. The way he said her name pierced her soul and she was powerless to restrain her heart from falling for him. What just started as an attraction started developing deeper roots in her heart and she couldn’t do a thing about it. It was true that he was beyond her league; he was a celebrity but the heart never understood all that. She placed her soft hand on his cheek in a feather-soft touch as tears fell from her eyes. “Yes?” she whispered, unable to control herself any longer.
“Stay with me,” whispered Marcus, his mouth quivering with emotions. He didn’t want the dream to end.
“I’m here to stay,” she whispered, leaning closer to him. He smiled, still with his eyes closed. He knew that the moment he would open his eyes, she would disappear from his life.
Cara’s glance fell upon the prescriptions, discharge summary, and diet chart kept at his bedside. She released Marcus, letting him sleep, and picked up the documents to study them minutely. Walking out of his room, she used the landline to call the hospital and discuss everything with the nurse in charge. She prepared a light dinner in case Marcus woke up. She herself had skipped dinner as well in her haste to arrive here.
Marcus opened his eyes and searched for her everywhere. The dream felt so real that he hoped that she was really here. No, she wasn’t, it was just an impossible dream! He tried to get up and go to the washroom but after losing so much blood, he felt too weak and dizzy to do anything. Maybe he would wait for Ben Duncan to help him when he came over to check upon him. So he lay waiting, staring at the ceiling. Strangely, he could hear a voice outside in the living room. Someone was here but who? He just dreaded that the guard didn’t summon his mom. She would drive him crazy with her questions. Furthermore, he didn’t want her to see the condition his studio was in. As it is she hated Cara. Seeing the condition he was in would anger her more against Cara although it wasn’t her fault at all.
The sound receded to the kitchen and he realized that the person was making his dinner. The wish to get up and storm into the kitchen was too strong and he kept struggling to do just that. It couldn’t be Nicholas as it clearly was a woman’s voice! Was it old Ben Duncan’s wife?
Giving up, he lay exhausted and waited for her to help him. After a few minutes, the door opened and to his utter astonishment, Cara stood there carrying a tray of food and medicines, her wide eyes gazing back at him with fear and apprehension.
“What the f*ck! Why are you here?” he yelled with fury. He didn’t want her pity.