Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AT AINSLEY HOSPITAL

The rush to the hospital was in a bad way, hectic scene in the emergency room and this feeling she had felt before; The fear of losing Ian. The fear of not being in Ian’s world again.

“Don’t let it be. Let him be safe.” Ria chanted in her head.

Ria pushed her way through the nurses and patients who were in her way and she ran towards the intensive care unit area. She met Lauren and Josie sitting in front of the intensive care unit. They stared at her as she stopped on track. Ria could recognize Josie from the pictures Ian had showed her on his phone.

“Ria.” Lauren stood up and came to her.

“How is he?” Ria asked her. Her eyes held a fearful look but with the hope that Ian would be fine.

Nothing would go wrong! Ian would be fine! She prayed.

A solemn look displayed on Lauren’s face. “We are not sure yet.” She said.

On cue, Doctor Hawn exited the intensive care unit with a female doctor and a nurse behind him and the three of them turned all their attention towards him.

“How is Ian?”

“How is he doing?”

“Doctor is Ian okay?”

“You don’t have to worry. He is fine.” Doctor Hawn replied.

Lauren, Josie and Ria let out a sigh of relief.

“It seems Ian didn’t take his Ventolin inhaler to the factory that was why he collapsed in the fire. The smoke must have been too much for him to bear that it affected his breathing.” Doctor Hawn said.

Ria froze for a second as she tried to make sense of the doctor’s words. Ventolin Inhaler echoed in her head.

“Will he fine? I mean… his breathing.” Josie asked.

Doctor Shawn nodded. “Yes, he will be okay. He is currently on oxygen machine but he will regain consciousness soon.”

“Can we see him?” Ria asked.

“Sure but I am afraid that you can’t go in yet.” Doctor Hawn responded.

They all nodded in understanding. “Please excuse me I will cheek on Mrs Perla.” He said and walked away with the women

“Josie, this is Ria Robert. She is Ian’s girlfriend.” Lauren introduced briefly.

Ria fiddled with her fingers. Josie was totally different from Lauren. She had a frown on her face and she shot Ria a disgusting look like she had shit on her body. In a nutshell, Josie knew Ian was seeing a blind lady who he had spent so much on. She concluded in her mind that Ria was an opportunist who is only using her brother to get the good things of life.

“It is nice to -”

Josie cuts in. “Lauren, I’ll just go ahead and check on Ian.” She said coldly before walking away.

“I apologize on Josie’s behalf. She is always like that anytime… she is under tension.” Lauren said in an apologetic tone.

Ria flashed her a half smile. “It is fine.” It doesn’t matter to her. She was more concerned about Ian.

“Mrs Lauren…” Ria paused and swallowed hard. “I don’t understand what Doctor Hawn said about the Ventolin Inhaler.”

“Ian didn’t tell you?” Lauren questioned.

“He has never mentioned something like that to me.” Ria shook her head.

“Ian is asthmatic.”

Ria’s heart beats rapidly. “I never knew Ian had health problems. He didn’t mention it to me.” She replied.

“Well maybe he didn’t want you to worry about him. Actually he goes around with an inhaler. I feel you should know better now that Ian is pretty good at hiding his problems but does his best at making people around him happy.” Lauren shrugged.

And Ria never noticed it. And why didn’t she ever ask him if he had any health problem too? Such thoughts has never occurred to her.

“Don’t worry, Ria, my brother is quite strong. I am sure he is going to be fine.” Lauren rubbed Ria’s upper arm.

Ria nodded in agreement. “Do you want to see Ian first or check on my mom?” She asked.

“Your mom.” Ria replied. She doesn’t want to stand on same spot with Josie Bryant. That woman’s looks scares the hell out of her.

“Let us go.” She held Ria’s hand and led her to a private ward.

Ria heard Mrs Perla voice when they almost got to the entrance of the ward. “This is all your fault!” She screamed.

Lauren rolled her eyes. “Family issues.” She muttered.

At that point Ria knew that she shouldn’t go in with her. She stopped. “Mrs Lauren, you can go in and see what’s going on. I want to call a friend.”

Lauren stared at her for a second. “Okay.” She nodded.

“If only you had monitored the factory seriously like the rest of your sisters did to the company assigned to them then Ian won’t be unconscious!” Mrs Perla voice boomed again.

Lauren stepped in. “You are incompetent Piper! And all of this happened because of you!” She yelled at Piper again.

Ria wondered what had caused the fire at the factory. Her phone beeped snapping her out of brief thought. She took it out of her bag. It was Ethan!

‘Ria… I watched the news.’ He whispered.

‘Yes… Lint Corporation was set on fire. Ian collapsed in the fire too.’

‘Where are you?’

‘At Ainsley hospital.’

‘So how is he?’

Tears clouded her vision. ‘Ian is unconscious but the doctor said he would be fine.’ She blinked back tears as she explained Ian’s health condition to him. ‘He is asthmatic.’

‘And he didn’t tell you about it?’

‘Ian didn’t tell me he is asthmatic… and I have never even noticed an inhaler with him.’ She sniffed.

‘Ria relax. Ian… no maybe he didn’t want you to worry about him.’

‘But I would be glad if he had told me about it. Finding out from the doctor and then his sister explaining the whole thing to me makes me look like I really don’t care about him.’

Now Ria was feeling bad that she haven’t been caring about him.

‘Will you come back to the store anytime soon?’

‘No, I will wait here. I want to be there for Ian whenever he regains consciousness.’ This is the perfect time to repay Ian for taking care of her in China.

‘Okay. Please just give me a call when he wakes up.’

‘Okay.’

‘Bye.’ He hang up the call.

Ria turned back with an attempt to go back to the intensive care unit but Josie was there standing right in front of her. And she didn’t know what to say to her.

“The board of directors and shareholders of the factory would requests that you stepped down as the chairlady.” A masculine voice said.

“What?!” Piper gasped.

“Piper, you don’t have to worry about them… you can’t step down if the major shareholder doesn’t want you to step down and you know your mom is the major shareholder.”

“I want her to step down.” Mrs Perla said.

“Mom! You can’t do this to me! After everything I -”

“You ruined the company. Now we have no textile company now!”

“Calm down mom.” Ria heard Lauren’s voice.

“Darling, we can have a discussion without you yelling and we sort things out.” The masculine voice said again. Ria knew it must be Ian’s dad.

Josie held the door knob. “You shouldn’t be eavesdropping on our family’s discussion.”

Oh yeah she was right! Ria knew it would be better for her to stay away since she is not part of the family. She would talk to Mrs Perla later.

Ria stepped away. The door opened and Piper came out with a wet face. She has been crying. She ran down the hallway as fast as her legs could carry her.

Josie stepped into the ward and slammed the door on Ria’s face.

“Darling -”

“That’s my final decision and… I am not changing my mind.” Mrs Perla interrupted him.

“Mom is this about Ian or the company? You are being too harsh on Piper for no reason.” Ria heard Josie’s voice.

“Please don’t start Josie.” Lauren cautioned her.

Ria wasn’t ready to stay around and listen to their discussion. So she made her way back to the intensive care unit. She peered through the transparent glass on the door. Time ticked constantly, moving while Ria stood waiting outside the intensive care unit. She watched Ian laying unconsciously in bed. There he laid, his limp body on the bed, a bandage around his head and left wrist and a gauze on his nose.

Ria was sure there was more under the hospital gown. He wasn’t in a good condition. And all that’s left is to wait till he regained consciousness.

Her phone buzzed again. It was Ethan.

‘Hello Ethan.’

‘Ria.’ He called out shakily.

‘What’s wrong Ethan?’ She asked out of fear.

Ethan drew in a deep breathe. ‘Chad just called me now and he said that… Frederick is in Chicago.’

Ria’s heart beat accelerated. ‘Don’t let it be what I am thinking.’ She murmured.

‘And he said that… it is possible that Frederick set the textile factory on fire. No evidence yet but they are preparing to check the CCTV in the factory. Some parts are not affected.’

‘Oh my goodness.’ Ria whispered.

Tears. She could feel them dropping down her cheeks. If it was Frederick who set the textile factory on fire then he must have done that to get back at Ian. She was there the day Frederick called Ian to ask why he had canceled the deal and Ian told him everything; the recording and the case he tried to cover up.

Realization hit Ria that all of this happened because of her. The textile factory got burnt because of her! Those workers in the fire, Ian and Piper getting dismissed at work. It was all her fault.

‘Ria, are you there?’

She dropped the phone from her ear and stared at Ian closely. Why was there a bandage on his head and wrist and the a gauze on his nose since he was only affected by the smoke? How did he sustain these injuries? She pondered.

It was clear! If it was Frederick’s doing then he was after Ian’s life. He wanted to destroy Ian to make her powerless over the case. Frederick knew that Ian was solidly behind her and determined to put him in jail.

And at the same time what if it wasn’t Frederick but someone else? Who else could it be? Ria thought deeply.

‘Ethan…’ Ria placed the phone back on her ear.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

‘Yes Ria… are you okay? You scared me.’

‘What if it was Drake Robert?’

‘Drake?’

‘Yes… the deal Ian cancelled. Drake must have done it to make Ian come back to him. Remember he wanted to supply me Fabrics but I rejected his offer… Ian made him sign a note to make him stay away from me but then the deal still got canceled. He could have–‘

‘Relax Ria. Please calm down. I understand what you are trying to say. I will call Chad right now and tell him about it too.’

The line dropped again.

Ria’s mind was spinning. It could be Drake Robert. He must have thought that ruining the textile factory would make her come to him for supplies so then he would use that chance to make Ian sign the deal again.

And Ria could hardly believe what she was thanking! But somehow feelings of guilt washed over her. She wondered what would happen tomorrow and in the next few days.