Chapter 43: When Hatred Spawns Violence
1209words
As I drove home, an inexplicable pain gripped my chest. The emergency meeting had been postponed, and if I had only checked my email earlier, I wouldn't have wasted time driving back and forth. My hands trembled on the wheel, forcing me to pull over and take a moment to calm down.
'What the hell is wrong with me?" I muttered, taking a deep breath. Suddenly, my phone rang, and Anthony's name flashed on the screen. My heart skipped a beat. Anthony was Razi's driver. Why would he be calling me?
'Hello?" I answered.
'It's Razi, ma'am," he said, his voice trembling. My heart leapt into my throat. 'She was… she was burned."
'Are you insane, Anthony?" I snapped. 'What do you mean she was burned? Why was she even in the kitchen?"
'Not the kitchen—Nathan's office," he stammered. 'She insisted on seeing him, and I let her. The office building exploded, and she was inside."
His words echoed in my mind as my phone slipped from my hand. My body went numb, and my mind reeled. It took over thirty minutes for me to regain my composure. Adrenaline surged through me as I grabbed the wheel, started the engine, and sped to the hospital I had in mind.
I reached the hospital in no time, running inside like a madwoman, my head pounding.
'Where is my child?" I yelled at the nurse at reception. Before she could respond, my legs carried me toward the emergency unit, trembling with every step. I spotted Nathan pacing the hallway.
'My child!" I whispered, rushing over to him. He looked as though he had been burned too—his clothes were in tatters—but I didn't care. 'Where is she?"
'She is… she's in the ward," he pointed to the door ahead. I tried to hurry toward it, but he grabbed my arm, pulling me back.
'You can't go in."
I slapped him, my hand grazing his cheek. He didn't flinch; he didn't even rub the spot. He just stared at me with tear-filled eyes.
'Don't you dare tell me I can't see my child," I snarled, tears streaming down my face.
'I can't let you go in," he repeated, trying to hold me back again. I kicked him hard with my heel and pushed past him, storming into the ward. 'Scarlett!" he called, hurrying after me.
I froze in horror at the sight before me. The last time I saw Razi, she was fair, beautiful, and smiling. This charred figure on the bed couldn't be her. The worst moment came when the nurse pulled a sheet over her.
I dropped to my knees, my world crumbling.
'I'm sorry. We lost her," the doctor said, shaking his head. His words echoed in my mind.
'Okay," I mumbled, scrambling to my feet. 'Okay. Okay." I kept muttering to myself as I turned to leave.
'Scarlett," Nathan tried to hold me.
'Don't touch me," I said, my voice barely audible. 'Okay." I headed out of the hospital.
Behind me, I heard Nathan crying. My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor, my head hitting the tile. My hands slumped beside me, and darkness took over.
***
When I woke, I was on a hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling. I glanced to my side and saw Nathan resting his head on the bed. I forced myself to sit up, my head throbbing painfully. I clutched my forehead.
'Scarlett?" he said, lifting his head.
I pulled the cannula from my arm, barely registering the sting. Blood seeped out, but I didn't care.
'Where are you going?" he asked.
I didn't respond. I stood, picked up my shoes, and headed for the door. He blocked my way.
'Please, let it all out," he begged.
'What are you talking about?" I asked, tilting my head.
'I know the pain of losing someone you love, Scarlett. You shouldn't hold it all inside. Let the anger out, the pain. Please."
'I don't have anything inside. Now, move," I said, my voice a whisper.
'Scarlett, please."
I chuckled bitterly, pulling my hand away from his. 'I have no pain, Nathan. I'm going home."
'I will take you," he offered, still blocking my path.
'I can drive myself."
'Let me do it, just for today."
'I can drive myself," I repeated, walking past him. 'I can drive myself," I muttered to myself again. I shuffled outside, unlocked my car, and was about to get in when Nathan rushed over.
'I can't let you do this, Scarlett. Let me take you home," he insisted.
I slumped my shoulders and nodded. I took the passenger seat and rested my head. He buckled my seatbelt before starting the car.
When we arrived at my mansion, he helped me inside. Everyone was pacing anxiously in the living room.
'Scarlett?" my stepmother rushed over, tears streaming down her face.
'Mother…" I collapsed to the floor, sobbing. 'My child, my child," I whimpered as she knelt beside me, pulling me into her arms. We cried together. For the first time, I let them see my vulnerability.
'I'm here… let it all out," she whispered, patting my back.
We stayed like that for over ten minutes before I pulled away, wiping my tears. 'I forgive you, Mother. I forgive you," I sobbed, and she hugged me again.
'Thank you, my child. I love you," she said, her voice choked with emotion.
I pulled back again. 'I need to freshen up, Mother. I need some rest now," I said, scrambling to my feet.
'I will help you to your room."
'No, you don't have to." I turned to Nathan. 'Thank you for bringing me home. I forgive you, too. Razi wanted me to. Tell Ever I have long forgiven her."
He embraced me. 'I'm sorry for everything," he whispered. I nodded against his chest, then pulled away.
'You should go home now. I just need some rest," I told him, heading upstairs. Halfway up, I glanced back at them, their eyes filled with pity. I looked around the mansion. I had achieved so much. My money bought me many things—except happiness. Revenge had taken everyone away from me. It was time to rest. I smiled faintly and continued on.
I entered my room and locked the door behind me. What's the point of living when there's nothing left? When Gabriel was killed without a trace of the killer, I tried to stay sane, for my child. But now she was gone.
'You have nothing left, Scarlett," I whispered, crossing the room to pick up a framed photo of Razi from my nightstand. I traced my fingers over her face, tears filling my eyes. 'You don't know how much I love you, baby," I said, smiling sorrowfully.
I opened a drawer and took out a switchblade. 'Without you, there's no life, my child." I chuckled and slit my wrist. The knife fell from my hand. The pain wasn't even a fraction of what was in my heart. I lay on my bed, holding Razi's photo to my chest as the life drained out of me.
'We will be together forever, baby," I whispered before closing my eyes.
When hatred spawns violence, the innocent are always the ones who suffer.
