Chapter 022

Aiden's POV I stared blankly at my phone, my heart racing with every beat as I processed Hailey's words. "Aiden, it's mom... she's been shot." The room around me began to spin, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of fear and anxiety. Memories of our family's troubled past came flooding back, and I couldn't shake the feeling that my dad's shady business deals were to blame. I sprang into action, canceling all my appointments and booking the next flight to Germany. The thought of losing my mom, after already having lost my sister, was unbearable. As I rushed to the airport, my mind was consumed by thoughts of my mom's safety and the possibility of my dad's involvement. The flight seemed to drag on forever, my anxiety and fear growing with each passing minute. When I finally arrived at the hospital, I was met with a sight that made my blood run cold. Hailey was standing at the entrance, her dinner gown stained with dried blood, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She rushed towards me, wrapping her arms around me tightly. "I'm so sorry, Aiden. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I couldn't protect her," she sobbed, her body shaking with grief. I felt a surge of emotions: guilt, anger, and helplessness. I pushed Hailey away, my eyes scanning the hospital lobby frantically. "Where is she?" I demanded, my voice shaking with emotion. Hailey's words cut through me like a knife. "She's inside the operating room right now. The doctors scheduled her for immediate surgery. I'm so sorry," she said, her voice cracking with sobs. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I stumbled backwards, my legs giving way beneath me. I fell to the floor, my body wracked with sobs. The thought of losing my mom was too much to bear. As I gazed over at Hailey, I felt a pang of guilt wash over me. She sat on a chair in the lobby, her face pale and tired, her eyes red from crying. She was blaming herself for my mom's shooting, while I was consumed by regret for dragging her into my family's mess. Just then, the hospital's glass door burst open, and my dad stormed in, his face twisted with rage and anger. He was flanked by two burly guards dressed in black, their eyes scanning the lobby with an air of menace. I sprang to my feet, my fists clenched, and my heart racing with anger. I grabbed my dad by the collar, my eyes blazing with fury. "This is all your fault, dad!" I yelled, my voice echoing off the lobby's walls. "It's all your fault!" I slammed my fists into his face, but before I could land another blow, his guards pounced, separating us. Hailey rushed to my side, her eyes wide with fear. "Aiden, stop!" she pleaded, her voice trembling. I glared at my dad, my chest heaving with anger. I couldn't bear to look at him, not after everything I'd discovered about his shady business deals. The possibility that he might be linked to my sister's death still lingered in my mind, fueling my anger and hatred towards him. My dad wiped the trickle of blood from his lips, his eyes blazing with a complex mix of emotions: regret, anger, rage, and a hint of revenge. He gazed at me with a deep intensity, as if he knew a secret I didn't. "Not here, son. Not now," he growled, his voice low and menacing. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the hospital, leaving me feeling bewildered and angry. Hailey's gentle tug on my hand brought me back to reality. She led me to a nearby seat and wrapped her arms around me, pulling my head onto her shoulder. Her soft bosom served as a comforting pillow, and her gentle pats on my back were a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves. As I lay there, surrounded by Hailey's warmth and comfort, my thoughts drifted back to my mom. The memory of her gentle touch and soothing voice only made my heart ache more. I felt a fresh wave of grief wash over me, and I couldn't help but let out a sob. A doctor emerged from the operating room, his scrubs stained with blood. I rushed to him, my heart racing with anxiety. "Doctor, how's she? How's my mom?" I asked, panic evident in my voice. The doctor looked at me with a hint of a German accent. "And you are?" he asked. "I'm Aiden, Aiden Brooklyn," I replied. He nodded, then turned to Hailey. "And you are her daughter, right?" he asked. Hailey nodded, her eyes wide with worry. "Yes, Doc. Could you please tell us how our mom is doing?" she asked, urgency lacing her voice. The doctor's expression softened. "Well, thankfully, your mom is a fighter. We were able to remove the bullet and stabilize her, so she's safe now." His words sent a wave of relief washing over me. "Although she's not awake yet, she's stable now," he added. I felt a surge of hope. "Can we see her?" I asked. The doctor nodded. "Yes, you can, but that would be after she's been rolled into a ward." I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards the doctor. "Okay, Doc, thank you so much." A few minutes later, a nurse invited us to see my mom in the private ward she'd been transferred to. We scrubbed ourselves to prevent any infection before entering her room. As I approached the door, my heart sank. My mom lay in the bed, connected to numerous machines, her face pale and fragile. The sight was eerily reminiscent of Hailey's hospitalization after her surgery. I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. "Mom?" We had just been there for a few minutes when a doctor and my dad walked into the room, both fully scrubbed. My dad's eyes welled up with tears, but he struggled to maintain his composure. "Doc, can I see the bullet that was taken from her?" he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion. I stared at him, incredulous. How could he be so detached? His wife lay fighting for her life, and all he cared about was the bullet? I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out at him again. The doctor nodded. "Sure." As they exited the room, I kept my gaze fixed on my dad, my anger and resentment simmering just below the surface. Just as my anger threatened to boil over, I felt Hailey's gentle touch on my hand. She looked at me with a calm, soothing gaze, and subtly shook her head, as if warning me to keep my emotions in check. Her tranquil presence was a balm to my frazzled nerves, and I felt my tension ease slightly under her calming influence.