The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
Chapter 132

Grayson

POV

Flair was genuinely upset. I could see the distress in her eyes as she clung to my hand and the pain on her face. I knew she still felt something for Johnathon. After being married to the man for three years they didn't just fade away to nothing. I would have felt jealous if it wasn't for the fact the poor man was clinging to life at the moment and was currently in a

coma.

"I just can't believe somebody would be so cruel and just leave him lying there," Flair said with a catch in her voice.

"It's the way of the world. Everybody is always out for themselves. They were probably afraid they would be sent to jail" Grandfather scowled.

Karen was silent.

"I feel horrible" Flair confessed "All this time I've been hating him for what he's done to me and now he's in a coma. I'm a terrible person," she said in a whisper.

"No, you're not," I told her firmly "You're here, worrying about him and he's your ex-husband. I would say that shows you care. It's not like you're the one who ran over him" I said shaking my head "The blame lies with that person."

"Just you wait, we'll get them" Grandfather chimed in, nodding his head vigorously "The scumbag will wish they had never been born by the time we're done with them."

Flair shot him a look while I glared at him. "Grandfather let's discuss that later," I said tightly.

The door burst open to the waiting room and Charlotte came in sobbing profusely. "I just can't bear to look at him all helpless like that" she sniffled, clutching at a piece of tissue and wiping her streaming eyes "Grandfather I need to go home and rest," she said wailing.

Grandfather shot her a disgruntled look. "Grandfather why don't you go home with Charlotte and Karen," I said carefully "If Charlotte is okay with it, we'd like to look in on Johnathon before we go."

Charlotte cast us a look of misery and nodded "Of course, I'm sure Flair would like to see her ex" she sobbed "But it's not pretty" she warned as Flair nodded and looked at her sympathetically.

"I'm so sorry Charlotte please let us know if you need anything," Flair told her sincerely as Charlotte continued to sob and sniffle, her mother putting her arm around her and beginning to walk her towards the exit, while Grandfather followed grumpily behind. The doctor had come in behind. "I gather you would also like to visit Mr. Johnathon Deluca?" he said sympathetically. "Please" Flair breathed, "his wife said it would be okay."

The doctor was calm as he gestured for us to follow him. We exited the waiting room lounge and went down a long hallway, entering a private room. I heard Flair's sharp inhalation of breath as she took in the scene and the true nature of Johnathon and his injuries. The sight was grim. Even I was taken aback. He was wrapped in casts on one of his legs and arms. His right leg was raised in a suspension and his head was wrapped in bandages. He wore a hospital gown but it didn't cover all the bruises and scrapes that covered his entire body that wasn't hidden by casts. There was a long gash on his forehead. His nose looked purple as though it had been broken and then reset. His hair was matted and you could see dried blood in it. His body was lying listlessly on the bed and he was hooked up to various machines that were doing a variety of different jobs, from keeping tabs on his heartbeat to pumping something through an IV.

"My god" Flair whispered, putting a hand to her mouth and looking distressed "he looks terrible Grayson."

"The doctor said he would" I reminded her as we walked forward and my eyes raked over his body "You need to just breathe and remind yourself that at the moment all we can do is be here to spend time with him."

She nodded and sat down, reaching for his hand and squeezing it softly, fearful of hurting him. I studied his injuries. This was almost as though the car had intentionally hit him. It showed no signs that it had slowed down, not with all the broken bones Johnathon had.

"Did you get any evidence out of his clothes or off his body?" I asked the doctor as Flair began to talk in a low voice to Johnathon.

"There wasn't much. There was a" he paused looking sickened "piece of bumper that we pulled off his skin but it was minuscule. I doubt they will be able to figure out which car it came from. Otherwise, it was all dirt. No glass, no reflective light, and nothing to indicate the type or model of the car" he said quietly "but his injuries are consistent with a car accelerating towards him not braking. I would say they intended to hit him."

Just as I had thought. Flair was leaning over and talking to Johnathon in a small voice,

"Do we know where he was?"

The doctor looked surprised "He was leaving a medical clinic" he examined his notes "Dr Faddens" he added. "Was he sick?"

"I'm not sure. The nature of his visit was not revealed by his wife, but she had no knowledge apparently of his appointment. I gather the authorities will look into it but it could have just been a routine checkup" he shrugged. "Hmmm," I said consideringly "how long until you know whether Mr Deluca's condition has stabilized?"

"Mrs Deluca asked that too. Unfortunately, there is no real-time limit or estimate. However, if we see an improvement in the next few days, I would say that's a very good sign" he said briskly "There's a possibility we may need to perform more surgery. His wife was very distressed" he added in a low tone "poor woman."

"She's pregnant," I said, "the wife, is this going to affect her baby?"

"Only if she gets too stressed. I'm aware of her condition and I've advised her to take it easy and to take rest and keep up her nutrition and fluids. It's not good for the baby to be too stressed but it's unavoidable in this instance" he sighed and adjusted his spectacles "We will do all we can to minimize it while she's here."

"Is he breathing on his own?" I asked.

"He's intubated. So at the moment, a machine is doing it for him. We're hopeful he'll recover full use of his lungs as he recovers. Mr Oakes" he hesitated as I glanced at him "I'm taken to believe that your wife may be pregnant as well?" "Yes," I said surprised "she is."

"Then may I suggest that your wife do the same. Try to rest when she can, keep up her fluids and nutrition, and avoid as much stress as possible. It's imperative that she try to keep herself healthy for the baby" he said as I nodded solemnly "I know that this is her ex-husband, a strange situation" he said frankly "and I will not restrict Mr Deluca's hospital visits but if he takes a turn for the worse I strongly advise that you consider..." he trailed off.

"If that happens I will keep Flair home," I said understanding him completely as he smiled and nodded at me.

It was quite touching how much the doctor seemed to care about Flair and her well-being. I appreciated it. I glanced at my wife and saw her crying silently by Johnathon's bedside, her head bowed down. Was she feeling regret? Remorse? Apologetic about how things had ended? Situations like these always brought such feelings to the surface. I felt awful about how I had treated Johnathon and how I had disliked him so much. I still did, but now I felt badly in case he died. "Will he fully recover his faculties? His mental capacity" I clarified as the doctor frowned and glanced at his patient. "We don't know whether he's brain damaged or not yet. I have my suspicions" he said grimly "and if the brain damage is as bad as I think it might be, then no" he said bowing his head regretfully "he will not recover his faculties. In such cases" again another hesitation "in such cases it seems kinder to pull the tube, turn the machines off and let them die."

Let him die. I tried not to let the shock show on my face. Until then it was like I hadn't fully grasped how bad Johnathon's injuries were. The doctor could see how shocked I was, a look of sympathy on his face. "Of course, I have not told Mrs Deluca such a thing," he said, "as there is still time for the patient to come around."

But his tone indicated he didn't think that was likely to happen at all. I sighed.

Flair looked up at me her lower lip quivering and I realized she had heard every word the doctor had said to me, tears trailing down her cheeks.

"Thank you, doctor," I said evenly and hastened to my wife's side, holding her hand.

"Flair honey," I said softly as she sobbed "I think it's time we got you home," I said quietly.

"But Johnathon" she sobbed "There's no one here to be with him."

Charlotte was gone as was her mother and Grandfather. I understood what she was saying and the sheer devastation in her voice threatened to undo me as tears pricked the corners of my eyes.

I glanced helplessly at the doctor who stepped forward and cleared his throat. His voice was filled with compassion. "Mrs Oakes, my nurses and I will be with Johnathon. We'll be keeping a close eye on him as we monitor his progress. If his condition changes at all, I've already received permission to inform you once his wife has been called. I understand your concern" he said kindly "but you must also think of yourself at the same time Mrs Oakes."

Flair sobbed harder but nodded, while I assisted her to stand. "Grayson" she whispered through tears.

"Yes sweetheart" I murmured as I tucked her arm under mine and began to lead her slowly out of the room.

"Find the bastard who did this" she whispered shakily.

All I could do was nod but that seemed to bring her comfort for she allowed me to lead her relatively easily out of the room after that, even though she continued to weep for Johnathon.