Chapter 69
Imela picked up the desk phone as soon as Oliver stepped out, and she dialled Georgie’s number. “Inform the security that Mr. Oliver Plane is no longer welcome” She barely finished giving out the instructions when she received a call from Carol, the maid in the house.
“Hello, Carol.”
“Ms. Garcia,” she called, and her tone didn’t sound as warm as it usually did, and Imela knew something was wrong.
“What’s wrong?” She asked, her mind already going to Ocean.
“It’s your father.” She answered. “He suffered a heart attack while he was with Ocean. Caesar is taking him to the hospital now, and Yille, the cook, went along to keep him stable.”
Imela’s face paled up, and she lost her sense of hearing after Carol gave the news, and it took a few seconds to get it back. “What hospital is he going to??” she asked, reaching for her bag and leaving the office.
“Caesar said Lawrence Hospital is the closest, according to the map.” She replied.
Her heart went out to her son, who must have witnessed Marcel having a heart attack. She couldn’t imagine how terrified he must have been. “And Ocean?”
“He’s fine; he’s here. Monique and I stayed back with him.” She replied.
“Please, keep him safe. I will head out now.”
Benjamin approached her when he saw her walking out to the parking lot. “Is anything the matter, Ms.
Garcia?”
She had done her best to keep a calm and composed face as she told Georgie to cancel her appointment for the rest of the day before heading out, but Benjamin had spotted the difference in her countenance. “I need to get to Lawrence Hospital; my father had a heart attack.”
They arrived at Lawerence Hospital, and Imela hurried in. Marcel was the only one on her mind. Caesar hadn’t called to say otherwise, so she held onto the hope that he was okay. She didn’t see herself losing
him so soon. She didn’t want to lose him.
“I’m looking for Marcel Garcia. He came in here a while ago.” She explained this to the nurse behind the counter before hearing Caesar’s voice from not so far away.
“Ms. Garcia.” She turned and saw Caesar and Yille staring at her.
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Chapter 69
She hurried over to them, her face filled with worry, “What did the doctors say?
“They are yet to get back to us. They took him in immediately after we arrived.”
She nodded, and they moved to stay in the waiting room. “Thank you.” She said to the two men
“It’s nothing, Ms. Garcia; we did what we had to. Do not worry. He will be alright.” Ville assured her with
a smile.
An hour later, the doctor came to them and informed them that he was in stable condition and would
wake up at any moment.
Imela asked if she could see him.
The doctor let her into Marcel’s ward, and she entered and found him in bed with a breathing mask on his face. He looked pale and tired. She knew he was old, but now that he was in this state, she saw it.
She sat beside him, took his cold hand, brought it to her lips, and kissed it. “I came as soon as I could, papa. I dropped everything, and I should have dropped it earlier. You were right; because of my commitments, I have spent little time with you and Ocean, the two truly important people. I am sorry it took this to get a rude awakening. Nothing can replace you, and you two deserve more.”
Her eyes grew glassy. “I lost Elena this way, and you were going to leave me too?” she asked, and a tear slid down her face. “You are not that cruel. Life cannot cheat me twice. You need to wake up because there’s so much we haven’t done and need to do.”
Imela stayed beside Marcel, holding onto his hand while her lashes stayed shut. She couldn’t go to work as she had spent almost every hour in the last few days by his side. It didn’t matter, though; all that mattered now was him.
She felt a light squeeze on her hand, and glancing up, she found Marcel’s eyes open.
“Papa,” she said, and relief washed over her face.
“Imela,” He called in a faint voice and looked around with confusion.
“You had a heart attack; I will go get the doctor.” She told him, rose from beside him, and exited the ward. She found the doctor and informed him Marcel had woken up, but they insisted she stays out while they conducted a series of tests on him.
Imela stayed out, but while she was there, she called Carol to bring Ocean.
He had visited the hospital a day ago to see her and asked about Marcel. She told him his grandfather was still in a coma, not wanting to lie, and they were waiting for his awakening. He stayed a few hours before she told Carol to take him back home. She had gone home this morning to help Ocean prepare for daycare, but she returned immediately to resume her position beside Marcel. She knew once the
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examination was complete, Marcel would want to see Ocean, and the wanted her son available.
It’s been the third day since the incident, and the had to call the Garcias, who were in Madrid, informing them about Marnet’s condition. Gloria Garcia, Marcel’s ster, expressed her sadness and assured her they would be in prayer and checking up. Mario wanted to come over, but Imela insisted she stay hack in Madrid and work hand in hand with the rest of the board members of the Garcia Group.
Fermin also called after learning about what happened and asked how she was holding up. She told him she was doing her best, which was the truth. Gollt had eaten her up over the last three days. She had neglected her family and taken on more than the should have. Marcel spoke up about it three days ago when she was leaving for work; he told her that she didn’t need to work so much and that family was
then more important. She had been so hell bent on taking control that she didn’t want to give it up
She realised it wasn’t worth it after seeing Marcel in the hospital. Here, nothing he owned or had acquired all his life mattered. He wasn’t also thinking about those who wronged him. It didn’t matter; life came first, and she needed a rude awakening to see that.
The doctors stepped out of the ward, and she approached them and asked, “How is he now?”
“All his vital organs are functioning, and that is good, but his body took a toll, and it would take weeks, if not months, to get back to how he once was. Getting him into physical therapy after he’s discharged would be the best way to go. For now, he would need as much bed rest as necessary. He will also need time to gain control of his speech; in time, it will all come around.”
“Mama!” Ocean called and ran over to her. She dropped to her knees and took him into her arms, leaning in and kissing his head.
“Thank you, doctor!” she said, turning her attention to the man yet to leave.
He smiled and walked away from them.
Imela and Ocean returned to Marcel’s ward, and he was still awake.
“Papa!” Ocean yelled out, and his eyes flickered in excitement.
Marcel’s face broke into a wide beam as he beheld Ocean, and Imela stepped closer to the bed, bringing
them close.
“Ocean.” Marcel was all he could say, reaching out to take hold of the little boy’s hands. Imela lifted Ocean so he could sit on the bed beside Marcel
“Como estas, papa (how are you, papa)?”
“Bien.” He replied, and his eyes showed he wanted to say more.
She came to sit beside him. “I should have listened to you. You two are all I have, and if I lose you, I have
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nothing, I still need more of your wisdom and instruction.” Her eyes welled up.
His hand gratived hers and squeezed lightly. “You wout.” He sowed
Ocean stayed with Marcel for three hours before Imela derided to send him home with Carol
She wanted to stay over, at least for today.
She stepped out of the ward with Ocean, only to find Oliver standing there.
