Fake Love

Chapter 2

“Don’t worry, Dad, everything will be fine.” Stella said, rubbing the elder’s back gently. Though she tried her best, she couldn’t prevent her voice from shaking. “The surgery will definitely be successful.”

As the time passed, she became more and more anxious. In the end, she couldn’t remain seated and started pacing up and down the corridor.

Stella was never been a believer, but at that moment, she found herself praying desperately.

Please God, please let the operation be successful. I am willing to shoulder the consequences of all the sins committed by him. After all, he is my husband. If something happens to him, I won’t be able to live on either.

The door of the OT swung open, and a nurse walked out hurriedly. Looking at Stella, she said, “You are Mrs. Brown, right? We have run out of O negative blood. Please arrange for twelve units as soon as possible. If we don’t get enough blood on time, your husband’s life will be in danger.”

“How is that possible? How can you run out of blood at such a critical moment?” Ethan’s father roared angrily. “Isn’t it a given to arrange enough blood before starting a surgery?”

“We had arranged for everything, Mr. Brown. But, because of an accident, fifty units of blood got destroyed. We have no choice but to seek external help.”

“Why should my son suffer because of some accident in the hospital?” Mr. Brown’s face had become so ashen that he looked like he would explode at any moment. “I am telling you… If something happens to my son, I will destroy this hospital.”

“I have already told you everything.” The nurse snapped, clearly annoyed by his arrogance. “Now it’s up to you. You can either waste your time shouting here or focus on saving your son’s life.”

“Please calm down, Dad. Anger is not good for your health,” Stella said in a soothing voice as she rubbed his back. “The nurse is right. We should focus on finding blood first. We can deal with other things later.”

Mr. Brown finally took in a deep breath and grunted, “I will go to the nearby blood banks and see. You stay here with Ethan.”

“Dad, let me go instead. I have been here with Ethan several times and know the surroundings better than you.”

Stella quickly contacted the translator she met on her last trip to Germany. Together, they visited the nearby hospitals and blood banks. For some reason there was an acute shortage of O blood type. Even after visiting all the blood banks in the vicinity, they could procure only ten units of blood.

“Miss Linda, can I ask you for a favour? Can you please take these ten units to the Riverdale Hospital first?” Stella said, handing her the special container. “Please…”

“But, you don’t know German….”

“It’s okay, I will manage. It is more important to send the blood first.”

Linda had met Stella a few times and knew her to be a simple and sincere girl. She didn’t want to leave her alone, but seeing her desperation, she had no choice but to give in. Her hesitant gaze lingered on Stella for a long moment before she finally nodded. “Alright…. Call me if you run into any trouble.”

After seeing Linda off, she immediately hailed a cab for Wilson Nursing Home. Thankfully, they had the blood she needed. Collecting four units of blood, she hurried across the road, desperate to reach Riverdale Hospital as soon as possible.

She had almost reached the end of the crossing when all of a sudden, she started feeling dizzy. Without even realising it, she staggered a few steps backward and ran straight into a car.

The screeching of tyres was the last thing Stella heard before she fell flat on the road, unconscious.

The door of the car swung open and a young woman with blonde hair hurried outside. Her eyes widened in horror at seeing Stella’s still form.

“Oh, my God!” she gasped, rushing to check on Stella. “What am I supposed to do now?” Her eyes teared up seeing the large pool of blood on the road. “Why is she bleeding so much? Is she already dead?”

“Her vitals seem fine.” A man with deep grey eyes crouched beside Stella and took her pulse. “Let us take her to the hospital.”

Ten minutes later, they were wheeling Stella into the ER of the nearest hospital.

“God knows what is going to happen now.” The young woman muttered, wringing her fingers anxiously. “If something happens to her….” Her voice got choked, and she bit her lower lip. “It is all my fault. I should have been more careful while driving.”

“Don’t blame yourself.” The man drew closer and squeezed her shoulder gently. “It was not your fault. That girl stepped back suddenly.”

“She did, right?” The woman raised her head to look at the man with a complicated expression. “I thought I wasn’t careful enough.” Her lips curved into a weak smile. “Thank you. You have no idea how much this reassurance means to me. I am Camille, by the way.”

“Klaus,” he held out his hand with a smile that caused a small dimple to form on his left cheek. “Klaus Fischer. Do you live around here?”

“No, I am here for the Winter Fair.”

“What a coincidence. I am here for the Winter Fair, too.”

Camille’s eyes twinkled, and she raised her eyebrows. “Are you trying to hit on me?”

“What? No! I am really here for the Fashion Gala.”

“Why did you have to put it so bluntly?” Camille’s face fell, and she pouted. “Couldn’t you have just played along? It isn’t every day that I get to meet handsome men like you.”

Camille rubbed her clammy palms on her dress absent mindedly. She was on the verge of a breakdown and wanted to distract herself, but talking to Klaus didn’t seem to be working.

Klaus, on the other hand was flabbergasted. He wasn’t used to such interactions. His face flushed, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Camille… I…”

Klaus had wanted to give her an explanation, but at this point, the door of the ER swung open. They both rushed to talk to the doctor.

“How is she?”

“Apart from a sprained ankle and a bruise on the thigh, she is completely fine.”

“Are you sure?” William frowned. “She was bleeding so much earlier.”

“That was not her blood.”

“Then why did she faint?”

“Fatigue and acute dehydration. I have instructed the nurse to give her the required drips. She should wake up in a few hours.” The doctor gave them a reassuring smile. “Now, if you will excuse me. I have more urgent cases to deal with.”

Shortly after, they shifted Stella to the general ward.

“Klaus?”

“Hmm…”

“What kind of person do you think she will turn out to be?” Camille asked, sitting beside Stella and brushing the stray strands of her hair from her forehead. “Do you think she will try to make things difficult for me?”

“Umm…. I don’t know.” Klaus handed her a cup of coffee. “But don’t worry too much. Even if she calls the cops, I will help you explain everything to them.”

***

“Ethan!” Stella sat up with a gasp.

“How are you feeling now?” Camille asked, looking at her with a worried expression.

Stella didn’t reply. She merely sat there like a statue, looking at everything with a puzzled expression. She was still in a daze.

Camille got worried and went to get the doctor. However, when she returned, the ward was empty. They hurried outside to look for Stella.

“Nurse, did you see the patient from ward number 505?”

“I did. She is one strange woman,” the nurse replied, her expression turning sour. “I just wanted to take the readings, but she looked at me like I had committed some great sin. Then she tore off the drip patch and then staggered out of the room. She looked like she was in a lot of pain. So, I went after. Guess what she did? She pushed me. My head hit the wall, but she didn’t seem bothered at all. She just left.” The nurse shook her head incredulously. “I am telling you, doctor. We need to be more selective about our patients. My head is still throbbing.”

“What are we going to do now?” Camille’s restless gaze drifted from Klaus to the doctor. “We know nothing about her, not even her name.”

“Ideally, we should have called the cops when the patient was brought in. But she was covered in so much blood that I didn’t bother to follow the protocol.” the doctor let out an exhausted sigh. “Given the strained relationship I have with the local in charge, if I call them now, they will make things difficult for us.”

“Dr. Stephen, I have a suggestion,” Klaus drew closer and whispered, “How about we change the details of the case file? We can say that she fell from the stairs or something. After all, she suffered only from a bruise and a sprained ankle.”

“Are you crazy?” Dr. Stephen snapped in anger, “If anyone finds out, I will lose my licence.” Turning to the nurse, he continued, “Take down their testimonies and get them to deal with the discharge formalities. I will take care of the rest.”