Chapter 5 5. Tight Spot

Theo is in a panic.

He shouldn't be feeling this way. The girl practically caused this on herself, why should he worry about her? She also put his own life at risk.

He stops his pacing and walks up to the doctor for the umpteenth time already.

"How is she feeling? when would she wake up? Please tell me she's okay."

The doctor smiles at him reassuringly. "Your friend would be fine. She sustained some injuries but we're happy they aren't internal. She should be awake in some hours. Just let her rest. Are you the only one she has?"

Theo shakes his head, "No, no. I'll get in touch with her family, thank you, Doctor."

Theo walks over to the bed where Adrien is currently sleeping. What would he tell her parents? He picks up his phone and practices what he would say before calling Mr Adrian Summers. He puts off the call quickly. He shouldn't call Adrien's father. He's sick and such news can hurt him.

He calls his father instead. His father calls Valerie Summers and informs her of her daughter's health. Valerie tells her husband in the calmest way she can think of. She is relieved when he doesn't get a heart attack from the news. Adrien and Bethsheba are very dear to their father. It's a blessing that the shock of the news doesn't affect him much.

Adrien and Theo's parents arrive at the hospital around the same time.

Adrian Summers is a level-headed man. He doesn't throw threats at Theo for his daughter's condition.

"Okay, so what exactly happened?" Adrian asks Theo.

"She was driving and she lost control and ran into a tree."

Well, this story is plausible and is the truth, except that Adrien wouldn't just lose control over her car unless something triggered that action.

Adrian focuses his attention on Adrien. "Adrien Isn't clumsy so what must have made her lose control?" He says in a low tone. He looks over at the others. "I'll have the car checked for any faults just in case."

Bethsheba arrives later on and rushes straight to her sister on the bed.

"Bethsheba please give Adrien some space to rest," Valerie says.

Beth moves away sadly. It hurts her so much because she was the one who had told Adrien to meet up with Theo.

Mr. Erikson walks into the room. "I have spoken with the doctors, she would be alright. I'm sorry, but my wife and I have something to attend to. Then, you'd keep us posted."

Theo nods to his father. "Let me escort you to the car."

The Alphonsos leave and the Summers are all alone now. Adrian and Valerie talk about the hospital bills. They are both angry at Adrien for her recklessness. Valerie glares at Adrien once in a while as a way to express her anger.

Bethsheba feels pity for Adrien as she listens to what her parents are saying. They don't realise that they are the ones who have put Adrien in this tight spot. This incident isn't going to teach Mr and Mrs summers a lesson because they believe the accident was due to Adrien's reckless driving. No one knows what happens yet but they're waiting for Adrien to wake up and tell them. Bethsheba knows so well that Adrien and Theo must have quarrelled.

"She must have lost control again," she whispers to herself.

"What?" her father asks.

Beth shakes her head, "Nothing."

She becomes more conscious of her words now to avoid any slips. Adrien isn't going to give her parents full details of what happened between her and Theo. If she does, it might open doors for more questions and their plans would be revealed, hence ruining everything.

"And that's not happening."

This time Valerie hears Beth too. "What's not happening?" she asks.

Beth looks up, realizing her slip and the need to come up with an excuse quickly. "I just can't believe Adrien is in this condition."

Her mother looks away from her. "She would be fine. She has to."

Valerie's words shock Beth to the core. Adrien is in the hospital as a result of an accident and all she cares for is the fact that Adrien has to be alive so they can complete the deal with the Alphonsos. How ridiculous.

Bethsheba humps in annoyance. She hisses and shakes her head.

Her parents glance at her but don't say anything.

Theo is still outside with his parents who think he should bail on Adrien and attend to business.

"Her whole family is with her," Lauretta urges her son, "or are you staying out of guilt? Did you cause the accident? They should even be apologizing to us for their daughter's reckless act."

Theo isn't paying attention to them. Memories of the crash still fill his mind, distracting him even at the most odd times. He can remember Adrien's horrified look as she drove into the tree. She was scared.

"Okay, I'll just settle things with them then come home."

"I'll tell Erasmus to send your car for you. Jeez! How did she even persuade you to join her in her car? I must say, she planned this from the beginning. She must have tried to kill herself because she doesn't want to marry you. But that doesn't mean she should kill you too. If not for our relationship with them, we might have to press charges for attempted murder." Lauretta places a hand on her son's shoulder, "Oh, Theophilus, you can tell us if you don't want the marriage anymore. At this point, we would agree to it."

Theo sighs and places his hand on his mother's hand on his shoulder. "I'll be right back."

His parents leave and he goes back to the hospital room where his betrothed is. Thank goodness her condition is not so bad.

"Oh! there you are. We were just about to leave but thought it ill-mannered of us to not thank you properly before we did. We also apologize for Adrien's sake. We don't know what came over her, but we would talk to her about it."

From the little he has gathered, Theo knows that Valerie would give her daughter a hard time all in the name of talking to her.

"Please, don't. That's not necessary. Adrien doesn't need to be reminded about such an event."

Valerie smiles at him and nods in agreement.

Adrian stands up from his chair as he prepares to leave. "This is my daughter, Bethsheba, I don't think you guys have had a proper introduction. Bethsheba would be staying here with her sister. I would've loved to stay longer but my health wouldn't permit me. We will be back tomorrow. Please keep us updated."

" I will, sir. Thank you."

"Dad, let me take you downstairs," Beth says, moving towards her father. She locks arms with him and they move downstairs together with Valerie following behind.

Theo looks down at Adrien lying gracefully on the bed. She looks almost angelic. He had never realized how beautiful she was until now. He feels bad for the hurtful words he had thrown her way. She doesn't deserve it. But it isn't entirely his fault. She was overreacting. He only asked to return home and this happened. Women can be such headaches. Cassidy was never like that. Cassidy had a way of maintaining her cool which sometimes drove him crazy. She seemed cold-hearted sometimes.

He combs through his hair as a sigh escapes his lips. The door opens and Bethsheba walks in.

"Hi," he greets her but she doesn't reply. "What's with the attitude? I didn't do anything to your sister, she drove the car into the tree on her own accord."

"Easy for you to say," Beth snaps at him. "I bet you didn't tell our parents about how you caused her to have an emotional outburst."

Theo stares at her in disbelief. Although he doesn't expect Adrien's partner in crime to like him when Adrien personally does not. Bethsheba must hate him as much as Adrien does. But what was that about an emotional breakdown?

"Does she normally lose control when emotional?"

Beth struggles to answer. She doesn't want to have any conversation with Theo. She eyes him, and hesitates for a second before answering, "Yes."

"That must explain everything."

"So you did something to infuriate her."

"Well, it's not my fault she decided to turn suicidal after I told her I wanted to go home!"

Their voices are getting louder. A nurse walks in and tells them to reduce their tone. They go quiet for some seconds.

"I only told her that if all she wanted to talk about was her disapproval of the marriage, then I'd rather go back home. Did I say anything wrong?"

"Are you asking that? You only showed her how less you care. You just projected how much of a bad husband you'd be if she got married to you. You put her in a tight spot. I'm sure she couldn't even imagine herself in a fake marriage with you for fear of being stuck there forever."

"I can imagine. And we're having that wedding as soon as I'm out of this hospital."

Beth and Theo are surprised to see Adrien awake.

"It's Theo's way of paying for this. I won't tell anyone about how he pushed me into this condition and in return he would go along with my plans by first marrying me as soon as we leave this hospital."

Beth's lips part in surprise. She looks at Adrien as if she has gotten mad. "Adri, I know we both planned this together, but seeing the kind of person he is I don't think we should continue with this wedding."

"Remember what I said, Beth, stick to the plan."

Adrien shifts her gaze from her sister to Theo who is now standing and staring in shock.

He lets out a dry laugh and shakes his head. "You can't be serious. This must be a joke."

Adrien shifts and sits upright in her bed. "I am serious. You must follow my plan and marry me, or I will destroy the good image you and your family have built over the years. Besides, I'm the victim here, so everyone would believe what I say."