A change of Heart
Loukas POV
“How could you try to kill yourself, Lou? You made me leave you so you could kill yourself! ” Rotimi yelled angrily as he continued to rant about my committing suicide. I didn’t say a word and watched as he paced around the room. “If that girl hadn’t come in time to save you, then you’d probably be dead by now.”
He was right about that. My mind went over to the girl who saved me, and I couldn’t help but think about what would have happened if she hadn’t kept me. Amanda would have been on top of the world and taken all my inheritance.
Inheritance I don’t care about.
“Are you even listening to what I’m saying?” Rotimi shouted and kicked the door. “That’s it, Lou. I’m not leaving you again. We are going to be together forever. ”
“Including when I need to go to the restroom?” I finally said something.
Rotimi rolled his eyes and groaned out in frustration. “I am increasing the security around you. Who knows if you’ll kill yourself when no one is watching?
“That would be great,” I responded.
“God!” Rotimi shouted. “How can you talk like that in situations like this, Lou?”
“Listen, Rotimi, I’m sorry I lied to you, but what’s the point of living?” I pointed to my body. “How do I survive if I’m like this?”
Rotimi heaved a sigh and came to sit beside me on the bed. He took my hand and placed it on his leg. “You probably think you can’t survive, but you’ve been surviving for fourteen years.”
“Yeah, surviving without memories of my childhood.” I scoffed.
“Lou!” He shouted, and I raised my brows in confusion. Why was he crying? I should be the one shouting because I am alone in this world with nothing but wealth and a paralyzed body. “Listen to me,” he said, bringing my hand to his chest. “I know you think you are alone, but I am here with you, and I am going to make sure you get better.”
“Can you let go of my hand?”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
Rotimi muttered some words under his breath and dropped my hand. “I picked this up from the ground.” He handed over a card, which I refused to take. “I believe you can get better, Lou and this lady will be your savior.”
“You mean the lady who saved me?”
Rotimi nodded and beckoned for me to take the card. I grabbed the card from his hand and read through it. It was the most boring card I’ve ever seen. The colors used didn’t blend, and the names were spelled wrong. Her name was spelled as Hillaary Williams instead of Hillary. “Why does this card look like a child wrote it?”
“It’s not about how the card looks, Lou. This girl could be your breakthrough. ”
“Right!” I scoffed and threw the card at Rotimi. “Just give her money as compensation for saving me, and we’ll forget it ever happened.”
“Listen, Lou; we can…”He tried to say something, but I lowered my head and raised it again. Something I do when I feel irritated. “Forget it! I don’t remember you listening to me anyway. ”
“I’m happy you know that.” I winked at him, and he facepalmed.
“Lou! Don’t you want to get better? Forget your past and move on. ” Rotimi placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently.” Don’t you want to own up to your work? Don’t you want to get married again? ”
“I’ll like it if you don’t discuss marriage with me again.” I wouldn’t say I liked that word because I once thought I was in love. Ten years after my accident, I met a girl named Angelica, who I thought was my Guardian Angel. I fell in love with her because she stood by me when I needed her, and her encouragement kept me going. When we left college, I proposed to her, and we got married, but the marriage didn’t last a year as I found out that Angelica was sleeping with my stepbrother, and after we separated, they got married and had a son.
It’s been four years, but the memory is still fresh in my head. Ever since that day, I wouldn’t say I liked it when I heard anyone talking about couples or anything about marriage. “I am sorry,” Rotimi apologized. “I am just looking after you, bro.”
“I know, but I’ll be fine. I don’t need anyone’s help. ”
“That’s what you said last month and the previous one. Let me retract that, Lou. It’s what you’ve been saying for years. ”
“I am not changing my mind,” I said.
“Very well, then, brother.” Rotimi stood up from my bed. “I think it’s time you slept. “Tomorrow is a great day.”
Tomorrow? I didn’t know what was happening tomorrow.
“What’s happening tomorrow?” I asked.
“You’ll have to find out for yourself.” Rotimi winked at me and walked out of the room.
“Rotimi!” I shouted after him, but he didn’t turn back.
That’s a jerk. I’ll have to find out what happens tomorrow.
I stared at the ceiling and thought of what would have happened if that girl hadn’t saved me. The girl’s conversation popped into my head, and I couldn’t help but think about her until I fell asleep. I thought about changing and trying to get better. It could work if I embraced my fears and got proper therapy.
Could the girl help? I thought. °°°°°°°°
“What is this I hear from Loukas?” Amanda’s annoying voice woke me up from my sleep.
“Amanda, you can’t go in there,” I heard another voice yelling inside the room. I’ll recognize the voice anywhere. It belonged to Rotimi. “It’s eight in the morning. Lou needs his sleep.” ”
“And you can’t stop me, Rotimi. You are just a servant and not a member of this family.” Amanda retorted.
“What is your problem, Amanda? I’m in charge of his well-being, and I have a right to decide who sees him. ” Rotimi argued, and they both started yelling, not bothering to think that their noise could disturb me.
“Guys!” I yelled when I couldn’t take it anymore. Their noise affected my head, and I had to place my hands on my head to ease the pain. “Stop shouting!”
“Are you okay?” Rotimi rushed to my side and touched my forehead. “You are burning up.” Yes, I was. Who wouldn’t have a fever if they woke up to noise and problems early in the morning?
“What are you doing here, Amanda?” I ignored Rotimi’s question and turned to face my stepmother.
“Before I say anything, he needs to leave because I need to talk to you in private. Amanda eyed Rotimi as if he was a threat.
“Listen, Amanda; I’m not leaving Loukas’s side because the last time you came, he almost died,” Rotimi answered.
“Then why isn’t he dead?” Amanda questioned
Rotimi gasped beside me, but I wasn’t surprised because she always talked about death around me. “Are you crazy, Amanda? How dare you? ” Rotimi stood up from the bed and walked towards her. They both stood inches apart, and if they had been given the opportunity, they would have hurt each other.
“I am not here for you, Rotimi.” Amanda walked away from him. “Have you signed the papers yet?” She questioned
“Someone almost died, and you are talking about paper. What kind of person are you? ” Rotimi shouted at her. I could see the veins on his neck popping out. He was furious at Amanda, and I knew I had to do something to stop the argument.
“Rotimi!” I called out his name. “You need to calm down, and let’s settle this,” I begged him. Another wave of a headache hit me, making my ears ring. “Ahh!” I yelled and covered my ears.
“Loukas!” Rotimi rushed to my side and lifted me from the bed. He laid my head on his legs and massaged my head.
“It’s nice seeing you babied, but I need those papers right now!” Amanda demanded.
“I threw the papers out. They are probably in the trash now. ” Rotimi answered her.
“Trash!” Amanda let out a scream.
“Stop screaming!” I shouted at her because the noise was becoming unbearable. “I told him to throw it out,” I said, and she opened her mouth in surprise.
Yes, I ordered Rotimi to throw them out because I decided on my life after listening to Rotimi. Giving up was not going to solve anything but only bring more pain. I was willing to get better and take back all I had lost.
“How dare you go against me, you useless thing?” Amanda chuckled as she called me names. “You said you’d kill yourself and sign the papers. That’s the agreement, Lou. ”
Rotimi tried to say something, but I placed a hand on his leg and shook my head as a sign that he should keep quiet. “I have decided to change my mind, Amanda. I am not signing the paper because I have decided to make myself known to the company. ” The news caused Amanda to choke on her breath.
She coughed, and when she recovered, she burst into laughter. I expected her to do that because she never believed I would change my mind. “You!” She pointed at me in disgust. “You can’t even move properly.” She pointed out.
I know that already. “That’s why I’m going to get better,” I said with a smile.
I whispered to Rotimi that I was fine, and he gently placed my head on the soft pillow on my bed. “Is that why you are leaving the hospital? Do you want to come to the company? ”
I looked at Rotimi, who nodded at me. He was behind my discharge because he talked about a big surprise. “Yes, Amanda. I have decided to leave the hospital. ”
“What the hell? You are nothing, Loukas. Your brother had been working effortlessly while your paralyzed self did nothing. You have no right in that company. ”
“Enough, Amanda! I think you forget something about the actual owner of the designs and the company. It is me, Loukas Whitemore. Everything in that company belongs to me! ” I stated that she could know her place.
“We can talk this over, Lou,” she said softly. She sat on the bed and tried to touch me, but I raised my hand to stop her. “Why are you changing your mind? You have hemiplegia, and you are useless without your entire body. ”
“I’m not completely useless, Amanda, and I’m going to get better.”
“Really?” She burst into laughter and slapped her hand on the bed. “You already gave up on getting better. What changed you? ”
“Someone changed me,” I said, remembering the girl who had saved my life. Because she gave me a chance at living, I was ready to risk it all for her.
“Wake up from your dreams, Loukas. I’m going to make sure you don’t get better because my son deserves that company. ”
“I think that’s enough, Amanda.” You may leave now. Loukas needs his rest.” Rotimi pointed to the door.
“This isn’t over. I’ll be back and hope you’ll have come to your senses by then. ” Amanda said as she stood up from the bed.
“I’ve already decided, Amanda.”
“Very well, then. Let’s look at your change of mind, which I’m sure you’ll regret. ” She shouted and walked out of the room.
“Why didn’t you tell me that I was getting discharged from the hospital?” I questioned Rotimi.
“Because,” Rotimi paused and walked towards the room’s entrance. “I think…..” He tried to walk out, but I stopped him.
“Rotimi!” I shouted his name.
Rotimi covered his ears and then started laughing. “Why are you laughing?” I demanded.
“It’s good to see you standing up to Amanda.” Rotimi clapped his hands while I rolled my eyes at him. “You’ve spent a long time in this hospital, and it’s time to leave. I heard about you getting better. Should I call Hillary? ”
My eyes almost popped out at the mention of her name. The word of her name gave me goosebumps. A girl I don’t recognize is making my heart flutter like a teenager’s. “Don’t call her. I was joking with Amanda. ”
“Oops!” Rotimi covered his mouth. “My bad. I already called her. ” He announced and ran out of the room before I could say anything.
“Rotimi!” I shouted, but deep down, I wanted to be better and take back everything I owned.