Love Worth Fighting For

242 Christian’s big regret

“Come in, madam,” Nicholas said politely to Anne, who had just driven Charlotte home. “It’s cold outside tonight.”

Anne took a deep breath. “I have to adjust to this situation, Nick. In the future I will be in the hospital more often.”

“Maam....”

“But it’s ok,” said Anne again. “For the sake of Luna’s recovery, I am willing to do anything for her.”

Nicholas did not respond to Anne’s words, as one of the people who witnessed Luna’s life journey full of struggles since she was born, Nicholas knew that healing for the little princess who was now the center of attention of all Clarke family members was a miracle that would be difficult to happen. Luna’s heart condition, which has been disturbed since birth, is really not easy to handle.

With trembling lips Nicholas said. “Miss Luna will definitely get better soon, madam. No result betrays effort.”

“Amen.” Anne responded quickly to Nicholas’ words. “Okay let’s go back inside, I have to accompany Jack to eat. He’s the only person who hasn’t eaten since this afternoon.”

Nicholas backed away, giving way to Anne who was going back into the hospital. Nicholas just stepped back after Anne walked down the aisle of the children’s hospital that Jack bought a few months ago specifically to treat Luna, Jack who was so serious about trying to do anything for Luna’s recovery did not hesitate to pour millions of dollars to renovate a children’s hospital. whose conditions are not too comfortable to become a children’s hospital whose comfort is equivalent to a hotel.

Anne stopped her steps not far from Jack who was sitting alone near the balcony, in the man’s hand was a glass of wine whose contents were still intact. Not wanting to see her husband drinking alcohol, Anne immediately quickened her pace towards Jack. Arriving beside Jack, without permission Anne snatched the beautiful glass of red wine from Jack’s hand.

.....

“Anne...”

“This is a hospital, watch your attitude.” Anne immediately threw the contents of the crystal glass into the drain that was near her feet. “Even though this hospital is ours.” Anne resumed her words before Jack wanted to speak.

Jack smiled a little. “I just wanted to keep myself warm, Anne.”

“Warm up doesn’t have to be alcohol, Jack.”

Jack took a deep breath, slowly turning his face upwards to stare at the darkness that had begun to envelop the earth. “Looks like God is punishing me, Anne.”

Anne’s face immediately changed. “Jack...”

“If only I hadn’t been so cruel to Elena at that time, maybe none of this would have happened. Luna would have been born in perfect health, without any problems coming to her like now.” Jack continued his words in a slightly quivering voice, full of regret. “Since she was born, Luna has never been separated from needles and drugs. And to be honest it makes me so tormented, I really can’t imagine how sick Luna must be when she has to get injections like that.”

Anne squeezed Jack’s arm gently. “Don’t talk like that, Jack. No one in this world can know the future, and neither can we. We didn’t know something like this would happen either, did we? what happened to Luna. All of this is part of our destiny, Jack. And I’m sure we will all get through this.”

Jack slowly turned his gaze to Anne who had just spoken.

“We’ve been through more serious problems than this decades ago, Jack. I’m sure even now we can get through it again,” said Anne again.

“But what we went through decades ago was very different from what is happening now, Anne.” Jack immediately responded to Anne’s words quickly.

Anne took her husband’s hand, which was already very cold, gently. “I know....”

“The victim of my selfishness this time is Luna. That innocent beautiful baby, Anne. I really have become a failed grandfather, I used to make Christian lose his twin brother and now I make Luna born faster by her mother so all misfortunes have to happen to her.” Jack’s voice shook violently when he spoke, even though he had said those words to Anne many times, but every time he spoke, Jack always couldn’t control himself. Jack feels that what happened to Luna right now is his fault.

Anne closed her eyes, again having to hear the series of painful words she had heard for the past few months that made Anne speechless. Luna’s presence in their midst since eight months ago had completely changed Jack’s personality 180 degrees. Likewise with Christian, Christian, who is known to not talk much, has become increasingly closed and looks even more terrible in the eyes of his business rivals.

“How long are you going to be like this, Jack?” asked Anne quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“Yes, like this, lamenting all that has happened,” said Anne coldly. “How long are you going to keep hurting yourself like this? If you continue like this, then the one who will lose the most is me. I will lose my children, husband and grandchildren.”

“Anne...”

Anne, who couldn’t stand Jack’s attitude that kept on lamenting the mistakes she had done, then rushed away from Jack, her goal now is where Christian is. Even though she knew that she wouldn’t be able to talk to Jack that way, Anne was determined to pour her heart out to her beloved son who was so fragile. Anne wants to return her son to the way he used to be, she is too tired to see the two most precious men in her life continue to sink like now.

After convincing herself, Anne finally sat down next to Christian who had closed his eyes.

“Can Mommy talk, Christ,” said Anne quietly.

Christian opens his eyes slowly. “What are you talking about, Mom?”

Anne smiled. “How about we talk outside?

Christian frowns.

“There are Suri and Areez looking after Luna,” said Anne in a low, half-whispered voice as she turned to Suri and Arez who were sitting next to each other not far from where they were at the moment. “Only five minutes, Christ.”

Christian who had hesitated finally decided to accept his mother’s request to talk outside, realizing that the wind outside was so cold, Christian took off the jacket that wrapped his body and put it on his mother who was greeted with a very sincere thank you from Anne.

“Mommy wants to talk to you about something serious, son.” Anne reached out to Christian, asking her favorite son to sit beside her.

Without arguing, Christian then sat down next to his mother who then immediately gripped his hand tightly. Anne who didn’t want to waste any time then let out all the things that had been bothering her for the past few months With this in a slightly hoarse voice, Anne knew what she said would hurt Christian’s heart, but because she had no other choice, Anne had to say all that to keep her family together.

As long as his mother is talking, Christian doesn’t talk at all. He kept his lips tightly shut and let the tens of hurtful words enter his head.

“Mommy doesn’t mean to add to your burden, Christ. Mommy has to do this, Mommy doesn’t want to lose you,” said Anne quietly in between her last conversation. “Mommy wants you back like the Christian that Mommy used to know.”

Christian who had been lowering his head slowly raised his head and looked at his mother who was also looking at him. “According to Mommy, after what I’ve done all this time to take care of Luna, can Elena forgive me?”

Anne’s heart beat fast.

“Elena won’t be able to forgive me, will she!” Christian answers the question he previously asked himself in a trembling voice. “Of course it’s true, if she forgives me she should have come back to me by now to see the condition of Luna who really needs it.”

Anne, who had decided not to get carried away, quickly wiped her tears. “Elena is making up her mind right now, Christ. Mommy is sure sooner or later Elena will come to see her daughter.”

“How much longer do I have to wait for Elena, Mom? I’m afraid of Luna ...”

“Shhhh...don’t talk nonsense.” Anne immediately stopped Christian’s words. “Luna will be fine, you have to be sure of that.”

Christian nods his head slowly, though the look of fear remains on his sad face and looks so different from Christian Clarke a year ago. Christian Clarke now looks much thinner and unkempt, though that doesn’t detract from his good looks. But still for Anne, as someone who is so close to Christian can see clearly the destruction of her son. And Anne will not stand by to see her son slowly crumble like that.

“Right now, live your life well again. Don’t keep thinking about the mistakes you’ve done to Elena, also remember that right now you have a big responsibility to Luna. If you continue to regret everything that has happened like this, you will fall ill , Christ. If you are sick, then who should Mommy take care of? Mommy can’t possibly choose you or Luna, that’s why Mommy asks for help, don’t be like this. Go back to being Christian Clarke, whom Mommy is proud of,” said Anne at length.

“Can I do that, Mom?” Christian stammers. “It’s so hard, the image of Elena’s face lying on the bed after giving birth to Luna eight months ago keeps following and haunting me.”

“Yes,” said Anne softly. “You are a great and strong child, Christ. Since you were in Mommy’s womb you have proved it, so Mommy is sure that you will get through all this.”

Christian squeezes his fingers tightly, the words his mother just said have the effect of making his chest feel a little warm. With puffy eyes, Anne grabs Christian’s body and hugs him back tightly while whispering, “We can definitely get through this, Mommy’s sure you can get through it well, Christ.”

“Thank you, Mom...thank you for being by my side through all these difficult times,” Christian replies hoarsely.