Paige woke up hazily from bed after hearing sobbing sounds. She got out of her room and traced the sounds to Jessi's room and opened the door immediately.
Jessi was having a bad dream as she continued to sob in her sleep. This alarmed Paige and she quickly sat next to her and attempted to wake her up.
''Jessi, Jessi, wake up'' she called out her name to no avail as the girl's sobs became increasingly loud. Her body was convulsing and perspiration appeared on her forehead.
Paige rushed back to her room and brought back a thermometer to check her body and realised that she was burning up with fever. She took her phone that she had brought into the room and made a quick call to Carlien who answered it after the third time.
''Carlien, I need help. Jessi is running a fever and it's serious''
''I will be there right away'' Carlien said and the call went off.
''Paige picked a towel and wiped Jessi's face and furrowed her brows seeing the frown in the girl's face.
Soon, Lucas and Carlien arrived and they were able to send her to the hospital.
Paige and Carlien watched as Lucas stabilised Jessi's temperature. He was finally able to calm her down and she fell asleep before he turned to the door where the ladies were.
''How is she doing, Lucas?'' Paige asked, her voice laced with worry.
''She is fine. The therapy has taken a toil on her body lately. She will be fine after getting some rest''
''She did so well lately. I was beginning to worry that she was channelling her frustration into healing'' Carlien added.
''She was mentioning some incoherent things that I couldn't piece together. she kept saying ''big sis, don't go, don't leave me alone', I couldn't get her to say more because to her, it was a dream'' Paige said, remembering the words Jessi was saying subconsciously.
''Could this be connected to her accident?'' Carlien turned to looked at Lucas.
''Maybe, but we can't be sure until we ask her about it'' Lucas added.
''I will stay with her tonight. You two are on night duty, you should go back in case someone needs your help''
''Oh, call us if you notice any changes or if Jessi wakes up''
''Alright'' Paige looked at Jessi for a while before pulling the chair to sit by her side while Carlien and Lucas went out.
Walking towards the general wards, Lucas suddenly held Carlien's hand and pulled her closer to himself.
''What are you doing? What if someone sees us?'' she tried to pushed him away but he wrapped his hands tightly around her slim waist.
''You haven't given me an answer yet'' he said to her.
''What answer do you need?''
''I asked you to be my girlfriend'' he said and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
''I…''
''I know what you are thinking but why don't you give us a chance and see how far we can go?''
''Okay, you win''
''It's that a yes?''
''Yes, but, I need to prepare Paige's mind before. she still doesn't like you much because of the past''
''I will work hard to earn her trust. After all, she is someone you care about. I will not only earn her approval; I will also earn the approval of everyone around you. Your mother, your family and our future children''
''Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?''
''Carlien, I am all yours. You have to be responsible for me now that I am yours''
''Cheesy, let go. I need to go my rounds'' she hit his hands away and ran off and he trailed behind her.
…..
Early the next day, Jessi opened her eyes to see Paige sleeping by her side. She had her head placed on the bed beside her. She tried to lift her hand and accidentally woke her up.
''Jessi, you are awake?'' Paige's sleep vanished the moment she opened her eyes.
''Big sis, what happened to me?'' she looked at herself after realising they were in the hospital.
''You fell sick in the middle of the night'' Paige stood up and touched her forehead, ''you had a fever and we had to bring you here. thankfully, your body calmed down after Lucas gave you some shots and a drips. How do you feel?''
''I feel much better. Did you sleep here the whole night?''
''Yes, I was worried that you would wake up sick again, here, have some water'' Paige poured a glass of warm water for her.
''Thank you'' after drinking the water, she gave the glass back to Paige and she set it back on the table.
''I will get Lucas to check on you''
''Big sis, she pushed me into the car'' Jessi said as tears trimmed down her face. Paige's body stiffened as she turned back to look at Jessi.
''What did you just say?'' she asked Jessi again to be sure of what she was hearing.
''That year I chased after Yvonne to not leave us alone. She was trying to get rid of me while I held on tightly to her luggage''
''Yvonne pushed you on to the road?''
''She was with a man. the man was asking her to leave me and get on the plane with him so in order to get me to leave her, she pushed me into the road but even after I was ran over. I don't remember much again but when I woke up in the hospital, she was the first person by my side and she told me that if I told anyone that she was the one responsible for my accident, she was going to make sure that Jordan get entangled into the whole mess. She said she was the one Jordan loved the most and that telling him that she is the one who caused the accident was equally blaming it on Jordan''
''Jessi, why didn't you say it all this while? Why did you choose to keep quiet for someone like that woman who only cares about herself?''
''I was scared that it was going to turn into a huge problem. Jordan was already blaming himself for what happened. I didn't want to be a burden on him or anyone''
''It's alright. actually, Jordan had opened investigation into the accident. Yvonne was questioned a few days ago but she kept saying that she didn't have any hand in what happened''
''I'm sorry for keeping this to myself, big sis''
''It's alright. Yvonne still has to pay for what she did. Even if it was an accident, she was the one who pushed you into the coming car. Joel's dashcam caught the entire act but because you haven't said anything yet, the police didn't know how to proceed. I will call Jordan and let him know that you are ready to speak about the accident''
''I will tell you everything that happened and how she threatened me into keeping silent all these years''
''You have to do that. Rest for a while. I will get you something to eat' Paige tucked Jessi back into the bed and covered her with the covers before stepping out of the ward.
She found Carlien in the kitchen preparing food when she reached their quarters. ''Hi'' she greeted her and slumped into the couch.
''You are here? I am preparing some millet porridge for Jessi. I made omelette and cocoa tea for you'' Carlien pointed at the breakfast on the table.
''Why are you treating me so well. Fess up, what do you have to tell me?'' Paige said, going over to the table. Carlien only made efforts into preparing such kind of breakfast for her when she had something to say or confess a crime she had committed in her absence.
''Aye, Ye woman of little faith!!! Do I have to have something to confess before I treat you well? I am the 'Queen' of a country, yet I made efforts to make you a delicious breakfast. you should thank me and be grateful for it instead of being a doubting Thomas''
''Tell me the truth. You have something to tell me, right?'' Paige washed her hands before sitting down to eat the breakfast.
''Right, I have something to tell you'' Carlien turned off the fire and covered the pot of millet porridge before going over to sit across Paige.
''I'm listening, tell me''
''I'm dating Lucas'' Carlien said and Paige almost choked on her egg. She coughed and Carlien passed her a glass of water.
''You are what?''
''I like him. We started dating last night''
''Whoa. Way to go'' Paige put the glass on the table and looked at her, ''do you like him that much?''
''En, I really like him and I want to give us a chance''
''Does he treat you well?''
''He does, in fact, he treats me so well''
''Then, it's good''
''Huh? It's that all?''
''What? Were you expecting me to be against your relationship with him?''
''Well, not exactly''
''Lucas is a good man and he has changed a lot since knowing you. If he treats you well and you also like him, I won't be against it but, if he ever hurts you, don't blame me for been ruthless towards him.
''Paige is the best'' Carlien stood up and hugged her.
''One more thing, Jessi finally opened up about the accident'' Paige announced.
''She did?''
''Yes, this morning, before I came here. she also agreed to go and make a statement at the police station''
''That's great. So, what exactly did she say?''
''She said she will tell you herself. Send the porridge over to her. I have to wash-up before I go back to the hospital. I have a surgery today and I have to call Jordan and inform him''
''Okay, on it'' Carlien kissed Paige's cheek before going to get the porridge.