NOT AGAIN, MR CEO
CHAPTER 1
CELINE'S POV
“I can't believe we're really doing this!” I whispered against his chest.
The cool breeze thugged at the hem of my short, flay gown as I relaxed myself on him.
“We're unstoppable, baby!” Adrian murmured, pressing a kiss against my lips as he pulled back the strands of hair covering my face.
“Graduation today, wedding next week, and honeymoon in London!” Adrian retorted, making my face radiate with a wide smile as one who has no single problem.
Seven days.
Just seven days left, and I'll be married to Adrian Scott, the only man I ever loved beyond reason.
Adrian swept me into his arms and spun me around, making me forget all the heat I had faced in the exam hall.
Our classmates were cheering, tossing their caps into the air in celebration, but Adrian and I found a perfect way to celebrate our final exams.
“I can't love…” I paused, and immediately pulled back from Adrian's embrace with a frown when I felt a rough brush on my shoulders and the loud echo of a hiss.
“Mtcheeww!”
“What was that for?” I queried, my voice raging in anger as soon as I spotted the person from the back.
“Nora!” I screamed her name angrily, and she turned, shooting me an angry glare as she stood under the nymph tree with her hands folded.
“Uhmm, I think I have to leave you guys from here. But, just take it easy on her, babe; I know it was not intentional.” Adrian whispered to calm me down before he left for his car after giving me a soft kiss on the forehead.
"Nora, why do you have to do that? Come on, our wedding is in a week's time, and I don't appreciate this act of hatred towards my man!" I queried as I approached her.
"Neither can you force me to like him!" Nora said firmly.
"Look, Celine, I know that you love Adrian, but do you think he's worth all the love from you? Marriage is a different institution altogether; think about it deeply," Nora added, tilting her head while fixing her innocent eyes on me.
"You know what, Nora, I just need you to be plain with me. Have you ever caught him cheating on me, or is there something you've heard about him?" I asked, throwing an inquisitive look at her.
Nora was silent for a while, as if reminiscing about the perfect answer to give me; meanwhile, I kept my eyes fixed on her without blinking.
After some seconds, she took a deep breath and shook her head negatively.
"I've never caught him, Celine. But…"
She instantly went mute when the peace of the whole surrounding was interrupted by a sharp screech of tires splitting the air.
"Oh my goodness!" What is happening?" I exclaimed in shock, and before I could turn to get a glimpse of the cause of the sound, I saw Adrian's car rolling backward—in fact, it wasn't rolling–It was flying towards the gutters.
The crash echoed through the courtyard like a gunshot.
"Adrian!!!!!" I screamed and ran towards the scene.
"Nooooo!!! This can't be happening now!" I cried out at the sight of the shattered glasses, trapping my fiancé, who was drenched in blood and lying almost lifeless.
"Someone call the ambulance!" I screamed.
"Adrian, please, you can't do this to me! Adrian, you have to open your eyes and promise me that nothing will interrupt our wedding.
I need you to***." I cried beside his unconscious body as we alighted the hospital.
"Why should my happiest day turn out to be my greatest nightmare?" I wailed, looking up to the heavens for a miracle.
The hospital waiting room reeked of antiseptic. I sat frozen in the molded, tiled seat.
My hands trembled as I viewed my graduation gown wholly soaked in sweat and fear, with speckles of Adrian's blood all over my shoes.
I couldn't stop screaming until the paramedics pulled me back with a tap.
“You have to calm down, miss. Screaming won't solve anything.”
***
Now, I have to welcome silence and cry only in my heart.
I wiped off my face with my handkerchief and turned, and there stood Nora, keeping a pale face as she crossed her arms tightly.
"Cel...." She began softly, but I flinched and interrupted angrily.
"Nora, don't! Please just don't start it."
Suddenly, the door of the emergency room creaked open.
I ran towards a middle-aged doctor that stepped out with his coat badly stained with blood and a grim face.
"Are you the family of Adrian Scott?" He asked.
"Yes! Yes, sir, I'm his fiancée!" My body was trembling so badly that I nearly stumbled.
The doctor took a deep breath, fixing his innocent eyes on mine.
"He's alive. But his spine... The impact was severe. We've stabilized him for now, but the injury might be permanent. I'm afraid he might not be able to walk again." The doctor explained.
I became numb and squeezed my eyes shut, hoping it was just some rough thoughts, but I had to believe everything to be true when I opened my eyes and saw Nora, still standing with her graduation gown beside me.
I felt like someone had yanked the floor beneath me.
"H...he can't... He's an athlete, doctor. He..." My voice broke.
"Please tell me this can't be true, right, doctor?" I cried softly.
"I'm sorry." The doctor's voice softened.
"You can see him now. He's been asking about you." He concluded and moved to the next ward.
Before I took a step, Nora reached into my arms, "are you sure you're okay?" She asked calmly.
At first, I shook my head negatively, but after a second thought, I nodded positively.
Even though I'm not fine, I just have to be.
I walked into the hospital room like a ghost. Adrian lay motionless and pale against the white sheet.
His legs were covered in bandages, and a neck brace, holding him rigid.
But his eyes, those familiar dark eyes, fluttered towards me, and his lips curled up in a weak smile.
"Hey," he whispered.
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
"You almost scared me!" I said with a grin.
"Guess I just wanted you to marry the cripple version of an athlete!" He joked faintly.
Gently, I reached out for his hand and clutched it against my chest.
"You're not crippled. You're alive, and that is the only thing that matters now, babe," I told him with an assuring smile, but instead, he looked away.
"The doctors said I may never walk again." He said weakly.
"Then we'll figure a way out." I said fiercely.
"We'll do therapy and travel for treatment. I'm not giving up on you, Adrian.
His lips began to tremble.
"Are you sure you still want to marry me?" He asked, peering at me as if looking for something he had lost.
"Of course I do." I said firmly with a broad smile, and immediately, Nora's hiss and quiet scoff echoed from the doorway.
The moment I turned and our eyes met, she murmured, "You're making a big mistake, Celine!
"I shot her an angry glare and turned to focus on Adrian, but my eyes caught him throwing a mischievous smile at Nora.
Immediately, he pulled his brows together in a pretending frown.
“Isn't he supposed to be angry at her for such a statement? Then why's he smiling instead?” I thought to myself.
I knew that something was off, but I couldn't just lay my hands on it.
