Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever
Chapter 777: Broken bonds

Chapter 777: Broken bonds

Ian sensed the anger radiating off Noah and he had an inkling as to who might have called. Who else could it be than Jared? He was the only one who could piss off Noah in such a situation.

Ian wanted to ask more about it. But when he saw Aria and Oliver on either side, he gave up and continued to hold them and support them silently. His curiosity could wait, Aria and Oliver needed him more at that moment.

Noah’s jaw ticked in anger and he felt miserable. His phone dinged and he looked at the video message Jared had sent him. However, he didn’t dare play the video. It would only break him all the more and he didn’t have the courage to view it.

The door to the OT opened again and one of the assistant surgeons walked out. Ian sprung to his feet, startling both Aria and Oliver who were leaning against him.

"Doctor, what’s the status?" It was only then he noticed that more than three hours had passed since the surgery had passed.

"The situation is still critical and we’re doing our best. Doctor Davis, we’re being hopeful that we can save the patient. Fortunately, she’s not brain dead yet. Otherwise..."

Ian understood what the doctor was trying to say and he nodded lightly. "Is there anything required of me?"

"Yes, I need another portable MRI machine. Let’s hope for a miracle."

Barely had he finished speaking when the nurse ran out. "Doctor, we’re are losing the patient."

Her panicked voice broke everyone’s spirit and Joshua ran inside the OT before anyone could stop him.

"Joshua!" Ian shouted in alarm and ran after him.

Aria too was about to follow him when Noah stopped her.

"Let go of me," Aria shouted as she cried hysterically. She struggled to escape from his hold. But the man only pulled her harder towards him and embraced her, restricting all her movements.

"Let go of me," Aria screamed as she trashed in his embrace. She even went ahead as to scratch his arms.

Noah hissed in pain. But he didn’t let of her and held her tight. He didn’t speak a word as he continued to hold her close to him and eventually, Aria gave up fighting. An overwhelming sense of exhaustion hit her and she leaned against his chest as she continued to cry.

Helpless and broken, Noah led her back to the chair and sat in between the father and the daughter duo as he held their hands. ’Please, Ivy. Please just come back to us. Just return to us.’

Meanwhile, Joshua was like a madman as he entered the OT. Seeing him inside, the surgeon cursed loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Get him out of here." He yelled as he continued to operate on the patient.

"Ivy, you cannot leave me. You can’t." Joshua cried as he pushed everyone in his path.

Ian tried to hold him back. But the man used all the energy in him and scrambled towards Ivy before holding her hand. It ruined him to see the state she was in. She was barely recognizable and her head was split open.

Joshua felt his heart constrain and he felt suffocated. Yet, he didn’t let go of her hand and stared at her lovingly.

"Ivy, sweetheart. Please come back. I love you." Joshua cried holding her hand. However, there was no response from her. "Ivy, please say something. Don’t be like this." Joshua kissed her hand, but Ivy had long made up her mind. Only a miracle could make her come back to him.

"Ivy..."

Ian hauled Joshua out of the OT using all the strength in him, letting the doctors do their duty.

"Have you lost your freaking mind?" He shouted. To say he was angry was an understatement. He was beyond incensed and all he wanted to do was punch the insensitive man before him.

"Ivy is inside. I need to go to her. She needs me." Joshua cried and tried to enter the OT again But Ian pushed him away until he lost his footing and fell to the floor.

"And why would you want to do that? Why are you so concerned about her all of a sudden? Where was this concern when you brutally broke up with her?" He hollered and Joshua lowered his head in guilt instantly.

"Didn’t you break up with her? Why are you putting up an act now? And what did you say? You love her. What bullshit!" Ian was like a feral beast as he continued to unleash his wrath on the man whom he was ashamed to call his friend.

"I should have known. You are just a playboy. What do you know about feelings and love? Love?" Ian sneered. "That word sounds ridiculous from your mouth." For the first time in his life, he felt disgusted with his friend and started to loathe him.

"Tell me. Why did you break her heart?" Ian was mad. Since the time he had found out about Joshua and Ivy’s break up, he had been fuming. But he had been holding it in all along. But not anymore. Joshua’s mindless act had broken the last straw.

"What did Ivy ever do to you?"

"I..." Joshua’s lips trembled as he felt all the air in his lungs being sucked out. Ian’s every question, every word was like an arrow hitting his body.

"What? Tell me your reason for breaking up with her." Ian demanded and squatted in front of Joshua to face him. "And look at me in the eye when you speak to me. Since you have the guts to hurt her, show the same guts and tell me the reason."

"I did it to..."

"To?" Ian probed when Joshua hesitated.

"To...to..."

"To?" He prompted again.

"To protect myself." Joshua fell apart completely.

"Why?" Ian was not convinced by his answer.

"I was scared."

"Of what?"

"That Ivy would leave me too."

"Like Amber did?" Realization dawned upon Ian and he felt like smacking the dumb man.

Joshua remained quiet and his silence said it all.

"Bravo, Joshua Martin. Bravo." Ian clapped, his eyes filled with nothing but bitterness. "You wanted to protect yourself from getting hurt so you hurt the girl who loved you so dearly. Bravo. I should commend you for your thinking."

"Do you know Ivy was thinking of proposing to you today?" Noah questioned harshly from where he was and looked down at Aria and Oliver. But they didn’t react. They had no idea what was happening around them. It was as if they had gone numb to their surroundings. But he had heard Joshua loud and clear.

"What?" Joshua was shocked and he looked at Noah incredulously.

"Yes. She wanted to propose to you today but changed the plan at the last moment. She felt you’d not be ready for marriage yet. And you say you wanted to protect yourself from getting heartbroken again." Noah’s expression was unfathomable and he had the same feelings as Ian towards Joshua.

"I don’t know what happened between you and Amber," Ian added all of a sudden, forcing Joshua to look at him. "What Amber did to you in the past was her fault. But what you did to Ivy today is your fault, Joshua. To protect your heart, you broke Ivy’s heart. How are you any different than Amber?" He spat and every word of his was coated with venom.

"Both of you are utterly selfish and inconsiderate and I pity Ivy for even loving you. She deserves better."

Ian stood up and looked down at Joshua. His anger and hatred had long taken over his emotions and his feelings of friendship and family towards Joshua had crumbled completely.

"I’m never going to forgive you for what you did, Joshua. Never, not until Ivy forgives you at least. Pray that Ivy survives the surgery. Otherwise, I’ll kill you myself and make sure you beg for her forgiveness in your afterlife."