DON’T STOP (Lila and Darrell) novel Chapter 150

Red Hearts 150

Scarlett

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The ambulance ride to the hospital was a blur of flashing lights and frantic voices. I sat beside Viktor the entire way, holding his hand tightly as the paramedics worked on him. His blood was still warm on my fingers. Every second felt like an eternity.

He was rushed into surgery the moment we arrived. I paced the waiting room for hours, my clothes still stained with his blood, my mind replaying the moment he pushed me out of the way over and over again.

His parents arrived shortly after. They looked devastated when they saw me sitting there, eyes red and swollen.

“What happened?” his mother asked, her voice trembling.

I told them everything

the car, how Viktor had shoved me to safety, and how he had taken the hit instead. They didn’t say much, just sat with me in heavy silence.

Rose came the next day. She looked pale and nervous as she approached me in the hallway outside Viktor’s room.

“Scarlett… I’m so sorry,” she said quietly. “I never knew you two were dating. I was trying to… you know, get closer to him. I thought I still had a chance. I didn’t mean to sabotage anything. I’m truly sorry.”

I stared at her for a moment, too exhausted to feel anger or anything at all. I couldn’t believe he hadn’t even told her we

were over.

“Are you okay though? I heard you had an accident the last time.”

She nodded. “Yes, I’m okay. It was just a little accident. Minor injuries. I’m fine now”

We didn’t talk much after that. She left soon afterward.

The doctor finally came out with an update. “The surgery was a success. We managed to stop the bleeding and repair the damage. But… we have to wait for him to wake up. To be honest, we’re not entirely sure he will. The impact was severe, and his body went through a lot. All we can do now is hope and monitor him closely

Those words haunted me.

Every single day after that, my routine became the same. I would visit Viktor in the morning before work, sitting by his bedside, holding his hand and whispering apologies. Then I would go to the office, trying to focus on my tasks while guilt and depression weighed me down like lead. In the evening, I would come straight back to the hospital, staying until the nurses gently asked me to leave.

I wasn’t eating properly. I wasn’t sleeping. The stress was eating me alive. My only wish was for him to wake up so I could beg for his forgiveness and take him back. I missed him terribly – his shy smile, his gentle kisses, and the way he had looked at me like I was the only person in the world.

It was during one of those visits that I noticed his glasses on the bedside table. The lenses were cracked from the accident. I picked them up carefully, tears filling my eyes again. Even his glasses had broken because of me.

“Please wake up, Viktor,” I whispered, placing them back down. “I’m so sorry. I love you. Please come back to me.”

Days turned into a week, then two. He remained unconscious, machines beeping softly around him. His parents visited often, sometimes sitting with me in silence. Rose came once more, offering quiet support.

I kept hoping. Every morning I told myself today might be the day. Every evening I left the hospital with a heavier heart. The guilt never left me. It grew bigger with every passing hour.

10:18 Thu, Aug 6 JON.

DON’T STOP

All I could do was wait… and pray that the man I loved would open his eyes again.

One ordinary afternoon at work, my phone rang.

It was the hospital.

My heart leaped into my throat the moment I heard the nurse’s voice.

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“He’s awake,” she said. “Viktor woke up about an hour ago. He’s stable, but still a bit disoriented. We thought you’d want to know right away.”

I was so happy I could barely breathe. Tears of relief immediately filled my eyes. “Thank you. I’m coming/right now.”

–

I rushed to my team leader’s desk, barely able to keep my voice steady. “I need to leave. It’s urgent – someone very important to me is in the hospital and just woke up. I have to go see him.”

She looked at me with sympathy but shook her head. “Scarlett, we’re in the middle of a major deadline. If you leave how, during peak hours, we’ll have to let you go. I’m sorry, but that’s the policy.”

I didn’t even hesitate.

“I understand,” I said, already grabbing my bag. “But I have to go.”

I ran out of the office without waiting for her response. The taxi ride to the hospital felt endless. My hands were shaking the entire way. All I could think about was seeing Viktor awake, holding him, telling him how sorry I was and how much I loved him.

When I finally burst into his hospital room, several people were already there – his parents, a couple of doctors, and a nurse checking monitors.

I didn’t care.

I ran straight to the bed and threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whispered, my voice breaking with relief and love. “I was so scared. I’m so sorry for everything.”

We stayed like that for a long moment, just holding each other in silence. His body felt warm and real against mine. I could hear his heartbeat, steady beneath my cheek.

Then he gently pulled me away.

I looked at him, smiling through my tears, expecting to see the same love and forgiveness in his eyes.

Instead, he stared at me with polite confusion.

His parents were standing nearby, smiling softly at the scene.

“I love you, okay?” I said, the words pouring out. “Viktor, I love you so much. I love you, I love you… and I want you back. Please.”

He looked at me for a long second, then asked softly, “Who are you?”

The words hit me like a physical blow.

1 froze. My smile faltered. “What…?”

He gently pushed me away, enough to create distance. His expression was kind but completely blank

at a stranger.

–

like he was looking

Everything crashed down on me at once. The room started spinning. My chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe.

10:18 Thu, Aug 6 JON

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