" Gwenie , I was worried about you. " Bain hugged her. "
" I'm alright. We all are. Well , except for Ryan. " Gwen sighed. She was exhausted. She wasn't sure all this activity was safe for her and the baby. Her knees were weak.
" I got you. " Alec placed his hand delicately on her waist and led her to a chair. He handed her a glass of water. " You need to see a doctor too. "
" No. I'll just rest. " She let her body melt into the seat. Her muscles were a stiff as wood at this point.
" Well , your mom's with Louis. He turned up pretty badly beaten up. Doctors say he has an abnormal amount of drugs in his system."
Bain frowned.
Gwen's heart skipped a beat upon hearing his name. He remembered what Richard said back at the house. She felt an overwhelming feeling of guilt. How could she face Alec?
" How is he doing ? " Alec spoke as he held her hand. His expression didn't change. This only made Gwen feel worse.
How could anyone be this understanding? She bit her inner cheek to stop her tears.
" He hasn't said a word since he got here." Bain spoke as he stretched his neck. He couldn't remember when he last slept in a bed.
" Mr. Reinster ? " A doctor announced as he approached them. He face was unreadable but he maintained a subtle smile. " Can I have a word with you...alone? "
He smiled again.
" This is family. No need to hide anything. " Alec pursed his lips.
The doctor nodded to Gwen and Bain.
" Well , I come bearing no good news , unfortunately. " He frowned but kept his smile. " Your father's body has been exposed to the toxins from this poison for way to long. His vital organs have been damaged. There's nothing else we can do but let him go. "
Alec didn't say anything. Bain and Gwen's gazes were unconsciously fixed on him. They didn't know how to react.
Was this good news or bad news?
" Can we see him? " Gwen placed her other hand on Alec's as she asked the doctor.
" Yes. But I doubt he'll respond. He's in a coma. "
" You've changed. " Marylynne looked at the child she once carried in her womb for nine months. His eyes were like an abyss. Like he'd seen he'll.
Louis didn't react. He simply stared blankly at the ceiling.
" Mom ? " Gwen opened the door. She hugged her mother who looked like she'd been in tears for a while now.
" Are you alright. Bain told me what happened?" She kissed her daughter's hands.
Gwen looked at Louis. He was badly beaten up.
" I'm alright." She kept her eyes on Louis. His hands were cold and his eyes were distant.
" I know what you did , Louis. " She put it simply.
There was a slight shift in his gaze. His eyes flickered for a second.
Gwen gripped his hand tightly.
" It's okay. " She spoke with tears. " You can still start over. We're here for you. "
Louis didn't know what to tell his sister. All he could do was stare at that ceiling. He couldn't look them in the eye.
The room was silent.
Just then , a nurse knocked on the door asking for Gwen. " Everything is ready. You can see Mr. Reinster now. "
" Okay. I'll be there. " Gwen nodded.
" What's the matter?" Marylynne asked .
" Alec's dad's been admitted. Things don't look good. Chances of him surviving are close to none. " Gwen closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.
" My goodness. " Marylynne shook her head. " You go ahead , sweetie. I'll look after your brother. "
" Okay. " Gwen left the room.
Marylynne turned back to Louis who seated upright now. His eyes dark as the night sky. She was startled.
" Honey , what's wrong ?" She was confused by his actions.
Louis got off his bed and pulled out the tubes in his arms. Marylynne tried to stop him in a panic but he pushed past her.
" Louis!" She chased after him.
" Mom , I said I'll be back. " His voice was low and clear.
Marylynne stopped in her tracks. Something was off.
Louis kept limping as he walked but the pain was nothing compared to his determination. His eyes darted across the hallway looking for that nurse.
His heart was pounding.
" Excuse me sir? " A voice called out from behind him.
It was the nurse!
He smiled. " I was looking for you. I would like to know what room Mr. Ryan Reinster is in. "
The nurse was confused. He looked disheveled and barely holding on to his senses.
" That information is reserved for family. I'm sorry. " She smiled nervously. " I think you need to lie down , young man."
" I'm family. " Louis smiled. " My sister is his daughter-in-law. Gwen , the lady you just called for. "
" Oh...but..." She winced when Louis grabbed her by the elbow.
" Please. " He stared deep into her soul like he was letting her know that he wasnt asking.
" Room 148. " She yelped as she tore her arm away from him.
" Won't you say something? " Gwen looked at Alec who just sat there by Ryan's bedside.
" I doubt he'd be able to hear me. "
" You won't know unless you try. " Gwen suggested.
Alec sighed. " I don't have anything to say...Nothing at all. "
Gwen hugged him from the back and they sat there in silence.
" Slow down , Ruth. " Derrick pulled her back. " You'll get hurt. "
" I want to see him. " She smiled with tears in her eyes. " I know he's not a good man...but he's still my daddy. "
" I know. " Derrick smiled. " I know. "
" We should go. " Alec rose from his seat. " You need to get some rest. "
Gwen shrugged her shoulders. " We should stay longer. "
" I-" Alec was cut short by a nurse who stormed in.
" I'm sorry. I tried to stop him but he just wouldn't listen!" She was hysterical.
Louis came limping in .
" What the fuck Louis ?" Gwen was baffled.
" I'm sorry. I just needed to say something to him. " He smiled.
He limped to Ryan's bedside. He was directly opposite from Alec and Gwen.
" I don't think you're in any condition to be walking around. " Alec stated.
Louis smiled again. " Don't worry. I'll be quick. Then I'll leave. "
Louis looked at Ryan sleeping so peacefully. Why did he get to die so beautifully ? Surrounded by family and lying in a comfy bed? No. He didn't deserve this.
" Louis. " Gwen was uneasy. " What do you want ?"
He looked up at her and a tear fell from his eyes.
" I'm sorry. "
Before she could blink , he pulled out a scalpel and dug it deep into Ryan's throat. Blood shot in the air and the nurse's screams filled the room.
Gwen didn't know when she started to scream as well.
" Louis! " She stretched her hand out to him but was quick to drive the same scalpel deep into his own throat.
The room was spinning. Everything was spinning. Why was this happening ? Gwen clutched her hair and tried to stop herself from throwing up.
Alec just stood there with his eyes glued to Ryan's neck which was open now. He didn't blink.
FOUR MONTHS LATER.
" You look amazing . " Marylynne and Freya smiled as they finished getting Gwen decked up.
It was her wedding day.
She looked at the woman in the mirror. The woman she'd become. The wife she was about to become. She placed a hand on her beating heart. This was scary.
She wanted to faint from excitement. Who knew white would look this good on her?
She looked at her two mothers balling their eyes out . They were adorable.
" Are you done?" Ruth barged into the room. Her baby bump was starting to show.
" Yes. " Gwen spun her dress around.
Ruth laughed. " I told you guys to get married after having a kid. Your baby bump is showing. "
She gently rubbed it. " But you're still the prettiest lady here. "
Gwen hugged her warmly.
" Enough of this! " She wiped her tears as she yelled. " Let's go!"
They all burst out laughing. For a moment everything felt right , but ofcourse alot was missing.
Louis would have been thrilled to walk Gwen down the aisle. Her heart sunk at the thought of him being dead.
Ryan died too , Richard was in jail and his sister Katherine took over his legitimate businesses. Alec made sure his father's empire of darkness came to an end.
He and Derrick were fully invested in their businesses. Speaking of Derrick , he'd been getting offly comfy with Katherine.
Alec kept teasing him about how he'd always end up with women with kids who weren't his.
Ruth was ready to begin her journey as a single mother. She didn't want to chase after what wasn't hers anymore. Leo agreed to be responsible for the child , but that's all he could offer her.
And Bain , well, he'd found his forevermore. He got married to Freya as soon as she was able to sit up. Right there in that hospital room.
He didn't want to take anymore chances.
Gwen thought about all this as she walked down that aisle. Bain had tears in his eyes as he walked with her. She knew her father would be watching from above.
She tried to play it cool but just the sight of Alec standing all tall and handsome at the end of the path made her sway with joy. He was her future, her present ...her everything.
This was the beginning of her life. This was all she wanted , all she needed.
He had the gentlest of eyes and the softest of touches. He took her hand from Bain and kissed her forehead.
" Are you ready to spend eternity with me? " He asked innocently.
" Forever and always. " She smiled.
" Forever and always , Gwen. "