2• The Accident

Roman woke up with a banging in his head and a stiffness around his legs. He could feel a sharp pain in his spine and groaned loudly, wondering what sort of pain that was.

“Where am I?” He said but his voice was a mere whisper because he could barely speak out loudly.

The banging was severe and the pain increased. Roman tried to adjust himself and ended up worsening it. This time, his screams rang through the halls of the hospital and the nurses came rushing in to his aid.

“It's okay, sir. Just calm down, you're going to be alright.”

The nurses tried to help him lie correctly but he could not stop staring at them with confusion.

“Where am I?” He asked, his anxiety ripping off his heart, “what happened to me? Why do I feel so much pain and I cannot feel my legs.”

He panicked and his body was soaked in perspiration.

The nurses exchanged glances before telling him his fate.

“You were in an accident, run over by some lady. She dumped you here and disappeared. We have not seen her for a week.”

Roman felt anger surge forth from his chest. He could not control the rush of rage that rose from within him.

“How could someone do this to me and disappear just like that?”

The nurses bent their heads in pity for him.

“Why can't I feel my legs? It just feels like I don't have legs anymore but I can see them.”

The nurses exchanged glances again and wanted to push the question aside.

“Look, Mr. Roman Black, you will be just fine. You just have to let it all slide. Just get well first. Your health is your priority.”

Roman did not fall for that. He could sense that there was something deeply wrong with him and they were keeping the information away from him.

“What aren't you telling me?” He fired them with more rage, his fists clenched even with the canular fixed to it.

“You may never walk again,” one of the nurses reeled out, shifting her gaze from his sullen stare.

The words she spoke caused Roman to growl out in frustration. His face turned red as he groaned loudly.

“Mr Roman, please calm down. Your life is more important now,” the nurse tried to calm him but Roman wasn't listening.

His heart was torn apart. He could not fathom how anyone would do that to him and get away with it.

Meanwhile, Amanda Campbell, the culprit who had put Roman in that state was living her life as though nothing had happened. Unknown to her, pictures and video recordings were taken by a few passers-by, the day of the accident and they were about to be released on the papers.

Especially since there was no news of her taking care of the victim or any statement released by her family.

Chris Campbell, Amanda's father, was in his office and he got a call from the News Daily company director.

“Good morning Mr Campbell; News Daily on the line.”

Chris was worried as to what they wanted from him all of a sudden.

“How can I help you?” Chris asked with anxiety clearly spelt out in his voice.

“I am aware that you are a good man, Mr. Campbell. You are one of the few wealthy fellows who give back to the community hence, I would not bear to sit back and watch your family image tarnished in this form because I feel you could take hold of this.”

Chris was confused. He was wondering what the news director had to say about his family that would make him call.

“Can you go on with it?” He asked politely, “I am a bit too anxious about what you have got to say.”

“Well, a video got to my company and was sold to us by some well meaning individual. This video contains clips of your daughter, Amanda, running someone over a few days ago and disappearing. More like a hit and run case. Are you aware of this?”

Chris Campbell was dumbstruck. The phone almost slipped out of his hands.

“What?” He managed to ask, fury breeding in him. “I had no idea that such a thing happened. My Lord! Is that evidence clear enough to show that it is truly my daughter?”

“Absolutely sir. However, we have the entire clip and paid off the seller handsomely. I will send it to your personal mail right away. Please, I knew you must have had no idea.”

“Do you have an idea how I can figure something out where this victim is?” Chris asked, his voice shaking through the phone.

“We did our investigations, he is at Royal Hospital and your daughter has not shown up after she dumped him there.”

Chris could not control his rage. He thanked the director and asked for the company account details to wire some

money to them as gratitude.

Then he called in his secretary.

“Tell my drivers we are leaving right now!” He ordered and began to pack up his things. All he wanted to do was to get to his daughter and drag her by her hair to the hospital.

“Such a cruel girl!” He groaned, still shocked that she behaved in such a manner.

Once Chris got to Amanda's workplace, he sent his driver to get her. As she walked towards him, he was surprised to see how full of life and happy she seemed.

There was no atom of regret on her face.

“Hey Dad,” she smiled, getting in the car and kissing his cheeks. “Are we finally having that outing?” She asked with excitement in her voice.

Chris pushed her away and faced her with his furious gaze, trying to recollect his thoughts.

“Are you okay, Dad?” Amanda asked, shocked by his expression and the way he had pushed her away.

“You are a cruel lady!” Chris raged, “is this how I brought you up?”

Amanda was startled. She could sense where this was headed but she still tried to feign surprise.

“What are you talking about Dad?” She asked, swallowing the lump of saliva that gathered in her throat.

“How could you hit and run someone over, dump him in the hospital and disappear without informing me?”

Amanda's face turned blue with fear and she put her face down in shame, avoiding her father's angry face.