Chapter 8. A New Birth
A while after darkness descended on the earth and everything went bank, Vanessa suddenly began to hear the whispers of people.
Then, amidst the whisper came the faint cry of a baby—one in particular.
“Don’t take him away from me, please” She muttered to herself unsure of her environment and what was going on around her.
It was a tough struggle. fight. Work.
At some points the doctors and nurses became confused, perplexed and disoriented.
Vanessa's case was becoming more complicated that they could handle.
Machines kept beeping. Doctors ordered nurses on the next surgical tools to get. Tension filled the air.
It was all a mayhem. A sudden disaster. But the fight continued. To keep that one soul alive.
In the end, life prevailed over death.
Those efforts. All of them. Made Vanessa struggle to open her eyes.
At the sight of Vanessa's weak eyes, a glimmer of hope washed through the surgeon's face.
“ Guys, She’s alive!” Doctor John's voice called the attention of the other nurses moving up and down the theater room.
The tension that had once settled in the air, now worn away gently, replaced with victory and joy unspeakable.
They had to do their best in saving Vanessa. The kids need her alive. Her father does too.
“ Monitor her pulse closer. "The surgeon ordered his assistant, not willing to take chances.
“It’s normal, doctor,” the assistant replied, a little out of breath.
“ We have to keep monitoring her. She is not completely saved yet”
The surgeon realized that Vanessa was suddenly beginning to slip off their hands again.
Doctor John has been practicing surgery all the years of his life. And in his field as being a general surgeon, he has never seen a case as critical as this.
One moment, his voice echoed with fear. Vanessa was almost slipping off again. The woman who just opened her eyes moments ago has suddenly become cold. Stiff. Motionless.
Heat surged and drenched the surgical clothes of all in the theater. Sweat poured down their bodies in exchange for a life they were about to lose.
Miraculously, and just then…
A shift occurred.
Vanessa's weak pulse and breath began to normalize.
This is a miracle— one of its kind.
Vanessa just kicked her left legs, making her recovery noticeable.
“She’s alive. We made it” Doctor John screamed, suddenly collapsing on the floor after fear gripped his chest.
“ We made it!” the other nurses and assistance chorused.
A miracle. That, it was called.
The good news spread throughout the entire hospital. It eventually hit Richard in the reception room.
He thought he was going to lose her. He stood with weak legs clouded by strange and horrible feelings— death.
“ Vanessa is alive,” a nurse announced to him all of a sudden.
Unaware of himself, Richard rushed, hurrying to the theater room without being invited.
Was it true?
Those were his thoughts while racing to the theater.
At the doorway however, he was denied access to enter. The doctors assured him his daughter and her kids were safe.
This was all Richard needed to hear.
Some hours later, Vanessa was moved from the theatre room and taken to the ward where she could be monitored closely.
In the ward, she was handed one of the boys while Richard leaned by bedside, carrying the other.
“ I almost lost you” Richard reached out for Vanessa's hands. “ Thank you for fighting to stay alive.”
Vanessa did not respond at once. She pushed a finger inside the palm of the child and muttered something inaudible.
“Ethan”She thereafter called. He was the first to be delivered.
Richard quickly understood what was going on. Vanessa just named one of the twins . He handed her the other boy and she called his name Elon.
The child, Elon, gave a weak smile as he felt his mother's warm hands wrapped around him with love and devotion.
Days later, Vanessa was discharged from the hospital and moved back to her father's house.
“ I hope you will still find this place comfortable as always. I will never let you leave my sight anymore. Never!” Richard assured.
“Thanks, Dad,” Vanessa responded without looking up from her kids.
Lydia was all by her side, assisting her with the kids.
“ Vanessa,” Richard moved closer to the bed. “ I understand why you're being cold around me. But whatever the case may be, I want you to know that I would always love you and stand by your side”
“ And I would not make you regret picking me up, Dad,” she replied impulsively. Her attention was fixed on Elon, who was lying in her arms.
Amongst the two kids, Elon took the resemblance of his Dad, Alec. This traumatized Vanessa.
Each time she sees Elon, she remembers him. Alec and the pain he caused her.
Richard sighed before standing up from the bed. He planted a kiss on Elon and Ethan's forehead before planting another on Vanessa's.
Even though he has been a bad father in the past, he was willing to make it up to his daughter and grandsons.
“ I'll be in my room. I should give you some space to regain your sanity” He said softly. He knew his daughter was still mad at him. She needs space too.
“ Dad,” Vanessa's voice interrupted sharply.
Richard turned to her. “ Do you want to talk about it?”
“No,” Vanessa nodded. “ Can you do me a favor?”
Richard walked back to the spot where he sat earlier. He was glad Venessa was beginning to loosen up.
“Let me do you this favor, Venny” His hoarse voice was filled with fatherly love and care.
To Richard, this was the right time to win Vanessa's love and attention back.
He looked around. The kids were already sleeping so he quickly dismissed Lydia just to have a private discussion with his daughter.
Shortly after Lydia left, the room became still.
Richard sat patiently, waiting for Venessa.But she was taking a longer time to make up her mind on what favor she was requesting.
“ Anything bothering you?” He spoke first, ready to offer his unwavering support.
“ I'm worried” Vanessa's voice was steady but her face was clouded with pain buried in her heart yet visible to her father.
“ What are you worried about?” He asked, taking her hands. “ I am here for you, you can tell me anything”
A grin escaped from Vanessa's lips. All of it shows how deeply hurt she was.
“ I needed my Identity changed, Dad. Can you do that for me?” Her exterior almost frightened Richard.
He glanced at her.
She seemed transformed, exuding a newfound aura of strength, replaced by her once ordinary, frail and vulnerable nature.
Richard could not place his observation rightly. But he saw that transformation. A changed personality. Something unspeakable in his daughter.
“Why do you need your identity changed?” Richard's throat dried up.
Venessa hesitated before speaking. Her once calm and naive exterior was now replaced with something hidden and unpredictable.
“Alec” She replied shortly.
“ Why Alec? Is anything the matter?” Curiosity flushed Richard. He seems lost or something.
“ I want to protect my kids from him” Venessa's words came very shortly but with authority.
Very unusual and unlike her.
“ Protect your kids from their father? Are you sure about that?” Richard didn't understand why Vanessa wanted to do such a thing.
“ This is what I want,Dad” Venessa turned her fire blazing face to her father. “ Vera Archibald. I chose to retain that identity from now on also”
Richard didn't need to pressure Vanessa over anything. Hearing her changed her last name to his name gave him joy and a sense of belonging.
He smiled. Almost weakly. “If this is all you need, then be rest assured. I will do even more than that for you”
“ You will also promise to protect and defend my new identity” Her eyes flickered with something deep. Maybe sinister.
“ You're my only daughter, Venny. I'll do anything to support and protect you” Richard affirmed.
It was clear from the way he sounded that he loved Venessa and her kids dearly.
“ No one must find out about my kids.” Vanessa's voice laced with threats.
“ Vera” He called her new name. “ I want you to trust me. I won't betray you like I did in the past”
She immediately hugged her father, smiling little.
Hope. A glimmer of it washed through Richard's face. He has been hoping for a time like this.
And now, it has come.
While they hugged, Venessa sobbed on Richard's shoulders.
Richard allowed her to sob. He wanted her to pour out the pain In the heart so she could embrace the new woman she has become from that moment.
“ It's hard to let go. He hurt me deeply” Venessa kept sobbing, pouring out her heart to her father.
“ You have to let go now” Richard patted her shoulders gently, his voice soft.
Suddenly.
Venessa stood up from beside her father and was walking to the door.
“Where are you going?” Richard was puzzled.
“ To get my hair trimmed down” She smiled softly . “ I am no longer the Venessa with long hair. I am now Vera Archibald. The daughter of a prominent businessman and a billionaire”
She smirked at her after and shut the door.
From that moment onwards, a new woman emerged.
Vera Archibald.
Everything about the old Vanessa was then buried in the fire that allegedly roasted her alive some months ago.