Ex-Husband's Regret

First Suspect
Chapter 116

“What do you mean she slipped into a coma?” Theo asks with an unmistakable tremble in his voice.

My heart was once again thudding against my ribcage. It felt like it wanted to punch a whole right through my fucking chest.

I try to think clearly, but it’s like my brain can’t function. Time slowed down as the doctor spoke. All I

heard was a ringing in my ear.

I stumble back and fall on the seat I had vacated. Gabe and my dad put their hands on me, but I shake

them off. I didn’t want their comfort. I wanted the doctor to tell me that the surgery had been a success

and that in a few hours Ava would wake up.

“She had a total of four bullets. One hit her head, the second hit her chest, the third hit her stomach, and

the final one hit her thigh. We were able to remove three of them successfully, except for the one in her

skull. It was lodged too deep and removing it would have killed her.”

Fuck. I don’t know what to feel or think about that. He is telling us that Ava will have to live with a bullet

stuck in her head. How is any of that fair? She was okay this morning before things took a turn for the

worst.

‘At least she’s alive,‘ a voice whispers.

I ignore it. She was alive, but would she stay alive? That was the main fucking question.

over, had to drill her skull to drain
“We were able to stop the bleeding, both internal and external. We,

fluid, which helped with the swelling in her brain. She flat–lined twice. It’s after the second time that she

slipped into a comma. For now, she’s in ICU.”

If I thought nothing could hurt me worse than seeing Ava get shot, then I was wrong. Hearing that we

almost lost her twice destroyed me. It is like being stabbed by a thousand sharp knives. I wouldn’t wish

anyone this fucking pain. Not even my worst enemy.

“Will she wake up?” I breathe hoarsely. “Will she be able to make a full recovery?”

“At this point, we can’t really say. This isn’t an induced coma, and we can’t assure you that she’ll wake up

in a few days. She might wake up tomorrow, in a few days, in a few months, or she might not wake up at

all. For now, we’ll give it a few days to see whether she’ll wake up.”

The possibility that she might not wake up nearly brought me to my knees.

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+15 BONUS

think like that. She’s strong; she’ll wake up. In

and snapping at

living with it have any effect on

her cheek.

begin to imagine how hard this must be

It’s just too

lives, and there are others who are

things, have speech and hearing issues, or have trouble recognizing

numbers. These are just a few things that might be affected by the kind

we can’t say for sure. We have to

If she wakes up,

way he looks at us.

fall down her face. Theo pulls her into

nowhere to be seen. The only ones standing in their place are

heartbroken parents.

hours, you’ll have to come

one person in the room with her. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my

and he leaves just as mom comes back with

while Gunner goes

He looks up

a parent. Knowing whether to tell your kid the fucking truth or lie

his mother

tell him that she’s

have to wait

would end up hating me for lying that his

at me before looking at the

1

silence,

we won’t be able to see her today, I think you should

tomorrow.”

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at the same

if something comes up, but they refuse to budge. In the end, everyone

I tell them that Noah can’t stay in the hospital and that he needs someone with him. Cal agrees for the sake of Gunner. The boy was already yawning even though you could see the worry in his

they leave. There is little talking. Mostly we just sit in silence, that

arrives.

to interview the witnesses about Ava’s shooting. I’m really sorry for

happened to her.”

I nod my head.

“Have you found anything?”

couldn’t give us anything beyond what we

they would have something. A starting

state

and my voice hardens. I know it’s not his

just pisses

in a coma,” I grit