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

up, glaring and snapping

brain? Will living with it have

her cheek.

must be for her. I can’t ever imagine facing the likelihood

too much to even

lives, and there are others who are affected. She might

speech and hearing issues, or have

a few things that might be affected by the kind of injury to her

for sure. We have to

If she wakes up,

say the words verbally, but it’s in the way he looks at us.

face. Theo pulls her into his arms and hugs her

is nowhere to be seen.

heartbroken parents.

it’s already past visiting hours, you’ll have to

one person in the room with her. Now,

at him, and he leaves just as mom comes back

to me, while Gunner goes to his

Is mom okay?” He looks up at me with hope, shinning

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

sure his mother will wake

tell him that

doctors aren’t sure, Bud. We’ll just have to wait and pray.” I decide to go

and, God forbid, Ava never wakes up, he would end up hating me for lying that his

at me before

1

of silence, I turn and face the

we won’t be able to see her today, I think you should all go home, get some rest, and come

tomorrow.”

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refuse at the same time,

that I’ll let them know if something comes up, but they refuse to budge. In the end, everyone decides to stay except for Emma, Cal, Kate, and

the hospital and that he needs someone with

leave. There is little talking. Mostly

arrives.

sorry I got here late. We had to interview the witnesses about Ava’s shooting. I’m really sorry for

happened to her.”

I nod my head.

“Have you found anything?”

give us anything beyond what we

hoping they would have something. A starting

in any state to be questioned?”

hardens. I know it’s not his fault since he

pisses

in a coma,” I grit