Saving the Villain

[ Welcome to Volume 4 ]

PROLOGUE

Asher was staring at Mia, sitting in the wheelchair in front of the window of the hospital room. He was just standing in the empty space of the room, forgetting how long has it been standing in the same spot without moving or saying anything. The look in his eyes, however, was full of sorry and deep regret.

"Mister Quinn."

Asher snapped his eyes ever so slowly, turning to his right when a doctor entered the sliding door. The doctor, who was looking after the patient in this room, bowed. He approached Asher, the guardian of the patient.

"How was she?" asked Asher without beating around the bush.

The doctor let out a deep exhale, hugging the chart and setting his eyes on Mia. He only stared at her for a moment before he looked back at Asher, shaking his head mildly.

"It'll take some time to treat her," said the doctor with a heavy heart. "The patient had gone through a lot and is clearly traumatized. She barely responded during the test we had conducted."

The doctor gave out a detailed report regarding the patient. He was aware of what the patient went through, and even the doctor couldn't believe the horrors Mia survived. Although the doctor was also aware that the patient was previously Asher's fiancee, he admired Asher for taking care of her despite the man's current situation.

"We just have to be patient, Mister Quinn, and hope that after all the therapies, she will be able to live a normal life," the doctor added, hoping for the best for this survivor.

Asher kept his eyes on Mia and nodded.

"Do everything you can to help her recover," he said in a low tone. "Give her the best treatment and notify me if there were other methods we can try out. She's a poor woman who got everything taken away from her, and even lost her child from all that abuse she survived from."

"Yes, Mister Quinn." The doctor huffed, eyes pooled with determination. "We will do our best to help her."

Asher remained silent for a minute before he faced the doctor. Out of courtesy, the doctor walked him out of the room. As the doctor slid the door closed, he cast Asher a look.

"Are you going to visit your wife now, Mister Quinn?" he asked, and Asher stopped in his tracks.

Asher slowly set his eyes on the doctor, and the latter pursed his lips into a thin line.

"I'm sorry," said the doctor apologetically, as if he just had a slip-up. "I won't overstep again."

Asher remained silent, ignoring the doctor's words of apology. He didn't idle for a long time as he silently sauntered off, his hand in his pocket. Meanwhile, the doctor let out a deep exhale as he slapped his lips mildly.

The doctor then lifted his eyes and caught Asher making a turn at the end of the hallway. Another deep sigh escaped his nostrils.

"Poor man," he whispered, shaking his head. "What's the use of his wealth when everyone around him was either hospitalized or dead?"

Although the Quinn family kept a private life, the people in this hospital, especially those in charge of the VIP patients, knew a bit about the Quinn family. How? Because they had been regulars for the past several months.

Nothing was disclosed, but there were rumors going around that Asher Quinn offended a Don of an international crime organization. Just the thought of a crime organization was enough to send a chill down one's spine. This rumor, although not confirmed, the doctors and nurses think there was some truth in it.

After all, not long ago, the second young master of the Quinn was proclaimed dead. And now, Asher's ex-fiance was said to be abducted and only rescued. Who else would abduct her if not some fearless felons? But the most tragic thing about Mia was that the people who abducted her didn't know that her engagement with Asher was canceled because Asher had another woman.

It was a complicated relationship, but others believed Mia was just a front to hide Asher's real lover and now his wife. Some said Mia and Asher's relationship was a total misunderstanding as the two were just friends, and Asher actually had a fiancee but chose to keep it private.

No one actually knew the real story except Asher, but what was certain was that Mia wasn't Asher's wife.

"He protected his wife, but…" the doctor sighed as he walked back inside Mia's room, sighing for the umpteenth time. He raised his eyes at the patient, thinking that this poor woman was simply a victim of the complicated life of the rich and madness.

The doctor hugged the chart, keeping his attention on the patient.

"No amount of protection can protect someone who is terminally ill, and money can only slow down her death," he mumbled. "Surely, it is a tragic story."

The doctor idled and savor the depressing feeling of his patient's life. After a minute, he huffed and forced a smile, approaching Mia happily.

"Miss Mia," he called gently, but the woman didn't look at him. He stood behind the wheelchair and told her it was time for her to rest, before slowly wheeling her back on the bed.

*****

Meanwhile, after Asher visited Mia, he went straight to the elevator. But instead of going down, he went two floors above the floor where Mia was staying at. On the top floor of the hospital were the VVIP patients admitted.

Standing in front of a particular door, Asher closed his eyes and breathed out. He balled his hand into a tight fist, letting out a sharp breath as if he was about to meet a very important person. He looked a little nervous — or he was just terrified to see the person inside this room.

People always say if someone does something every single day, it would become easier. However, Asher disagrees with that. Coming in here every day wasn't easy; it was just getting harder and harder, almost unbearable. Even so, Asher would still come here even though every time, a piece of his heart would fall.

'I wonder… just who I am to her today?' he wondered, before taking a step forward, entering the room that had the name of the patient attached to the side of the door.

The name was… Cosette Blac - Quinn.