Niklaus' point of view

"How is she, doctor?" I rushed at the doctor when he stepped out of Isabella's hospital room.

"Thankfully, we were able to stop the bleeding on time. If you had brought her any later, she would have been dead," explained the doctor.

I released the breath I was holding in and searched blindly for the wall which I leaned against, using it as support because my legs felt like jelly right now.

"Has your daughter had a history of suicide attempts before?" The doctor asked.

"No," I shook my head, "Not that I remember,"

The doctor pursed his lips," Then this must be her first attempt and something must have triggered that," He glanced up at me accusingly

"I love my kid, I would never push her to the extent she sees suicide as a form of escape," I refuted.

"Then, did she experience something traumatic?" He asked instead but I could still feel his heated gaze regarding me.

"Someone very significant to her just died, I think," was my unsure answer.

"You think?" His accusing gaze returned.

"She slipped off a bridge, her body has not been found yet,"

"Oh," the doctor said but seconds later, his eyes widened with realization," Wait a minute, is that the actress -"

My instant glare shut him up.

The whole country was interested in this case but I didn't like that attention; Maya was not a circus animal.

Most were interested, not because they cared nor hoped for her safety but for gossip's sake. What became of the scandalous actress? Many were eager to know. Maya was truly capable, even in ...death, she could captivate the entire nation for days which wasn't a small feat.

"Well, here is the problem," the doctor continued," An unsuccessful suicidal person might try over and over again especially when depressed,"

Amanda who had been quiet all this while, couldn't take it anymore and began to sob aloud. Well, I could not blame her, she had served me for years and Isabella now was a daughter to her.

"What should I do then to stop her from attempting suicide over and over again?" I inquired anxiously.

"Give her love and attention. Trust me, she needs it now more than ever. But most of all, find something that holds her interest," the doctor said.

"I don't understand," I scratched my scalp," Find something that holds her interest?"

"Most suicidal patients are products of despair and must have lost all aspiration for life. You must find something that she takes fancy enough to hold on for life,"

I threw my hands up, "My daughter has most things other kids wish for and she is quite picky. What do I find then?"

"That's your responsibility, not mine," the doctor said," You're her parent, I'm just a doctor whose obligation is to keep her alive but if I were to suggest to you, start with the smallest things,"

"Smallest things?" My brows knitted together in a frown," What smaller things?"

"That's for you to figure out," he said adjusting his coat, obviously preparing to leave.

Seriously, what kind of doctor was this, speaking in code? Was he really a qualified doctor? Perhaps, I should call for a better, qualified, question clarifying doctor.

"Also," the doctor said on his way out, "Be sure to take her to a therapist when discharged. That kind of scar needs psychological attention,"

Amanda and I walked into her room after the doctor was done with his obscureness.

My heart broke at the sight of my daughter who looked almost lifeless. She had a sickly and pale complexion with slightly blue lips. My gaze traveled to her bandaged arms and my heart broke.

I was so engulfed with my own grief that I didn't stop to think that she was going through the same pain. If I had been a minute late, I would have really lost her, my only daughter and the only person still keeping my mind intact after Maya's incident.

The thought that I almost lost her today made my heart pound and sent chills down my spine.

"I'm so sorry," I took hold of her injured hand and kissed it gently while tucking away her hair from her face.

As much as I wanted to just go out and drown my sorrows in whiskey, I couldn't. I still had Isabella to take care of, in fact, I was the only person she had at the moment; we both had each other.

Maybe that quake doctor was right, Isabella needed something or someone to hold onto now Maya's gone.

"Start with the smallest things," I mumbled to myself.

I glanced up at Amanda who was busy arranging Isabella's stuff and trying not to weep- she knew I hated that. Well, to be clear, the previous me hated that. Now, I know not all tears are meant to manipulate me. There were still ten percent of sincere tears left.

"Amanda," I called," Get me Pedro and Anabelle here as soon as possible"

"You think that's going to work?" She sniffed.

"I don't know but I have to try," I said to her, feeling my beard-ridden jaw. I had five days of stubble on my face.

"Alright," she dropped the fruit basket on the bedside table and left to make the arrangements. I knew Eden wouldn't dare refuse me Anabelle, he and I still had a score to settle.

He blamed me for whatever happened to Maya but he allowed that incident to happen in my absence after claiming to have feelings for her.

I didn't come with a change of clothes but since Isabella was still resting, I took that opportunity to freshen up, I stank. As expected, I put Isabella in a VIP room with all the necessary equipment to make her stay comfortable.

Isabella was still not up by the time I was out. So I sat at her bedside, deciding to have a little rest before she comes around.

But after a while, I woke up startled from my sleep when my hand felt around her bed only to come up with nothing.

My eyes snapped open, her bed was empty "Isabella? Isabella?! Dammit!,"

I pulled out my phone," Isabella left her hospital room, find her at once!" I barked orders to Lucas who I was sure was somewhere around the hospital.

Amid her little injury, she stubbornly followed after me although maintaining a safe distance from me.

I went ahead to search for my daughter too and almost gave up when I reached the lobby. But my eyes widened when I captured her small figure in the hospital gown reaching for the revolving door leading outside.

"Isabella!" I yelled her name and she turned around only to hasten her steps after seeing me.

"Fuck you"

I ran after Isabella, capturing her just outside the entrance and attracting people's attention- not that I cared.

"Let me go!" Isabella cried out, kicking quite vigorously if I might say.

"I'm sorry but I can't grant ...oof!" Isabella elbowed me quite hard in the guts which made me release my hold on her but she was not through.

She kicked me in the place where the sun never shines. A strategy which she learned from training to paralyze an enemy when helpless. Damn you, instructor! I did not have him train her to be used on me.

Oh God, veins sprouted from my neck and I groaned, going down to my knees; the pain was massive.

"Come back here!" I ordered her amid the agony I was in. Gosh, I hoped my future generation has not been smashed.

Isabella did not obey and continued to run but unfortunately for her, bumped into Lucas who immobilized her at once before she could retaliate.

"Let me go, I need to find Maya!" Isabella screamed, struggling against the unfazed Lucas.

At once, a train of doctors rushed outside creating quite a commotion. Lucas must have alerted them cause they pranced in their direction.

"Are you okay?" One of them helped me to my feet.

"Don't worry about me, get my daughter first. I'll come for an examination later," I winced, walking one-sidedly.

Isabella upon seeing the doctors coming in her direction became hysterical which prompted Lucas to hold her down forcefully.

"No, you don't understand, I need to find Maya!" She kept screaming at the top of her lungs even as the doctor administered her with a sleeping drug.

The sight broke my heart that tears slipped down my eyes unknowingly. I hated seeing her being manhandled this way but it was for her safety.

Isabella wasn't thinking straight in this state and might try to harm herself again. This was for her good. She might loathe me now but she would come to thank me later.

The drug kicked in almost immediately and she fell asleep on the doctor's arm who took her back to the hospital.

"Thank you," I said to Lucas after the doctors and their apprentices left.

"Is nothing," she waved it away.

"And I'm sorry for shooting at you earlier, it was - " I apologized.

"No, I was the one who spoke out of place," she took the blame.

"Why are you here?" I couldn't help but ask, " Of all work, why a bodyguard?"

"I'm sorry, I have my reasons but believe me when I tell you that I would not bring harm to your daughter nor you," she told me.

I scrutinized her deliberately and found out she was indeed telling the truth, "What's your name then? Your real name" I insisted.

"Linda," she answered," Linda Rosemound," her eyes captured my limping," Are you okay or do you need help with -"

"I'm okay...Linda," or will be after confirming my future generation hasn't been crushed like an egg.