Three days passed, and it became worrisome. Three days felt like years when Oddey was still not awake, and loved ones were getting on edge, yet still hoping that she would come out from the deep sleep.

Leon had not been resting and just stayed in the hospital. Also, he had not been going to the office or at least worked for a while too to make designs for his elite clients. Nothing was more important than his daughter.

Although Eva took care of everything even though she was just as distraught over the girl that treated her like her own, after seeing the state of her fiance, she needed to be his rock.

The friends, Rita and Felix, could not visit since they had a lot to do for school. They were hoping that Oddey was already well, and everything was back to normal so they could hang out again. Being in the university was not the same anymore without their artsy pal tagging along with the couple.

Rita missed having her bestie and roommate with her. The dorm room just felt so big and very quiet. She missed going to the art room, chatting with Oddey about everything while she painted. The laughter and secrets they shared felt like they never happened.

Felix also missed having a dear friend like Oddey. A more reliable human being to be around than his two friends combine altogether. However, after confiding to Gage about their friendship towards one another, it had been improved. Still, in his books, Oddey was a better friend. He missed the support she gave towards anything, asking her for paint, and used her brush for his clays.

As for Gage, he could not stop looking at his phone to wait for Eva to text him. There were messages that he sent, asking any updates about his Juliet. There were responses, just not much of a news that Oddey was getting better. He still intended to see her in person. It just didn't seem possible after last time.

In class, and in practice, he kept checking for any notifications. Even a small vibration, he would take it out from his pocket, too, if it was from Eva. Nothing. No other news had appeared on his screen.

He would do that while also rehearsing in the auditorium. The theatre club people were saddened that their absentee that one of their members was in such a state. They knew that it was the Romeo's father was responsible, though good thing, they did not diss the Romeo himself for it.

Most of them missed Oddey, especially the set and prop designers. They loved working with her since she made work fun for them and admired how great of a leader she was to them without being bossy about it.

Then there was Madame Vestia. She had to look strong in front of the students because on the inside, she was also in pain that her favorite art major was not sick, but in a coma. The professor missed how passionate Oddey was in her field and how she loved to express her in her classes. It felt like the heart of the art studies, ripped off from them, and threw it in a cruel way.

Of course, the only person who did not miss her was Courtney. Hearing the members talking about Oddey annoyed her, and that includes her two friends. She did not know what was worse, the art student's existence, or being absent? Either way, it just sowed a seed of agitation in her.

As for Gage, school had not been easy for him. He checked his phone a lot to see if Eva had texted him, even though he was on his classes and rehearsal in the auditorium. The guy could not help but get anxious every time his phone buzzed, and it was not from the person he wanted to hear from.

It was practice time again in the auditorium, while the professor directed the other actors for a different scene. Gage and Courtney were rehearsing privately by the seats, reading out loud their lines on the script.

"Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near the day: It was the nightingale, and not the lark. That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree: Believe me, love, it was the nightingale," Courtney recited.

"It was the lark, the herald of the morn, no nightingale: look, love, what envious streaks do lace the severing clouds in yonder east," Gage said as he read his script then glanced at his phone then back to the script.

"Yon light is not day-light, I know it, it is some meteor that the sun exhales, to be to thee this night a torch-bearer, and light thee on thy way to Mantua: Therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone."

"Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death. I am content, so thou wilt have it so. I'll say yon grey is not the morning's eye, tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow. Nor that is not the lark, whose notes do beat the vaulty heaven so high above our heads." The Romeo could barely focus because he kept looking at his phone, which agitated his co-star.

"You know what!" Courtney exasperated, then stood up. "Let's just take a break."

"Court, I'm sorry, I'm just waiting for updates about Oddey," Gage apologized.

"Yes, it's pretty obvious. Will it kill you to take an hour of your time and attention for practice?"

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?"

"You know what, save it. I'll just go with people who can focus on practicing." After that, the frustrated actress walked away in a huff.

The Romeo was left there by the auditorium seat, already feeling even more stress than ever. He could admit it to himself that he was distracted that it was affecting his activities and also the people around him. However, no one could blame him either, knowing that there was a lot going on in his life.

----

Meanwhile, in the hospital. Leon walked to the parking lot with his eyes on his phone to answer a message. To his surprise, as he looked straight ahead, there was Marie getting out of a car and immediately spotting him. "Hal!" she called out then rushed to him.

Not interested in dealing with his ex-wife, the man averted his view and just kept walking past her to get his car. "Sorry, ma'am, you have the wrong person," he said bluntly. "I'm not Hal."

"Fine. Leon, I need to have a word with you." Regardless, Marie went after him. "And I'm not leaving until we do."

"I don't have time. Call my secretary for a schedule." Leon just kept walking fast to get away.

Although, the woman was persistent to confront him. "How could you? You banned my son into seeing your daughter, and also, you told your bodyguard to drag him out in front of so many people."

The CEO stopped for a bit to face her. "I'm sorry, I understand that that's upsetting for you, but had he left gracefully, then it wouldn't have reached to that."

"I don't need you to apologize. I just want to talk to you about letting my son see Odette."

"I have legal rights, Marie, and I will use that to protect Odette. You're a parent. The least you could do is understand where I'm coming from here." Leon resumed walking away from her while the woman followed him again.

"Your problem is with Adrian, and I completely understand that, but what do you think Gage would do to her?"

Leon halted and darted to his ex-wife. "I don't have to explain myself to you. If I don't want your son to visit my daughter, then that's it."

"Really? That's it?" Marie scoffed. "What about what your daughter wants?"

"Don't you perceive to know what my daughter wants," The man snarled that he even had his finger on her face. "She's in a coma because of what your husband did."

"I know, and I hate him for that, but please, Gage shouldn't be punish for this. He didn't do anything wrong."

"Go home, Marie. You're just wasting your time here," Leon responded.

"Gage rushed her here in the hospital! Isn't that enough?" The ex-wife argued. "Had he not gone there to the drive-in..."

"I don't want to hear any word from you." The man headed to his car. "Besides, I offer to pay him for that, but he refused."

"I get it!" The ex-wife said loudly that made the man stop his track with his back turned, not wanting to show how hurt he actually was. "When you see Gage, you can't help but remember the time how Adrian and I betrayed you."

The pain returned in the successful CEO's heart that a tear came out from his eye, and clenched his fist so tight that he could crush a brick in his hand as he felt that anger from the affair that happened almost a decade ago. "Just leave, Marie, and tell your son to stay away," he warned tearfully. "Or so help me God, I'll..."

"You'll do what? Hurt him? Kill him? You don't scare me because I know you so well, and I know you could never do such things." Marie gazed at him with this begging look in her face. "Leon, please, I'm not asking for myself, but for Gage. He loves Odette. They love each other."

Leon turned around, "Shut up!" he yelled. "I don't want to hear it."

"Well, it's the truth!" The woman went closer to him. "And you know that. It's not fair that you took advantage of using the coma to deprive your daughter to have Gage by her side. How do you think she'll feel about that?"

"You know what, you're right. I don't want your son to see Odette because he is yours and Adrian's bastard. What father would I be if I associate my daughter with a child who's a product of infidelity and a manipulative killer?"

That was not something any parent would want to hear about their child. Marie slapped her ex-husband on the face so hard that there was a mark left on his cheek. "Insult me and Adrian all you want, but don't ever talk to my son like that," She scolded.

"I have more to say just so you know. If you don't want to hear them, then leave now before I ask security to throw you out."

Gage's mother was determined that she stood her ground right in front of her ex-husband. "We are not going anywhere until you let my son see Odette," she told him.

"Are you serious?" The man snickered. "Good luck with that because I have somewhere else to be." Then was about to head to his car. All of a sudden, Marie ran up to him and grabbed his arm. "What the heck?! Let go of me."

"No!" Marie cried, then got down to her knees to the floor while pulling her ex-husband to stay where they were.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Leon, I know I hurt you. Believe it, or not, I feel so guilty ever since."

The ex-husband tried to pull himself away without hurting the pleading woman. "This is not going to change my mind. Now, get up!"

"If you want to punish anyone, punish me. Do what you want with me. Whatever makes you content. All I ask is to allow my son to be with your daughter," the woman begged. "Adrian tore them apart, don't make the same mistake."