Falling For The Girl I Bullied
Chapter 46

Ethan’s P.O.V.

“There is no way, honey, that I will let you stay alone. I have already talked to Samantha and I ensured her that I will take care of you until you heal completely”, mom told Violet in a stern tone. Mom wanted Violet to stay with us in our mansion until she heals completely. Of course, Violet didn’t want to go with us but mom was determined to take her with us home. After giving us a proper checkup the doctor discharged us from the hospital. Kyle took the day off from school but he had to go back for practice in the afternoon. The doctor asked me to stay away from the court for a minimum of two days if I wanted to play this Saturday. Violet needed to stay home for more days as her injuries were more severe than mine.

“But, Mrs Parker”, Violet opened her mouth again in protest and my mom glared at her, making her shut her mouth. I smiled and looked at my mother proudly. My mother was the sweetest and loveliest lady that I have ever known but she could be scary any time she wanted. Violet was now looking at her helplessly. Mom packed our things and then looked at me. “Ready to go now?” she asked me and I nodded in response. She then rang the bell to call a nurse. Violet couldn’t walk due to the injuries in her lower ribs. “Please arrange a wheelchair for her”, mom requested the nurse who came after sometime.

I walked towards Violet’s bed. she was still in a dilemma. “Don’t worry… we will not bully you in my home”, I said to her in a very low tone teasingly. She pursed her lips into a thin line and lower her head. I saw her fidgeting with her fingers on her lap. She was still hesitant, but I was glad that mom didn’t want to leave her alone in this condition. I didn’t know why mom insisted on taking care of her but I was glad that she did. Violet had no one at home to take care of her. Her neighbours were kind people but they also had their own families to take care of. I didn’t know anything about her guardians. I didn’t know what kind of people they were and whether they would be able to come here at this time or not.

“Let’s go”, I said to her in a gentle tone, and raised my hand towards her. She reluctantly put her hand in my hand. I grabbed her hand cautiously and then helped her getting off the bed when the nurse brought the wheelchair for her. I also have pain in my injuries but that was bearable and I could walk on my own without any help. It was not the same with Violet. She winced in pain when she moved her legs and her body. I immediately wrapped my other hand around her shoulder and took her weight on my body.

After settling her into the wheelchair comfortably, the nurse drove her out of the room with me and mom. One of our maids, Maria, was also with us right now. She took our stuff and walked behind us. “I talked with the doctor before the discharge. She said that Violet needs to rest for a few days. After leaving you guys at home, I am going to school for a meeting. There is no way that I am going to let this incident slide”, mom told me in a determined tone, but kept her voice low. I nodded and then looked down at Violet who still had her head low. My heart ached for her when I noticed a purple mark at the junction of her neck and shoulder. She was hurt on my watch and that was the biggest failure for me till today.

Soon we reached the parking area of the hospital where our driver was waiting for us. I helped Violet getting on her feet from the wheelchair again but leaned her body on me to support her. She winced in a low tone again which made me worried for her. I settled her down at the back of the seat and mom sat down with her from the other side. I also entered the back seat after her and then locked the door. She was now sitting between me and mom. Mom wrapped her hand around her shoulder and put her head on her shoulder gently. Violet didn’t resist to her this time and made herself comfortable in her embrace.

“I heard that you work part-time in a diner?” mom asked her after a while. “Yes, Mrs Parker”, she replied to her in a soft voice. “I asked you to call me, aunt, honey… you don’t listen to me”, mom complained to her in a childish voice this time. “I… I”, Violet tried to say something but stopped. Mom took a deep breath and rubbed her arm gently. “You don’t need to be afraid of me, honey. Treat me like your friend. Samantha and her husband will be here at weekend and till then, you will be staying with us”, mom said to her in a low tone and also informed her about her guardians.

“I don’t understand this here”, I spoke this time in confusion and they both looked at me. “Why didn’t you live with them?” I asked her and she bit her lower l*p. There was silence between us once again as both I and mom waited for her answer. “After my grandmother’s death, the child services wanted to put me in foster care but I didn’t want to go. I then contacted Samantha and asked her to help me. Samantha is my maternal aunt. She and her husband came to visit me and I requested them to help me in this regard. I requested them to be my legal guardian. They were reluctant because they also have a family to take care of. They have two kids of almost my age”, she paused and took a deep breath.

I was still looking at her blankly processing what she was telling us. “I …. Then promised them that I will not bother them for anything until I attend the legal age. My grandmother left some money for me and that is enough for me to take care of my financial problems. We came to an agreement as she was also reluctant to leave me in foster care. So, they signed the papers and became my legal guardians. I live here alone but they visit me from time to time and sometimes, their kids also come with them. They are also friendly to me”, she paused again and took a deep breath.

“It’s really hard to live on your own at this age, love. You are really brave and strong”, mom praised her and she just smiled. I could see gloominess on her face but she masked her expression immediately. I chewed my internal cheeks but didn’t ask anything further. I have heard about foster care. I have heard that sometimes, these families treat these orphan kids well but sometimes they take them in only for the government and treat them very bad. I was glad that her maternal aunt didn’t let her go through any hardship with those foster families. I was glad that I had a lovely family who loves me a lot and took care of me. I couldn’t imagine myself in her shoes here.

Soon we reached home and I helped her getting off the car again. Mom led us to her room which was next to Kyle’s room. “O I forgot to tell you that Kyle also lives here for the time being and this is his room”, I told her while passing her room. She looked at me startled and I smiled sheepishly. “Don’t worry… he is also scared of my mom”, I whispered to her and she smiled this time once again. “What did you say?” mom asked me in an angry tone and I just shook my head. “Nothing mom… I was just telling her something about Kyle”, I immediately defended myself and looked at her to confirm. She only nodded but didn’t say anything. Mom gave me a warning look while entering her room.

“Rest now, honey… I will be back by lunch and then we will have lunch together. Meanwhile, Ethan will stay with you. Ask him for any assistance or for anything you need. Maria is also here to help you”, mom instructed her and then looked at me. “You, young man”, she pointed her finger at me and I just blinked innocently. “Take care of her until I come back. You already know how to take your medicine and also give her, her medicine at the right time. I will be back soon”, she instructed me and then looked at Violet again, who was now lying on the bed comfortably. “You only have to rest, honey. Tell him if you want anything”, mom said to her in a gentle tone and signalled towards me in the end. She nodded and my mother smiled. “I will be back soon”, she whispered to me before going out of the room.

I sat down on the bed near her legs. “Thank you”, she said to me in a low voice. I chuckled and then lay down on my elbow near her leg. “I should say thank you to you for shielding me from time to time. I should be the one in your place here with all those wounds”, I said to her in an apologetic tone. She shook her head immediately. “You knew very well that they were there for me. Still, you refused to leave me alone there and tried to protect me. No one has ever done something like this for me. So”, she paused and looked up at me. I couldn’t tell what I was feeling right now because deep down I knew that I was also the one who had harassed her in the past.

“Thank you for being there for me”, she finished what she wanted to say to me in a sincere voice while looking straight into my eyes. I could see gratitude and sincerity in her eyes. I didn’t say anything just looked at her. “I…. I am sorry for everything that we did in the past, princess…. But… I… I assure you that I will stay beside you forever and will protect you no matter what the situation is. Trust me on this”, I said to her in a calm tone and tried to assure her that she could rely on me now. She smiled weakly and then closed her eyes. I just admired her peaceful face for a while. Although she had some bruises on her face too yet she looked so beautiful. She winced a little when she tried to move her body.

I immediately sat up but hissed in pain too as I also got some serious hits on my chest. I just ignored my pain and then walked towards her. “Are you okay?” I asked her with concern while sitting near her upper body on the bed. She slowly opened her eyes. She was still in pain. “It’s hurting”, she complained in a low tone and I sighed helplessly. She had to bear this pain until she heals. “You are also in pain, right?” she asked me in a low tone and I smiled weakly. “It’s tolerable. Don’t worry about me”, I said with a smile. She smiled weakly in response. “Take rest, princess. I am going to bring something for you to eat”, I said to her and she nodded before closing her eyes again.