Chapter 295: Who Are You?

The doctors were still trying to talk the patient down, but it was clear he was not in control of his mental state. He sounded one step short of going over the edge. He was shouting, swearing and telling the doctors to shut up or he’d kill Edie. He kept ordering them to get his wife.

Donald took one step forward and said to the patient, "Let her go and take me as a hostage. I’m the..."

Before Donald had a chance to finish his sentence, he was interrupted. The voice coming from behind him was a familiar one. Donald turned around and saw Stuart. Donald gave him a dirty look, even as he stepped to the side and let him pass.

The crowd was silent. Donald frowned and listened as his face hardened in hate for the man who had taken Edie from him. Stuart kept walking, not giving Donald a second glance. Stuart’s heart and mind raced, but he kept his composure.

"I can help you find your wife, but first you have to let her go." Though his tone was calm, his words were full of thunder. Cold, black eyes stared at the man. Stuart was dealing with the situation and would do whatever needed to be done to protect Edie.

The man started rambling and not making any sense. "Who are you? Did you bring me my wife? Bring her to me!" he shouted. It was obvious he had lost all sense of reality.

The people gasped, stepping back as they watched the man press the knife more forcefully against her throat. It grazed Edie’s neck, inflicting a sharp cut. A stream of blood ran down her chest.

"I warned you all. Don’t mess around with me. You can’t save her and either can help the police. Which do you think would be faster: a bullet from a gun or a swipe from my blade? I think you all know the answer." The man was laughing hysterically.

When Stuart saw the blood coming from Edie’s neck, it made him so angry that he wanted to kill the man. He didn’t want to provoke him, so Stuart remained calm and said, "I would like to negotiate with you. I’m the CEO of the L. N. Group. Let her go and take me as a hostage?"

"No! Stuart doesn’t do this.." Edie barely got the words out before the man told her to be quiet, or he would cut her again.

Stuart tried to reassure her, "Edie, don’t be afraid. Everything’s going to be alright."

The man thought about what Stuart said. ’The CEO of the L. N. Group! Rich man versus this woman.’ The man studies Stuart’s movements, sizes him up. He pauses while thinking about Stuart’s offer. "Trade, you say? Yes! But I warn you, don’t try anything or I’ll kill you. Your life means nothing to me."

Stuart never spoke. He started walking slowly, but steadily straight toward Edie.

Edie watched him carefully take each step. She felt like part of her heart had just been ripped out. She was feeling as though someone was unraveling her very core with every step he took. Tears welled up in Edie’s eyes, blurring her vision for a moment. "Don’t do this. I beg you...please," she said. Her voice was soft and choked. The tears were running down both sides of her face, and she was trembling. The pain was almost unbearable.

Stuart looked at Edie’s face, and sorrow welled up in his heart, but he was determined to do this. He reached to wipe away her tears, but the patient pushed Edie out of the way and grabbed Stuart.

Edie almost fell to the ground, but Donald caught her. It all happened so fast. She shook her head. It was too late. Edie started to run toward Stuart, but Donald grabbed her arm. "Edie, Stuart is doing this to keep you safe," Donald said, whispering in her ear.

Edie stopped struggling and looked at the man holding Stuart. She felt numb. Nothing could help the intense pain that covered her heart. "Please, don’t hurt him. I will give you whatever you want..." Edie said, in a choked-up voice.

Sharp thorns stabbed Stuart’s heart to see Edie in so much pain. He forced himself to not look at her and said to Donald, "Take her away. Don’t let her see this."

For once, Donald listened to Stuart’s orders and immediately started pushing through the crowd to take Edie back inside the hospital. She tried with all her might to free herself, but Donald was too strong.

Edie’s mouth tightened, then opened wide as she cried out, "You lied to me. You told me we would face everything together, and now you’re pushing me away."

It broke Donald’s heart to watch her. How he wished it had been him, Edie was calling for. He stood in stunned silence as he gathered his thoughts.

Donald let go of Edie’s arm for only a matter of seconds, and she seized the opportunity to escape and started running towards the man and Stuart. Her actions clearly heightened the man’s mental state. "If you take one more step, I’ll slit his throat," he screamed frantically at her.

Edie stopped. "Please, don’t hurt him," she said.

Donald stood beside Edie and touched her arm lightly. "Edie," he said. He tried to lead her away, but she wouldn’t move. "Don’t touch me. I’m not going with you."

Donald’s voice was bitter, but he tried to reassure her, "Don’t worry. Stuart will be fine. If you’re here, it will distract Stuart. It will put his mind at ease, knowing you’re safe."

Edie shook her head and said firmly, "No, I’m not going. If he doesn’t get hurt, I’ll hug him. If he does get hurt, I’ll hug him and take care of him. Whatever happens to him, I will be there. I’m staying."

Edie didn’t know if this would be the last time she would see Stuart, but whatever lay ahead of her, Edie was determined because she wasn’t going anywhere.