Chapter 40

Broken ribs.

That was Lilianna's diagnosis, which would put her out of the ring for at least 6-8 weeks, depending how fast her body wanted to heal up. She had woken up during the ambulance ride when they stuck an IV in her hand. They couldn't find a vein in her arm, probably from lack of fluids, and went with the hand that had a good vein. That had made her eyes snap open and she had bit back a soft cry. Lilianna tried to remove the breathing mask, but AJ stopped her by grabbing her wrists, terrified golden brown orbs locking on gentle blue. She wasn't alone, so that was comforting and they had also given her a mild shot of drugs to help with the pain.

Once she was in her room, after the tests and scans and the doctor telling her the diagnosis, Lilianna demanded to be left alone. She didn't want anyone near her or in her room, not even AJ. As much as she appreciated him coming with her on the ambulance ride, Lilianna refused to cry in front of him. She did thank him for coming and promised to call once she was released, watching him walk out. As soon as the door closed, Lilianna let the tears stream down her cheeks like two rapid rivers, unable to stop them.

Roman had put his hands on her again. Not once, but twice. First, he had nearly crushed her larynx, which the hospital had also done scans on because of the bruising around her throat. Then, tonight with the spear…Roman had put his full force behind the attack and nearly cut Lilianna in half. The doctor said she was very lucky none of the broken ribs had lodged into any vital organs or she would've needed surgery. That part was very hard to swallow and Lilianna didn't say anything to the doctor, just nodded to acknowledge him. AJ had vowed to get revenge on Roman, but Lilianna told him it wasn't worth it and he had to focus on his career instead of the Samoan hothead.

An hour later, Lilianna had just stopped crying when the door was pushed open and she turned her head, thinking it was a nurse coming to check on her. Honestly, why couldn't people leave her alone? Her bloodshot golden brown eyes nearly shot out of their sockets at the sight of none other than Seth Rollins stepping inside the room. Seth was here. Seth was back? When? How? Lilianna's brain felt like it was malfunctioning and she didn't know how to react to seeing him again, swallowing past the lump that formed in her throat.

The last time they saw each other was overseas at a WWE live event. Seth had been WWE World champion at the time and had a match against Kane. He wound up blowing out his knee completely while attempting to give Kane a powerbomb and his right knee had completely buckled. Lilianna would never forget that gruesome image as long as she lived. The diagnosis was horrible; he'd torn multiple ligaments in his knee, along with his MCL, ACL and medial meniscus, which kept Seth out of action for 6 long months. Originally, he was supposed to be out for 9 months to a year, but after more testing, they confirmed it would be 6-9 months, which was a 3 month gap. Nobody knew how long it would take for him to come back from such a devastating injury like that.

Not very many people reached out to Seth because he was somewhat of a dick after becoming champion. Lilianna was one of the only people who kept in contact with him on a weekly basis, mostly through email, to check on him and see how his progression was. She didn't tell Roman because Seth and Roman had a falling out shortly after Seth became champion…at his expense. It happened at WrestleMania 31 and Seth had won Money in the Bank the year prior. The contract was running out since it was only good for one year, so the company had to make a move.

It was Brock Lesnar against Roman Reigns, with Lesnar as the champion. The crowd did NOT respond well to it at all and was dead for most of it because they didn't like either competitor being in the main event at WrestleMania. Roman and Brock were bleeding and the match had been extremely brutal, though Lilianna didn't condone Brock only doing two moves in the ring on her man. Lilianna would NEVER forget the elation and EXPLOSION that happened when Seth's music hit, remembering him flying down to the ring as fast as he could to cash in his briefcase to make the match a triple threat. Hell, as much as she wanted Roman to win, it was a very bittersweet moment when Seth pinned Roman to win the championship.

Throughout his title reign, Lilianna had never once faltered in their friendship, not even when Seth and Michelle split up. She wasn't happy in the WWE anymore or with him, claiming his attitude had changed and not for the better. He had a huge ego, not that Lilianna blamed him because he was the champion and on top of the world. There was only one person he called the night him and Michelle called it quits and it was Lilianna. She had talked to him for a couple hours, letting him vent and get his frustration out, before telling him what she thought of the situation. Again, she didn't tell Roman due to their bad blood and Seth promised not to say anything to the big man, liking his head attached to his shoulders.

However, when Hunter called him a few weeks ago and asked him if he was ready to come back, Seth had been chomping at the bit. The company had nothing for him, he'd been ready by 6 months, after busting his backside, though he still had some physical therapy to do. For the most part, his knee was good and he was ready to roll again. The fact they made him wait for 2 months was unnerving, but it also put a lot of things into perspective for Seth. While he was gone doing rehabilitation and having his knee repaired, Seth had a lot of deep, emotional moments that made him realize what a dick he'd been to his friends and colleagues.

It would take time, but he'd have to change his ways.

"We got the better scenario for you, the perfect way for you to come back, if you're ready."

"Damn right I am." Had been Seth's response and nothing else had to be said between the two men.

Tonight, while he waited in gorilla position, Seth had noticed Lilianna was out there and heard through the grapevine about her separation from Roman. That had honestly shocked the hell out of him. He thought they were IT for each other. Whatever Roman had done to piss her off enough to call their wedding, engagement and relationship off had to be horrendous. She had also been on his mind quite a bit lately and Seth had no idea why, other than they were really great friends. He had brushed it aside, wanting to focus on his return and then he watched that Samoan piece of garbage spear Lilianna as hard as he could on the outside of the ring. Seth's temper had risen and he was more than ready to hammer Roman's face into the mat with the Pedigree.

The moment he was backstage, Seth demanded to know where Lilianna was and Stephanie, startled, told him she was taken to the hospital. He had to stay for promotional pictures and whatnot, but all Seth kept thinking about was getting to the hospital to check on her, make sure she was all right. People wanted to stop and talk to him, however, he was a man on a mission tonight. Seth could talk to everyone and explain everything later, his mind couldn't stop replaying that lethal spear to Lilianna repeatedly in his head. Even on the drive to the hospital, it was a miracle he hadn't wrecked his rental!

Now here they were and Seth recalled the last text message he'd received from her. I'm nervous about tonight. I don't know what's going to happen with this match. Seth had received that on the way to the arena and he'd been hidden until AFTER Roman, AJ and Lilianna went down to the ring for the match. Nobody knew Seth was returning tonight, not even the fans.

Don't worry, everything is gonna work out as it should, Lila, I promise. Seth was the only one who called her Lila – it was his special nickname for her and had been ever since their friendship had grown stronger and deeper.

"Lila…"

"W-What are you doing here?" Lilianna stammered, bewilderment in her voice while staring at him like he was a ghost or maybe grew three heads.

Seth could tell she was on the verge of hyperventilating, the tears once again starting up and walked over to place his hand on top of hers. "I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you so fucking bad, but I couldn't. Vince wouldn't allow it and wanted to keep my return a complete surprise." He wanted to kick himself in the backside for allowing something like this to happen to her. "But I'm here now, Lila…"

"For fuck's sake, I'm such a damn mess…" Lilianna did NOT expect this to be the way they finally reunited and saw each other again when he eventually made his return to the company. Her hand instantly grasped his, fingers curling and Seth immediately took the seat beside her bed, scooting closer.

"You're fine just the way you are. Beautiful as ever." Reaching out, he swiped a tear from her cheek and sighed when more followed. "I should've told them to fuck off and told you anyway." They told each other everything; there were no secrets between them. "What did the tests say? Have they told you the diagnosis yet?"

Lilianna lowered her eyes from his, sniffling a little. "Broken ribs. They think it's three, but…it feels like more." She had to take in a sharp breath, trying to slow her racing heart back to its normal rate again. "I-I'm not mad at you for not telling me. I understand what Vince wants, Vince gets."

"Believe me, if I could've told the old man to shove it, I would have, but I was chomping at the bit to come back. You should know. I don't know how many texts I've sent you ranting and raving about trying to get back on the road." Seth chuckled, pulling his phone out to wave at her gently before slipping it back in his skinny jeans. He had changed before flying out of the arena like his backside caught fire to get to her. "Lila, I could feel something was wrong with you the past several weeks, but I couldn't put my finger on why. Why didn't you tell me about you and Roman ending shit?"

That was a very sore subject and, normally, Lilianna would've told the person to mind their own business, but Seth wasn't just anyone. Not to her. "Because I was an idiot. I was ashamed of what happened and of myself for getting involved with another piece of shit guy." Her voice remained low, though every once in a while she winced due to the pain in her side from the broken ribs. "I didn't know how to tell you, Seth. I wanted to, so many times, but…I couldn't. That's not something you tell one of your best friends over the phone or through texting. When you came back, I was going to tell you because you would've found out through the company anyway."

Seth understood that and wasn't angry with her. He had no reason to be because it wasn't his business and, if she didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't force the issue. "You don't have to go on, if you don't want to." He murmured, not releasing her hand for a second and hated seeing the IV in it.

"No…you deserve to know the truth, so I'll tell you."

"Whatever works for you, Lila."

She cracked a smile and leaned back against the pillow, going over the events with the wedding planning, Lisa and finally the big blowout. Seth remained silent throughout the whole explanation, though his eyes had darkened a little more with each passing second. This stupid Samoan mother fucker KNEW what Lilianna had been through with Randy Orton and chose his MOTHER over her?! Seth was having a hard time wrapping his mind around all of this, wondering what could've possessed any man to give a woman like Lilianna up because of their mother. That made no sense to him. He loved his mother as much as the next son, but there had to be a point in one's life where the cord was cut.

"So…you called off the wedding and ended shit with Roman because he was a dumbass momma's boy?" Seth surmised, watching her slowly nod and could only blink, once again mulling this over in his head. "I don't blame you for doing it. Any idiot that drops a woman like you because of their mother…he needs his head examined or something."

"I lost count how many times I tried telling him what was going on and what his mother was doing. He didn't believe a word I said or saw anything. Lisa has him completely SNOWED and it was…sickening to watch how close they actually are." Lilianna reached up to wipe a few more stray tears away. "I loved him so much and all I wanted was to have a wedding that WE planned together, not his meddlesome cunt mother!"

"Ssshhh calm down, Lila, calm down." Seth soothed, standing and walked around the other side of the bed to very gently join her in it.

Lilianna didn't fight him or protest, thankful he'd been mindful of her broken ribs and buried her face in his side. "W-What did I do wrong, Seth? W-What did I do to deserve what he did to me? I loved him so much and I would've done anything for him…but his mother literally ripped our relationship to shreds. And I couldn't stop it from happening, I couldn't salvage anything. Why doesn't anyone want to marry me and have a future with me?"

Christ, her tears were going to be the death of him. Seth simply knew it and shut his eyes, resting his cheek on top of her head while he continued to stroke her back. If anyone could get away with doing this, it was him due to their solid bond. Deep down, Seth knew what he felt for Lilianna was more than friendship, but she'd been with Roman and he respected that. He didn't want to do anything to jeopardize her happiness with him. Hell, back when he was with Liliya, secretly, Seth always wanted to be with Lilianna instead of Liliya. Even though he loved Liliya, it was always Lilianna who had his attention, but first she was with Randy and then Roman had swept in…all while he was with Liliya. The timing was never right for them.

Now, they were both single, she had a broken heart and Seth had no idea how to start mending it.

However, he would give it his best shot.