-MIRA’S POV-
I was like a puppy who felt shame before its cruel master. He opened the door and pushed me inside, causing my head to bump against the steering wheel. He was incredibly strong, so I felt a bit dizzy from the impact of his pushing.
“Did I say you could flirt with someone, huh? Mira? I allowed you to attend the party, but I didn’t say that you could hit on other people.”
It felt as if my soul was leaving my body because Marco was driving at an extremely fast pace. My dizziness didn’t help me in my situation either.
“Fuck, you won’t even own up to your stupid actions, huh? You feel like you have no husband; I knew you didn’t have any plans to mention your last name earlier. Damn it, stop being so dramatic by holding your head like that, or else I’ll hit you—”
I did not hear anything else that he said as my vision suddenly went black.
***
I woke up with a throbbing pain in my head. I looked around. I sighed in relief upon seeing that I was in my room. Who brought me up here?
A smile suddenly formed on my lips. There was no one else staying here, so I knew that he was the one who carried me here. I looked at the clock and quickly got up when I realized that it was almost eight o’clock in the morning.
Today was a good day for me because of what happened. So he did care about me at least a little. It was like my heart had just been revived.
I prepared breakfast and waited for Marco. When I saw him coming down the stairs, I flashed him a smile, but he just raised an eyebrow in response. This was nothing new to me, as I was used to his attitude. He was dressed in his office attire and held his briefcase.
“Marco, come eat first.”
My smile widened because he sat down at the table.
“Kay.” His response was too short, but what mattered to me was this treatment towards me was slightly improving.
I put rice on his plate with the serving spoon. He ate, so I took a seat from across him and started eating, too.
“Uhm, by the way, thank you for carrying me last night,” I said softly, looking down. I did not want to look at him, because I might see anger in his eyes again.
“Tsk,” he replied shortly and stood up.
“Marco, where are you going? You barely ate anything.” I said worriedly.
“Shut up, don’t bother me if you don’t want to get hurt,” he growled and left.
I bowed my head and finished eating. After I did the chores, I watched “The Entitled.” I could not stop crying during the part where they took Belinda’s kindness for granted.
My emotional moment was suddenly interrupted when someone called.
It was four o’clock when I went to where my cellphone was. I sighed in relief when I saw that it was Mom who was calling.
MAMA BEAR IS CALLING
“Hello, Ma,” I said happily. But my cheeriness vanished when I heard her voice. She was crying.
“M-Mira, your dad was rushed to the hospital again,” Mom said, sobbing.
“What? What hospital are you at, Ma? I’ll come see you guys there, Ma.” I said, sounding as agitated as I felt.
God, please allow my dad to live longer, I prayed silently.
“W-We’re at St. Luke, Mira.”
“Okay, Ma. I’m going there now. Please calm down, okay? I’ll be there soon.”
I hurried out of the house. But when I opened the gate, I saw a black BMW that stopped in front of me. I couldn’t see who was inside because the windows were tinted. I ignored the car and kept walking in the direction of the corner where I could hail a taxi.
“Mira.”
For a moment I was stunned.
That voice sounded familiar. I looked over in the direction from which the voice came to see that I was correct.
I was overcome with a mixture of nervosity and shock. “What are you doing here, Nathan?”
“I want to see you but wait, where are you going?” Nathan’s question reminded me of my purpose for going out, so I quickly walked up to him.
“Nathan, I need your help. My dad was rushed to the hospital, and I need to go there.” I said, getting teary-eyed.
He opened the door for me before he got in the driver’s seat.
“I’ll take you there. What hospital?” He asked, sitting down.
“St. Luke, Nathan.”
When I arrived at the hospital, I saw Mom and Liam waiting outside Dad’s room. Liam was trying to calm Mom down.
It was the third time that Dad had been rushed to the hospital, so Mom was restless. Whenever Dad was taken to the hospital, the doctor always said “He’s not getting enough rest” or “He’s not eating at the right time.”
“Ma, how’s Dad?” I asked nervously.
“The doctor hasn’t come out of the room yet, Mira,” Mom said, crying softly. I rubbed her back gently with my hand.
“What happened to Dad, Ma? Why was he brought here?” I asked, sniveling and not caring that Nathan was here seeing me in this state. What mattered to me was Dad’s condition.
“I-I don’t know, Mira. Eling just found him lying unconscious on the floor in the library.” It was the same as before; Dad was rushed to the hospital because he had lost consciousness.
We stood up immediately when the doctor appeared. “Who’s the guardian of the patient?”
“M-me, he’s my husband. How is my husband doing, Doc?” Mom asked tearfully.
“He hasn’t been getting a sufficient amount of sleep. Perhaps he has been pulling too many all-nighters, which in turn has led to stress. This explains why he has fainted, but he’s stable now. You all may go inside.”
Mom sighed in relief at the doctor’s words. “Thanks, Doc.”
We entered the room, and I saw Dad’s body in which dextrose was being injected. We broke down in tears upon seeing Dad’s condition. He was too good to suffer like this.
Mom came close to Dad, still crying. She held Dad’s hand tightly.
“Be strong, Dad. We always love you.” I whispered to myself, hugging Mom from behind and rubbing her shoulders gently.
After Mom calmed down, she said she was going somewhere, so I would be the one to keep Dad company for a while.
I didn’t realize that I fell asleep.
“Mira.”
“Mira, wake up.”
“Uhm…” I woke up when Mom poked me.
“What time is it, Mom?” I asked Mom while stretching my limbs.
“Seven o’clock, Mira.”
What?
I quickly rose and said goodbye to Mom. I kissed them both before I left the room.
“Mira, the one who brought you here earlier is outside. He doesn’t want to go inside. He’s still waiting for you.” Mom said as I made my way outside.
Nathan stood up immediately when he saw me.
“Thank you for bringing me here, Nathan,” I said gratefully.
“Why haven’t you left yet? You could’ve just left me here. Now you have waited for a long time.” I said worriedly.
I did not understand his actions. We just met at the party.
“It’s nothing. I was able to meet Auntie and Liam, so it’s fine with me.” He gave me a sweet smile. “Come on, I’ll bring you back home. Your stupid husband might get mad if he sees that you’re not there.”
It did not take long for us to reach the house. I quickly got out of Nathan’s car, and he followed suit.
“Thank you again, Nathan. I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t there earlier.”
“Nah, no worries. It’s my pleasure to help a gorgeous lady.”
I laughed lightly at his remark.
“Okay, bye. Thanks again.” I waved at him before I entered through the gate.
Fear suddenly crept into my heart when I saw Marco’s car parked in the garage. I forgot to let him know that I was going out.
Brace yourself, Mira. Your devil husband is going to explode and scold you again.