He left the room after giving me a smile.
I replayed his words over and over in my head. When I finally collected myself, he was already gone.
Anthony’s right. I’m not just dealing with poor health after my pregnancy; there’s also the toxin Armond injected into my body.
It was a slow-acting toxin targeting my internal organs, and there was no available cure. I could only control its spread via medication. While it wasn’t fatal or particularly dangerous at the moment, there might be severe effects as time passed. There was a distinct possibility of organ failure as well.
As these thoughts crossed my mind, I couldn’t help but stare at my babies in the stroller. The pain in my heart intensified.
I wasn’t scared of death itself, but the thought of its imminent approach frightened me because it meant that I wouldn’t be able to watch my children grow.
If only God could hear my prayers and just give me a couple more years to live.
Since the kidnapping of his child, John had upgraded the security system in his home. He ran extensive background checks on all of his staff, making sure that strangers could not infiltrate the Stanhope residence again. This way, everyone in the house could finally let down their guard.
A week after my return, I caught wind that Rose had given birth. Since Nick and Rose had always treated me like their older sister, I knew I had to visit her.
Emma tagged along on my visit to the hospital.
“The baby’s so pretty. He looks just like you.” Rose’s son was born after a nine-month-long pregnancy, and he appeared much healthier than my twins. I was genuinely pleased for her.
“Thank you,” Rose rasped weakly as she sat against the headboard. She was being tended by an older lady who appeared to be the Harrisons’ maid.
“Is Nick still busy with work?” I asked.
Rose lowered her head as she bit her lips in acquiescence.
This seemed to invoke the anger of Rose’s caretaker. She snapped, “No matter how busy he was, he should at least be there when his wife is giving birth. Mr. Harrison’s really too much.”
“Margaret…” Rose interrupted Margaret’s rants to no avail.
“You know I’m right. Mr. Harrison took one look at the baby and hasn’t come by again since. He didn’t even arrange for someone to take care of you after the delivery and you had to beg me for help. Why must you speak up for Mr. Harrison when he’s mistreating you like this? I watched you grow up, my dear… I can’t let them bully you like this!”
It almost seemed as if she might add me to her rants as well.
Nick had always been an organized person, so I couldn’t believe how careless he was when it came to Rose’s delivery. He really crossed the line this time.
“Rose, is she telling the truth? That Nick is neglecting you and your son for his work?” I’ve always had a great impression of Rose, so I was on her side in this ordeal. At the same time, I wanted to clarify some misconceptions in case I got the wrong idea about the situation.
“No, of course not.” Rose gave me a weak smile before continuing, “Margaret just misunderstood the situation. She’s been taking care of me since I was young, and I would feel uncomfortable if I had to deal with another stranger. That’s why I brought her here from the Walker residence. It has nothing to do with Nick.”
“Mrs. Harrison…” Margaret appeared to have more to say, but she zipped her lips under Rose’s stern glare.
“Sienna, let’s not talk about me. What about you? I heard you gave birth to a pair of twins! I’m so jealous right now.”
It was obvious that she was trying to change the topic. Since Rose didn’t want to talk about Nick anymore, I followed her lead and progressed to safer topics.
As I was waiting for the elevator after leaving Rose’s ward, I heard a visible sigh from Emma.
“What are you sighing about?” I asked with a laugh.
“Can’t I sigh? I just think that being a woman is a tough job,” Emma explained.
“Why do you say that, Mrs. Stanhope?” I teased her as we entered the elevator.
Emma and John’s relationship was still on tenterhooks. As such, she was always surprised whenever she was addressed as Mrs. Stanhope.
As I Mrs. Bauman expected, her easygoing demeanor disappeared into a frown at my words. “Mrs. Featherstone, can you drop that title?”
I laughed as I pressed the button on the elevator. “I didn’t know you’d be so easy to tease.”
“Fine, don’t say I didn’t warn you, I won’t hang out with you anymore.” Emma made a gesture of turning her head away.
“Ok, ok, I won’t joke at your expense anymore. Come on, at least tell me why you don’t want to be known as Mrs. Stanhope?” I rearranged my face into a serious expression before asking my question.
“Why wouldn’t I mind? Just look at Rose. Nick obviously dumped her but she’s still defending him. It’s almost as if our only job as women is to satisfy a man’s wishes. What a tiring way to live.” Emma sighed.
I didn’t agree with her statement. “To be fair, what if Nick’s really stuck in an impossible situation at work? Rose’s only making excuses for Nick because she loves him. I don’t think it’s a matter of men or women at all. It’s being in love that’s exhausting.”
This seemed to strike a chord with Emma. She remained in silent contemplation for the entire duration of our elevator ride.
“Hey Emma, we’re here.” She jolted from her thoughts at my gentle reminder, and she left the elevator in a jog.
“Thanks for the reminder. I almost got caught between the doors.” Emma patted her chest in relief before she suggested, “Since we haven’t been out in a while, shall we go shopping? We can visit the mall.”
I remembered Summer’s pleas for some new stationery, and I agreed. Women were born shopaholics. The impulse to shop sustained itself on the never-ending introduction of newer products to the market.
I had initially planned on visiting the kids’ section, but Emma had different ideas. She dragged me into a luxury goods store once we reached the mall. She tried on no fewer than ten outfits but wasn’t impressed by any of them.
“This set looks good. John would like it.” Bored, I decided to tease her a little.
“I didn’t say I was wearing this for him.” Her lips had hardened into a flat line, but she was obviously checking herself out in the mirror. I could tell from her eyes that she was imagining John’s amazement at her appearance.
Women will always doll themselves up for men that they love. I guess this saying holds even now.
I smiled to myself but didn’t call her out on her behavior. I walked to the men’s section.
Anthony was now in the upper echelons of K City society, but his stylists couldn’t keep up with his image requirements. They always dressed him in formal suits. While his build and features could easily carry off such a get-up, it made him seem stiff and unapproachable.
I took a turn around the men’s section but nothing caught my eye. Just as I was thinking about hiring a dedicated fashion designer for Anthony, I spied an impressive sample display in the distance. I picked up my pace as I walked toward the display in excitement.
Just then, the phone in my purse began ringing. I stopped as I rummaged for my phone. The number seemed familiar, but I couldn’t recall who the caller was at that very moment.
When I lifted my head again, I saw an elegant-looking lady summoning a salesperson to help her pack up the outfit I had had my eyes on.
Oh well, I guess I was just a bit too late.
I answered the call in a fit of impatience. “Hello, who is this?”
“Ms. Stanhope, it’s me.” Zander’s Koandrian accent gave his identity away.
His call reminded me of the apprenticeship. “I’m sorry I haven’t called you back. I’ve been busy lately, so I forgot all about the apprenticeship.”
“That’s ok. I’m calling you now to remind you about it. I hope you didn’t forget how I made a grand promise to my superiors to keep a precious talent in our apprenticeship program. They even agreed to keep your slot even though you would be going on maternity leave. Please don’t tell me you’re backing out now?”
I could tell that his goodwill was a front for his urgent hope of my confirmation.
Since becoming a lawyer was my lifelong dream, I chose not to call him out on his attitude. I confirmed my participation as well as the reporting time and date for my apprenticeship.
After I hung up, I thought back to the outfit I had seen, feeling a tinge of regret at the missed opportunity.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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