Chapter Four
1374 Words
Kimberly said her goodbyes to Bryan as he got into a cab. As she watched his cab disappear into the road, she felt a sense of assurance settle within her.
She turned on her heels to walk back into the house but stopped. Both hands fisted by her side as she thought of what her family thought of her.
After a moment of contemplation, she decided against going back and took a cab to Matteo’s mansion instead, ready for whatever was going to happen.
When she arrived, the house was as empty as the other day, calming her racing heart.
She lay on the glamorous sofa and stared at the grand chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
“All that glitters is not gold.” She murmured, “Now I understand that saying.”
Closing her hers for a moment, she tried to imagine how life would have been if she had stood her ground to marry Bryan. Their relationship wasn’t everything, but it would have been better than this.
Just then, her phone rang out, startling her out of her reverie. She checked to see an unknown number calling her. Who could that be? Nathaniel? Roland? Her heart raced with fear as her trembling fingers answered the call.
“Hello,” she spoke into the phone.
“Kimberly Sanchez?” an unfamiliar baritone voice spoke.
“Yes, I am,” Kimberly responded. “Who……”
“Your husband has been found.” He interrupted. “I’m going to Queens Hospital right now to get him some medical attention as he is in a bad state.”
“Okay, thank you,” she said, it was like a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. But then she became curious. “Who are…….” Before she could finish her sentence, the line went dead.
She glanced at her phone and thought to herself. ‘Who was that? Could it be the person who kidn*pped Matteo? No maybe the cops.’ As she stood there brooding, she thought of calling Roland and Nathaniel but dismissed the idea and went to get dressed before hurrying to the hospital.
As she emerged from the house, the sharp morning light pierced her sight, causing her to shield her face with her hand. She must have fallen asleep on the couch while lost in her thoughts. She flagged a cab and gave the driver the address of the hospital.
The cab stopped in front of the hospital after a while and Kimberly paid her bill and glided into the hospital. With each step, her heart pounded heavily. It’s been three days since she saw Matteo. The pain from that night gently resurfaced at the thought of seeing him again. The thoughts muted the busy environment around her.
“Hello, good day. I’m here for Matteo Sanchez.” She said once she got to the reception.
The nurse’s gaze remained on her computer screen as she responded. “Sorry ma’am, you can’t see him. Only relatives are allowed,” she said lazily.
“I’m his wife,” Kimberly said like she was trying to convince herself and not the nurse.
The nurse’s gaze left the computer to Kimberly, her eyes glittering with recognition, and her tone became polite. “Mrs. Sanchez, please this way.” She ushered her to the VIP ward where Matteo was admitted.
As Kimberly walked into the room, she was met with Matteo’s lifeless body hanging on to several machines for life support. His left hand and leg were placed in a cast and his head was wrapped with a bandage. All the pain that Matteo had put her through was now replaced with pity.
“The doctor is currently attending to a patient. I’ll tell him to brief you on Mr. Sanchez’s health once he's done.” The nurse said, “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to press that red button.” She pointed at a button beside the bed.
“Okay, thank you,” Kimberly said warmly before the nurse took her leave.
Once the door creaked shut, Kimberly slowly glided to Matteo’s side.
Even with the bruises that faltered his handsome face, he still looked every inch the powerful man that he was. The cold arrogant husband that had cost her so much pain was now calm and quiet, struggling for his life.
For a moment Kimberly wished she could share his pain with him. She reached for his face and then stopped, scared that she might tamper with the machines. She held his uninjured hand instead; a flashback of his grasp on her on their wedding day flooded her mind.
Though everything was a lie, it still meant something to her.
Suddenly, she heard a notification ping from her phone. She checked the phone and saw Bryan had texted her.
[Bryan: Hey, Good morning. Just checking up on you. How are you doing?]
She thought of responding, but instead called him. He picked immediately.
“Hey, what’s up?” he beamed.
“Great, Matteo was found today.” Her voice dripped with excitement.
“That’s great news.” Bryan’s voice lacked honesty.
“I know, thanks for everything,” Kimberly said. She took a glance at Matteo before she continued. “Can you come over?”
Bryan hesitated for a moment before responding. “Are you sure you want me there?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.” He said before the line went dead.
***
After a few minutes, there was a knock on the door and the nurse from the reception walked into the room. “Mrs. Sanchez, you have a Bryan Miller here to see you. He is in the waiting room.”
“Okay, thank you,” Kimberly responded before gliding to the waiting room to see Bryan sitting there waiting for her.
“Hey,” Bryan got on his feet and embraced her. “How are you?”
“Getting better. Thank goodness Matteo has finally been found.”
“Yeah,” his joy didn’t reach his eyes, “Did you have breakfast? Let me get you something.”
“Coffee is fine.” She said.
“Okay,” he said before walking out.
Just then, Roland walked in, his expression serious.
“Roland, you’re here.” Kimberly’s joy was palpable.
“You have no shame.” He shook his head incredulously.
Kimberly’s face fell. “What are you talking about?”
“Bryan Miller?”
A lump formed in her throat. “H-he’s only a friend.” She fumbled with words.
“Your friend eh? Isn’t Bryan Miller your ex-boyfriend?”
Kimberly opened her mouth to speak, but the words were not forthcoming.
“Can you tell me what you were doing with a friend in front of your grandfather’s house?” he stretched his phone towards her.
Kimberly’s eyes widened with fear once she saw the contents of the phone. It was pictures of Bryan and her in a romantic embrace in front of her grandfather’s house yesterday.
Kimberly swallowed the lump in her throat. “It’s not what you think it is.”
Snatching his phone from her hand, Roland shot Kimberly one last glance and exited the room. ‘Oh no, how did he find out about Bryan?’ She thought to herself.
While she was lost in thoughts, Bryan walked in with two cups of coffee. “Kimberly, are you alright?”
Charged with a sense of panic, Kimberly acted immediately.
“You have to leave, now.” She took the coffee from him and threw it in the thrash before pushing him out.
“Kimberly, what’s going on?”
“I’ll call you later, just go.” She said.
Bryan was confused by Kimberly’s change in attitude but didn’t argue any further. He exited the hospital.
Kimberly sucked in a breath before starting to Matteo’s room, her heart pounding heavily against her chest. She wondered how Roland knew Bryan and hoped he wouldn’t tell Matteo anything.
Just when she walked into the room, she was met with Matteo’s piercing gaze. His face was bruised with injury, yet commanding an air of respect.
“You’re……”
“Get out!” Matteo shouted, his voice reverberating around the room.
- Writer
