REWARDING MY SAVIOUR WITH MARRIAGE

Chapter 2

Rooney's voice was low and measured as he delivered the news to Henrietta. "Emilia's gone," he said, his words dripping with false sympathy. Henrietta's glazed-over eyes flickered, and she looked at Rooney with a mixture of confusion and apathy.

"Gone?" she repeated, her voice slurred. "What do you mean?"

Rooney's expression was somber. "She jumped into the ocean. I'm afraid there's no coming back for her."

Henrietta's reaction was muted, her emotions numbed by the drugs coursing through her system. She stared blankly at Rooney, her mind struggling to process the information.

Rooney's eyes watched her closely, gauging her reaction. He knew exactly which buttons to press to get what he wanted. "Now that Emilia's gone," he said gently, "maybe it's time to think about selling the house. It's not like you need it anymore."

Henrietta's gaze drifted away, her thoughts cloudy and disjointed. Rooney's words hung in the air, waiting to take root in her fragile mind. The prospect of selling the house seemed to resonate with her, and she nodded slowly.

"Yes...the house...I don't know..."

Rooney's smile was hidden from view. He knew he had her right where he wanted her. With Emilia out of the way, nothing stood in his path to getting what he desired. The house, and whatever value it held, would soon be his to claim. He took advantage of the fact that she was high and mourning.

As Emilia's physical strength returned, her memories began to resurface, and with them, the painful truth about her mother's situation and Rooney's betrayal. The realization of what had driven her to the ocean's edge flooded back, and with it, a mix of emotions: anger, sadness, and a deep sense of hurt.

With her memories intact, Emilia's determination grew. She knew she had to confront Rooney and her mother about the past, about the lies and the manipulation. But for now, she focused on regaining her independence and finding a way to move forward.

Jason's presence in her life remained a pleasant surprise. Despite not knowing her, he had shown her kindness and compassion. Emilia found herself looking forward to his visits, and their conversations became a highlight of her day.

As she prepared to leave the hospital, Emilia felt a sense of uncertainty about her future. But she was determined to face whatever came next, armed with the truth and a newfound resolve.

As Emilia's memories continued to resurface, she suddenly recalled a night from her past, a night that had left a lasting impression on her. It was the night she had met Jason at a club on her eighteenth birthday. They had connected, lost in the music and the moment, and had shared a passionate encounter. But in the morning, they had parted ways, and Emilia had never seen him again.

Now, as she looked at Jason, she couldn't believe the coincidence. The man who had saved her life was the same person she had a fleeting connection with years ago. Emilia's mind was filled with questions. Has Jason recognized her? Did he know about their past encounter?

As she pondered these questions, Jason walked into her hospital room, a warm smile on his face. "Ready to go home?" he asked, unaware of the revelation that had just dawned on Emilia. Little did he know, their connection went far beyond a chance rescue.

Jason's expression turned apologetic as he answered the call. "I'm so sorry, Emilia. I have an emergency situation I need to attend to. I won't be able to take you home as planned."

Emilia nodded understandingly, though a hint of disappointment flickered across her face. "It's okay, I can arrange for a ride. Don't worry about it."

Jason's eyes lingered on hers, and for a moment, it seemed like he wanted to say something more. But instead, he nodded and quickly excused himself, leaving Emilia to wonder what had just happened.

Emilia's eyes widened in shock as she stood before the notice on her front door. The house, a symbol of her family's memories and legacy, was gone. Her mother had sold it without even consulting her. The pain of betrayal mixed with the anguish of seeing her mother's downward spiral.

She thought back to her father's passing and how it had devastated their family. Her mother, once full of life and love, had become a shadow of her former self, consumed by addiction. Emilia had tried to reach out, to save her, but it seemed like a losing battle.

Now, with the house sold, Emilia felt like she was losing the last connection to her family's past. She wondered where her mother was, and what had driven her to make such a drastic decision. Was it Rooney's influence, or the grip of addiction? Emilia's heart ached as she realized she might never know the full extent of her mother's pain. While she nursed her own agony.

Emilia's world seemed to crumble around her. With the house sold, she felt homeless and lost. She thought of reaching out to Jason, but he was busy with his golf tournament. She didn't want to burden him with her problems.

As she wandered aimlessly, Emilia stumbled upon a small cafe she had often visited with her father. The familiar surroundings brought back memories, and she decided to step inside. Over a cup of coffee, she could gather her thoughts and figure out her next move.

Emilia's eyes welled up with tears as she sat in the cafe, feeling lost and alone. She didn't have Jason's contact information, and she couldn't think of anyone else to turn to. The weight of her situation was crushing her.

As she sat there, trying to gather her thoughts, Emilia noticed a piece of paper on the table with a pen. She began to scribble down her thoughts, trying to process everything that had happened. Maybe writing it all down would help her clear her mind and figure out what to do next.

After a while, Emilia folded the paper and put it in her pocket. She decided to take a walk outside, hoping the fresh air would do her some good. As she stepped out of the cafe, she looked around, wondering what the future held.

Emilia's eyes widened in horror as she stared at the bank statement. Her account was almost empty. She couldn't believe her mother had drained her funds without even a word. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

Jason could have let her drown so she wouldn't live to see this day ,she would have been enjoying her life in heaven by now.

One of the things she loathed most was being vulnerable and the funniest thing was she was way below vulnerable, both her mother and Rooney had turned her into a miserable person.

With no money and no place to call her own, Emilia felt like she was losing control of her life. She thought of all the times she had tried to help her mother, and how her mother had repaid her by selling the house and now, draining her account.

Emilia's mind was racing with questions. What would she do now? Where would she go? She felt like she was at rock bottom.

Emilia felt numb and disoriented, unable to process the sudden loss of her home and finances. She wandered out of the bank, unsure of what to do next. The streets seemed overwhelming, and she felt like she was walking through a nightmare.

As she walked, Emilia's thoughts were a jumbled mess. She couldn't think clearly, and her emotions were in turmoil. She felt lost and alone, with no direction to turn.

Eventually, Emilia found herself standing in front of a small park. She sat down on a bench, trying to gather her thoughts and calm her racing mind. The peacefulness of the park offered a temporary respite from her troubles.

The tears streamed down Emilia's face as she sat on the bench, her body shaking with sobs. The pain in her chest felt like it was suffocating her, a heavy weight that she couldn't shake off. She felt like she was losing herself, like everything she had ever known was crumbling around her.

As she cried, Emilia let out a deep sigh, and her body relaxed slightly. The tears continued to flow, but she didn't try to stop them. Maybe this was what she needed: a release, a way to let out all the emotions she had been bottling up.

The park around her faded into the background as Emilia focused on her own pain. She felt like she was drowning in her sorrow, and she didn't know how to keep her head above water.

Emilia looked up, surprised, and saw Jason standing beside her, a concerned expression on his face. She hadn't even noticed him approaching. Taking the handkerchief from him, she dabbed at her tears, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jason asked gently, sitting down beside her on the bench.

Emilia hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She didn't want to burden Jason with her problems, but at the same time, his presence felt comforting. She looked at him, and he smiled softly, encouraging her to open up.

"I..... I think I might be in a fix, I just need somewhere to stay for the meantime that's it."

Emilia said with trembling lips despite how hard she fought to stay strong and control her emotions.

“But how did you know I was here?” She asked surprisingly.

Jason looked in a direction and she traced his eye movement. Sitting on the bench a few meters from them was one of the nurses in the hospital.

“Sorry..” he cringed.