HOSPITAL
1619 Words
MIA'S POV
I stepped out of the car and closed the door behind me. The huge building of Michigan Hospital stood tall opposite me. It was still early hours of evening. I turned to Ryan, my hands still clutching the small handbag Kate had given me earlier.
“Thank you,” I said. “But you did not have to bother yourself to drive me here after taking me to a nice restaurant.”
Yes, Ryan Hayes had taken me to the best restaurant in town and made me eat whatever I wanted. At first, I tried to deny his offer. But again, Ryan Hayes was Ryan Hayes. He had his ways of making me do whatever he wanted. Saying that he would not allow me to walk around hungry.
Ryan leaned against the car, his arms crossed over his chest. A playful smile tugged at his lips. “I know. But I wanted to. Besides, I could not let you take a taxi after everything that happened at the party then at the restaurant.”
Of course he had made sure to seduce me in the restaurant too, making sure that people could see us together.
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore how his smile made my stomach flutter. “You are impossible.”
He laughed, the sound low and warm. “Impossible? That is a new one. Usually women call me charming.”
I shook my head, fighting a smile of my own. “Charming is the last word I would use for you.”
Ryan stepped closer, his green eyes sparkling under the streetlights. “Then what word would you use, Mia?”
I took a small step back, my cheeks warming. “Annoying. Very annoying.”
He laughed again, throwing his head back. The sound echoed softly in the quiet parking lot. “I will take that. Now, can I come in with you?”
I shook my head vigorously. “No. It is okay. I will be fine on my own.”
Ryan studied me for a moment, his expression softening. “Alright. But call me if you need anything. Anything at all.”
I nodded quickly and turned toward the hospital entrance before he could see how much his words affected me. It seemed Ryan was not as bad as Logan made him look.
I rushed inside, my heels clicking against the polished floor. My mind replayed the way Logan and Nyra glared at me at the party and I swallowed hard. They were angry and embarrassed but that was none of my business. They caused it on their own.
The familiar smell of antiseptic and quiet beeps of machines filled the air. I took the elevator to my mother’s floor, my heart beating faster with every second.
When I reached her room, I pushed the door open gently. The sight before me shocked me to the bone.
My mother sat up in bed. She still looked weak, but there was colour returning to her cheeks.
Her breathing sounded easier. And at least, she was awake. Not like last time.
For the first time in weeks, she smiled without struggling.
How was it possible and I sent the money just yesterday night?
“Mia!” she called, happily when she saw me. “You did not have to bother coming here. The money you sent helped me so much. The treatment, the healthy food, the fruits. I feel stronger already.” She stopped, gesturing for me to get in.
“Besides, Doctor Mike has been good to me. He would check on me, made sure I ate. I thank God for him.”
Oh, now I understood.
I stood in the doorway, relief and happiness washing over me. I remembered last night when I signed Ryan’s contract. I had not even waited. I quickly sent Doctor Mike the money to continue with the chemotherapy and made sure my mother was well taken care of. I also sent my brother enough money to get a better room and cover his exams and other needs. The thought brought a genuine smile to my face.
I walked over and hugged her carefully. “I am so happy you are feeling better, Mom.”
She hugged me back, her arms stronger than they had been in weeks. “You are such a good daughter. But tell me, where did you get such a large amount of money?”
I pulled back and sat on the edge of the bed, avoiding her eyes. “I told you I would do everything to make sure you are okay.”
"How is Logan by the way?" She blurted out, making me sigh.
"Logan is okay." I turned away, avoid her eyes.
"Why did he come with you?" My mother seemed not ready to let this Logan thing go.
"He...he is not in a position to come." God. At least I was able to lie. But not lie really, it was part truth.
My mother studied me for a long moment. Her eyes moved over my face, then down to my hands. She noticed the way I avoided her gaze. The way my shoulders tensed. The way I shifted on the bed. She always knew when I was hiding something. I could see it by the way she was staring at me.
“Mia,” she said gently but firmly. “You are lying to me. I can see it in your eyes. You always look away when you are not telling the truth.”
I swallowed hard. My chest felt tight. I forced another smile, trying to keep my voice steady. “Everything is fine with me and Logan, Mom. I promise. Logan is just busy. That is all.”
She reached out and touched my cheek. Her hand was warm. “I am your mother. I know when something is wrong. Please tell me the truth.”
Instead, I wrapped her into a hug, hiding my face in her shoulder. “You should not worry about us, mom. We are okay."
My mother hugged me back, but I could feel the worry in her arms. She did not push it far either. She simply held me and whispered, “I love you, Mia. Whatever is happening, you do not have to carry it alone.”
I pulled back after a long time, gazing at her.
“I am happy that you are better.” I remembered all the time she used to faint, to vomit and swallow hard. My mom had come from far and I would not stress her with my issues with Logan.
“I told you I am strong. I will be okay.” She smiled, her eyes sparkling. But deep down, I could see pain in those pale green eyes. She was my mother after all.
“Take care of Logan. You should not be mean to him when he wants other things.” My mother blurted out suddenly, making me raise my brows in question. She was also avoiding my eyes.
“What… what are you…” I swallowed hard, realisation dawned on me and my heart skipped a bit, my hands clenching on my lap.
“What? I hope it is not what I am thinking.” I said, my voice tight, anger boiling in my chest.
She sighed. “Logan told me that despite everything he is doing for our family, you don't want to give him well.”
This shocked me to my bone.
"H-he...." the words just couldn't come out of my mouth.
Logan? He would do that?
"Don't tell me Logan tells you things like that about us!" I lashed out, anger boiling in my chest, my body shaking.
He couldn't be shameless to tell my mother things like that, right?
"He..he..."
"Tell me exactly what he told you, Mom. And don't hide anything." I cut in before my mother could finish her words, my eyes wide in shock, my mouth agape.
"He... he said you weren't treating him like a wife should."
She lowered her eyes, twisting the blanket between her fingers. "I didn't want to tell you."
"You're lying, he didn't say it that way." My mother sighed, realising I could read her. The way she looked away, the way her cheeks were red. She was hiding what Logan said.
"Mom. What exactly did he say?"
"T-that you should stop be boring in bed, that you shouldn't across like a log of wood and just sleep." My mother stopped, her eyes now tearing up.
"He said... if he was paying for my treatment... then you should stop refusing him in bed. He said that was the least you could do for him."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"It's my fault, Mia. If I wasn't sick... if I wasn't lying in this hospital bed... you wouldn't have to depend on him. I thought... I thought maybe I was asking too much of you."
I shot to my feet so fast the chair scraped loudly across the floor.
"Stop it, Mom!"
My voice cracked.
"Don't ever blame yourself for that monster's actions." I couldn’t believe Logan would stoop so low to tell my mother things like that.
I paced left and right, one of my hand on my head, emberassment making me bite my lower lip hard and anger boiling in my veins.
But then I turned back to my mother, wrapped my arms around her tightly, fighting back my tears.
Logan had humiliated me.
He had betrayed me.
But dragging my sick mother into it...
That was unforgivable.
For the first time, I didn't just want to move on.
I wanted him to regret ever crossing me
- Writer
