HIS SUBSTITUTE WIFE

Chapter 6

The atmosphere here was very blank, that was the only word everyone could relate to. More over, more than blank, it just felt very numb, and everyone felt this way. The entire family was there and Anna's best friends, her grandfather who was sitting in the VIP room, staring at his wedding ring and majorly terrified for his wife.

Rebecca was standing by the glass window, looking out at the beauty that the city was. However, the girls on the other hand, they were all sitting in the other room, right next to Anna's grandmother's bed.

Romi was on a large chair and Autumn and Anna were on the couch.. However, the TV was on for everyone, but no one there was watching. This was such a scare for the family. Even though they were so small in number, everyone where here. But that is what was more concerning. The number of the family, among themselves were very small. If one would go, everyone could go. And now, like Ruth, if everyone disappeared, there would be nothing and no more family left. Now that Ruth was gone as well, everything seemed so empty to all of them.

Like Domino, things were just falling and falling and falling, and it was getting hard for all of them.

So now everyone just stayed there, quiet for sometime. Because the peace around them had completely disappeared, they have to bring the peace to themselves. It did not seem so hard, because every one here was inviting the peace in.

Although, there was a loud beeping of the monitor and that was the only thing they were all able to hear loud and clear. Mostly was what everyone were paying deep attention to. However, Autumns looked around at the room and at the death faces. Slowly she stood up, gaining Romi's attention.

"What happened ?" Romi whispered softly, trying not to disturb the family, but everyone paid attention to the girls. Anna looked up as well.

"What happened?" She asked the very same thing.

"Do you have to leave for work?" Anna asked the most logical question, but Autumn shook her head.

"I thought I would go get something to eat and drink for everyone. Hunger will only create more problems. At least we should all stay healthy." She said, and most of them nodded their heads, agreeing.

"I will ask Mircy to cook something for us, go home and bring it for everyone." She said, talking about her helper at home. Somehow, everyone couldn't help but feel that was a brilliant idea and Anna, who sat there, realised she too was actually hungry. The reason why maybe her head was hurting, everything was irritating to her. This a good idea.

"You are right, Autumn." Rebecca said.

"Homemade food will do us all better. I will have my driver take you home. You don't drive. You must be tired too." Rebecca said, and Autumn did not disagree. She was in fact exhausted, everyone was.

Rebecca started to call up her driver as Autumn placed her hand on Anna's shoulder, giving her the comfort she needed. Quickly walked away from there, she left them.

Romi though, she couldn't help but glance at Anna and see her devastated face. She looked so blue and tired, like she could fall. Realizing that she was in a big of a mess, and now her grandmother falling sick, this family has seen hard times but this just went off the roof. Slowly Romi got up from her seat and started to make her way towards her best friend, and crawling closer to her.

Anna was stunned to see her so close.

Quickly wrapped her arms around Anna, like a large mother bear would do. Romi was keeping Anna warm, steady and giving her that love and some recognition, some support or maybe just being with her. She knew Anna wanted to be held. And Romi was 100% right to do so.

Anna did not see it coming, however the warmth of her best friend, her sister suddenly brought her back to reality. She felt so safe, something Anna hadn't felt for a very long time. It wasn't like she was being attacked, but emotionally she felt protected and that was enough for Anna. She needed nothing more than just this from someone, and finally she got it. The woman slowly shut her eyes, resting her head on Romi's shoulder, living in that peace that she very much cherished and loved.

How ever, the news of Anna's grandmother's almost close to death and the episode that she had went on all around the world, and like fire, it captured everyone's ears. Becoming a global news and also a global disaster as it went right to Arthur as well. He sat in his office with his work right in front of him, but he wasn't working, rather his eyes were stuck to his computer as the news and the pictures of the family were shown. The heart attack that came was opened up but to Arthur, he felt as if he had a big hand in this too. Arthur clenched his pen in his hand as his jaw was clenching. He respected Ameera very much, and to see her this way hurt him.

Immediately there was a knock on the door, bringing him out of the harsh reality. The man looked away from the computer and got up to see his secretary walking in.

"Sir, there is someone here to meet you." His secretary said, when suddenly the door went wide open and there walked in his stepmother, the woman and the reason why his family completely collapsed right in front of his eyes. She was older now, and still the same face of calm stuck to her. Silently she walked in.

Shy, was her name. And just like her name, she was shy, calm. He knew she had never hurt anyone in her life, she always thought about people, but to him she was something destructive. She destroyed anything that could have been his, and he couldn't even look at her, it was that pain for Arthur.

However, Shy saw that and it hurt her to her core, but this was not something new for her. The woman slowly walked in, clenching on to her purse tightly. However, after composing himself, Arthur sat there.

"Is there anything I can help you with Mrs Barcell?" He let out, not calling her mother or even by her name.

"I wanted to talk to you." She whispered softly. However, it was taking everything in Arthur to stay this calm, but he was trying hard. She looked all around the room, trying to breathe well. She was here without her husband and it was hard for her.

"I'm going to come right to the point." Shy whispered, getting louder this time.

"I talked to your father about this Arthur, he doesn't agree with me but, is this very much necessary?" She asked, walking close it to the table and looking at the boy she had also helped raise. However, he did not look at her, he could not force himself to.

"I do not have to answer you." He said, finally glaring at the woman who forced herself into his life, took the place of his mother while destroying the love that once he saw and which was around him.

The anger was so vivid that even Shy couldn't look away from it, and she nodded her head.

"This does not concern you," Arthur said.

"I do understand that, but I am thinking about Anna." She said, pain still on her face now.

"Anna would have to leave everything and come into your life, Arthur. Do you still think it is fair?" Shy asked.

"It doesn't matter what I think," He said.

"I don't. This is business but a marriage too. And a marriage isn't a business," Shy let out.

"But it was for you and my father." He said, shutting her up immediately. She stared at him unprepared for this. But the words that he said felt like starbings in her heart. She was so shocked and her eyes went wide open. Emotionally, she was dead but she never quit. Every time he hurt her with his words, she came back.

"So let the cycle stop here. I was forced into the same thing many years ago, so was your father but finally we both found love. Let the cycle end right here." Shy let out.

This time he was done with the conversation, anger running through his brain.

"And what makes you say this? What gives you the right to say this?" Arthur asked.

"Nothing gives me the right, but I say this only because I know you." Shy said, and Arthur chuckled.

"And what do you know about me ?" He challenged her.

"I know that you are not your father." She spoke up, and now this time he was silenced. His smile left him for good.

"Your father is a kind man, so loved, so humble. You are not a monster, Arthur. Don't get me wrong, but in your life where there is no love, you are going to bring in another life, just to put her through the same hell.

"Your father was upset when we had to go through this, but at least he thought like a human and moved on." She said, and Arthur looked away unhappy.

"Your anger with me came up so many years ago, and haven't left. What was my fault? that I listened to my family and came into your life?. Now imagine that girl who comes into your life. Her sister left you. How much emotionally are you going to harm her for what her sister did? And she will not even have a place to go to, accept coming back to you over and over again. That is why I came here to tell you that, if you can't accept her from your heart, don't accept her at all. Don't force another life into this hell." She spoke, as Arthur clenched his jaw again.

"Business will keep growing." She spoke from her heart, from her soul and first time talking to him this way was difficult but Shy was honestly doing this to help another girl who was just like her, in the same position but this time with a real monster.

She was another Shy, but with a different name. How ever, her fate will be difficult to live in.

Arthur, on the other hands, he sat there thinking over this, slowly, as he glanced at the monitor and looked at the hospital and the picture of it that was frozen. Filling his chest with long breaths, he glanced up at his stepmother, looking at her carefully.

"I have said this to you before, and I will say this again, Mrs. Barcell.

"Never interfere in my work, my business and my life. You are my father's wife. I do respect you, but it is all you will get from me. Your suggestions, your help is something I have never asked for before and I will never in the future." He said, breaking her heart, but somehow the pain was very constant. Years of experience it was for her.

Slowly she nodded her head defeated, but Shy knew that at least she put an idea, a thought and a small pebble of it in his mind, and that was enough for her.

She turned around, slowly making her way out of the room as Arthur too stood up, forcing his chair behind. The echo of the metal was going all around the room. He turned around, his hands in his pockets. Arthur was just staring out at the sky, the skyscrapers. Trying to breathe, but this was normal for him as well. He noticed as the sun was setting, completely disappearing. And there Arthur was only wishing that he could stay there for a while, watch the sun go down and that is all. But he was just upset that things usually do fall, it hurts. And even to a powerful man.

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Night came up fairly quickly. The entire family is still there in the hospital, and all of them taking turns to be awake, or stay with their grandmother.

Anna was the one sitting in the room here all alone, she was almost asleep while resting her head on her hand, going in and out of sleep. The lights of the room were turned off, so that her grandmother wouldn't get irritated. Rather, this was making her sleepy.

However, suddenly Anna heard shuffling on the bed and seemed as if Meme was awake. Anna's eyes went wide open and she looked at her grandmother to say she was opening her eyes. Anna was so happy to see her this way. Immediately, Anna got up from her seat, rushing towards her.

"Are you okay Meme?" Anna asked, sitting down close to her grandmother. She seemed to have been awake for a while now. Her Meme did not look sleepy or even tired, but rather a little off to say the least. Somehow, quickly the old lady grabbed on to Anna's hand, holding it tight.

"Anna, please listen to me." She muttered.

"Meme, I think you should stay here for a while. I know things are not doing well............."

"Don't say all those things." Her grandmother stopped her.

" Okay, let me go get the nurse, all the doctor fine?" Anna said, getting up but her grand mother puled her back with whatever she had. Trying to speak to Anna, and this was only confusing Anna.

"What are you doing?"Anna asked.

"Just stay here with me for a while, listen." Her Meme said. Not wanting to put her grandmother through hell, Anna sat there for a second, nodding her head.

"Get married to Arthur, Anna." She said, and as those words came out, it seemed as if Anna had been punched in the gut. Her mouth fell wide open.

"Do this Anna. Not for the family, not for the company, but for yourself." her Meme said, completely taking Anna off guard. The frown on her face suddenly went stronger and deeper.

"Meme, what are you talking about? " Anna whispered, her voice breaking.

"It's time that you do this. Get married, Anna. I want to see you get married." She said, sounding selfish to her.

"Meme, I can't do this because............"

"I understand, but with Ruth I never wanted this or disturb the business, but once I am gone, this entire family will eat you up, Anna. Ruth might come back, start bossing you around and your mother will look after your sister more because your mother understands she needs more support than you. At least emotionally." Meme said, and Anna looked away, knowing he was right, but she did not want to say it. She was looking out the window but her Meme slowly pulled her face back to her.

"Because of this family, you will have to let go of everything, Anna. This is your chance to take what belongs to you. The company belongs to you, not Ruth. She never wanted it and she shouldn't have it because she is older. This marriage, and a man like Arthur should be for you, and he should be with someone equally as powerful and that is you, not your sister. She will destroy anything this family has built, but not you." meme said, and Anna gulped.

"I have known Arthur's family all my life and I know what happened to them. They need someone like you, my love, and you need a family as well. We might all care about you, but the truth here is you and I both know when it comes to Ruth, this family only chooses Ruth because they don't want her to break. Leaving you behind all the time, but not now." Meme was finally saying everything she had wanted to say before. Now she felt and knew this was the right thing to do.

"What are you saying?" She whispered, almost crying..

"I am begging you Anna." Meme let out.

"Please don't say that." Anna whispered crying, but she did not even know she was crying..

"Do this for me honey, take what is yours and finally fight for what is yours. Even with your own family." Meme said, and pulled Anna closer, looking deeply into her eyes.

"I want to see you both get married. I want this from you and this is me asking you for something for the first and last time in my life, Anna. Get married to Arthur."