Chapter 3

I had been waiting outside to talk to her son and daughter. They were still inside with her. But who were the other two? I so wanted to ask but then refrained. I shouldn’t be bothered because it was none of my business.

The doctor had come a few minutes ago, saying it would be difficult for her to make it through the night as her organs were already damaged. 

He didn’t fail to mention that even if she did, considering her cancer, she would barely make it a month.

I had to let them know and talk to them about her will. I couldn’t barge in, so I patiently waited outside for them.

They had been in there for a long time now.

“When are they going to come out, Jane?” I said impatiently.

“I don’t know,” she said helplessly.

“Shit!” I cursed.

“Excuse me?” Someone called out. I turned around to see the crying woman, who now stood before me.

“Yes?” I asked as she approached me.

“Can I talk to you?” She said sniffing. I nodded. She held my elbow and pulled me to the side.

“I’m Sarah. As you might know, I’m her daughter.” She said sniffing and pointing to Nina’s room and I just shook my head.

“My mother, she is now conscious and we spoke to the doctors and they said she doesn’t have a lot of time.” She said breaking down completely.

I held her hand and tried to comfort her but failed miserably. “She wants to talk to you,” she said finding her voice.

“Me?” I asked her confused and she just gestured to the room. I hesitated but walked in eventually. 

I couldn’t see Nina as the others were blocking my view.

“Cliff, Pearl,” Sarah called out and all the three of them snapped their heads towards us.

“She is mom’s attorney,” she spoke. Both of them, Aeden and Sarah had an English accent contrary to their mother’s.

“Carla,” Nina called out. Her voice was frail and barely audible.

“Yes,” I walked closer to her. With her shaky hands, she held mine. 

“Carla, dear…” Her voice was hoarse.

“I want to speak to her in private,” she said glaring at the people behind me. Specifically Pearl.

“Alright,” I heard a manly voice and retreating footsteps.

“Do you want water?” I asked her. She just nodded her head slightly. I pulled my hands from hers and turned to the side table and poured the water into the glass from the jug. I gave it to her and with her shaky hands, she gulped it all down.

“Sit,” she said and I took the glass from her and placed it on the side table. I sat down after placing the glass away.

“Mrs. Beckett, your daughter said that you wanted to talk to me,” I spoke with a fake smile. Only I knew how guilty I was that she was now like this because of me.

“I have one last request,” she said and I just looked at her. “I want to see my son get married to you.” She said.

I stood up immediately as tears of frustration gathered in my eyes. I didn’t want to marry him. He was hot and good-looking for sure but I didn’t want to marry him. I wanted to marry someone I love. Someone I knew and spent the majority of my time with. Someone who knew everything about me. Someone I could trust and not some stranger.

“Please, Carla. This is the only thing I want from you. Please don’t say no,” she said softly looking at me. 

Tears threatened to rush out of my eyes but I held them back. “I can’t marry him. He doesn’t know me, Mrs. Beckett.” I said hoping she would understand. Why was she so persistent?

“And we don’t even know if he wants to get married,” I voiced out my opinion. I looked at her.

Please let her understand! I hoped.

“Carla, he will marry you.” She said shattering all of my hopes.

And I didn’t hold back as a lone tear rolled down my eye. She caressed my cheek but I couldn’t look at her. 

“Please, Carla. This is my only wish. Only after seeing my son marry you, will I be able to sigh in relief. Please, Carla.” She requested.

It was her last wish and I was denying it. I wanted to marry, sure but I didn’t know that it will be like this. Was I being too selfish, denying the lady her last wish on her death bed?

I looked at her to see trust sparkle in her eyes. I nodded slowly but before she could say anything, I ran out of the room towards the exit of the hospital. 

I heard Sarah call my name but I kept running. I ran as fast as I could. 

I stopped when my legs couldn’t take me any further. Placing my hands on either of my knees, I bent down as I was out of breath.

Tears constantly kept running down my cheeks. What have I done? How could I be so stupid? There was no way Nina would have spoken to her son about this. 

They just arrived from God knows where and I believed her words like an idiot. My clients usually tend to lie to cover up their shit but Nina hurt me emotionally, making me unable to differentiate her lies and truth.

Emotions. I had buried them down deep inside me when life decided to fuck me over. First, it was my parents. Second, my boyfriend and my best friend.

I had to fight my way till here. Being in a male-dominated firm, it was extremely hard for me to make it here. Even today, in modern times, the ratio of men and women attorneys in my firm, were barely comparable. I did want things for myself. Where I didn’t have to work hard to get. But those only existed in dreams.

“Crazy woman!” Someone’s scream bought me out of my thoughts. I looked my left to see a man honking continuously. I looked around only to realize I was standing in the middle of the road. 

“Do you want to die?” I heard another person yell.

“I’m sorry,” I spoke loudly and apologetically. I moved across the road and sat down on the bench outside a coffee shop.

I decided to go home but realized I left all of my things in the hospital. I sighed and shrugged my shoulder in defeat.

I got up and was about to take a step but my bag appeared before my eyes. My eyes widened looking at it.

“Walking back for this?” His husky voice reverberated. I moved my head to the side to see Aeden standing uncomfortably close to me holding my purse.