Chapter Three

Andrea could go crazy at that point. Her heart raced as she gripped her phone tightly. She had just received a text from her dad, asking about her date with Daniel, which she ignored. And now, her “lover” is involved in an accident?

She ordered the driver to stop for a moment. She needed to think. She called Stephanie, her best friend, and explained everything to her.

“Three…two…one…” she counted under her breath, putting herself together before entering the hospital. 

She pushed the door open, and for a moment, she forgot she was a doctor. Nurses, doctors, and patients’ relatives moved with purpose, their footsteps marching against the clean, white tiles. She was lost in the tension she felt. She looked around, hoping that someone might call her out of her thoughts. She was familiar with the hospital—it didn’t take her long to find Daniel. He laid partially conscious on a bed in the emergency triage room. Few rolls of plaster ran from his mid-forehead to the left side of his face, escaping his eye by a few centimeters. He had intravenous fluid put up for him, connected to his vein through a rubber tubing. A machine beside him beeped continuously, taking readings of his heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs.

Andrea entered the room, the feeling of worry and anger surging through her. She wanted to confront him, but she couldn’t find the courage. She looked at him angrily, unsure if she should abandon him there to sort himself out, or call his family to come look after their kid.

She fetched her phone from her bag and dialed Olivia’s number.

“Hey Drea…”

“Daniel was involved in an accident. He’s at St. Jon’s Hospital.”

She ended the call without getting any response from Olivia.

“Drea…”, Daniel tried to call her, but he couldn’t find his voice.

Without saying a word to Daniel, she took her leave, hoping that she made the right choice.

That night, Staphanie’s apartment:

You look so pale, Stephanie said with a concerned look.

Andrea sighed. “Yes, I know”, she admitted.

“But at least, you have the next three months to cool off, right?”

“Hm-hm”, Andrea nodded in agreement, forcing a smile.

“I’m sorry about everything”, Stephanie sympathized. “But I’m glad you chose your sanity over a man that mistreats you. Let his family take care of their mess”, she added.

Andrea raised her legs, stretching them to feel more comfortable on the long couch where she sat. She sipped a little more from the glass of water Stephanie offered her. She placed the cup on the small glass stool, close to the edge of the couch.

Andrea looked up as if trying to remember something. She started,  “at this point, I’m not even sure if I should keep holding on, or just tell my family I can’t get married to him.” 

Stephanie looked concerned. 

“I just don’t want to disappoint my family a second time.” She was fighting back tears now.

Stephanie moved closer to her, patting her on the back.

“He brought up marriage discussions and I just wasn’t ready for that”,  Andrea said in a sad tone. She continued, “he got angry, said I was overreacting because I mentioned what he did that I haven’t forgiven him for”.

Stephanie gave her a tight hug.

“I wish this was all a dream.”

“He’s probably just overwhelmed by some things, Stephanie convinced her.”

“Everything will be alright.”

Andrea nodded, sobbing. 

“Imagine getting married to a beast for the sake of preserving family name.”  She was crying now.

“Daniel will definitely come around”, Stephanie consoled her.

Andrea’s phone buzzed. It was her Dad. She ignored it at first. The call ended, but he called again. Stephanie persuaded her to answer the call.

She wiped her eyes with the back of her palm. She cleared her throat, and took a deep breath so it won’t be obvious she had been crying. 

She answered the phone.

“Daniel called me”

“I’m sorry dad, I…”

“No excuses, Andrea. He’s going to be your husband. You should get hold of your feelings.”

Andrea swallowed.

“Come home, we need to talk.”

“Okay dad, I’ll be there tomorrow”, she grumbled. The call ended.

The next day, Mr Morgan’s apartment:

The door bell rang.

Madam Amelia dropped the rag she was using to dust the furniture and rushed to check who was at the door.

“Oh my darling Andrea.” She gave her a tight hug before collecting her bags. “It’s so great to have you back here.”

Andrea sighed, smiled, and took a step further in. 

The warmth of the house met her at once. She stood, looked around, her fingers tight on her bag strap, then took another step. The house hadn’t changed much since she left two years ago. The furniture were still as intact as the way she left them—the sofa, her dad’s recliner, the low table, though, all looking smaller. The curtains stirred with a draft, making the rays of sunlight fall on the rug. She spotted her mother’s picture frame and moved slowly towards it. She knelt in front of the cabinet on which the frame was placed. Tears welled up in her eyes as her fingers ran gently over her mother’s face. Memories from two years ago came flashing through her mind like it was just yesterday. 

“One, two, three, shock!” She remembered her last commands before her mother eventually stopped breathing. 

“Andrea dear, don’t settle for less than you deserve…” Her mother’s voice was fading away as she spoke. The arrest happened.

Madam Amelia’s footsteps as she climbed down the stairs distracted Andrea from her thoughts.

“Your room is ready”, she announced.

“Thank you”, Andrea replied, her attention still on her mother’s picture.

“I’m sorry mum. I should have done better.” She picked the frame, held it tightly to her chest, sobbing.

Madam Amelia could only watch her in pity. 

Andrea finally let go of the frame and placed it back in its position.

She got up and headed for her room.

Later that evening, Mr Morgan’s apartment: 

Madam Amelia set the dinner table, waiting for everyone to come out of their rooms. She headed back to the kitchen to complete her work. 

Samantha, Andrea, and their dad, Mr Morgan, took their places. No one said a word to another. Each person pulled their chairs back to sit comfortably at the table. Madam Amelia came to dish everyone’s food. The light from the chandelier above them made everyone look a little tired. Every few seconds, a silence opened, which they filled with chewing, the scrape of cutlery on ceramic plates, and the dropping of cups on the table. 

A loud buzz caught everyone’s attention. It was Samantha’s phone. Andrea and their dad turned to look at her. Andrea caught a glimpse of the caller’s name. It was Daniel Lucas.