After Beatrice and Mateo talked, he immediately ordered Amadeus, his butler, to pay for David Lichter’s hospital bill. That night, David was sent to BMH and started his operation immediately. The surgery will be a long operation. It will take up to twelve hours.
“Thank you, Mister. My husband will live!” Veronica said with tears in her eyes.
Amadeus smiled. “You should thank your daughter.”
Beatrice looked away. “I-I’ll go to the cafeteria.”
“Hmph! Yes. You should. Bring mother some coffee!” Clementine's second.
“Ah, you don’t have to, Miss Lichter. We have already provided a room for your family. You can rest there, Mrs. Lichter. As you wait for your husband,” Amadeus interrupted.
BMH was not just a hospital. It also had hotel-like rooms for very important people waiting for their sick family. Having this, families are one building away from their loved ones.
Clementine raised her eyebrows. She never liked it when someone was favoring Beatrice. Veronica noticed it and she stopped her. Clementine crossed her arms and looked hard at Beatrice.
“You nice man of you, Mister. We will go there,” Veronica said.
Amadeus bowed. “I must go now, Mrs. Lichter.” He looked at Beatrice. “Miss Lichter. I will accompany you first to your room here before I go.”
“Me?”
“Yes. The master asked you to have your own room. It’s on the top floor of this hospital.”
Beatrice's eyes widened in shock. She just wanted some air away from her stepmother and stepsister. But she can wait outside the surgery room and sleep on the waiting chairs.
Veronica gasped. “What?! Where will you put us? Why are you not accompanying us too?” she blurted. Then she glared at Beatrice too. She cannot believe the butler of Mr. Bruce himself favored Beatrice that much. It should be them that they are taking care of.
“Mr. Bruce wanted me to take care of everything for Miss Lichter. Some staff will come here to guide you.”
“No! You should accompany us! Not her!” Veronica added.
Amadeus was confused but he managed to keep himself. He could see the jealousy in their eyes as they looked at Beatrice. He shook his head silently. Thinking how they'd been unfair to her because Beatrice was just looking down.
“Y-Yes,” Beatrice said and looked at Amadeus. “I’m okay. I can manage myself.” She forced a smile.
“I am sorry. But this was an order that came from my master. I cannot disobey his words.” Amadeus then pointed his hands. “If you please?”
Beatrice was hesitant. She looked at her stepmother and stepsister who were already glaring at her. She could feel their sharp looks at her, so she immediately looked away. This was not much like Mateo's. She could take their glares at her. But she doesn’t want to disobey him again.
“O-Okay.”
“Thank you.”
Beatrice started walking. She tried to relax even though she could hear their words.
“Mom! Do something! Why are they favoring her?!” Clementine cried like a teen.
“No. Let her be. We cannot spoil this night for your father. I will talk with Mr. Bruce myself when we see him,” Veronica answered.
Beatrice heard it but she tried not to look at them anymore. They had been like this to her since they all lived together. Even her own father always favored them over her. She doesn’t know why. But she always felt she was not part of the family.
They went to the next building using the bridge connecting the hospital. Beatrice oversaw the lights of the city as they walked to the next building. Then they entered an elevator. Beatrice was quiet until they reached the room.
Beatrice couldn’t help but be amazed when they entered a big two-door room. There was a bed in the center with a fine bedsheet. A big window on the side and her own bathroom. It even had a big television in front of the bed.
“You can stay here, Miss Lichter. Your personal nurse and doctor will come here to examine you. You will also have your personal assistant to assist you with everything you need,” Amadeus said.
“What? Why would I need a nurse and a doctor?”
“You also got in an accident. The master wanted to make sure that you were okay.”
Beatrice was stunned. She never had this kind of treatment from anyone. Yes, they had maids. But she could be compared to them whenever her stepmother was at their house.
“B-But I’m okay. I just need a rest.”
“No, Miss Lichter. I must go now. Please wait for them.”
Amadeus bowed and then went out of the room. Beatrice was left inside the room still amazed and hesitant. But what can she do? She went to bed and laid her tired body there.
‘Father, I hope you are doing okay now. I will be waiting for your recovery.’
Not long had passed. Her room opened and a nurse and a doctor came in. They checked up on Beatrice and examined her. She was okay except for some bruises on her body. Then they left. The next one came were two staff who brought her meal and new clothes. Beatrice suddenly felt she was like a princess. But she knew that it would not always be like that.
Beatrice was already lying on her bed. Her room was already dark and only the lampshade on her side was open. She was trying to sleep but she kept on thinking about her father. When he followed her, he was begging her not to go because of her mother. His father doesn’t want to marry her to a stranger. But he doesn’t have a choice because their resort was almost bankrupt and their house will be loaned by the bank. He doesn’t want their house to be taken away from them because his mother’s memories are there too. Well, her father was a good man. Beatrice could see that he really loved her and her mother. But sometimes he was always brainwashed by her stepmother. And she had little memory of her mother, so she didn’t want their house to be taken away from them. Her father had promised her that he would not force her to marry a stranger anymore. But the accident happened.
‘I hope you understand this, Dad. I am doing this for us.’
After the surgery, David was still unconscious. The Lichter's then never left the hospital for David. Beatrice was at least relieved because Mateo was not bothering her while she was still waiting for her father. It’s as if he was being considerate. And Beatrice was thankful for that because she was not yet ready again to face him. Beatrice was having her breakfast in the room that Amadeus provided her. She had never left the room since she came here. There was an hourly update for the nurses about her father. So, Veronica and Clementine decide to visit her in the room. Beatrice heard a loud knock on her door. She immediately stood up and opened the door. “Mother? Why are you–” “Oh, stop. Let us in,” Veronica said, and did not even wait for Beatrice to open the door. She let herself in and Clementine followed her. Beatrice stood up by her side while waiting for her stepmother's words. She was still holding the bread she was eating. She put her hands behind her to hide them from th
“Thank you for coming here, Javier,” Beatrice said as she took her bag from Javier. When her father woke up and her room was taken out from her, she asked Javier to come and get her clothes. Her father was still weak, so they still needed to stay in the hospital. Javier sighed. He could see the tiredness on Beatrice's face. “You should go home instead of staying here. Your father will be taken care of for sure.” “I can’t leave him.” “Then where will you sleep here? Your father still needs to stay in the ICU.” Beatrice looked around her. They are in the hospital’s waiting area. “I can. Here.” “You shouldn’t!” “Why? This is okay. Look.” Beatrice patted the chair. “It might be hard because it is made of steel, but that will be okay. I have my bag.” “Beatrice. You shouldn’t let them be hard on you. You might not be saying anything to me now. For sure, your mother said bad things to you again.” Beatrice looked away. Her friend knew him well and she couldn’t hide her true feelings f
Beatrice let out a deep long breath when she turned on the left hallway. She rested her back and head on the wall, then closed her eyes. ‘What just happened?!’ Beatrice touched her chest. She could feel her heart throbbing as if someone was chasing her. She tried taking a deep breath again and slowly until she calmed down. “He is crazy,” she whispered. Then she touched her neck, still feeling the goosebump she felt earlier. Why did she have a weird feeling when Mateo blew on her neck? It was like something was crawling from her neck and going through her chest. To her tummy and her… “Urgh!” she groaned and started walking again. She shouldn’t let Mateo get into her system. Into her mind. She must not be scared of a psycho man. Yet what he said was true. She needed him as much as he wanted her. They liked using each other. Thinking about it, they were like partners, so Beatrice hadn’t been scared of the man. “What are you doing here?” Beatrice noticed her stepmother and sister wer
At that moment, Beatrice didn’t know what to say. They were all shocked when Clementine started her tantrums. Well, it was not really that shocking for Beatrice because Clementine was always like that. Every time Clementine saw that Beatrice was being favored over her, she would do anything just to have more than Beatrice. “Is there something wrong, Miss Lichter?” Mateo asked confusedly. Veronica hemmed. “Ahm. I think Mister Bruce should come at another time.” She went to Mateo’s side and touched his arm. “Come. I will guide you through the door.” But Mateo removed her hand and did not move. He sighed. “Okay. I will come back again when Mister Lichter is really okay.” He looked at David again. “You should probably talk with your daughter, Mister Lichter. And I want to remain on what’s on our deal. You wouldn't disappoint me, right?” he said with a tone of menace. David gulped. He knew exactly what Mateo meant. His grip on Beatrice's hand tightened and he then didn’t say any words.
David Lichter’s recovery was fast. After another week in the hospital, he was finally discharged by his doctors. But Mateo still sent them personal nurses for him to be checked 24/7. As the day passed, Beatrice could feel the tension in their house. Clementine and Veronica kept on asking David if Clementine would marry Mateo instead. But Mateo only wanted Beatrice. “You!” Clementine faced Beatrice with tears in her eyes. She had just left David's room. Beatrice was going there to give him juice. “What?”“What did you do to Mateo Bruce, huh?! Did you really fuck him already? That's why he only wants you?!”Beatrice gasped. “Watch your words, Clementine! I would never do that! If only I could stop this, I would!”Clementine smirked in disbelief. “Then prove it. Prove that you didn't want to marry Mateo. Tell him that you will not marry him anymore!”Beatrice was taken aback. She knew it was impossible because Mateo was firm in his decision. Her hands trembled and she looked away from
In the morning, all the staff of Lichter’s resort were busy. They were installing decorations in the hall where the party would be held. They also stopped accepting tourists because they reserved rooms for guests. The Lichter's might be facing bankruptcy, but they were still the most prominent resort in the province. No one could compete in their hospitality and luxurious rooms. The receiving area was a big mansion and it could be used for special events. There were rooms for the guests too. Then there are a lot of recreational activities for rich people. Yes, because a night at Lichter's resort would cost someone fifty thousand dollars. And it could cost up to half a million if someone rented a villa and personal staff. The resort was located on a small island not that far from the city. It was owned by the Lichters since the grandfather of David. It was like their family heirloom. But David was ready to take the risk by selling it just to save his daughter. “Is everything okay?”
“M-Mister Bruce! What are you doing here?” Beatrice asked. She stood up and was about to wipe her tears but Mateo stopped her. She looked at her in confusion. Mateo was just looking at her eyes while holding her arms. She gulped as she felt her heart start to thump again. ‘What is wrong with me?’ she asked herself. As the day passed, she was always affected by him. Mateo did not answer Beatrice. He was just looking at her eyes mindlessly. He loved the way her tears fell down from her eyes through her cheeks. Mateo wiped her tears using his thumb. It immediately caused him to feel excited but worried at the same time. “Why are you crying?” he asked. “It’s nothing.” Beatrice tried to take back her arms but he was much stronger than her. “Let me go!” Mateo’s face turned blank. But it was just for a second. Enough to make Beatrice tremble as she remembered when she angered him. Mateo let her go and she stepped back. Mateo sighed and looked at the ocean. He doesn’t know why he cannot
Beatrice couldn’t stop looking at herself in the floor mirror. The team that Mateo brought to the island to style her had just finished their work on her. And now, she couldn’t believe in herself. Beatrice smiled as she scanned her appearance. They only use light makeup for her. Though it brightened her face more. Her hair was braided at the top and the other half was loose only. They curl it and add more hair extenders. She was amazed because she never used those hair decorations. Actually, she was amazed by everything. She was the type of woman who just combed her hair and it was done. It was Clementine who liked these things. She looked down at her white dress. Her chest looked like it had doubled in size because of the pushed-up bra. She looked like a princess in such a simple dress. But no one could deny her elegance. Beatrice never thought that she would be this good in a dress like this. 'At least try smiling, Beatrice.'“Miss Lichter. Mister Bruce said that you should wear t