Chapter 05 (a)

“Chris, are you going somewhere?” Heer asked as she saw her son dressed in an ironed suit. He looked so charming like always. He had gotten those looks from his father. She smiled a bit, but she was upset seeing her son in that office attire. 

“Um… yes, mom,” he said as he covered the distance between them and kissed her temple before he sat in his usual place, turning the dish. “Just a small meeting,” he added, not glancing up at his mother who started serving him and his father. 

Sanam watched Christian from that distance, eyes slightly narrowed. “That’s unexpected, son, and kind of displeasing.” Suddenly work was displeasing for him because he cared about Heer’s feelings. She was here only for her son. Not a second without him she desired to spend. She just wanted to see him fine every time. 

“Dad, it won’t take even an hour, I promise.” He shrugged. Heer sighed, sitting next to her husband. Sanam gave her a glance, noticing her lips lightly pressed against each other. 

“Mom, you know I just don’t like to discontinue something I started. I’ll be coming back in an hour! Besides, I’ll be fine, and I appreciate your concern for me.” 

Heer bit her bottom lip and slightly nodded. She looked upset clearly though she was convinced. She knew her son was depressed. Really very depressed. And depression could lead to something very dangerous and wrong. She did not want to leave Christian even for a second alone — out of her care shelter because when alone, one tends to think deeply, trying to understand the rules of life and then finding everything too difficult to handle till the end, and then ending… 

She sighed, not wishing to even think about it. A thin layer of worry on his face was just the beginning. 

“Well, I don’t see Aurora here. Is she still asleep?” 

~⁠♪

Christian’s car soon came and stood in front of that white building. He parked the car and went inside. As soon as he entered, a tall man, clad in black came to him and bowed his head in respect. 

Christian nodded, walking ahead. “I hope that no one should get ear-to-ear about this,” said the powerful one, his voice coming out gruff. He was back in that dominant and intimidating mode. 

The other one nodded, with, “You can trust me with that, sir.” He earned himself a nod. As they walked ahead to the confident lady, sitting behind the huge white marble desk. She smiled professionally, asking them if she could help with something. 

“To see a patient. John Lowell is the name,” said Christian as he wanted to handle everything after that. The other man took the hint and stepped back. He knew Christian was one of the caring masters. 

The lady took the words, searching for something in less than a minute before answering them, “Oh yes. He’s in the patient's ward. On the floor above it, on the right. Do you want me to assist you, sir?” 

“No, thanks for the offer though,” he moved to leave, followed by the other. His long strides helped him in a few minutes before he was standing right in front of the door of John’s treatment room. 

He pushed the door open and entered inside. He saw John sitting on the bed, his wife sitting on a couch and cutting apples. 

“Sir?” John almost whispered when he found Christian at the door. This got his wife’s attention as well and she got up quickly, bowing slightly in respect. Upon getting a nod, she sat on the couch and continued her work, while Christian made his way to John. 

“How did this happen, John?” He asked, his amber eyes scrutinizing every injury on John’s body. 

John sighed. Throwing a glance at the man standing behind Christian, he said, “Just a mistake, sir. I got into a fight and they attacked my head.” Hearing him, Christian nodded in understanding. He was not convinced at all. He felt like John was hiding something. And due to his wife’s presence around, Christian decided not to dig further. She already looked worried. 

“Robert,” he called as he came out. Robert stood straight from the bench outside the rooms, uttering, “Sir.” 

“You don’t need to be around John anymore. After he is discharged, I want to give him rest for a few days.” 

Robert got the command and he was now ready to leave. Christian was out of the building after he asked Robert to pay attention to John a bit more. Deep down, he felt guilty, and his guilt grew more when he saw John’s wife. Though the lady did not interfere even for a second, he noticed her tears-filled eyes and that pale skin. He has seen his mother worried for his father, just like that. 

If he had not paid much for John’s concern, he would have asked him about Hazel, but now that he was out of the house on the pretext of a meeting, he did not want to miss this opportunity.  

He only had to go once to see Hazel. Now the restlessness had increased. 

~⁠♪

As soon as she opened her eyes in the morning, she first thought of John. The mistake she made last night brought tears to her eyes. But more than that, she was worried about herself. She did not want to go to jail. 

The mere thought made her shiver. She swiftly got out of bed and took her black thick comfortable rob, putting it over her bare milky shoulders. She knotted the belt around her petite waist and wore the fluffy slippers before heading downstairs. 

She licked her upper lip, nervousness forming inside her all of a sudden. She ran downstairs and her eyes searched for her father. She did not find him anywhere in the hall, forgetting completely that her father had a habit of reading newspapers in his study room. 

“Martha!” She yelled the name of her maid who came running for her. She quickly looked down when she noticed Gabriella was angry all of a sudden. 

“Y-Yes, ma’am!” Her eyes remained on the floor. 

“Where’s my dad?!” The seething question made Martha flinch back. She uttered, “In his study, ma’am!” 

All of a sudden, her anxious anger started falling. She realized she was uselessly being angry. It was just her restlessness. She nodded frantically and dashed towards the destination. She hurriedly opened the door and rushed to her father. 

“Good morning, my princess!” He beamed, not minding that she wrapped her arms around his torso and hugged him tightly just to whimper on his chest. He knew she was still worried. 

“It’s alright, princess, you’re safe. Stop crying!” He cooed, caressing her honey hair lovingly. Just like her mother. 

“Really, dad?” She peeked up at him. 

He smiled softly. “Yes! You don’t have to worry about anything now. Nobody would come to take you away from me.” 

She smiled back, the anxiety evaporating off her. “Thank you! You’re the best daddy in this world!” This made him chuckle. “But dad…” The sudden sadness in her voice made him frown. He looked down at her and she said, “He’s still after that girl. He sent John to check on her.” 

“I know. I actually know, Gabby.” She pulled away and sat straight. 

“I don’t want that, dad! I want him all for me!” 

“You don’t have to worry about it, Gabby. Not anymore. The date is fixed. In front of everyone. There’s no way back for him now. Doesn’t matter where he goes, whom he checks, in the end, he’s your husband.” 

Gabriella remained silent. She was getting what he was wanting to make her understand. 

“Just let him do whatever now. He’s a man, after all. Let him chase whoever he wants because soon, he’s coming back to you. This is your pride, Gabby, live it.” 

She could not see the way except to believe the explanation of her father. There was truth in her father’s words. Whatever girl Christian pursues at the moment, he will eventually come to Gabriella. She did not need to worry. And that was what made her happy in an instant.