Chapter 9

It's been three days since the baby's birth and my hospitalisation. My stats regulated throughout the night hours after my panic attack and I was lucky to be discharged the next day.

Liam has been so kind as to move in with me until I find my groove again. He has truly been a great support and an ease to mom's conscience of leaving her darling daughter alone, because she has to meet with dad for business in Sydney as well.

For the determined woman she is, I'm shocked that Liam could persuade her into leaving me in his capable hands. A mother like son is probably the best way to map out their mannerism. They can be equally persuasive, so indeed it should not be a shock in the least.

The true hardship, other than my medical status at the moment, that weighs heavily down upon my heart is the absence of Noah, my husband. I haven't seen him since that morning in the hospital next to Amia and their daughter.

The image of them imprinted in my brain gives me a constant headache fueled by my anger, one so bad that I just want to start breaking stuff around me to release some of the tension bottled up in my body.

The saddest thing is that I keep on checking my phone for any new notifications from him, but everytime my phone lights up to indicate a new notification, it's one from either my parents or just a silly app that seeks attention.

What is worse is that I still keep on hoping for him to remember about his wife and that she was at the hospital as well. If I'm being totally honest I'm almost a hundred percent sure that Noah still has know clue why I got submitted.

RING

My phone begins to ring aloud in my hands, the ringtone filling up the space with noise instantly. The caller ID shows nothing, except for the number of the person calling me.

It rang for a bit longer before I gathered the strength to have a conversation with someone.

"Hello, who is it?" I ask stoically as I answer the incoming call. My joyous nature drained from my voice for nothing but empty hollow words to remain in its place.

"Hello honey." The caller greets and I instantly identify the voice as the one of Allé King. A woman I've known for so long, but have only recently connected after years of being nothing but acquaintances.

"Allé it's so good to hear your voice. For a second there I thought it would be someone else on the line, but I'm thankful that it is you." I say in all honesty. If it was to be Noah my reaction would have been more dramatic. My phone probably wouldn't have survived the call either. No matter how much I want to hear from him, it doesn't change the fact that I'm broken because of him.

"Are you still waiting for him? Honestly if he hasn't shown up at yours yet then I would recommend you filing for a divorce this instant. I'm not going to sit by and watch him destroy your spirit any further." She says and the love she has for me can be felt through the anger she directs at Noah's dispense.

"He still hasn't let anything be known from him." I say in an almost whisper as I feel my throat getting tighter.

"I will not sit by watching them destroy you like this Isabella. I'm going to talk to John about this and see what he can manage to find out about Noah's whereabouts." She says and I can hear in the seriousness of her tone of voice that she is not playing around.

"Allé, I love you for wanting to do this for me, but I'll deal with him if he ever decides to show up at the house again. Besides my brother is here and it has been lovely getting to hear about everything he had been upto while being away from home." I say.

"You are honestly too soft hearted for the situations you find yourself in, Bella," She says and the truth in her words is evident, but doesn't make me any less eager to talk to Noah as I've been up until now. "But enough of that douchè. I'm glad to hear that Liam has finally found his maturity in time to take great care of you."

"At first I was relieved that Liam would help me around the house and not mom, but I would be lying if I was to say that he is any better then her. He literally has me bedridden since we've gotten home from the hospital. I'm only allowed to go to the bathroom to relieve myself or to take care of my hygiene." I say with a sigh escaping my lips. Thinking about it Liam surely has become more dictative than he once was, definitely the younger version of mom.

"I'm glad to hear that he is taking great care of you. We wouldn't want you in the hospital again. Now would we?" Allé asks and although her voice seems playful, I know deep down that she meant what she said. Having a friend that constantly finds herself in the hospital can be tough on one's mental health.

"I'll try my best to stay out of the hospital, at least on the days that I do not need to go for a routine check up." I reassure her but not only her, myself as well.

"I'm glad to hear you say that. I was beginning to think that you just love going to the hospital for near death experiences." She says.

"You know how much of an adrenaline junkie I can be for near death situations." I reply jokingly.

"Take care, Isabella. John is waiting for me. We're going out for dinner this evening. I'll call again soon if I can't come to pop in." Allé says as I hear John in the background and the ruffling of keys and the clacking of heels on tiled floors.

"Have fun and send John my greetings. Goodbye." I say as she returns the pleasantries before ending the call.

Just as I push my legs out of bed, in order to go place my cellphone on the charger, my bedroom door sways open. A very disapproving Liam came into view as I just proceeded to get out of bed regardless of his evident objection against any and all movements I make.

"I thought we had agreed on you staying in bed, Icy." Liam says and the disappointment is evident in the tone of his deep voice.

I hate it when people play the disappointment card.

"Liam, I'm a fully grown woman. A married one in fact." I say as I plug in my phone to charge. "I think that qualifies me as capable of making my own decisions, especially decisions that involve me and my wellbeing."

"It's funny how you say that. Where is that deadbeat husband of yours anyway. I've been the one concerned, taking care of your every need. All because I love you and want you to get better and back to living your life to its fullest. Not him, he has been missing in action for days now. I don't think that will justify your decision making sis. You decided to get married to a man like that." Liam says and I can hear the rise of anger coming through his voice.

"You know what is the worst part?" I ask and Liam just stares blankly at me. "The fact that I can't deny what you're saying, because it is the truth, but at the same time my heart is burning– going up in flames– because above everything, all the pain and sadness, I loved him. I loved him with everything I had in me and he just threw me to the curb for a woman I used to call my best friend."

Liam comes up to me as I'm standing in the middle of the room. He takes me in his strong arms and hugs me tight to his chest. It almost makes me feel that my problems would vanish if we stay like this forever.

Not one of us said another word, while we stood there wrapped up in each other's arms.

The silence was calming. Reassuring me that things will get better as time passes. But the best thing was the silence made me believe that words were overrated between me and Liam. Sometimes all we need is to shut up and let silence speak in the volumes we couldn't.

After about ten minutes of hugging we stepped apart, finally looking each other back in the eye. The swirls of emotion going on behind those blue pools of his are filled with blends of sadness, pity, anger and if I'm not mistaken a glint of love.

"I'm sorry I said that, but I'm not sorry that I called that man a deadbeat, because he's worse." Liam says and while there is usually a bit of humour in his features, today it's stripped of it.

"I know," I admit. "He promised me to be better for me, but now that I need hime the most he's with the mother of his child and the murder of our babies." I confess to Liam as the tears start to pour from my eyes.

"His child... murder of your babies?" Liam asks in confusion.

"I'm sorry Liam–" I started to explain, but I got caught off by the sound of the door bell sounding through the monitors around the house.

DING DONG

I stare at Liam in confusion. "Did you invite anyone over?" I ask him.

Due to the shock of the bomb I just dropped Liam stares at me blankly unable to get a word out.

I made my way out of my room, passed the second landing onto the ground floor, making my way to the front door.

As I get close to the door the person rings the doorbell yet again. Ignoring to look through the peephole on the door, I proceed in just opening the door only to be met with three sets of eyes.