One Year Later
Marcus helped load the last canvas onto the truck and saw the packers and movers leave with his latest art collection. With his biggest exhibition coming up, he was expecting a grand sale of all his paintings. Now that the paintings were dispatched to New York, it was time for him to get ready to leave the house where he spent a year, remembering his Cara. After she disappeared from her life that fateful night, his entire world had turned upside down. His granny died the next day, he severed all ties with his mom and left New York, and came to Long Island to look for Cara. Although her family had no idea of her whereabouts, he hadn’t given up hope. He wrapped up his exhibition and moved over to his Southampton beach house where he had made memories with Cara. Every fortnight, he visited her family to ask about her whereabouts. However, it took him six months to realize that they wouldn’t leak any info
Marcus woke up feeling much better the next morning. He had a tight schedule coming up and quickly got ready for the day. Driving towards his gallery, he remembered the phone call Mr. Warnock made last night. He wasn’t in a position to entertain his call last night so he would have to deal with that as well. However, the moment he walked inside the gallery, he found everyone excited and happy, eagerly chatting all at once.“What? It seems no one has any work,” he said, walking inside to check the number of paintings sold. Mr. Warnock was in his office and came rushing out to talk to him. However, the moment Marcus entered the gallery where the exhibition was being held, he found the whole place empty. Whirling around, he frowned at Mr. Warnock looking more puzzled than ever before. Last night before he left there were twenty-four paintings left in his collection. Where did they go?&
Marcus walked into the study room and looked at all their anxious faces. Although he avoided any direct eye contact with his mom, he knew that something of extreme importance was being discussed. “What’s going on?” he asked Lucas and Nicholas who sat with grave faces.“Sit,” said Lucas, picking up a legal document from his desk. Marcus frowned and sat down waiting anxiously for him to speak.“What will happen now? Your precious Cara has shown us her true colors,” said his mom, looking at him with disgust. Marcus was immediately on high alert hearing Cara’s name. “There’s no respite from this family.”“Mom, it is us who have wronged them. This was bound to happen. Just be thankful that she hasn’t sued us for defamation,” s
Marcus stared at the entranceway, waiting impatiently for Cara’s car to arrive. Suddenly the place seemed to be overcrowded with people. Traffic police jumped to the rescue trying to control the massive crowd who suddenly appeared from nowhere.“What’s going on?” asked his mom, looking at the crazy crowd chanting, ‘Rohesia' deliriously.“Cara is a Hollywood celebrity. These are all her fans,” said Nicholas, making her mom do a double-take and stare at the crowd with disbelief. Four black cars, guarding a limousine, came to a halt. Uniformed bodyguards alighted and opened the door to the limousine. Marcus held his breath as his desperate eyes looked on to catch a glimpse of her, his Cara. She might be Rohesia, a celebrity for the world, but for him, she was his Cara, the love of his life. His heart thumped lo
A haggard Lucas went forward to talk to Marcus’s doctor the moment he emerged from the emergency room. “Has Marcus gained consciousness, doctor? How serious is his condition?” The doctor shook his head. “We’re trying our best. We've carried out intubation successfully and now the patient will be shifted to the ICU. We'll start with the intravenous drips right away as well as inject antidotes at regular intervals. He should gain consciousness when the toxin level reduces,” said the doctor. “How soon can we shift the patient?” asked Lucas, wanting to shift his brother to Bellevue Hospital where Sienna used to work before. It was much bigger and better equipped to deal with the therapy that Marcus needed right now. “You can shift him once he gains consciousness. Right now his condition isn’t stable and I wouldn’t advise you to move him,” said the doctor. Four hours passed by and they decided to take turns at the hospital. Ben Duncan drove Mrs. Donnelly to Marcus’s Southampton beach
“What do you mean? I’ve seen her photographs with Frederick Gardner, the famous Music Director,” said Marcus bitterly. His mom shook her head.“I don’t think she has accepted him willingly. She still loves you,” said his mom with conviction.“How can you be so sure, mom?” asked a confused Marcus.“I saw the way she was looking at you. I’m sure she’s still in love with you.” Marcus was stunned to hear her. As far as he had noticed, she hardly even looked at him as if she hadn’t recognized him. He was sure that his mom was mistaken.“I don’t think so. She didn’t look at me at all. For that matter, she hardly recognized me,” he sulked. His mom handed the p
Marcus was immediately on high alert seeing the cars drive past him. Although he tried hard to catch a glimpse, the tinted windows didn’t allow him to check out who was seated inside the limousine. Was it Cara? Crossing his fingers, he decided to follow them to check for himself. The cars stopped outside the famous West End Studios while he remained at a safe distance, his hawk-like eyes glued to the limousine. A huge crowd had already gathered outside which made him certain that it was Rohesia inside. Surely the crowd wouldn’t go crazy for Frederick Gardner! True to his assumptions, the window rolled down and Rohesia waved at all her fans, making them squeal and chant her name like a mantra.Marcus watched her, noting her frail arms. She was never this thin! He noted the strained look on her face, the makeup not able to cover the sadness at all from his probing eyes. Marcus frowned, deep
“Marcus!” gasped Cara breathlessly as her eyes widened with renewed hope realizing that he was here for her. She touched the door to push it open when Frederick’s voice resonated in the corridor. She panicked and closed the door shut immediately.“What the f*ck are you doing here? Who’s inside the room?” growled an angry Frederick as he stormed towards her. Cara froze with fright and shook her head vehemently.“N-no one. I just saw a mouse,” she stammered with a pale face. She just prayed that Frederick wouldn’t open the door and see Marcus. Then there would be no saving anyone. Frederick would surely kill everyone she held dear, including Marcus.“Don’t bloody fool me, Cara. I’m sure there’s someone,” he gritted out as he stop
Suddenly seeing the man she loved right in front of her after so long, Cara’s throat choked up with too many emotions at the same time. Tears pooled in her eyes as she stared at him wordlessly, gulping down the painful lump in her throat. Did he really come all the way here for her? Time stood still for them as Marcus gazed at her, his eyes brimming with helpless tears.“I love you so much. Why did you leave me, Cara? I’ve been looking for you everywhere like crazy,” he cried, holding her close to his heart, crushing her to himself. For a moment Cara was shocked as the words echoed in her head. He loved her! He really loved her! His heart-wrenching confession as well as his tears touched Cara so much that she clung to him, forgetting the way he had betrayed her, the way he had kissed Cassie, everything.“You love m-me?”