Chapter Two: Julia's back

My head hurts. I thought as I forced my eyes open. Everything was blurry at first, but my vision eventually cleared out. It looked like I was at the hospital.

“ How are you feeling?” I jumped at the voice that came out of nowhere. A lady was staring at me intensely, trying to watch my every move. She must be a nurse, based on her white nursing uniform.

She helped me sit up and explained to me that I was in an accident last night. And I was brought to the hospital by a man.

Soon after, she left to get the doctor to check on me. I saw my phone on the side table beside my bed and took it to check my reflection. My head was covered in plaster, that explains the stinging pain I was feeling.

I turn on my phone, only to be bombarded with angry messages from Mom and Dad about how Mark is suing us. Events of yesterday came flooding in. I instantly rushed to get up from the bed, when I saw the nurse returned with a handsome Doctor. He had a mop of Carmel coloured hair and chocolate eyes. He won’t be older than thirty-five.

“Hello Miss Davidson, I’m doctor Jericho and I am going to be examining you before you can check out”. He said and set his file down on the table near my bed.

He proceeded to check my head wound for any loose bandages. “The wound on your head is mild, and will heal soon. But there’s something that was brought to our concern”. He paused a little, passing a look between him and the nurse.

“I want you to understand that this is a safe space, I and the nurse just want to help you.” He says his eyes set in a gentle expression. I didn’t really know what was going on or where the conversation was heading.

“ When we treated you, we noticed the bruises on your wrist, which indicate a sign of struggle. Not only that, but we also found older marks on your body that concern us.”

All the noises in the room ceases.

Doctor Jericho continued in a soft voice. “ Miss Davidson… are you being abused?” I quickly shook my head.

“ No, why would you think that doctor?” I let out a small laugh.

He frowns, it was clear he wasn’t buying it. “ You don’t have to protect anyone. If someone is hurting you, we can help”.

My fingers curled tightly around the edge of the blanket.

“ You got it wrong”, I whispered. “ I’m just clumsy… I bruise easily”.

“The marks don’t appear accidental”.

“ They are”. My voice is firm this time. “ I fell down the stairs a few days ago, and bumped my hands into a shelf at work. That’s it.”

“ Now please… stop asking me these questions, I don’t know anyone in my life that would want to harm me intentionally”. I lowered my eyes, unable to meet him.

He looked unconvinced, but decided not to push the topic further since I refused to talk.

“ Very well” He let out a soft sigh. “Everything is clear and you can be discharged.”

“ We also have good news for you, the man who brought you here paid your bill for you” He said while writing on his chart. This stunned me.

“ Is there any way to contact him, so I can thank him”. He stops writing and gives me a glance before he continues writing.

“ I don’t think that would be necessary”. He says. But I still press on.

“I want to thank him and pay him back. You hardly see people that do nice things, I just want to let him know I appreciate it.” I ramble on.

He studies me for a few seconds. Finally, he let out a sigh.

“ That guy is going to kill me…”

He hands me a white piece of paper.“ Here take this”

“ What is this?”

“ Your receipt. It contains the contact of the man that saved you”. I took the receipt from him.

“Thank you”. He nodded at me and left the room. I drop the receipt on the table and pick up my phone. A text from mom demanding I come back home popped up on my screen.

“Shit!” I stood up from the hospital bed and made my way out.

When I got home, the staff was running around the house. The head maid ordering them around, her hair up in a tight bun like always. She saw me and gave me a nasty look.

She has always been around when I’m getting punished by Mom or being the one administering it when mom is not up to the task. Seeing her standing by the dining room doors, I knew I was in big trouble.

“Madam is waiting for you” she sneered at me. I walked into the dining room and they were already sitting. But there were three people at the dining table. When the guest turned to look at me.

“ Julia? Your back?” This drew mom and dad’s attention towards me. They were so busy focusing on Julia they didn’t even notice when I entered.

Julia gave me a huge smile. She stood up and came to give me a big hug. “ Iris, I missed you”.

The last time I saw Julia was when I watched her get on a plane to go abroad and study design for one year in one of the top schools for designs.

At the time, I had just gotten engaged to Ryan after I rejected my scholarship to the same design school Julia was accepted in.

I remember Julia crying to Mom all night that she didn’t get in and dad threatening me to give up the scholarship or else they would reject my relationship with Ryan.

“ I missed her too”. I really did miss her. Julia has always protected me, even from our parents. So I’m genuinely happy she’s back.

Our reunion was cut short when Mom came and dragged me away from Julia.

“ Julia dear, Don’t let this bitch taint you with her bad energy”. She glares at me pushing Julia to her side.

“Mom! Why would you say that?”

“This bitch has never wanted anything good for this family. Not only did she lose the contract that was supposed to help our company, she got us a huge lawsuit”. She spat at me.

“No, he tried to assault me”. My face drained of colour when I realized what I just said.

Mom raised her hands and gave me a heavy slap, her nostrils flaring up in anger. I pressed a shaky hand to my cheeks, wincing as pain shot through my cheeks. As I pulled back I saw blood on my palm.

She pulls my hair, bringing my face to hers. “ How many times have I told you not to talk back to me”. I wince in pain.

“ I got into an accident that’s why” I said my voice barely above a whisper.

Pain shot into my scalp as she pulled my hair tighter. “ Die for all I care, but you must do what we tell you before you do”.

“ Mom! That’s enough you’re hurting her. Let’s not spoil this evening with this”. Julia intervened.

“ Julia, is right Ava, let go of the girl.” Dad said, dropping his napkin on the table. He had been eating all this while, paying us no mind. “Julia just came back and we should not spoil the evening by dealing with trash”. Relief came over me. I didn’t care that he called me trash, but just stopping this is enough.

But my relief was cut short. When he looks at me“ Because she is going to pay for it”.

He smiles.

“By marrying Julia’s betrothed”.

“Mason Kingston”.