5

Chapter 5

Eloise Brooke 

"Justin?" My voice came out in a whisper as I stared at the person I least ever expected to see. Justin Lloyd. My college ex-boyfriend.

His footsteps echoed in the room as he counted his steps toward the bed where I was now seated.

He pulled a chair and sat in front of me. "How are you feeling now? Are you okay?"

His brown eyes bored into mine worriedly, and as his warm palm came in contact with my skin, my heart fluttered, and my throat went dry. 

How could it be him? He was supposed to be dead!

"Are you hurting anywhere? Should I get the doctor?" 

My mouth was only hanging open. No words came out. How could this even be?

Justin and I dated for years back in college, but we broke up before he traveled out of the country to take over his father's business after our graduation.

By the time he returned years later, I was already married to Lucas. We both had to move on, because I already did. 

Then months later, I got the shocking news of my life. Justin had died in a plane crash.

I stared at him, my eyes welled up with tears, my lips trembling. He is alive! He is alive in this life.

"Eloise... Are you okay?" His gentle voice slammed me back into reality.

"Are you ok? Why are you crying?" 

"Justin?" My hand trembled as I reached for his face. "This is really you?" I cupped his cheek in my palm. It was really him... He wasn't a ghost. He is really alive!

"Don't cry, Eloise... You are safe now." He kissed my hand, smiling softly, but I hugged him instead... Tightly. As if he'd vanish if I let him go. I was afraid he would.

He held me, his hand gently rubbing against my back as he whispered. "It's okay, Eloise..." 

'But how did I end up with Justin here? How did he find me?'

When Lucas didn't show up to take me to the hospital after the miscarriage in my past life, I had forced myself amid the pain to drive to the hospital, but the last thing I remembered then was passing out in the middle of the road as I had lost too much blood.

That was probably how he found me.

And when I woke up, I was on the hospital bed, just as I found myself earlier. I couldn't wait then to thank the good person who had brought me to the hospital, as Lucas asked me to come home right away. If I had waited longer, perhaps I would've met Justin back then.

He reached for my face and wiped my tears.

Our eyes locked, as silence thickened around us. My heart pounded with excitement. It still felt unreal.

Then he broke the silence. "I haven't seen your husband. Does he know you are here?"

I noticed the shift in his eyes. The flicker of anger.

My heart twisted in my chest, and I forced down the lump in my throat. My cheeks burned hot. I couldn't look him in the eyes. How do I explain everything to him?

"Uhm... My husband is busy. He was in a meeting." I told him the first lie that I could think of.

His eyebrows drew apart, and he scoffed. "Meeting? What kind of a man chooses a meeting over his dying wife?" He gritted his teeth. "If I hadn't shown up there, something terrible would've happened to you."

"I'm fine now, Justin. Thank you for saving me." I forced a smile.

He went mute. At least for a minute, then threw another question at me. "Is he aware of the miscarriage?"

"No, he isn't." I denied it. How could I let him know that I ended up with a man who treated me like I was nothing, after our breakup?

He dragged his fingers through his hair. "Why didn't you tell him about---"

I cut him off softly. "I don't want to talk about this, Justin... Please."

He stared at me, his eyes dilated in shock, but he nodded and muttered. "It's fine."

"I'll go get the doctor." He forced a smile, and patted my arm before walking out, and I exhaled deeply.

*****

I was woken by Lucas's call early in the morning. Even after spending twenty-four hours in the hospital, he still didn't show up to check on me.

"Where are you, Eloise?!" His voice thundered through the phone the moment I answered his call. 

I tightened my jaw, my grip around the phone tightened. My heart wrenching painfully in my chest.

'Please, save me, Lucas. Please save me' 

My lips trembled, tears streamed down my cheeks as memories of the fire incident clawed into my mind. How I had begged him on phone yet he never cared about me. That bastard left me to die.

"Eloise! You don't keep mute on me when I'm talking." 

I held the phone in place, staring at nothing as he ranted. The nerve of him to think he could still treat me like a piece of shit after everything. 

"I give you thirty minutes to get here, or we are done with this marriage!" And with that, the call ended.

I scoffed. Seriously?

I was still reeling from the call when Justin walked inside, and I quickly cleaned my tears.

"Hi... You are here?"

I smiled at Justin as he carefully laid the food he had gotten for me. 

He has been taking good care of me since yesterday. He even spent the night here, just to be sure that I was fine.

"Hmm... You are awake?" 

He turned to me and smiled. "You should clean up and come have breakfast." 

I held the blanket tightly, heat blossomed in my chest as he placed a hand on my forehead.

"You're cool." His eyes locked on me, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"Thank you," I muttered, and heard him hum.

"I'll go clean up." I muttered, leaving the bed.

After I brushed my teeth, Justin and I had breakfast together.

"Thanks for the food," I muttered.

"Do you need anything else? Should I go buy tea for you?" He inquired once he was done clearing the table, but I shook my head.

"Thank you. I'm fine,"

"Hmm," He nodded.

"Your husband... Has he called you yet?" He asked after a long silence. 

My heart twisted. Talking about my marriage or Lucas with him was embarrassing to me.

"Hmm," I just nodded.

"When will I be discharged?" I quickly changed the topic. "Uhm... I'm much better now, so I was wondering if I can be discharged already." 

"I'm not sure yet. I'll check with the doctor and let you know."

"Thank you."

His phone rang, and he excused himself to go answer the call. 

I buried my face between my palms as tears streamed down my cheeks.

"You will pay for everything, Lucas... You will pay for this pain you've caused me."