“Make sure to always wear that ring."It was the following day after my fiancée stood me up. I was at my mother's office when she had suddenly given me a box with a ring inside. She told me to always wear it because there are cameras everywhere and that there would always be people trying to find a flaw in my marriage.My family does not want to tarnish our name by letting the people know that I was forced into the marriage. They had to make it look like Dr. Sony and I was really in love with each other."Dr. Sony already have the matching ring, I made sure to tell him to wear it as well," my mom smiled, and I simply sighed.I did not stay long in the office with her, I had to visit Palm Beach since I was planning on accepting the deal there. The project was only a beach house so despite the hospital I was managing in Italy and the corporate building in New York, I knew I would still be able to squeeze it in my schedule.I invited
“You're engaged to Jack Aceson Juarez, aren't you? Dr. Sony for short?"Ace smiled and raised his right hand up to show me his ring finger. I had not noticed it just now, but the design was exactly like mine, the only difference was mine had a diamond embedded on it."Stop kidding," I laughed nervously."Do I look like I joke?" he smirked."You used to joke with me all the time," I rolled my eyes.I paused when I realized I had just bought up a topic connected to our past relationship. I had been stepping on landmines during the whole conversation and this was probably the biggest one yet."That was in the past Vandia. Weren't you the one who told me to just forget it and move on?" he raised an eyebrow at me, and I quickly recalled all those times I had ignored him again. I was about to turn and leave when Ace spoke again, the glint in his eyes shined brighter than before."So, you we
“Are you still not over me, Ace?"The question at the top of my head was blurted out. I immediately regretted it, but I did not show it in my expression. There is a possibility that I was right anyway or so I thought."Don't think too highly of yourself, Vandia,"Ace said my exact thoughts."Do you think I'm marrying you 'cause I still love you?" he raised an eyebrow. I could tell he was getting amused by me again. I always felt like a clown when I was around him, a form of entertainment.'Yes?'I answered his question in my head, but I did not have the guts to say it aloud.My old self would have punched me in the stomach for everything I have done in the past few days. It was not like I had forgotten Ace giving up on our relationship when I needed him the most but at the same time, the anger I had back then had already faded. Right now, he was the guy who taught me how to love.He wa
Edward's case had been approved.The trial was going to be held next week, Monday. I had just called Ace so we could set up a time and talk about how we were going to bring Edward here to New York from London. He said he was going to be free during lunch, so I made sure I was free as well.We agreed to meet at the Starbucks near the Vandia Main Hospital so that it would be easy for him to get back to work if there was an emergency.When I got there, I found him sitting at a table for two besides the window. He was in his scrubs without his lab coat and yet he looked stunningly handsome. I waved away the thought thinking he only looked good due to the lighting coming from outside the window.His jet-black hair was gelled back, a few strands falling on his forehead. He wore a Rolex watch and his ring, our engagement ring, was visible too. I could have mistaken him for a nurse if I had not known him.He was on
I was forced to open my door.“How childish can you get?" I hissed through gritted teeth."Not as much as you," he gave me a quick smile before entering my room.He sat on my bed as if he owned it and pointed at the bathroom, "Use that."I hated getting changed in the bathroom but in the end, I was forced to use it. I came out wearing my silk pajamas."Happy now?" I pointed at my outfit, and he brimmed a little before nodding his head. I had expected him to leave after seeing me changed but he still sat on my bed."What? Are you sleeping here tonight?" I smirked."Do you want me to?" he asked. My forehead creased and I immediately shook my head."Why would I?" I tried my best to sound disgusted but in reality, a part of me actually wanted him to stay. He let a ball of air leave his nose before he stood up, heading towards the door."Don't go, alright?" he gave
“Aren't we just stating facts?" Steward derided.I cocked an eyebrow and raised my head up, ready to riposte."Stating facts, alright then, Sheila cheating to get her medical license, she is now a head of a department because my dad had pitied her, and she always keeps pestering him. On the other hand, Steward has not even graduated med school yet, but he has a certificate because his family helped him make a fake one. He has been trying to kiss my ass so that I would marry him the past few years and when he failed, he started to create false rumor in the hospital about me," I paused to scan their embarrassed faces."Oh, don't mind me, I'm just stating facts as well."My moment of triumph was interrupted when Steward talked again, "At least we are not involved in crime. Why else would there be a gunner after you."I froze. They knew about the attack at home. The case was kept private, no one
In the end, I had let him drive.He headed towards my favorite pasta shop in the vicinity since he said he would eat wherever I liked. I always ate at that place after visiting the site so some of the waiters already knew me. Today, Justin, a guy who was probably around my age and had also come from America served us."Miss Vandia, it is nice to see you back again and it seems that you have brought a friend," he noticed Ace who was sitting across from me."Yes, though I won't stay long.""Oh, that's a pity," Justin frowned."I'd like the usual and my friend will have-""Your fiancéewill have Ragu Napoletano, thank you," he gave the menu back to Justin who forced out a smile and took it."I didn't know you were into waiters," he commented when Justin had left, and my face immediately creased. It sounded offending as if people with such jobs do not deserve being loved or liked.&nb
My lips went dry."I-"My mind went haywire. In just a second, thousands of thoughts ran through my head. We wanted to talk about the same topic, I was prepared for that topic, and yet here I was speechless. I could not even move."Vandia, I... I know it is too late to tell you my side of the story but before I do, tell me why, why you didn’t give me a chance?" Ace paused and gave me a bleak look which sent a pang of pain in my chest. I felt regret. I let the silence hang in the air for a few more seconds before finally responding."Ace, I was mad. Anger got the best of me. I was stuck in the thinking that you left me when I needed you the most, I hated you, I hated your guts," I halted to take in a breath."I needed you Ace, I wanted your assurance, I wanted your comfort but all I got was a coward, someone who wanted to back off, someone-""Accepting reality is an act of bravery," he stated."Your life was on the