CHAPTER 0005

Scarlett

"Daniel Cross get out!”

The nurse probably heard me from outside, so she rushed in to ask if everything was OK, but I told her to take Daniel out of my room. He was at first hesitant and I wished I had enough strength to slap the truth out of him.

“She's my wife, OK, let me talk to her," he kept saying as the nurse asked him to go before she called security.

Wife? He called me as if I didn't know what I was to him— Some image holder. He didn't deserve to call me that, not after what I found out, and the fact that I'd been dreaming all this while just kept breaking me in every way.

“Chris, thank goodness you're here. Can you please tell the nurse I'm her husband?" he said to the doctor, who looked at him and shook his head.

“What? Why? Didn't my mother come here?" he asked, probably wondering why that witch didn't stay with me until he arrived.

“Ms. Brown asked her to leave and you too should if you want what's best for her," the Doctor responded before coming to check on the monitor.

I heard the door closing and then turned to look at the Doctor since Daniel had left.

“When can I leave this place?" I asked in a low tone.

“Not so soon Ms. Brown. You need to stay strong for the medicine to work. And you haven't touched your food. Please do even if it's hard,” he said before asking the nurse to come feed me.

"Please have something,” the Doctor said before walking out but I just couldn't. No matter how much I wanted to. I couldn't.

The nurse made her way out of my room, and I asked her not to let anyone inside unless it was Zoe. I looked up at the ceiling not knowing whether it was night or daylight.

The more time I spent alone, the more memories kept coming into my head, and the more tears kept falling down my face. I wanted to scream but my voice just wasn't loud enough at that moment.

I kept thinking of everything I would do to Daniel if he ever tried to come close to me again before I finally fell asleep.

***Next day***

“Good morning," I heard Zoe greet as she walked into my room with pink roses. I looked at her, and my tears were already about to fall, but I held them back.

“No, baby, don't hold them back. Let it out," she said, kissing my forehead before placing the flowers on the table.

“Thank you for always being there for me, Zoe. I appreciate everything you're doing for me,” I said, looking at her.

“It's OK. Right now, we need to get you out of here, Scarlett. I wish you never gave that beast a chance," Zoe replied softly, squeezing my hand.

The warmth of her love covered the entire room and I couldn't even hear the beeping sound of the monitor. Zoe kept telling me so many different stories that I found myself smiling at some parts but the pain was still there.

“I know it's going to be super hard to get over everything, but you are worth every diamond on this planet, Scarlett. You need to stay strong, OK," Zoe said as she wiped a tear running down my face.

What could be greater than having a best friend who supports you through everything? Zoe sadly turned out to be right.

I lived in denial. She noticed the red flags and warned me time and again yet I chose to make everything look green. I was so caught up in the illusion of being in a mutual relationship.

“Are you OK?" Zoe noticed how pale I went after she showed me how much people wanted my designs.

“I've made a very big mistake and I don't think I'll repeat loving a traitor again. I thought being there meant a lot," I replied.

"It does, sweetie, so people are just so ungrateful, but that's OK. I'm glad you're finally seeing things for what they were,” Zoe said in a soft tone.

I needed to use the restroom, so I stood up with the help of Zoe. The pain was nothing like anything I've ever felt but I pulled myself together.

After a few minutes, I walked back and lay back on my sick bed. Zoe started massaging my head and that was one of the things I needed.

“I hope I'm doing it like an expert," she commented while I just nodded.

"You're getting it right,” I said, my tone low and audible.

The door suddenly swung open, and Daniel walked in with his mom, Evelyn, behind him. I didn't know who called them or what they were looking for.

“It's OK I'll handle this," Zoe said before going to block Daniel.

“What's the meaning of this?" Daniel asked Zoe while his mother just gave her a disgusted look.

“Scarlett doesn't want to talk to you. I'm sure you know why she had you kicked out last time, so please leave before I take matters into my own hands because I don't play about that woman lying on that bed," Zoe said, looking at me and then back at Daniel.

“Hmmm, the audacity. Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" Evelyn scoffed.

"Yes, I do, Mrs. Cross. I'm sure you know what happened the last time we met in court right?" Zoe asked Daniel's mother.

Zoe's a lawyer after all.

"Look, Zoe, I don't know what's going on, OK. I just want to talk to Scar—”

"It's OK baby, let's go. I can't stand this woman,” Evelyn said, holding Daniel's arm.

“But Mom, I need to talk to her. Zoe is not our problem right now," Daniel pulled his Mom back while she frowned.

“You'd better leave before I make you leave, Daniel," Zoe blocked his way again as he tried to move towards me.