I: Valerie Damer

"Why are you even here?" asked a middle aged lady as she entered the room, not bothering to hide the disdain on her face as she watched me peeling the apple for her son.

Just two days ago, Theo, my boyfriend, met an accident, resulting him to be in the hospital. Ever since then, he had been unconscious. The doctors said he's in stable condition now and that we just needed to wait for him to finally gain some consciousness. 

"There was no one taking care of him--" 

"What are you trying to say? That me, as his mother, is not capable of taking care of my own son?" 

I shook my head vigorously. "N-No, ma'am, that's not what I am saying." 

"Get out of this room and don't ever show your face again," she said and by the way she said, it looked like there was nothing else I could do. And she looked like she's moments away from grabbing my hair or worse, shoving the knife I was holding to my face.

"Please let me know if there is something I could do," I said but she just gave me a death glare as I walked towards the door. 

Before I could even open it, she said, "You're the reason why my son is in this state. If I need something from you, it would be payment for the hospital bills, which I know you don't have. I don't understand why my son is even dating you when you're nothing compared to him." 

The words hurt but I am used to it. Three years of dating Theo Delfin made me immune to his family's hatred. I should have just left but my love for Theo is greater and I swore I would stay by his side no matter what. 

I've done everything for him. I've sacrificed a lot. Mere words from his family doesn't matter.

"I'm sorry," was all I could say before I walked out of the room. I bit my lip, trying to stop the tears from falling but as soon as I closed the floor behind me, I could not stop them anymore. 

Maybe Theo's mom is right. It was my fault why he was in this condition in the first place. If I hadn't asked him to celebrate our anniversary, this wouldn't have happened. If I hadn't insisted on spending time together, he wouldn't have to travel to where I am and get involved in an accident.  

I immediately wiped my tears as I cleared my throat. I need to do something. The least I could do is to do something. Even if it means swallowing my pride. 

I fished the phone inside my pocket and dialed the number I've memorized at the top of my head. Nervous, I looked around, as though someone would see me and know immediately who I was calling. 

It took only two rings before someone picked up the call. It was as if my father knew who exactly is calling him at this hour. 

"Father," I muttered, fighting the tremble in my voice. 

"Saskia," he said and I flinched hearing my real name. I had forgotten about Saskia, buried her underground when I met Theo. I could already imagine him sitting in his study, reading a book with his reading glasses on. "Took you long enough to realize your foolishness."

"I am not calling you because I want to go back," I said, the bite in my words harsher than I intended. 

I could already imagine the disappointment on his face as I heard him sigh. "Then we have nothing to talk about--" 

"Don't drop the call," I immediately said. "Please." 

To my surprise, he really didn't drop it.

"I have a favor, dad. You can ask me to do whatever in exchange for this. Except asking me to go back," I said, biting my lip as I waited for his response. 

"And pray tell, what favor this is."

I swallowed hard, knowing that there's only less than a percent chance of him agreeing to give me what I want.

"Theo is in the hospital right now because of an accident," I started. He did not say anything and I know he's listening so I went on, "His family needs help with the bills. He's currently admitted in Kelcey's--"

"What makes you think I would even support that?"

My throat went dry and I closed my eyes firmly, realizing immediately how this was a mistake. 

"Your boyfriend is the reason why you left my wing. And from what I gathered, his family is not treating you well." 

Another realization hit me. "Did you have me followed?" 

He let out a dry chuckle. "Do you really think I would let you go and not know your whereabouts? Yes, I had you followed. And yes, I knew about your boyfriend's accident. No, I refuse to give you the favor." 

"But dad--" 

"You learned to walk away from me, Saskia. I am sure as hell you know how to walk away from something you know is not going to do you any good." 

A surge of emotion surged through me but it was mainly frustration. What does he know? What does he know about being in love at all? 

"You don't know anything, dad," I said, bitterness coating my voice. 

"I beg to differ," was the last thing he said before I decided to drop the call.

Why did I even bother asking my father for something I knew he wouldn't do? 

My father is a powerful man and yes, I decided to leave his wing and live as a normal person because of Theo Delfin. Theo did not come from a wealthy family and I have no problems with that. Back then, I liked him too much and I knew he would not even dare look at me if he knew who I am. In order for him to notice me, I pretended to be someone else. In this world, I am not Saskia Smithsonia. I am Valerie Damer -- using my mother's maiden name. To Theo, I am someone who is exactly like him. 

I did not plan for this pretense to come this far but it did. And I have started loving Theo that I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth about myself because I know he would feel betrayed. I know I wouldn't be able to hide this forever that's why I swore to myself that I would tell him as we celebrate our anniversary. I love him and I can't stand lying to his face any longer. 

But fate had other plans that night. Now, Theo is in the hospital, still unconscious. 

I stuffed my phone inside my pocket and was about to walk out when someone stopped me. I turned to see the nurse that has been taking care of Theo. Her grip was firm on my wrist and her brows furrowed as she looked at me in confusion.

"Your boyfriend is awake now, where are you going?" 

"What?" I asked, the words ringing in my ears. Her brows furrowed with even more confusion.

"Weren't you the one who called for a nurse?" 

I pulled my hand away from her grip and started running towards Theo's room. I don't care if his mother don't like me being there. I need to see my boyfriend. I need to tell him I was sorry for telling him to come over. I need to hear his voice.

Without so much as knocking, I opened the door and I was frozen on the floor as I watched the scene before me.

Theo is indeed awake but his mom is not alone in the room with him. Someone awfully familiar was there and she was hugging Theo like her life depended on it. 

Theo saw me and pulled away instantly. The woman realized someone else was at the door and she turned to me, her body moving with such grace.

Heather Kelcey smiled. To some, it might look like just an ordinary smile but I knew better. 

She was smiling at me triumphantly as she said, "Hello, Valerie."