Lahat ng Kabanata ng Treasured Yet Discarded: Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 66

“Miss? Miss?” a voice gently whispers. I open my eyes and see the nurse from earlier hovering over me. “Mr Easton is out of surgery and recovering nicely. I thought you’d like to know,” she says kindly.I spring up, immediately feeling my head spin and throb. “Where is he? Can I see him?” I ask in a rush.“He’s in recovery, but yes, you can go and see him.”I throw back the covers and jump out of bed, instantly regretting it when my knees give way. Thankfully the nurse has quick reflexes and catches me, helping me back onto the bed.“You’re not going to see anyone like that.”“Please, I have to see him. I have to know he’s okay,” I stress, starting to panic.“Breathe or you’ll end up passing out,” she warns. “Now stay put while I grab a wheelchair and then I’ll take you up to see him.”I let out a deep breath. “Thank you so much,” I say appreciatively.“Your boyfriend is very lucky to have such a concerned girlfriend,” she teases.I frown, suddenly feeling awkward. “Actually, he’s my

I’ve been debating on this next question but avoiding it won’t do any good so it’s best to just rip the band-aid off.“Have you heard from Carter?” I ask apprehensively.His body tenses and I see him take in a deep breath through his nose.“I’ve not heard from him, but someone else reached out recently…” he responds evasively.The evidence against Carter was overwhelming, especially when police searched his home and found the evidence that he had been stalking me for months, including all the items he’d stolen from my apartment that I was completely unaware of. I’ve switched perfumes for that very reason. He was looking at up to thirty years in prison for a long list of charges from stalking to aggravated assault, attempting murder, sexual assault, holding someone against their will, animal cruelty, burglary and breaking and entering. He ended up pleading guilty - much to my relief - because it meant we didn’t have to go to trial. The only downside was that he agreed to a guilty plea

Three years LaterI continue to stir the pot on the stove while studying the textbook I have propped up on the counter like a recipe book. Next week is the week I go for my teaching license, and I am a bundle of nerves. I thought when I moved to the US I had to give up my dreams of being a teacher and that all my hard work and education were wasted, but since moving back to the Dominican Republic I’ve spent the last few years diving back into my studies and working hard to get my teaching license and get enough teaching experience to get a job as an educator.Ideally, I would love to teach children under the age of 9, but just being able to get a job anywhere as a teacher would be a dream come true. I thought Julian was insane when he suggested me moving back home, but when he said he wanted to move with me I was sure he’d lost his mind.I feared Julian would struggle to adjust to life here, but he’s taken to Dominican life like a fish to water and he is exceptionally good at the langu