Chapter 9
Sofia Andrew
This is embarrassing. Why did it have to happen to me? And why did that jerk have to pester me? It's a good thing Angel was there.
Angel, that man is probably laughing at my stupidity.
"Sofia, you're here again," Paul, my doctor, said as he entered my room.
"How are you, Paul? This isn't your hospital. Did they call you?"
"Yes, so what happened?"
"I forgot to take my medicine. It's just that yesterday was like a nightmare, but with a little serum, I'll surely feel better."
Paul then turned serious. "You can't play with your health like this, Sofia. Your condition is not a joke. One of these days, you will need to take it seriously."
"It's just hypoglycemia only, Paul. And that's why you're here to take care of me," I said with all the innocence I could muster.
We saw Angel enter the room with a permanent frown on his face.
"I see you're awake. How are you, Paul?"
"I'm good, Angel. Although I'm a bit surprised to see you here."
"Because? Sofia's my wife, so where else will I be?" I stopped Angel with an icy glare. "How many drugs did she swallow?"
"Drugged?!" Paul exclaimed in shock, and he stared at the two of us. "What drugs?"
I shook my head at him, and Angel was shocked.
"The reason she's like this is because she was stupid. She drank almost a bottle of wine alone, and if that wasn't enough, the idiot she was with put something in her drink."
Paul looked at me with stern eyes. "Wine? Sofia, you know you shouldn't drink sweet beverages, especially if you didn't take your medicine. But wait, drugs, you said? But there was nothing found in the test."
"Because I wasn't drugged," I said with a flat look on my face while looking at Angel. "I threw the drink when he was occupied. I told you I know how to take care of myself."
"You threw it, but you're here because of me. God knows what that fool intended to do to you," Angel said coldly. "You were careless, Sofia."
"I agree with Angel," Paul intervened. "You were being careless by drinking and not taking your medicine, but..." He turned to Angel. "There was not a drop of any drugs found in her body."
"If only she didn't drink much to the point of being drunk. This hospital is good for taking care of drunkards like you."
"I didn't tell you to stay! You can leave now." I huffed in annoyance.
"Calm down, you two. She's not drunk, and you," Paul reprimanded us and turned to me. "You're still not well, so let's wait for the medicine to take effect."
"To be calm, I need him to leave."
"You want that? For me to leave? Well, then I'm leaving. I don't need to put up with a spoiled girl like you."
He left with an angry look on his face and almost slammed the door behind him, and I was left feeling angry at him as well.
"Leave! That is what you do best!" I screamed after Angel and Paul looked at me in a teasing manner. "What? He's stupid."
"He looked so worried when I arrived."
"That one? Worried about me? Hah. I don't think so. The only thing that's important to him is his reputation."
"I see that you're not on good terms, but that's normal in marriage."
A look of sadness flashed on my face. If only he knew the truth, then he'd understand me.
"I feel so weak, and I'm so sleepy."
"That is the effect of not taking your meds and drinking wine, but you'll feel better soon. I'll give my orders to the nurse, and when you feel better, you can be discharged." I barely heard what he said because I slowly succumbed to sleep and dreamt of a memory.
*Flashback*
I'm now getting married to the man of my dreams, but why am I not happy? I am wearing a beautiful dress, surrounded by people who love me besides his family. "Princess," my dad called me. "You look beautiful, but that face doesn't look like a happy bride facing the altar."
"This marriage is made out of a contract, Dad," I said blankly.
"If you don't want to get married, don't do it. Your happiness is what's important."
If I don't marry Angel, Dad will still find someone because he can't entrust the company to me, so better for him because he's smart and I like him.
"It's done, Dad. Let's not make a scene here."
"Princess, you're so stubborn," Dad said with a sigh. "I just want to know that you'll be happy. Angel is a diligent man with good ideas, and he'll know how to make you happy."
I am hoping that as well, Dad. It'll be hard at first, but if he falls for me, then we'll have a chance. I still can't forget what he said to me when he kissed me.
"You are the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on. Why don't you want to marry me? I swear I'll make you happy even when we don't have the same status."
*
And now I know that those words aren't for me.
'I was a fool to believe that you could love me...'
I woke up from a dream-or a memory. I felt a little disoriented and tried to sit.
"Careful," I heard Angel saying beside me.
"I want some water," I said and swallowed my saliva, feeling my throat dry up.
He gave me a glass of water, and I looked at him weirdly. The last thing I was expecting was for Angel to be attentive.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm trying to see if this is a dream in a dream," I replied and chuckled. "This is just weird."
"My wife is in the emergency room; what kind of husband will I be if I leave you here?"
"Of course. Your image. Because it'll be crazy for you to worry about me. Although I have to thank you for what happened in the parking lot."
"I'd be happy to kill him," he said with a violent glint in his eyes.
"The time you'll spend in Jal won't be worth it. Besides, he'll pay dearly for thinking of hurting me," I muttered in anger, and he raised an eyebrow. "What? Do you think you're the only ruthless one here?"
"I know you are merciless and ruthless because I experienced that myself." Angel was referring to what he thought I did, and I can't blame him, but that won't change the fact that he was cold and mean to me. "With the way you treated me, you know?" "I want to go home. Paul said when the serum is empty, he'll discharge me."
"I think it'll be better for you to spend the night here. To better observe you."
"I'll call Amelia to pick me up and stay by my side," I countered.
"It's too late for you to call her. It's better if you stay," he insisted.
"And I told you no. I am used to my attacks, and I just need to rest and eat well." I looked at him, and he looked so handsome in a vest and shirt that was rolled up the sleeves. My eyes fell on his bloodied knuckles. "Did you have someone check that out?" He frowned at me. "You are the one who fainted, not me."
"You have wounds on your hands, and they might get infected." His phone rang, and he ignored it. "Will you not answer that?"
"No. I'm going to look for a doctor to discharge you because you're stubborn." He left for a minute and came back. "They will sign the slip, and they will bring the doctor's orders."
"Thanks again, but you can leave, really. You have no obligation to me because we're divorced. Sooner or later, everyone will find out."
"Why are you so eager to let people know that we are divorced? Do you have someone in your life?"
"And why don't you want people to know? You are the one who wanted the divorce in the first place, and you have someone waiting for you."
"I don't want your dad to do something that can ruin us because of his power. If possible, I want peace between us."
I almost cannot believe what he just said. Is he delusional? Is he serious?
"You don't have to worry about that. My family already knows about it, and believe it or not, they took the news perfectly fine. Dad is fine, and he even expected us to separate long ago. My aunt almost launched a party. The only one who's affected is the little girl. She even dressed in a beautiful dress, hoping to show it to you."
"I haven't seen her."
"Don't worry, I told my cousin to explain things to Bella for her to get used to not seeing you anymore."
"I have obligations to her even if we are divorced."
"And I know who was just forced to accept it, but now that we're done, you don't have to put up with it anymore. Bella is still young; she'll get used to your absence."
"I don't turn my back on my obligations, Sofia."
I let out a mocking laugh at what he said, and he realized it.
"Angel, you said it yourself that being with me is hell, and now that you are finally free from me, you still want to be involved."
"You're the one I divorced, not Bella. Why do you like to see me angry?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "That is my job, according to you."
A nurse interrupted us, asked if I was okay, and checked my vitals.
""Are you okay?" Angel asked.
"According to them, yes. How about you? How do you feel?"
"Well, I'm a bit dizzy and sleepy, but I know that they are normal."
"By the way, sir, the doctor wants to talk to you. They are waiting outside." The nurse informed Angel.
"Thank you. Can you stay with her and help her get ready?" Angel asked the nurse, who just stared at him and nodded.
"Why does he want to talk to you and not me? I'm not stupid."
He looked at me before shutting his eyes with a sigh and leaving the room.
"Your husband loves you very much," I heard the nurse say. "He was so worried when you came, and he never left your side."
I snorted a laugh. "Who? Angel? The one who just left?"
"Yes. In fact, he even threatened the doctor that if something happens to you, it'll be the last thing he'll do as a doctor. And we know your husband's reputation." The nurse continued with a smile. "Nurse, you must be mistaken or confused."
Is it really possible that Angel really cares for me, even just a little?
A phone rang, and we both saw Angel's phone, and she handed it to me. I saw Elisa's name on the screen, and I didn't answer it. A few seconds later, a message came.
'Love, where are you? I've been waiting for you. Look at the surprise I prepared for you.'
She sent two photos. One is a picture of a room with flowers, candles, and red balloons scattered around the place, and the other is a jacuzzi with the same setup.
'Just like our first time, remember? You told me that I was the most beautiful thing you ever saw. Come here and let's remember how much we love each other.'
My heart clenched at what I saw and read. Angel will never love me. They say every man has a woman fated for them, and vice versa. Maybe they are the ones meant to be together. They deserve each other anyway.
"Are you okay?" The nurse asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Ah, yes," I replied, placing Angel's phone back on the table. "Can you please bring me something for dizziness? I will finish getting ready."
"Sure. Just don't move much."
She left, and my tears came.
How could I ever think that Angel likes me too? He's here to save his image and nothing more.
"I think you're ready. The discharge slip is signed," Angel said when he came back, and I was quick to wipe my tears.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
I turned my back on him because whenever I see him, my emotions are all over the place, and I don't know how to react.
"Where is the nurse?"
"She came out to get me some meds. What did the doctor say?"
"He gave you some reminders you need to do."
"I already know what I need to do. I'll just call Paul if I need anything."
At that moment, the nurse came back and gave me the pill and the other orders. After her came Chad, Angel's ex-army driver-bodyguard, who is loyal to him.
"Good evening, boss and boss, madam. I'm happy to see that you are fine."
"Thanks, Chad." The nurse left, and now there's the three of us. "I guess you're here to drop me off because your boss here has some things to solve."
The two looked at each other and avoided looking at Angel.
"Madam, I'm..."
"Let's just go because I want to rest and your boss still has some things to do." I passed by him and left the room first.
"Wait!" Angel followed me. "You should be careful."
When I went out, I frowned when I didn't see my car. "Where's my car?"
"At my house. Sam took it there," Angel told me, using his authoritative voice.
"How will I go home then?"
Angel pointed at his own car in front of us. "You couldn't have possibly gone blind after a few hours," he said sarcastically.
I hesitated but did it anyway because I had no other choice. Chad knows where my apartment is because he's the one who helped Carmen with my things, so I didn't bother telling him my address. Angel sat on the passenger seat, and his alluring scent automatically invaded my nose, making my heart beat faster as well as my breathing, but at the same time, it suffocated me. Knowing that he still loves Elisa despite her bad attitude and traits.
In five years, I tried to make him fall for me, but he never saw me as more than an enemy. He treated me badly, and he will always do so. I should have listened to my dad and canceled the wedding then. That way, I wouldn't have drowned myself in sadness all these years.