Chapter 12
Maria
When Liam leaves the apartment, I head back to his room. I search everywhere: the nightstands, the closet, the bathroom–looking for anything that stupid girl might have left behind, like a way of marking her tentory.
And there it is. Not much just some sleepwear, slippers, and a few toiletries. I grab everything and stuff it into a bag, holding it with two fingers as it it were contaminated. I am furious.
In that little agenda of hers, the marked a date as the last day of her period, but the following month, on the date her next one should have been, there were only question marks. Now I understand why the damn girl was so confident that Liam wouldn’t leave her hanging. But if he did, it was because she didn’t dare tell him she was pregnant. Now I understand what I saw that day, shortly before the wedding.
**Flashback”
I accompanied my parents to the Johnson’s house. I asked for Annie. Ever since the day she found out that Liam and I had been a couple, she treated me worse than she did when I first arrived at the Donovan’s. But I knew my presence bothered her, so, feigning innocence, I went upstairs where they told me she was. When I got to her room, I opened the door without permission and what I found was very unpleasant and disgusting
nauseous, and she turned to look at me with frightened eyes. Her voice cleared, and she
Annie was hunched over the toilet, vomiting. It made me nauseo
spoke to me as rudely as ever.
“Can I ask what you’re doing here?” She looked at me with all the hatred she felt, but that only amused me
“Well, I came to visit with my parents, and I asked for you, and they told me you were in your room. So, I came looking for you, but I didn’t realize you were sick I made a disgusted face. She must know how awful she looks.
“Well, you’ve seen me, so you can go. You’re not welcome.“I gave her a mocking smile, but in my most fake voice, I continued to annoy her
“Oh, Annie dear. I’m just trying to help. Do you w
i want me to get Aurt Sam?” She stood up and looked at me with hatred. Which, of course, is mutual,
“That won’t be necessary. I’m already taking medicine for my stomach infection. Besides, remember I’m a doctor, I have a profession, something
many don’t have and spend ther time wasting money that doesn’t belong to them. At least if I’m a bastard, I’m not a social climber.” Fury spread through
my body like molten lava. She was the only one who liked to remind me that I wasn’t really part of the family. She thought I was just a climber who liked to enjoy my parents‘ money. Because yes, that’s what they are. My parents. They have given me the same love as if I had been their own daughter, and she cannot deny that I just need to have the last name, but my Liam will give me that when we get married.
“Liam doesn’t care that I’m not a professional or that I haven’t chosen a career I like yet. He knows that when I’m his wife, I won’t need to work. So
don’t worry about it, ‘dear butterfly hahaha.”
She knows that when I call her by her stupid nicknames, I say it sarcastically and mockingly, so it makes her furious. She’s a visceral girl who cant
stand to fight psychologically like I do with her. That’s why I always win. She can explode at the slightest provocation, but I can change the whole context and she’s the one who ends up getting scolded, hahaha. it’s always worked with my Liam
“Well, congratulations, now get out of here, just seeing your disgusting face makes me sicker” I laughed at what she said and headed for the door. I really did want to get out of there because it smelled horrendous.
When I got downstairs, I got Aunt Sam’s attention
“Auntie, I don’t think Annie’s feeling well because she was throwing up. I think you’d better go up and see her.” I said with my most innocent eyes,
however, the voice behind me thwarted my plans.
“It’s not necessary, I’m feeling better now. Something upset my stomach, and I preferred to throw it up so it wouldn’t bother me anymore. But thanks for your concern, bousin”
The bh says that word mockingly, knowing that no one will understand the double meaning she speaks with No one suspects her. To everyone, she is the good girl who can do no wrong. The fragile butterfly who only knows how to behave and be loved by all.
“End of flashback**
So that’s what it was all about. She’s pregnant and didn’t say anything, hahaha. Stupid girl. Surely if she had told Liam, he would have protected her and married her. The hasn’t realized that he doesn’t look at me the way he used to. I know his feelings have changed, but he doesn’t stop to think about them. Fortunately, I have him eating out of the palm of my hand, and it will always be this way. I will marry him no matter what
I leave the apartment, but I’m not upset. I feel triumphant. I know that despite being a mental and emotional weakling, Annie has too much pride and
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Chapter 12
won’t tell the father of her child. I have to take advantage of this time that she’s gone to get him to commit, and if possible, have the wedding before she returns. I have to find out where she went to know how much time I have.
I hurry home. I need to find a way to know the silly girl’s every move, and I think the best way is to get close to her brothers, although now the family already knows that Liam and I are in a kind of relationship. His impulsiveness sometimes disrupts my plans. But if I pretend I don’t agree, maybe I can win them over. I must go find them at the club.
Without thinking twice, I change my mind and go looking for the Johnson brothers.
As I drive to the hospital, I can’t stop thinking about Maria’s lock. I can’t be mistaken. I could see that something bothered her so much that there was hatred in her eyes, No, I couldn’t be wrong
day.
I park in my usual spot but don’t get out I stay inside the car for a minute. I look at the parking space next to me. It’s empty. like it has been every
**Flashback**
Surprise!” When I open the door to my car after parking, someone jumps out from behind me, scaring me to death.”
I
““Annie! What’s wrong with you? Are you crazy?” She doesn’t understand that I don’t like her scaring me. She usually appears out of nowhere, so now I have to be on the lookout, watching my surroundings, but she always manages to make me jump.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to sc
scare you. I just wanted to surprise you. Look, I got the neurology doctor to switch places with me so I could be next to you Her contrite letle face moves me, but I can’t show weakness.”
“Mmm, that’s fine, but please don’t scare me anymore, okay?” I get out of the car, and she jumps for joy and hangs on my neck to kiss me. We’ve been together for three months now, and little by little, I’m getting used to her outbursts.*
“Okay my Sexy Doctor. Can I come to your apartment tonight? I’m on the same shift as you.” Sometimes I’m surprised by her ability to accommodate our schedules so we can spend more time together. But I shake my head. Today I want to go straight to sleep.”
“Maybe another time. I’m not in the mood today.” She slowly loosens her arms until she is standing in front of me, but a little distant. I feel bad for blowing her off like this, but she doesn’t understand that her clinginess makes me uncomfortable. She’s too apprehensive.”
“Okay, it’ll be another time. I’m going: I have a consultation in ten minutes. Without waiting for me, she walks away Something inside me wants to after her, but another part of me forces me to stay where I am, just watching her disappear from sight. I clench my fists in frustration.”
*This is getting out of hand. Sometimes I can’t stand her, but other times I want to pamper her and say yes to all her craziness.”
End of flashback
I don’t understand the sadness that washes over me every time I remember her. And I don’t understand why those memories are becoming more frequent.
I let my head fall back against the headrest. I can’t deny that I miss her, like I thought I never would.
I wasn’t a good friend, a good boyfriend, or a good fiance, I treated her badly, even though she just wanted to make me happy. But the heart wants what it wants, and mine was already committed. I hope I did the right thing, but something deep down inside tells me I should have thought twice. I get out of the car and go to work. Maybe that will distract me from my thoughts.
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