“Is Lucas inside?”
Vlora nodded in response to the man who suddenly appeared in front of her. He seemed hurried, with a racing breath. Not as relaxed as usual.
“Okay. Thank you.”
It was none other than Andreas. He looked relieved with the nod Vlora gave him. Some of his worries eased, but he had to meet Lucas immediately.
Andreas started to walk away, but something made him stop in his tracks. He turned around with one hand raised in the air. Then he spoke.
“Oh, before I forget. After I’m done with Lucas, you have something to discuss with me.”
Vlora’s eyes widened. Unfortunately, she could not express her objections as Andreas had already walked away.
Andreas opened the door. He entered and was met with Lucas’s listless gaze. Lucas looked miserable, but he reassured himself. At least it was a sign that Lucas was still alive.
“How are you?” Andreas asked without beating around the bush. He pulled a chair in front of Lucas and sat down. He briefly glanced at the files covering the desk. “Busy?”
Lucas let out a long sigh. “Fine. Okay.”
Andreas nodded. Lucas’s short answer made him refrain from speaking further. It seemed he preferred to assess the situation on his own rather than fully trust Lucas’s answer.
“I’m really fine.”
“I can see that. You’re fine,” Andreas nodded in agreement but also sighed. “At least you’re still alive, but are you really okay?”
Lucas squinted his eyes and leaned back. “Maybe I should inform your family that you’ve been in my place all this time.”
“Wow!”
Andreas raised both hands in surrender. He would not push further when Lucas gave a threatening signal.
“That’s not what I meant, but…”
It was time to change the topic. Andreas knew the right diversion, which was equally important as Lucas’s condition.
“… how’s your dad doing?”
“Fine. I’ll pick up Dad from the hospital later this afternoon.”
Sandra’s arrest did not just affect Velia and Lucas; it also left a shocked husband. Jeff managed to hold on for a few days, but the deepening investigation shook him greatly.
Fact after fact came to the surface. All the horrific events had been planned from the beginning. The horrifying reality deeply affected Jeff. How could his beloved wife commit such a heinous act?
“I’ll visit you tonight. Oh, by the way, Luc.”
Lucas blinked. He briefly saw Andreas’s hesitation before he actually asked.
“Have you heard from Velia all this time?”
Lucas smiled grimly. He couldn’t speak as his mind reminded him of the suffering he had endured all this time.
One day. Two days. Three days. Weeks passed by.
The first week. The second week. They kept changing.
Lucas convinced Vlora not to move all her belongings from the apartment yet, holding on to hope that Velia would ask for them back.
Unfortunately, things did not go as hoped. In the end, all he could give was a heartbreaking nod as an answer.
Andreas did not say anything else. He chose to leave with a sad conviction. There was nothing he could do to help Lucas.
A birth mother killing the family of the woman he loved? And then he even sent her birth mother to jail?
Andreas walked away, taking a long breath. He was certain that not many men would remain sane after experiencing all of that. Luckily, Lucas was not truly insane. Just on the verge of madness.
Lucas clung to a meaningless piece of sanity with the burden of tasks and responsibilities on his shoulders. He showed strength by continuing to go to the office. He carried out all the activities and schedules without exception. Everything was done well, although anyone could see the irony there-he performed everything as if devoid of a soul.
Lucas’s gaze was empty. His face expressionless. Only emptiness remained, widening further.
“I might visit Mom in the next few days.”
Jeff started the conversation. He leaned back on the headboard while Lucas helped to adjust his position. His son did not respond.
“I know how difficult the position you’re in right now. I won’t blame you for any decision you’ve made. It’s all your choice.”
Lucas remained still on the edge of Jeff’s bed. Sustaining silence, he simply listened to every word his father uttered.
“Do you know why all this time I opposed Mom’s desire to arrange your marriage? Not just with Clarissa, but with other women too?”
This time, Lucas gave a response. His face lifted, though he remained silent.
“That’s because I didn’t want you to live a life like Mom’s.”
Jeff’s gaze straight ahead, but it felt empty. Lucas knew that his father’s focus was not on his own words, but on a memory in his mind.
“Marrying someone you don’t love is the beginning of disaster. When there’s no sincerity in it, there won’t be happiness,” Jeff whispered with a grim smile. His aging face bore the marks of past journeys. “I did everything, but it didn’t mean anything to Mom. In her heart, there was always another man who didn’t even have feelings for her.”
Another wave of regret washed over Lucas. His decision didn’t just impact Sandra and Velia, but also Jeff.
If I hadn’t acted so recklessly, would those painful facts have remained hidden?
Lucas felt guilty. His desire to protect Velia had unforeseen consequences. Old wounds were reopened.
“It’s not your fault, Luc.”
Jeff looked at Lucas and nodded once. As if he knew what Lucas was thinking and tried to dispel it.
“Mom chose her own path, and that’s the risk. Even without all of this, our relationship was never as happy as it seemed from the outside. You know?”
In the eyes of others, Jeff and Sandra set the standard for marital harmony. They were harmonious and never argued. Without a single gossip, it turned out that was not the reality.
“All relationships have secrets.”
In the end, only those who are in it know the true meaning of a relationship. Whether it brings happiness or tears, what others see from the outside never truly reflects reality.
“What about Velia?”
Not expecting to be asked that question, Lucas fell silent for a moment. He lowered his gaze and looked at his palms. He gave an expressionless answer.
“She decided to end everything.”
Jeff could only sigh. Now it was him who could not say anything. Especially when Lucas decided to rise.
“You need to rest.”
Lucas helped Jeff to lie down. He adjusted the position of the blanket and made sure his father was comfortable for the night’s rest. Afterward, he left, carrying the torment that continued to gnaw at him from within.
*
“This is clearly more difficult than I imagined before.”
Velia’s smile widened in response to the complaint. It came from a man who was exhausted from just finishing post-coma therapy. He felt his stiff legs and the difficulty in moving them.
“You will recover completely soon.”
He was Harry, the fiancé who had been trapped in a coma for months.
“Thank you.”
Velia was wiping the sweat off Harry’s forehead. The light blue towel stopped moving, and her smile grew wider.
“Not for this towel,” Harry added. “But thank you for staying by my side.”
Velia’s smile faltered. Her face turned stiff in an instant.
“Don’t talk like that. You have always been there for me in the most difficult times of my life. It’s only fair that I do the same.”
Harry was taken aback. Velia’s words made him gaze deeply for a moment. Was it a feeling due to post-coma shock, or was it true?
“Is this some kind of gratitude?”
Velia blinked, reflexively shaking her head. “Of course not like that.”
Harry fell silent. A hint of discomfort arose and nagged at his mind. However, he tried to calm himself. He already knew about it during the consultations. Coma had an impact not only physically but also psychologically.
Exhaling, Harry decided to change the subject. There was another thing that had been occupying his mind all this time.
“So, how has your life been during this time? You must have felt lonely while I was in a coma.”
The topic of the accident was something Velia had avoided all this time. She had never discussed it. Harry interpreted Velia’s attitude as relating to the unpleasant and horrifying nature of the accident. Perhaps she did not want to remember those dark times.
Nevertheless, Harry could not help but be curious. Especially with his condition of being in a coma and requiring intensive care, he wondered. How had Velia been living her life during this past year?
“You must have suffered. Alone and having to think about the cost of my treatment.”
Velia shook her head. “Harry.”
“I’m lucky to have you in my lowest moments,” Harry said, gently holding Velia’s hand. A smile full of emotion spread across his face. “Not many people would take the risk to do what you did. To endure all the uncertainty.”
Indeed, that was the case. Even families could become strangers when it came to money. Moreover, in the realm of gray areas, Harry could either wake up again or the opposite.
“Let it go. You don’t need to think about things like that. You just need to focus on your recovery. You need to become the Harry you were before.”
Harry looked at Velia with sparkling eyes. He reached for Velia’s hand to give a gentle kiss on her palm. Fleetingly, he noticed her empty finger. Instantly, a sense of disappointment arose. The engagement ring did not last long in their relationship.
“We lost the engagement ring.”
“It’s okay,” Velia reassured. She smiled and nodded repeatedly. “We can think about it later.”
Velia’s acceptance made Harry feel guilty. A hint of self-doubt crept in, prompting him to ask.
“Do you still want to marry me, Ve?”
The question made Velia’s heart seemingly stop beating. It was sudden, and she was surprised. Her face instantly became stiff, unbeknownst to her.
“With everything that has happened,” Harry continued, staring into Velia’s eyes. He looked without blinking, clearly seeking not just an answer on her lips, but also in her eyes. From her heart. “Do you still want to marry me?”
“Of course, Harry. Of course, I still want to marry you.”
Once again, Harry fell silent. A fleeting sense of emptiness flickered in Velia’s eyes. It was clearly not the desire of a woman who wanted to marry her beloved, but rather, it resembled resignation without any desire.
Maybe it’s just my imagination.
Unfortunately, the two answers Velia gave only made Harry feel uneasy. Velia’s response didn’t meet his expectations. Although it could not be said that there was anything wrong with her answers, there was something amiss there.
Harry was not sure. However, he felt it clearly.
“I will come again tomorrow. Is there anything you want me to bring?”
The day was turning into night. Velia helped Harry lie down before leaving. It included checking everything that Harry might need.
“You don’t need to bring anything. Your presence is more than enough.”
Velia smiled. “Tomorrow, I will bring your favorite chicken soup.”
At the right moment, Harry’s hand moved. Before Velia could actually get up and leave, he held her back.
Velia turned around. She looked at Harry, and the man spoke with deep emotions.
“I love you.”
For a moment, Velia froze. Then she blinked. It seemed like she needed time to comprehend Harry’s words.
“I know,” Velia said softly, nodding once. She made sure Harry’s blanket was neatly arranged for the last time. “Sleep well.”
Harry let Velia leave without saying anything else. He only exhaled with a growing sense of unease. Clearly, something was different about Velia.
Velia did accompany Harry. Velia was almost always with him. There was not a single day without Velia’s presence by his side.
However, Harry felt Velia’s emptiness when they were together. Velia spoke only when necessary and smiled only casually.
Without any emotions. Without any desires. It was as if Velia was a creature without feelings. And that’s what continued to make Harry wonder.
What has happened to you all this time, Ve?
*
Velia took weary steps as she entered her apartment. She felt exhausted, her body drained of energy.
She took off her shoes and placed her bag on the sofa, her mind immediately focused on the kitchen. Within seconds, she quenched her thirst with a glass of cold water. Refreshment washed over her, and her chest felt lighter. The weariness was momentarily relieved.
Velia needed some time to rest. She thought about taking a shower and going to sleep, but for now, she needed to take a deep breath.
She sat at the dining table, enjoying another glass of cold water while the prepared meal awaited her. It was Diana’s cooking, as usual.
Over a month had passed since Lucas left the apartment. Velia had asked Diana to stop coming, but she refused, citing a ten-year contract that had been signed. The work agreement could not be canceled midway. Diana’s salary and benefits were automatically deposited every month, so Velia could not neglect her responsibility.
Velia could not press any further. She could not refuse Diana’s continued work, even though she was not the one paying her. At least Diana could prepare meals when she was busy at the hospital.
Delicious dishes were laid out on the dining table, all appetizing to the eye. Unfortunately, Velia did not have the appetite to enjoy them. Perhaps it was due to her extreme fatigue, as all she wanted to do was take a shower and sleep.
Velia woke up slightly earlier than usual the next day. Her sleep had been restless. She got up immediately and drank a glass of warm water.
The sun had yet to fully reveal itself on that weekend. Velia decided to watch TV to chase away the boredom, and the news displayed the events that had befallen her.
“The investigation is still ongoing to apprehend suspects B and RB, who are strongly believed to be SH’s henchmen in their criminal activities. RB is an employee at one of Ashford City’s leading IT companies. The suspect is believed to have fled a few days before SH’s arrest. At the time of this report, the police are still gathering information from a witness who last saw the suspect at a hotel.”
Greatech was in an uproar. The incident had also impacted the company, especially the Development and Planning Department.
Ricardo disappeared. His whereabouts were unknown after Sandra’s arrest. Speculation arose, with many guessing that he was on the run.
Velia could not comprehend it. She never expected Ricardo to be involved with Sandra despite his rude behavior and demeanor.
The sound of the doorbell caught Velia’s attention. She lazily made her way to the door, opening it after confirming who was there.
“Good morning.”
It was Vlora who had come. She smiled and greeted Velia warmly.
“Good morning,” Velia replied, slightly puzzled. “Please come in.”
Vlora nodded and followed Velia, who invited her to sit down. Velia spoke hastily.
“No need to prepare any drinks.”
Velia blinked, sitting back down. “What’s the matter?”
“Firstly, I apologize for disturbing your weekend, but I have to hand this over to you.”
Vlora took out a folder from her bag and handed it to Velia. Inside were several documents that left Velia in question.
“What is this?”
“Ownership documents for the apartment unit, house, and also the car,” Vlora explained straightforwardly. “Considering that they all belong to you, I’m handing everything over for you to keep.”
Velia was taken aback. She could not say anything.
“Everything that Mr. Hernandez has given will not be a problem in the future. All the documents can be verified for their authenticity.”
Velia swallowed her saliva. It was not the authenticity of the documents that troubled her.
“You don’t need to worry about Diana, at least for the next ten years. Diana is under contract, and her salary is automatically deposited every month. However, I must inform you that something has happened, which led Carter to terminate the employment contract.”
Something had almost slipped Velia’s mind. She forgot that she had a car when Lucas left the apartment. She had been using taxis all this time and never contacted Carter again.
“I have already found a new driver, and-”
“Please stop.”
Her words were cut off, confusing Vlora. “I’m sorry?”
Velia felt tired. Her face conveyed exhaustion, and the conversation with Vlora worsened her state of mind.
“All of this. All these facilities,” Velia said, exhaling heavily. She rubbed her face and held her heavy head. “I have no connection whatsoever with Lucas anymore.”
“I understand, but all the agreements were written from the beginning. Everything that Mr. Hernandez has given remains your property. Regarding the end of your relationship with Mr. Hernandez, that is the reason for my visit.”
Handing over all those important documents wasn’t the only reason Vlora came. There was something else. Something that left Velia stunned, as if her heart had stopped beating.
“I will collect all of Mr. Hernandez’s belongings.”
Velia froze, feeling a cold sensation. “T-take all of Lucas’s belongings?”
“If you don’t mind, I will start now.”
There was nothing Velia could do to stop Vlora. She simply nodded weakly and instructed Vlora’s assistants to carry out their tasks.
They entered. Some went to the temporary workspace, while others went to the bedroom. Velia could only remain silent as Lucas’s belongings disappeared one by one.
The desk became empty. The wardrobe no longer held any clothes. Everything vanished without a trace.
Velia bit her lip. Now, not only had Lucas left her life, but every part of herself had also disappeared.
Velia’s hand reached out and touched the empty hanger. It felt hollow and cold.
With weary steps, Velia walked away. Her gaze was unfocused as she reached the bed. She lifted the pillow and found a crumpled white shirt, Lucas’s shirt.
Tightly, Velia held the shirt to her chest. She tried to hold back her sobs, but everything spun in her head, causing her dizziness.
Nausea. Breathing became difficult. Her chest churned, causing a rumbling in her stomach. Velia felt overwhelmed by it all.
“I can’t handle being in the middle of all this. I really want to leave it all behind.”
*