On the day Agnes was discharged from the hospital, Tom graciously drove her home, ensuring a spacious upstairs room welcomed her. Throughout her stay at the hospital, Agnes had often spoken of her cherished possessions and tastes. Having taken note, Tom meticulously collected and adorned her room with these tokens of affection.
Brimming with flowers and cherished items, the room felt like it had been specially crafted for her. Agnes looked at Tom with eyes filled with admiration and gratitude.
“You’ve been incredibly thoughtful. How do you remember everything I mentioned? I thought I’d be left alone, without a friend or a soul who cares, but fate gifted me a friend like you.”
Yet, Tom lacked the courage to reveal his secret – to him, she was merely a shadow, a replacement for his tragically lost wife. His benevolence towards her was partly driven by guilt from an accident and partly by her resemblance to that haunting face.
“You can stay here in the future, and we’ll sort things out with time. Few ever visit my home, and I mostly find myself at the hospital, so you needn’t be shy,” he reassured her.
“Is the hospital work so demanding that you hardly find the time to come home?” she inquired.
Her words stabbed at Tom’s heart, not because he didn’t have the time, but because the memories of cheerful meals and laughter, which once involved two, now echoed with the presence of just one. “Not exactly,” he responded, voice tinged with melancholy.
Agnes sensed a weighty hesitation in Tom’s demeanor whenever he mentioned home as if he was hiding some profound secret.
With that, Tom retreated to his bathroom. As cold water fiercely rained on him, he hoped it might cleanse and rejuvenate his muddled thoughts. His sculpted chest and broad shoulders emerged when he discarded his shirt, basking under the cascading water as if trying to wash away the torment. He fervently wiped his face with his large hands, hoping the vigorous act would revive his spirit after all the ordeals. Yet, the ongoing drops of water only deepened his desolation until he slumped, back pressed against the cold tiles, haunted by the vivid image of his dearly loved wife. Despite constantly telling himself she was just a surrogate, the emotions…
Suddenly, through the misted glass door of the shower, he discerned a figure approaching. Startled, Tom quickly opened the door and stepped out.
“Oh!”
Caught off-guard, Agnes slipped, tumbling into Tom’s embrace. Swiftly, he steadied her. Their bodies pressed closely in an unintended intimacy. The damp warmth of Tom’s skin seemed to flare as if tempered in a steel furnace. Their eyes met, swimming in mutual embarrassment.
In that moment of vulnerability, the heat that had crept onto Tom’s cheeks was soothed by the soft press of someone’s lips. The sensation was intoxicating, overwhelming his restraint and drawing a passionate response.
He enthusiastically kissed her lips, claiming her, taking the entirety of her body. His strong hands effortlessly lifted her, decisively carrying her to the bed. Enveloped in a warm, fluffy duvet, their bodies rhythmically sang a melody of sweet love.
Each touch, each tender gesture, and the fiery kisses evoked in Tom the happiness he had once known years ago. He felt trapped by an enchanting spell from which there was no escape. The longer it lasted, the deeper he sank, his reason overtaken by the powerful emotions surging within his heart.
A year later…
Tom gracefully escorted Agnes back to Vietnam, introducing her as his wife. Little did he know, the cunning woman had been manipulating him for gains. Her return to the homeland was spurred by the news that her father, Mr. Jonathan, had escaped from prison with the aid of his comrades. Agnes’s heart grew fervent with the hope of reuniting with her parents.
Upon setting foot in the airport, Tom expressed his wish to meet his in-laws. But Agnes hesitated.
“Let’s delay meeting my father for a few more days. I’ve changed so much over time, and I fear they might be shocked upon seeing me. Besides, my mother, now frail with age and suffering from hypertension, could be overly distressed,” she delicately voiced her concerns.
Looking affectionately at Agnes, Tom commented, “You’re a devoted daughter. I wish to have a daughter like you in my later years – someone to care for me. Or perhaps…” He trailed off with a mischievous wink.
“Or we could plan on having baby one tonight?”
Agnes playfully pinched him, feigning indignation. “You seem to excel at that topic!”
Their affectionate teasing made the taxi driver turn red, pretending not to notice their playful banter.
Later that day, Tom took his wife to the hospital to meet the dean. While they discussed Tom’s upcoming duties, Agnes wandered the vast hospital premises. The corridor ahead was expansive eerily quiet. It was a special section for VIPs, guarded diligently, allowing no unauthorized access.
Drawn by curiosity, Agnes approached a patient’s room, peeking inside. Her gaze fell upon a pale, emaciated man lying motionless on the bed. Recognition flashed – Andrew, the very man she wished to see, met a grim fate every passing day.
Assured of being unobserved, she slipped inside. With steely eyes, she stood at the foot of his bed, double-checking his identity. An evil smile graced her lips.
Addressing herself, she whispered, “Never thought I’d see the day, huh? Among us, it appears I am not the most tragic. I will make you pay for what you’ve done to me. Once, I felt deceived, leaving me destitute. I wouldn’t be living in shadows today if it had not been for you. But look at you now! A mere husk, feeble and helpless. And where’s your beloved? The woman you cherished and protected at all costs? Why isn’t she here caring for you?”
Her gaze then landed on the IV drip. With evil intent, she quickened the drip’s flow. Andrew’s frail form convulsed. Grabbing a pillow, Agnes began to smother him.
Suddenly, Andrew’s fingers twitched, startling her into a panic. She fled just as alarms blared, summoning a flurry of medical staff to the scene.
The atmosphere turned chaotic. Agnes, heart pounding, wondered if anyone had spotted her. Without another thought, she hastily departed from the hospital.