MINNESOTA
Markian (Present day)
I held my face in both palms from exhaustion, I haven’t been able to get any sleep or food for the past 20hrs.
I’m so stressed out with worry and anxiety, I fear I could fall sick at any moment. I still haven’t been able to understand what had happened.
I stared at Livy lying on the hospital bed immobile, with needles and oxygen tubes attached to her body and nose. Her left wrist were she had cut in an attempt to kill herself was bandaged neatly.
No matter how hard I tried to stop the images flooding into my mind each time I shut my eyes, I just can’t.
The image of Livy lying in the bathtub, lifeless with blood everywhere… kept replaying in my head and so were the sore emotions I had felt at that moment.
What was her reason?
What could have gone so wrong that she wanted to leave everything like that- to leave me? I’m i that unlovable? First it was Sophia, and now Livy?
I thought she and I were in a good place, until 5days ago after Judy’s surgery had gone wrong, putting her in a comatose.
That Saturday night and Sunday we had spent together 2weeks ago- making love and never wanting to leave each other’s side, felt like heaven to me but now it was feeling more like a dream.
I finally told her about her mother’s illness.
“What’s on your mind?” she asked with a smile, when she noticed that my mind had u.
We were snuggled up in the bed, both naked with just the blankets covering our waists and legs.
I didn’t know if I should have told her about Judy on our date yesterday, or I should tell her sometime today because, she looked so happy- I didn’t think there was ever going to be a good time to tell her her mother was dying.
But it’s been distracting me and I needed to get it off my chest.
“C’mon king- you can tell me…” she insisted after I gave her a weak smile.
“It’s about your mother” I started, but her smile became even broader.
“Well, that’s a surprise. And to think that we’ve been having sex all morning while you’re busy thinking about my mother,” she joked, pinching my side playfully.
I gave her a disgusted look and pulled her back to my chest keeping her steady.
“My love, this is serious.” I cautioned, while she looked up at me.
Her smile quickly faded away, as she nodded for me to continue.
“Judy… has a rare heart disease, and needs to undergo surgery as soon as possible.” I blurted sadly.
I could see how surprised and confused her face turned, wondering how I came to know about this.
I continued, “when she was rushed to the hospital few days ago, I dismissed every other doubt when the doctor said she had fainted due to stress and fatigue. But, I ran into a college friend the other day and we had drinks together. Turns out his girlfriend is a resident doctor at the hospital and she told him that your mother was suffering from a heart condition.”
She didn’t want to believe it and I could see she was doubting what I had just told her.
So I included, “I had to go check for myself and I confirmed it. She asked the doctor in charge that day to keep the truth away from us. Livy, I don’t know why she doesn’t say anything to us or why she is refusing to undergo surgery. But if she is scared that there’s no one to handle her company while she’ll be at the hospital, then you need to convince her to go ahead with the surgery because she doesn’t have much time if she keeps neglecting her health.”
I explained everything to Livy as I watched her face turned pale. She turned her neck slowly placing her cheek on my chest. In seconds I could feel warm liquid dripping on my bare chest.
Was she crying? The new must have shocked her and it broke my heart to have even brought up this matter, because she was so happy few moments ago.
“Just moments ago, we were discussing how to make this marriage work- to make our own family. And now, you’re asking me to throw our dreams away and to chase my mother’s dreams instead.” Livy replied sadly and upset.
What did I say wrong?
I didn’t mean to upset her, but I didn’t say she should chase her mother’s dreams. All I said was to try and convince her mother to have a heart surgery.
“My love, that’s not what I meant. You’re the only one who can convince Judy to get the surgery…”
“At whose expense?” she asked angrily looking up at me.
Her eyes were tearing up as she raised up from my body, grabbing the sheets with her to cover her bare chest. She sat on the bed with her back against the frame as she stared into space.
“I don’t understand. You’ve worked for your mother at Luthel Inc for few years now, and you are more than able to handle her position as Chairman while she recuperates from the surgery, so what am i missing here?” I asked calmly but confused.
I needed to understand why she is so against being Chairman of Luthel empire. Why does the idea upset her so much?.
“Can’t you see my mother’s plan is formidable? This surgery is just another avenue for her to compel me into doing what she wants. It’s not just Luthel Inc she wants me to take over, trust me… Have you heard of the Verc?” she asked mindfully.
“I’ve heard of them,” I replied cautiously.
“What do you know about them?” she asked again, sternly.
“Well… all I know is that they are one of the most powerful secret organizations in the world, and their membership consist of very wealthy, powerful and influential game changers in the world. It’s also a company of the world’s most powerful dynasties and empires- even rumored of being capable of choosing Presidents and world leaders all over the globe. And your mother is the head of the Verc in this region.” I explained systematically.
“They also believe in monarchy, and the system that Kings and Queens are born- not made. So, the Luthel family have headed the organization in this part of the world for generations now, which means that my mother has only been temporarily sitting on my throne. But I hate them, I hate what they stand for and what they represent. They took my father away from us when Sophia and I were still very young, so I can’t see myself in the mist of those vipers. My mother knows I’ll come running if I heard about her illness and she’s waiting to use it against me and to emotionally blackmail me into taking my rightful place as leader. I don’t want that, and knowing that I can’t escape it have made my life a living hell.” She explained as tears fell down her cheeks.
I didn’t know that she had such burdens to bear and an even heavier crown to wear. I really wished I could help her, but I have very little idea of the Verc.
My mother was a member of the Verc since she was from a very powerful and wealthy family, and so is Barbra- my stepmother.
Livy was right, they really were vipers in there and setting her up in there midst would be like serving her up for sacrifice.
“I didn’t know. I’m sure if Judy thinks it’s something you can’t handle, she wouldn’t risk you going there.” I encouraged as I pulled her close for a hug.
“Trust me. I mean very little to my mother, and I’ve been trained by her all my life to take over from her at the Verc. But when I found out what really happened to my father, how he had wanted out in order to give his daughters a normal life that he didn’t have as a kid and they killed him for it, I vowed never to be associated with those people.” she concluded leaving me speechless.
I just held her tight and close to my chest as I was unable to think of anything I could say to console her aggravated heart.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.” I consoled honestly.
“She is Judy Luthel. She loves her life and I’m sure she’ll handle things herself. I’m sure of it.” She said encouraged, but really she was only trying to convince herself.