Jennifer.
Do you have any idea how deeply and profoundly I love you, Tomas? No, you don’t! Because if you truly understood the depths of my feelings for you, you would never dream of proposing to another woman, even if you share a child with her! Do you have any inkling of how many guys have stalked me, just because I glanced their way or offered a fleeting smile? No, you don’t! You don’t know the sleepless nights I’ve endured, nor the countless days I’ve spent nursing a hangover because of you-despite the fact that I don’t even drink! Of course, you’re oblivious! The terrible days I’ve suffered because of your actions have left me vowing to turn your life into a nightmare in return! The more I loved you, the more I craved to punish you. Sorry, Tomas, but I truly love you more than my heart can bear. This love feels like a curse, a burden I cannot shake. I hate everything about you, but somehow, paradoxically, I love those very same things. Something keeps pulling me back to you, an invisible thread of fate that I cannot sever. To rid my heart of these hateful feelings, I need to make you pay.
And then there’s my brother, Jimmy. When I think about how he completely forgot me, how he lived a whole life as a family man without me all those years, I feel like a lonely woman fighting this life like Hercules or Superman. The next chapter of our lives won’t be a happy one, not at all. Both Tomas and Jimmy seem to think I’ll simply return to them and live happily ever after, but that’s not going to happen-not in this lifetime.
I was lost in thought, trapped in my own swirling emotions, as I lay in the hospital after asking both of them to leave and return in the morning to take me to a hotel. I was rolling my eyes, huffing in confusion. I was angry yet terrified; the decision I faced wasn’t easy. Taking a sharp breath, I stood up, even though I felt weak and my body was trembling. I had lost too much blood from the accident, but I knew I couldn’t stay here any longer. I needed to act, to take control of my own destiny.
I stripped off the hospital gown, feeling the fabric slide off my skin, and searched the locker for something-anything-to wear. I found my dress, but it was stained with blood, a grim reminder of the chaos that had erupted in my life. Running my fingers through my disheveled hair, I left the room on tiptoes, slipping stealthily into the nurses’ locker area. All the lockers were locked tight, frustrating my efforts further.
I moved quietly into another room, which I assumed was for doctors. Peeking inside, I opened the door slowly, hoping no one would be there. As I stepped in and closed the door behind me, I spotted some jeans and a shirt that looked like they belonged to a man. It was obvious they weren’t mine. Rolling my eyes in annoyance, I tried them on. The jeans were too loose, and I had to hold them up with one hand, feeling ridiculous. “What kind of person wears jeans without a belt?” I murmured to myself, irritation bubbling up within me. Just then, the door swung open.
I heard someone talking loudly on the phone. I quickly ducked behind the curtains, my heart racing. The light flicked on, and the man continued to yell at someone on the line. Suddenly, he gasped and hung up. I peeked from behind the curtain, only to have him pull it aside and shout, “Who the hell are you?” His eyebrows were furrowed, and his loud voice startled me. I instinctively covered my ears and closed my eyes, bracing for the worst.
“God, you scared me! Please, don’t raise your voice! I don’t want anyone to know I’m here!” I opened my eyes slowly, looking at him. He stared back, taking in my appearance with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
“Why are you wearing my clothes? And why are you hiding here? Are you a thief, or maybe a ghost? Or are you stalking me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly baffled.
I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically, trying to control my reaction. “You’re unbelievable! You have a seriously low IQ!” I smirked, surprising even myself with the audacity of my words.
“Really? Then how am I a doctor if I have a low IQ? So, smart girl, why are you here? Should I call security for sneaking into this hospital?” he retorted, crossing his arms defiantly.
“Sorry! I’ll pay for your clothes; you don’t even have a belt! But I really need to get out of here. I searched for my clothes and found them covered in blood. Can you please help me?” I widened my eyes, pleading with him, desperate for assistance.
“Oh, you’re the woman who was hit by a car two nights ago! I thought you were royalty or something! The whole hospital was trying to save you! Why do you want to leave like this? Don’t you have money for the bill? I can help with that!” He came closer, looking deeply into my eyes, concern etched on his face.
“Hey, what are you doing? Stay back!” I hollered, jumping out of the chair, my heart racing with anxiety.
“I’m a doctor! I want to know if you’re well enough to leave. But you haven’t answered my question-why are you leaving like this?” he mocked, crossing his arms, clearly intrigued.
I cleared my throat, stuttering, “Well, it’s a long story, but you could say I want revenge on my fiancee and my brother for hurting me.”
“Oh, is that all? What about the bill?” he teased, raising an eyebrow, his tone lightening.
“What bill? I was in the best suite in this hospital! My fiancee is Tomas Charl, and my brother Jimmy is…” I trailed off, sensing the gravity of my words.
“Is what?” He widened his eyes, clearly caught off guard.
“Jimmy is a successful businessman, so money isn’t the issue; it’s personal,” I explained, gasping for breath under the weight of my emotions.
“Okay, miss, what are your intentions after leaving the hospital like this? You need to tell me, or I could lose my job!” He narrowed his eyes, leaning against the wall beside me, his expression serious.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t have a place to go, but I do have a plan!” I giggled nervously, the tension in my chest easing slightly.
“Then tell me your plan!” he huffed, clearly eager for a story.
“I will disappear for the next eight months until I give birth.”
Before I could finish, he interrupted, leaning in closer. “Really? Is that your plan? Struggling alone in this terrible country without your fiancee and brother? That’s torturing yourself!” He spoke sharply, concern evident in his voice.
“So what should I do? You don’t know how I’ve suffered these past few months! I need them to understand how much they’ve hurt me!” I huffed, frustration boiling over.
“Okay, I can teach you how to make them pay! But you must ask me before doing anything. Follow my instructions, and I guarantee results. If you don’t, you’ll lose. Deal?” he winked, his confidence palpable.
“Why should I trust you? Why help me?” I frowned, skepticism creeping in.
“Because I’m a doctor. I want to ensure the health of the baby inside you. You don’t have a choice. If you refuse, I’ll call your fiancee right now,” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“Okay, what’s the first step? You should know some things about me. I grew up in an orphanage because of my family, and because of my fiancee, I’ve had some awful days-especially the day of the accident. I was running through the streets, heartbroken because he was marrying another woman!” I sighed, frustration bubbling up like a volcano.
“Oh god! That’s too much!” he blinked, clearly taken aback by my revelation.
“Actually, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! I want them both to understand how important I am!” I sneered, my anger simmering just beneath the surface.
“Alright, the first step is, I’ll call them now. You need to remove my clothes and head back to your room. I’ll tell them it’s an urgent matter-that you tried to escape and are experiencing a mental breakdown, and that you wanted to get rid of the baby. Leave the rest to me. Now go!” he instructed, his tone brooking no argument. I nodded and walked out of the room.
As I reached the door, I turned back. “But how will I keep in touch with you?”
“Don’t worry, miss. I’ll tell them I need to be with you as your private doctor until you give birth, and that I need to check on you regularly,” he assured me. I shook my head, giggling at the absurdity of it all. “Thank you!”
I hurried back to my room, removed the clothes, hid them in the locker, and put on the hospital gown once more, feeling the familiar fabric against my skin. I covered myself and fell asleep, exhaustion finally taking its toll. Having someone-who didn’t even know me-by my side, who understood my suffering and was willing to help without expecting anything in return, brought me a sense of comfort I had not felt in a long time.
I must have slept for a while because I woke to voices near my head. Blinking, I saw the doctor talking with Tomas and Jimmy, explaining something to them in hushed tones. Clearing my throat, I adjusted my back and sat up in bed, my heart racing as they noticed I was awake. Jimmy rushed to my side, helping me prop up a pillow behind my back, his concern evident.
He leaned closer and kissed my forehead gently. “Jennifer, do you hate me that much? I was so happy to find my family again. Do you know how much I’ve suffered since our parents died? I thought I’d finally regain my happiness!” Tears streamed down Jimmy’s face, and I felt my heart twist at the sight.
“I- I-” I stuttered, unable to meet his gaze, the weight of his words crushing me.
Tomas approached me, his face a storm of anger and hurt. He glared and huffed, pulling a chair closer. Leaning his chin on his hands, he raised his head to look directly at me. “So, you don’t want a child from me? What kind of love is that? You think I can’t be a good father?” He shouted, his voice echoing in the sterile room.
“No! You can’t be a good husband!” I blurted out, crossing my arms defiantly, feeling a blend of fear and defiance.
He stood up, grabbing my face in his hands, his grip firm but not painful. “Who said I want to marry you?” he shouted, his frustration palpable. Then he pushed me away and stormed to the door. “She’s all yours now, Jimmy. I won’t force her to be mine. I’ll never force her to give birth to my child. This love is over. I don’t want it anymore. Take her and care for my child if that’s what she wants.” He slammed the door behind him, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
I gasped, placing my hand over my chest, staring at the doctor, my mind racing. “Um, doctor, I-what’s your name? I’m sorry if I forgot to ask,” I stammered nervously, desperate to change the subject and escape the whirlwind of emotions.
The doctor chuckled softly. “Why are you still here? You should follow him! That’s what I wanted you to learn. If I tried to explain, you wouldn’t understand. You see, revenge has no place in love. You need to forgive and forget,” he winked at me, a hint of wisdom in his eyes.
I turned to my brother Jimmy, who was watching me with a mix of concern and sympathy. “Um, what should I do?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly.
“Listen to your heart, little sister. Forgive him and me. Nothing lasts forever. Maybe he’ll die tomorrow, or maybe I will. There’s no guarantee in life,” Jimmy smiled, offering sage advice that resonated deep within me.
I jumped out of bed, my heart pounding, and rushed out of the room, searching for Tomas everywhere. I was disappointed not to find him. Suddenly, I heard someone sobbing on the emergency exit stairs. Curiosity compelled me to follow the sound until I found him, alone and broken.
“Oh my god, Tomas!” I gasped, running to him and wrapping my arms around him. He hugged me back tightly, and I frantically wiped his tears away, feeling an overwhelming urge to comfort him. “What’s wrong with you, Tomas? Please don’t do this! I can’t stand to see you cry-especially someone like you!” I pleaded, my heart aching for him.
“A heartless person like me thought you could understand me. A cold-hearted man like me acts this way with everyone else, not with you! You’re the only one I don’t mind crying in front of. I love you, Jennifer, more than I could ever imagine. I can’t live without you. But watching you reject me and say you don’t want to be my wife is killing me. The pain in my heart is unbearable.”
I giggled softly, pulling his face toward mine, gazing into his eyes, feeling the connection between us ignite again. “Who said I wouldn’t marry you? I’d be crazy to refuse a handsome man like you! But I want a proper proposal…” I spoke softly, my heart swelling with love.
He cut me off with a deep, passionate kiss, pulling me closer, as if trying to merge our souls. After a few minutes, he pulled back, his breath warm against my skin. “Jennifer, I promise I’ll propose to you in a special way. I’ll take care of you and our son, and I promise to love you forever. Our wedding will be a royal affair.”
“Is this some kind of proposal? Because I could definitely agree to that!” I giggled, my heart soaring with hope and joy, ready to embrace the future, whatever it might hold.