Inside the taxi.
Ria’s eyes blaze with anger as she scrolls through the trending news on her phone. “That motherfucker.” Ria swore under her breath, her mind racing with the thought of Raymond’s shamelessness. The pictures she saw earlier were shocking enough, but seeing the news plastered all over social media and news outlets made her blood boil.
What she saw some minutes ago were just pictures, but seeing the news on all media platforms makes her blood boil. If this seems to be true, Lina wouldn’t have it easy at Raymond’s place.
Her fingers couldn’t help fleeing over her phone as she dialed Lina’s number, her anxiety spiking with each passing second. “Pick up the call Lina.” Ria gritted her teeth, wishing her friend would pick up her phone immediately. Lina didn’t pick up, instead, the call went to voicemail which made Ria even more frustrated and worried. She couldn’t help thinking if she had seen the news or not.
The feeling that Lina had likely seen the trending news couldn’t stop clouding her distressed heart. Ria tapped the backseat of the taxi driver. “Mr., Drive faster, it’s urgent.” She said, her voice laced with urgency.
The driver, a gruff-looking man with a handsome face, glanced at Ria from the rearview mirror. “Miss, this is the fastest I can go.” The driver said as his foot stepped harder on the accelerator. The taxi surged forward, weaving through the crowded streets with a newfound sense of urgency.
Five minutes later, Ria reached her destination. She immediately rushed out of the taxi. She dipped her hand inside her bag and threw the money her hand could reach at the moment to the driver. “Keep the change.” She said before dashing into the hospital.
“Thank you, Miss.” The driver happily shouted after her looking at the 100 bucks note in his hand.
****
Inside Lina’s VIP ward. As Lina was about to pick up the call that interrupted her and Raymond’s important discussion, the phone hung up itself. “I will go get that,” Lina said as she stood up from the sofa she was sitting on. She didn’t notice how Raymond shifted nervously on the sofa as she stood up.
“It’s Ria calling.” Lina picked up her phone and said after seeing the caller ID. “Didn’t she just leave? Why is she calling me now?” Lina questioned herself as she dialed back Ria’s number.
“Ring!!” Lina’s head snapped backward at the ringing phone that seemed to echo in the ward, cutting through the silence.
Raymond’s head also snapped back. He saw Ria standing at the doorway gasping for air, which shows how desperate she was to reach her. Raymond’s brain couldn’t help ringing the bell. He knew whatever Ria was here for might destroy his still not solid relationship with Lina.
His eyes met with Ria who glared at him in disgust. He knew her actions were unjust, but considering her relationship with Lina, he couldn’t do anything to Ria. The ward was silent for a moment, only the beeping sound of the hospital machines and the smell of disinfectant filled the air.
“Ria, why did you come back again? Did you forget something?” Lina asked with confusion as she scanned the room, looking for anything Ria might have forgotten due to her assumptions.
“I didn’t forget anything, Lina. I came to discuss something important with you.” Ria stated, not minding the dreadful glare Raymond was sending her way. Though she was scared of the ruthless billionaire, ‘Raymond,’ that doesn’t mean she would keep quiet about something that might ruin her friend later in the future if their relationship finally came to light.
“I sent you a link on Instagram, I would advise you to open it and see what was going on by yourself.” Lina was confused. She hasn’t made the headlines before, except for that one time she broke up with her ex-fiance-Daniel, in front of everyone. And with the way Ria said it was important, that meant whatever she eagerly wanted her to check involved her.
Lina warily looked at Ria for some seconds, confusion etched on her expression. She knew Ria was someone who looked impatient when something concerning her popped up anywhere.
“Rihanna,” Raymond called Ria’s full name.” “I bet you wouldn’t want to do this.” Though Raymond knew he couldn’t hide the trending news from Lina forever, he still wished he was the one who would tell her, and also be able to explain what happened the day the pictures were taken. Raymond had not seen the trending news himself, but he knew it was something huge as it involved him.
“What are you guys talking about?” Lina was confused. This was the first time she saw Raymond and Ria speaking with each other.
“Check your phone, then you will know what I’m talking about,” Ria answered, walking away from the doorway, her heels clicking loudly on the marble floor of the ward. Her brown eyes locked on Lina, her expression a mix of urgency and concern.
Lina took a deep breath before nodding her head at Ria. She opened her Instagram page and immediately saw the link Ria sent her. Her face went pale immediately at the news in front of her.
‘Billionaire Girlfriend Finally Revealed After Many Years Of Secrecy About His Relationship. It Turns Out His Girlfriend Was The Popular Entertainment Goddess Ashley. What A Perfect Match.”
Beneath the post were pictures of Raymond and Ashley. Ashley hugged Raymond intimately from behind, her head resting on his back like the place was meant for only her. There was another one attached with the photos. Raymond was lovingly gazing into Ashley’s eyes. They were so close that they almost kissed each other.
The comments beneath the post were very favorable, with Ashley’s fans commenting crazily on how satisfied they were with Ashley being with Raymond.
Lina’s hand couldn’t help shaking as her vision blurred. Her heart shattered into a million pieces. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, her mind reeling from the implications of the pictures she was staring at.
All her actions were closely watched by the two people in her ward. Ria, who understands Lina too well, feels pity for her best friend. She knew she was on the verge of breaking down. It seems like her calculations weren’t right. With Lina’s reaction, she seems to have fallen deeply in love with Raymond, knowing or unknowingly.
Raymond was also looking at Lina. None of her expressions escaped him. As Lina raised her head looking in his direction, his heart instantly shattered at the pain in her brown doe eyes. He swore in his mind that instant to make Ashley pay for her stupidity. He should have known better that someone like Ashley was up to no good when he met her at the hospital that day.
“Is…is this…” Lina stammered as her lips parted, but the words were caught in her throat. She tried again, her voice barely above a whisper. “Is… this… real?” She asked. The air around her seemed to vibrate with the effort of holding back her tears.
Raymond looked at the small fragile woman in front of him. He knew instantly that his answer to her question would determine how far their relationship would go. He took a deep breath, feeling a headache coming.
“Lina, the news you are seeing might seem true, but it’s not what you think,” Raymond said, not noticing Lina’s trembling lips. Raymond though hasn’t seen the pictures trending online, knew from Nicholas’s earlier reaction, and with Lina’s, it was something that looked true to the eyes of whoever saw it.
“I asked a yes or no question Raymond. Lina finally gathered her emotions, facing Raymond. Lina’s voice, though still trembling, held a hint of steel as she gazed at Raymond, her eyes demanding a straightforward answer. “Is… this… real?” she repeated, her words dripping with a mix of pain and accusation.
Raymond’s eyes locked onto Lina’s, his expression a mask of calmness, but his mind racing with the consequences of his response. He took a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I admit I met up with Ashley a few days ago, but I don’t know that she has a malicious plan against me. Believe me, Lina, all you are seeing wasn’t the actual truth.” He stood up from the sofa, walking towards her, but Lina took a step back. She raised her palm, stopping his movement.
“Don’t come any closer,” Lina yelled, making Raymond stop on his track. Raymond felt hurt. “This is your answer to my earlier request, right?” Lina tried sounding calm as much as possible. She remembered her earlier discussion with Raymond ending with uncertainty from Raymond.
Raymond shook his head, trying to deny Lina’s words. “No Lina, you can’t just assume whatever you like,” Raymond said hurriedly. He knew if this misunderstanding goes on like this, their relationship might collapse, and that, he doesn’t want.
“What did you expect more than excuses from a cheat like him, Lina?” Ria, who had been watching the couple’s confrontation, said angrily at how Raymond tried to defend himself as much as possible. “No need to question him. Evidence is in front of you, girl.”
Lina closed her eyes tightly, trying to calm her trembling heart as much as possible. “I want to go home, Ria. Take me home please.” Lina finally opened her eyes and begged her best friend to take her home. She looked tired of everything.
Ria nodded her head. She stepped forward helping Lina to carry her packed bag. She was to be discharged this evening. It should have been a happy moment, but with the news trending online, all the happiness turned into sadness.
“We’ve handled the procedure for your discharge earlier. We can get going now.” Ria informed Lina, who nodded in understanding.
“Let’s go.” Ria walked towards Lina, taking her arm to support her weight. Raymond silently watched all that was happening with a furrowed brow. He doesn’t want Lina to leave without giving her a proper explanation. But there was nothing he could do right now without proper evidence, and with the troublesome Ria, who was with her, he didn’t think this would be easy.
As Lina walked past Raymond, he grabbed her hand. Lina looked into his eyes, which were begging her not to leave. “If you want to go home, I can take you to the mansion.” Raymond finally said, his eyes pleading.
Lina shook off her hand from his grip. “That isn’t my home to begin with. The one your heart wanted there is not me.” Lina said without thinking, before walking out of the already open door. Raymond felt a wrenching pain in his heart at her words.