Chapter 5 His return

Lucas never returned home that night, nor the next morning or even the next day.

Evelyn finally gave up waiting after the fifth day. She was filled with so much rage but what could she do? She couldn't hold a grudge against a man who probably forgot about her existence.

She stared at the ring on her finger, the small silver felt heavy and cold. Her marriage felt like a prison.

Why did she even expect an arranged marriage to run smoothly? They were two strangers bound by a ring after all.

If only she didn’t have to dance to her stepmother's tune. She could still recall Lucas's cold and glaring eyes like he harboured a secret grudge against her.

Evelyn suddenly jumped to her feet. She had completely forgotten about Peter. How could she--

Fuck! He must be so lonely all by himself. Before, she used to be so busy but still managed to take out the time to care for him.

What was she expecting anyways? That Lucas would support her in Peter's treatment? How delusional!

"Stupid, stupid," Evelyn smacked her head over and over as she rushed up the stairs to freshen up.

He couldn't even stand the sight of her nor be in the same space. How then would he-- Evelyn sighed.

"This won’t do," she mumbled to herself. "I can't start relying on a man now," even her father didn't give two fucks about any of them.

Her phone rang on her bed and it pulled her out of her thoughts. She grabbed her phone from the dresser and answered the call as she moved about for what to wear.

"Hello-"

"Am I on to Miss Evelyn William?" a woman asked in a very polite and calming voice.

"Yes, this is her."

"We're calling from XX Hospital concerning your brother, Peter Williams. Please visit the hospital-"

*****

Evelyn dashed into the doors , searching the place frantically with her eyes. She had washed up as fast as she could and wasted no time getting out of the godforsaken hell hole her husband had dumped her in.

Now she was covered in sweat with her heart pounding loud like she just ran a marathon. She rushed to the counter and stuttered through her sentences.

"Miss Evelyn?" an elderly nurse approached her, looking worried. "Did you run all the way here?"

Her voice sounded too familiar that Evelyn recognized her as the woman who called her. "Y-You called about Peter. I-Is he okay? What happened-"

"Miss Evelyn, there's nothing wrong with him. Oh dear, come right this way so we can talk better. I didn't mean to scare you over the phone."

The nurse did nothing wrong. Evelyn just panicked and the devil played a trick on her guilt.

They stepped aside to talk and the nurse let her calm down a bit before dropping the bomb. "Miss Evelyn, we've sent emails and phone calls to the William's house about the default in payment for your nephew's bills-"

"What? What are you saying? Default?"

"Didn't you get any call on your home line?" she arched her brow. "We haven't received payment for his treatment in three months now. The reason we continued to administer it is because we've been your family's hospital for years-"

"B-But that's not… that's not possible," the only reason she worked at that casino was because- because-

"I'm sorry, Miss Evelyn but the hospital cannot continue to be benevolent anymore. I hope you understand," she smiled sadly before leaving Evelyn to her thoughts.

How could they do her dirty? Playing with a boy's life? Peter was their family too whether they liked it or not!

She worked her butt off and even had to sell herself to get money but.. What did they do with it?

Her chest felt tight and nails dug into her palm as she squeezed her fist trying hard not to cry but the anguish in her heart just made it so impossible to hold herself back.

The turmoil in her heart turned into anger that she shook with so much hate at the thought of her step mother-

"Evelyn?" The small unsure voice caught her off guard that she spun on her heels to see Peter standing next to a door.

He was dressed simply in his white and blue hospital gown that looked like a sack over his very lean and thin frame. He had lost so much weight due to his sickness. He was also barefooted-

"Peter," she rushed to him, squatting to his level and holding his shoulders. "Why'd you get out of bed? Your feet--"

"It's not too cold," he smiled, trying to be brave for her but his efforts only weakened her resolve. She didn’t know when a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Come, I'll carry you," she wiped her tears like he didn't notice them and carried him in her arms. He was too light for his age and as she held him in her arms, she couldn’t help feeling guilty and responsible.

"Did you miss me?" she smiled. "I missed you so much. I'm sorry I couldn't see you for a while."

"Are you overworking again?" he asked with his arms wrapped around her neck as he leaned his chin on her shoulder.

"Nope. Nothing I can't handle."

"Does it cost so much to cure me?" his innocent voice was making her chin tremble. "You don't have to do that anymore. I'm tired. Let's just give up on the treatment-"

"Don't speak like that," she scolded immediately but in a soft and desperate voice. "I'll do everything I can to make sure you're well again. So just believe in me a little, okay? The doctor's haven't given up, I haven't either, so trust us."

After putting him back on his bed, she spent a few minutes cheering him up before going to the receptionist to squeeze out every drop she had in her bank to make up for the three months default.

It didn’t cover all of it but it was something at least.

After that, Evelyn stormed her way back to her father's house. She had a bone to pick with her stepmother and she wasn't going to leave until they returned all her money!

As soon as she sighted Diana and Olivia, their faces turned down in disgust and they looked away like they couldn't stand the sight of her but that didn't stop her.

She matched right up to them and yelled, "Tell me why I just got a call from the hospital about Peter's hospital bills!"

"Why, hell to you too, Evelyn," Diana turned to face her. "I see marriage has made you lose your respect-"

Evelyn scoffed. She wasn't here to play games. "The only reason I agreed to that marriage in place of Olivia was because you promised to take care of Peter's hospital bills."

"Well what would you have me do?" Diana shrugged. "There's no more money left."

Seeing as Olivia was dressed in a designer dress-- and she could swear on her mother's grave that it cost thousands of dollars-- Evelyn found that hard to believe.

"I don't care what you say, you went back on your word and that's not fair!"

"You mannerless child! How dare you raise your voice at your stepmother!" Father's voice thunders all of a sudden as he steps out from a corner and storms towards the scene.

At his appearance, Diana and Olivia smile a satisfied smile at their backup.

"I always knew you had no respect for elders! How dare you speak to your stepmother that way? You're a blackmailer just like your mother-"

"Don't bring my mother into this," Evelyn stared at him in shock. "After cheating on her, you speak her name so casually. Shouldn't you be ashamed, father? You got your mistress pregnant while your wife was still alive. You're one to talk about morals and deceit-"

"F-Father! Are you just going to let her talk to you that way?" Olivia whined.

"Dear, her attitude has gone on long enough!" Diana added and drew closer to him like she was scared.

Aggravated even further by Diana and Olivia's remark, her father gritted his teeth in anger. "Just let me get my hands on you, I'll teach you a lesson! Come here!"

He raised his hand at her, ready to smack her back to her senses.

Evelyn shielded her face with her hands and braced herself for the pain to come but squeezing her eyes shut, it never came.

She pried her eyes open to see her father's hand hanging in the air with another hand holding his wrist from behind her.

"What do you think…" she recognized the voice immediately. Her husband was back? "…You're doing with that hand?”