Chapter 3

I laid back on the bed, releasing a sigh of relief now that they were gone. I needed the space to think and put things in order.

But that was going to wait for a while because I had exhausted myself talking to my ‘family’ and I could feel the cold wind of sleep blowing across the room.

It didn’t take long before I answered the call, and I was already fast asleep.

I woke up after a while, feeling lifeless. There was no one in the room; even my foster siblings hadn’t come to see me.

I know I wasn’t particularly sunny, but no one deserved to be alone, especially confined to a sick bed.

But all that was quieted when the door gave way to the nurse from earlier. I think she was Bella or something. She was in her regular clothes, and now that I was clear headed, I could say that she is a beauty.

“Hello, Ruby. It is nice to see you awake.”

“Thank you.” I replied, and my gaze fell back to her clothing. She was in a black sweater and washed mom jeans, but she managed to look good. “Oh yea. It is my off day, but I just came to check up on you and also introduce you to your personal caregiver. She will be watching over you and tending to your needs.”

“Hello, Ruby. I am Lily.” The short brunette said, her lips parting to reveal a smile.

“Hmm.” I grunted. not finding the new company interesting. There was something about her that irks me, and it probably has to do with the fake smile plastered on her face.

“I will be leaving you now, but you will be in safe hands. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.” I greeted her cheerfully and watched as she left the room. It wasn’t even up to a minute before the nurse left that Lily pounced on me.

“Do you need anything? Is the pillow comfortable? Do you want to sit up?” She hit me with a barrage of questions, and I didn’t know which one to answer.

“Hold up with the questions. Who are you?”

Lily looked at me like I had developed amnesia, and then she smiled like she would a child. "I am Lily, remember?”

“Of course I know. I mean, who put you up to this?” I tried to gesture with my hands, but the wires prevented me from doing so. But she should understand my gesture.

It couldn’t be Gene or Stella; they couldn't afford such luxury, especially for me. So it only leaves one person.

“Your fiancé has asked that you be in good hands, and I will ensure that I do that.” Lily said with a wide smile on her face, and I released a sigh. This is going to be a long day.

But why was a little part of me disappointed that he wasn’t the one around? I was tired of being cooped up in bed and would appreciate company, even though I didn’t like him. I thought he had promised he was going to be back for me. But I had yet to see him around. So much for keeping his word.

With nothing to do, I turned my face to the wall and drifted into yet another meaningless dream. When I woke up, it was already evening, and the nurses came around for a check while Lily stayed by my side.

The next day wasn’t all that different, except that I had to start my physical therapy. I had knocked my head on the concrete, and being bedridden for weeks had made me lose some muscle mass.

The next few days were brutal, and it almost ended up the same way. The physiotherapist will come around, and I will cuss him out while he tries to help me.

Yes, I knew it was for my good, but I needed someone to release my pent-up anger. But he wasn’t fun to annoy because he was always quiet and focused on his work.

I got tired of engaging someone who didn’t care, so I let my mind roam, and for some weird reasons, they kept going back to Alexander.

That should be one of the reasons I was angry and bitter. Since the time he left, he hasn’t come to visit me, and it has been four days already. I tried to ignore it, but deep down, I was hurt.

Gene and Stella hadn’t come to visit me, and I thought nothing of it; in fact, I didn’t expect them to come again. They weren’t exactly the most loving parents.

But Alexander was my supposed fiancé. If he actually cared for me, like he claimed to, he would be fussing over me.

I released another sigh for the umpteenth time, and Lily stopped, looking at me in concern. “Are you alright, Miss Ruby? Do you want to stop and rest for a moment?” She asked. We have been going over our morning exercise, which was to walk around the room.

With the help of the therapy, I have been able to make use of my legs, but I am still required to exercise twice a day.

“No. It is alright; you can carry on; it wasn’t because of this.” I told her and tried to plant a huge smile on my face, but even she knew it was fake.

“This is just the last part, and you can rest after this.” She said, and I gave her a small nod while we continued the exercise.

We finished the lap, and she placed me gently on the bed in a sitting position. I looked down at my legs, noting the horrible discoloration and the flaky skin, and right there I vowed never to get on a skateboard again.

“Uhm, Lily?” I tried in a small voice, and the kind nurse turned to look at me, her eyes almost bulging out in disbelief. I have been rude to her since she came here, and it was surprising to call her with such a calm tone. “Do you know if..." I swallowed whatever I was going to say. I couldn’t bring myself to say his name, so it wouldn’t look as if I cared.

“Yes?” She said, her wary eyes on me. I opened my mouth to try again, but the words wouldn’t just come out, so I just let them be.

“Don’t worry, it is nothing.” I laid back on the bed, counting the lines on the ceiling to pass the time.

It was unfortunate that the good Samaritan who rushed me to the hospital couldn’t find my phone. It even stinks that I had just managed to purchase a used phone from a friend after months of working my ass out, and it was all gone.

You don’t have to worry about that. You have a rich fiancé now, and he can afford any phone you want. The voice in my head tried to remind me, but I quelled it immediately. I wasn't going to be his wife, and it was settled.

I had lost count of how many days I spent in the hospital waiting for Alexander since it was obvious my foster parents weren’t coming again.

I was observing a much-needed siesta when I began to hear background noises. I was a light sleeper, so I stared up, blinking the sleep away, when the door opened, and there he was. The man that has been plaguing my dreams.

Alex came in with a whirlwind of authority and power, his presence filling the room and leaving no space for mere mortals.

I couldn’t deny it; he was handsome, with a chiseled jawline that could cut through me and piercing blue eyes that seemed to draw me in. Or is it the impeccably styled dark hair and his well-tailored suits?

He was attractive in a way that would make any female swoon, and to top it all, he had a nice smile. And right now, all those things are directed at me.

No matter how I tried to ignore it, my heart fluttered like a bird, released from its cage, and I found my muscles contracting in a smile.

Alex walked closer to me, holding a bouquet of red roses, and it was like I was in a fairy tale. He reached me in a footstep, and he leaned down, gracing me with his cologne that made my head turn, and he kissed me.

Now that I get it, I see why girls get crazy about love.

“I am sorry, love. I have been away for urgent business, and I couldn’t visit you.” He said, his baritone voice piercing through my very being, and everything in me swooned.

“It is alright; I understand.” I found myself replying in a voice that sounded nothing like mine. Right then, nothing else mattered; it was just me and him.

“Good. It is time to take you to your new home.”

And just like that, the spell was broken.