My Wife.

Chapter 5. 

~ADAMS~

“My childhood was a battlefield, and love was the casualty. When I met her, I thought I had found a refuge, but my demons followed. I couldn't help but inflict the pain I knew onto the one person who made me feel whole. Every day, I am haunted by the thought of what I did to her and the love  we could have if only I knew how to love.”- ADAMS BLACK

~~~~

PRESENT TIME 

Seeing Sienna that way made my heart ache. I didn't realize her mother's condition was this critical when I hired a private investigator to stalk them.

Don't get me wrong, but I needed to get as much information about her as possible to make my plan a success.

And here we are.

“I love her,” I had said, to reassure her mother she would be in good hands, but more because I wanted her to know. I wanted Sienna to know how fuckin important she was to me.

Of course, she snapped her gaze away from me, and I noticed the way she clutched at her dress.

I stared at her father, who stood at the side, with a confused look in his gaze. It took me a second to realize that he must be so shocked at the sudden declaration.

For all I knew, Sienna and Adams didn't know each other before the wedding. Which made me wonder how he didn't even bat an eyelid the moment I proposed a marriage.

“You do not have to worry, Mr Fowler. Sienna and I have met in the past.” I explained, my eyes drifting to his wife on the bed.

“Oh, you have?” He still seemed confused.

“Yes, we do. But I doubt she recalls. It has been a long time.”

Four years didn't seem like a long time. But to me, it was four excruciating long years.

“I'll be waiting in the car,” I  said to Sienna a few minutes later, giving the family a little more time to bond, before I take my wife home.

I let out a deep breath as I stood out the door of the ward, collecting my thoughts.

I didn't know how long I stood there until a voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Mr. Black?” 

I raised my head, only to see a doctor with white coat, standing before me. He had an inquisitive look on his face and pushed up his glasses like he was trying to take a better look at me.

“Doctor Robinson,” I acknowledged tiredly, instantly recognizing him.

His eyes widened for a split second, and I scoffed silently. Did he think I wouldn't know who he was?

Doctor Robinson was one of this Branch's best specialists. I had personally assigned him to Sienna's mother after going through his file.

We never met face to face, it was a surprise he could recognize me, as I had always kept a low profile.

“I didn't know you would grace us with your presence, Sir. When did you arrive?” He asked.

I stared down the halls, and then back at him. He was holding a device in his hands, and I raised a brow, ignoring his question, “What is that?”

“This is a mobile clinical assistant….”

“I know what a fucking MCA is, Robinson. What is in it?”

“Oh. These…these are the final reports for Mrs. Fowler,” there was something off in his tone and I didn't like it.

I straightened up and snatched it from his hands.

I swiped through the records silently, my brows furrowing, “What is this?”

“I'm afraid, she…she doesn't have much time left. I was just about to go inform….”

My eyes widened at that.

“You will do no such thing!” I retorted, my voice in a threatening whisper.

I quickly led him out of the premises, and soon we were in his office, “ I instructed you, Dr Robinson, to operate on her yourself. Are you telling me you went contrary to my commands?”

“I didn't, Sir. I did as you instructed. But the records say she might not have much time left.”

I swiped at the screen again, “Brain damage? How did it get to this?  I just left her side and she seemed perfectly fine,”

“Yes, that was to be expected. The changes will begin to take effect gradually. They should have a heads up.”

“And you didn't see the need to inform me about this first? You have my mail. What stopped you from sending me an email about this?”

He lowered his head like he just discovered he had almost fucked up.

I took some steps towards him, “Like I said, Robinson. You will do no such thing.” I slammed the MCA on his table,” Do everything in your power, perform every necessary surgery to ensure she is back in good shape. If anything happens to her, consider your license revoked!”

He nodded frantically, eyes widened in horror, and I took a step back, “And one more thing, keep this confidential. Between us. No third party is expected to know about this!”

I stepped out of the office, in a foul mood. No way was I about to let them know about this. Nikros Medical Hospital was one of the best in the state, and I was sure she could be treated. If she could make a recovery like this after so many years, she could definitely get past this.

I couldn't imagine what it would be like when Sienna discovered her mother was….

I shook my head off the thoughts and then proceeded to step out of the hospital to wait for her.

Just as I was about to take a bend toward the elevator, I heard some familiar voices, causing me to pause in my tracks.

“You caused this! How dare you say such a thing?”

I paused in my steps and tilted my head to stare at the direction his voice seemed to be coming from.

And then I saw them. Sienna and her father faced each other as they stood in an empty ward.

“Leave and never return, Sienna. Your mother doesn't need your toxicity any longer. Especially now that she is awake. You should focus on your marriage now.”

What….

I was about to push the door open, but Sienna's voice made me halt.

“Spare me that bullshit, father. I'm done. I am fucking done listening to you trash-talk me all the time. What on earth is so wrong that you can't forgive? It's been four years! Four freaking years and every day, you remind me of one little mistake I made as a teenager. For fucks sake, I was just a teen! Forgive me for being foolish and reckless m. Forgive me for…wanting to be that child you could be proud of.”

“All these years, I had let you speak to me like I was some sort of bad luck. Like I was the sole reason  mother was in that condition.”

“Shut your mouth, Sienna. You know very well that you caused this! If only….”

“When do you plan on telling me?” she cut him off.

Her father's expression turned confused, but she chuckled, a bitter smile forming on her lips.

“Come on, Dad. Do you think I wouldn't get to find out? You never for once made me feel loved ever since I can remember. When did you plan on telling me that I was just a child you picked up from the streets?”

What the….

Her voice was steady, as she spoke, but the next second, her father was roughly pulling her by the arm.

“Let go of me, Dad!” she snapped her hand away, her anger getting the most of her, “I am not saying this so you get to give an explanation or whatever. I just want to let you know that I am fully aware that I am just an adopted child. Which, of course, explains everything.”

She hastily wiped a stray tear, “Mother was the only one who had ever truly loved me. But then I  grew up to adore you. I wanted you to love me too. I saw the love you had for her, and I only wished you got to see me. You might not know, Dad, but you see that woman in there?” she pointed to the room her Mother was in, “Your wife! My mother. You are the cause of what happened to her. Mother is lying down there because of you.”

“Watch your tone, Sienna. I am still your …”

“Father? No, you are not.” 

“You do not deserve to even have a child. You ruined the one you had. You made me grow up with such low self-esteem. You made me think and feel that I am always worth nothing, and guess what? Every single day of my life in high school, I was reminded of how worthless I was. But not anymore.”

I stared at her father. And there wasn't a hint of remorse in his eyes. 

I chuckled. Seemed Sienna and I ran out of luck when it came to our daddies.

“I see you found out,” The father responded, his voice rising, “That's absolutely great, Sienna. I don't have to bother myself explaining any deets to you. Just so you know, this changes nothing. If you weren't in our lives…if it wasn't for your recklessness, my wife wouldn't have had a heart attack in the first place because she cared so much for a girl I didn't even know her roots!”

Okay, that was extreme.

I pushed open the door with so much force, in an instant and stepped into the room.