“Addy, calm down.” Duke wrapped his arm around her shoulders.“Let me go!” Adina pushed Duke away.The push tugged the needle out of her arm. Blood spilled and sprayed on the snow-white sheet. Duke tried to stop her and help her with her wound and the bleeding. But she avoided him. “Stay away from me! Duke, get away!”Duke spoke softly, “Addy, you need an infusion. I’ll call the nurse to come and help you with the infusion, okay?”“I don’t want any infusion! I don’t want an injection! Stop making decisions on my behalf without my permission!”Adina put on her shoes and headed out of the ward.They were on the fourth floor. There was a corridor outside the ward.Duke reached Adina and hugged her.“Let go of me! Get your hands off me!” Adina tried to break free from his grasp. She tried to push him away. Duke held onto her. He was afraid she might hurt herself, so he didn’t let her go. “Addy, don’t do this, please,” he said, hoarsely. “Addy, I’m Duke. I’m your husband.”“I
“Don’t mention it. Just lie down and rest. I’ll call the doctor now.”Duke stroked her hair before he stood up and walked out of the ward. He did not go far. He stood at the door and waved at a nurse to come over.The nurse brought the medicine with her. She inserted the syringe back into Adina’s hand. This time, the nurse made sure to tape several strips of gauze on her hand to prevent it from being pulled out so easily.Adina looked down. She tried to recall everything that had happened.She was certain she did not just wake up. She was certain she did not pull out the needle during a nightmare. Something was amiss…‘Did something more happen? Why didn’t that voice appear in her mind this time? Could that voice have entered into the marrow of her bones and became her instinct?’“Addy, what are you thinking?” Duke’s voice interrupted her train of thoughts.“Nothing.” Adina looked up. She smiled. “When are they going to discharge me from the hospital?”“You’re under great press
Duke led her to the living room.Mr. Brown served them coffee. The living room was filled with the aroma of coffee beans.“Addy, this is Alva.” Duke introduced his friend to her. “Alva, this is my wife, Adina”“Mdm. Winters, nice to meet you.” The African man fixed his gaze on Adina.Adina felt uncomfortable with Alva looking at her.In the past, Duke would get jealous whenever other men stared at her. He would give them a warning look. However, at that moment, Duke was motionless.Adina was annoyed. She pinched his thigh under the table. She glared at Duke.Duke patted the back of her hand and spoke softly in Cairnstanian language, “Alva means no harm to you. Relax.”“Mdm. Winters, you’re very beautiful,” said Alva with a smile, revealing his white teeth. “I know how to read a pulse. Mdm. Winters, could you please let me read your pulse?”Adina wanted to say no. But Duke nodded at her. She placed her hand on the table. Alva gently took her hand and read her pulse.Adina r
Duke froze.Earl’s previously worked in the Bio-intelligent Chip Technology Company. ‘Could he have…?’“Mr. Winters, I’m a witch doctor, so I don’t have much knowledge about bio-intelligent chips,” said Alva. “But they are rampant in the Hestia Border. The superiors implant this type of chip in their subordinates’ bodies to prevent them from betraying their authority. After one is implanted with the chip, the superiors can control one’s mind and make one obey them completely.”Duke pursed his lips. “Do you know anyone who is a professional in this area?”Alva shook his head. “The R&D technicians are very well protected. All of the information is under highly guarded confidential documents. It’s almost impossible to gather any information about it.”“Okay. Got it,” said Duke. “Thank you for making this trip. I’ll assign someone to send you back.”“Blake asked me to pass on a message to you. He says he is all well at the Hestia Border. And you don’t have to worry so much about him,
Dinner was ready soon.Adina brushed off the thoughts from her mind. She took Duke’s hand and led him to the dining room to eat their dinner.Harold made a face and stuck his tongue out. He said, “Daddy, Mommy, both of you are too lovey-dovey. Daddy, you steal Mommy away from us every day now.” Duke pretended to be angry. “Do you mean that?”Harold quickly hid behind George. “After Mommy comes back home from work, she doesn’t play with us anymore. Daddy, it’s all your fault for being too domineering!”Melody nodded in agreement. “Daddy, I want to sleep with Mommy tonight.”“I also want to sleep with Mommy!” Harold said happily. “I want Mommy to shower me and tell me bedtime stories.”“Childish!” The corners of Alden’s lips twitched. “Are you still a three-year-old child? Why do you need Mommy’s help to shower?”“I’m only four years old. I’m still a child,” Harold said matter-of-factly. He went up to Adina and pouted. “Mommy, you only spend time with Daddy. Can you spend some t
Harold was shaken. Tears welled up in his eyes when he saw the anger and disgust in his mother’s eyes directed towards him.“Mommy, don’t hate me,” Harold’s voice trembled. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I will try not to be so clumsy anymore.”He slowly approached Adina and held her hand. But Adina swung his hand away.“I told you not to touch me!” Adina was agitated and restless. She raised her hand and knocked the chocolate strawberry cake to the ground. Everyone in the dining room was stunned, especially her children.Harold’s tears streamed down his cheek. Melody bit her bottom lip. She dared not cry out loud.“All of you, go back to your rooms,” said Duke carefully. He placed a hand on Adina’s shoulder.“Don’t touch me!” Adina pushed his hand away. “All of you, get out now!”She cradled her head and charged outside. Her head was going to split. It hurt too much!A voice rang in her mind. ‘Leave them! Get out of there now!’She had no idea where she was heading. She rushed outside wi
Harold cried.“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so clumsy. Mommy looked very angry. What should I do?” Harold felt hopeless. “Why is Mommy so angry? Why was she so scary?”When he remembered the way his mother had looked at him, with anger and hatred, his heart felt heavy.George pursed his lips. “The dress is a gift from Daddy. I suppose Mommy likes that dress too much. Maybe that’s why she was angry.”“Even if that’s the case, she never gets so angry.” Alden sat by the window. His eyes were troubled, no one knew what he was thinking about. “There has to be something that we don’t know.”Melody sobbed. “Alden, I’ve never seen her like that before. I think I saw…’She saw her mother bite her father’s shoulder. When her father had carried her mother into the mansion, his shoulder was bleeding.‘Mommy loves Daddy so much. Why would she bite him like that?’ Melody could not say all this aloud. She was afraid that her mind was playing tricks on her.“Mommy is not scary. Don’t be li
“Mommy, I made the pasta specially to ask for your forgiveness,” said Harold sadly. “Last night, I—”“Harold, go out for a minute,” Duke interrupted him. “I have something to talk to your Mommy about. In private.”Harold looked up at his father, annoyed. “Daddy, I haven’t finished my sentence. Could you please let me finish my words? Then you can talk to Mommy all you want.”“It cannot wait. Go. Now.”Duke took the plate of pasta from his hands and placed it on the bedside table. He then lifted Harold up and carried him out of the bedroom.“Daddy, you’ve gone too far!”Harold shouted fiercely. Duke glared at him before he closed the door and locked it. He turned to Adina. “I’m certain that Harold’s pasta is not as tasty as mine. Are you sure you want to eat it?”Adina looked at him. “Why did you drive Hal out? What exactly do you want to tell me about?”“Ahem, nothing.” Duke rested his gaze on her collar. “It’s not good if our children see that.”Adina looked down. The neckl