At this point, she could barely breathe. She was confused and didn’t know what to do. Her dad had been struggling on his own until he went weak. Her dad had been fighting with asthma for a very long time, though he always controlled it. But today, she couldn't tell what triggered it. And she was so startled to see that his inhaler was empty. He always bought dozens of it. But since he started taking his drugs, he has found the inhaler unnecessary. These days, he barely uses it. She tried to wake him up, but it all went futile. At this point, she doesn't need any prophet to tell her that her dad needed urgent medical attention. Anabel zipped down her handbag. Her hands trembled as she fumbled with her phone. Her fingers were slicked with sweat as she scrolled through her contacts. Her breath was uneven, her heart hammering in her chest. She struggled to keep her thoughts straight, but the sight of her father lying motionless on the floor had shattered any semblance of calm she
Without wasting a second, Anabel called her brother, Jethro. The moment he picked up, she repeated the same panicked message.“Dad collapsed! You have to come home!”“I’ll be there, Anabel! Just hang on!” Jethro replied.After ending the call, she knelt beside her father again, gripping his hand as she watched his shallow breathing. “Daddy, stay with me,” she whispered through her tears. “Don’t leave me. Help is coming. Nothing will happen to you. You are going to be fine.”A few minutes later, she heard a car pull up. She was expecting the doctor, but when the door opened, it was her brother, Jethro. He had to speed up immediately after he answered the call."We need to take him to the hospital," Jethro said just as he entered the room."I've called the doctor. He said he's coming.""You have called the doctor, and he's yet to come?" Jethro asked."I don't know what is delaying him. He said he's coming already.""I don't think I'm going to have that patience. Come on, let's carry him
"Then what are we going to do now?" Jethro asked. "I will call an ambulance to take him to the hospital." The doctor said and picked up his phone. He called the hospital for an ambulance and turned to Anabel and Jethro. "I have called for the ambulance. It will be here soon, and your dad will be taken care of." Anabel’s breath shuddered as fresh fear consumed her. Her greatest nightmare—the thought of losing her father—was tightening its grip around her chest. She couldn’t lose him. She wouldn’t lose him. But right now, it felt like she had no control over that fate. Every second felt like an eternity until the ambulance finally arrived. The flashing lights reflecting off the smooth pavement. The paramedics moved with urgency, but their presence only heightened Anabel’s anxiety. Jethro, her brother, immediately rushed forward to assist Dr. Maxwell in lifting their father from the bed. Anabel stood back, frozen, her hands trembling as she watched them carefully maneuver Sir Orton
Maybe it was another Desmond she doesn't know about. Though, her mind kept racing in thought. She turned quickly to face the nurse. Her lips slightly parted as if she were about to ask the obvious question... 'the Desmond who had once been her husband?' But as quickly as the question formed in her mind, she quickly changed her mind and pushed it away. "No, it couldn’t be him." There were plenty of people named Desmond. This had to be another person entirely. And even if it was the Desmond she knew, how would he have any kind of medical expertise? He wasn’t a doctor. He wasn’t a specialist. He's just a businessman. There was no way. She chose not to ask. Instead, she crossed her arms tightly and tried to brush the thought away. Dr. Maxwell, who was still standing by Sir Orton’s bedside, looked at the nurse with a skeptical expression, and his brows furrowed slightly. He had been a doctor for over two decades, and he wasn’t the type to accept suggestions lightly. Not in a situation
Anabel began to pace back and forth, hugging herself as anxiety clawed at her insides. Her father was fighting for his life, and all they could do was wait. Three hours felt like a lifetime, and she didn't know if he would make it until the specialist arrived. Her thoughts continued to race in every direction, but one unsettling doubt kept creeping in. What if the Desmond, who the nurse was suggesting, was truly the only one who could help out? The nurse had seemed so confident, so sure—but she couldn’t bring herself to believe that someone who was not a doctor could help the situation. Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket, breaking through her frantic thoughts. She pulled her phone from her pocket and checked; it was Sylvester. She glanced at the name and let out a slow breath. "Not now." She wasn’t in the mood for whatever reason he was calling. Her father was dying, so nothing else mattered. She ignored the call and continued pacing about. A few moments later, her phone b
Anabel’s frustration continued to boil as she listened to Sylvester plead with her. After his selfish insistence on money despite everything she told him, it was almost unbearable to hear him suddenly act like he cared. “No, Sylvester. I’m not telling you anything. You don’t deserve to know.” She kept her tone firm, refusing to listen to him. “Anabel, please,” Sylvester begged with a softer tone. “I was wrong. I know I was wrong. I should have shown more concern. I should not have talked about the money after you told me everything. I wasn't in my right senses. I didn’t mean to seem so selfish. Understand me.” He finished, and Anabel scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “You did mean to be selfish,” she shot back. “That’s who you are, Sylvester. You didn’t even hesitate before bringing up the money again. What kind of person hears that their girlfriend’s father is dying and continues to ask about money and promises?” Sylvester sighed deeply, seeing that she took it really seri
"Congratulations, Mrs. Anabel! You are four months pregnant!" The doctor announced. "Here is the test result. Take a good look at it."He handed the test result to her, and she went through it. Tears of joy streamed down her delicate face. She had been waiting for this moment for two years, since marrying Desmond.Her mind flooded with their love story. How he saved her from a dirty gang who wanted to rape her. How they got married and started living together.Though for the past few months, she was gradually losing her husband to a lady his mother and his sister wanted him to marry.They fired all their maids so that she would have a lot of work to do in the house. They abuse and treat her like a maid, but she endures it all. Now that she was pregnant, she believed they would support and love her again. She believes they will stop abusing her.She rushed out of the door and headed to her car. Once she got inside, she dialed her husband's number."Hi Honey, I have a good..." Her voice
They were still talking when Desmond walked in with Daniella, holding hands like couples. "Wow! My son and my potential daughter-in-law are here already! They look like a perfect match from heaven." Desmond's mother stepped forward and embraced her son. "Desmond!" Anabel called. "How can you cheat on me?" He turned his attention to Anabel. "I don't understand. What are you talking about?" "Do you want to deny it? Don't even try to. I called you this afternoon to share some good news with you, only to find out that you are cheating on me. I guess the husband snatcher picked up the call and left it so I could listen to her sick moans." "I've warned you to desist from calling my potential daughter-in-law a husband snatcher!" Desmond's mother intervened. "What good news do you have for him other than telling him that you found another sex style that will make you pregnant?" "Son." She turned to Desmond. "You don't have to be hiding it from her. You are doing the right thing. Daniella
Anabel’s frustration continued to boil as she listened to Sylvester plead with her. After his selfish insistence on money despite everything she told him, it was almost unbearable to hear him suddenly act like he cared. “No, Sylvester. I’m not telling you anything. You don’t deserve to know.” She kept her tone firm, refusing to listen to him. “Anabel, please,” Sylvester begged with a softer tone. “I was wrong. I know I was wrong. I should have shown more concern. I should not have talked about the money after you told me everything. I wasn't in my right senses. I didn’t mean to seem so selfish. Understand me.” He finished, and Anabel scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “You did mean to be selfish,” she shot back. “That’s who you are, Sylvester. You didn’t even hesitate before bringing up the money again. What kind of person hears that their girlfriend’s father is dying and continues to ask about money and promises?” Sylvester sighed deeply, seeing that she took it really seri
Anabel began to pace back and forth, hugging herself as anxiety clawed at her insides. Her father was fighting for his life, and all they could do was wait. Three hours felt like a lifetime, and she didn't know if he would make it until the specialist arrived. Her thoughts continued to race in every direction, but one unsettling doubt kept creeping in. What if the Desmond, who the nurse was suggesting, was truly the only one who could help out? The nurse had seemed so confident, so sure—but she couldn’t bring herself to believe that someone who was not a doctor could help the situation. Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket, breaking through her frantic thoughts. She pulled her phone from her pocket and checked; it was Sylvester. She glanced at the name and let out a slow breath. "Not now." She wasn’t in the mood for whatever reason he was calling. Her father was dying, so nothing else mattered. She ignored the call and continued pacing about. A few moments later, her phone b
Maybe it was another Desmond she doesn't know about. Though, her mind kept racing in thought. She turned quickly to face the nurse. Her lips slightly parted as if she were about to ask the obvious question... 'the Desmond who had once been her husband?' But as quickly as the question formed in her mind, she quickly changed her mind and pushed it away. "No, it couldn’t be him." There were plenty of people named Desmond. This had to be another person entirely. And even if it was the Desmond she knew, how would he have any kind of medical expertise? He wasn’t a doctor. He wasn’t a specialist. He's just a businessman. There was no way. She chose not to ask. Instead, she crossed her arms tightly and tried to brush the thought away. Dr. Maxwell, who was still standing by Sir Orton’s bedside, looked at the nurse with a skeptical expression, and his brows furrowed slightly. He had been a doctor for over two decades, and he wasn’t the type to accept suggestions lightly. Not in a situation
"Then what are we going to do now?" Jethro asked. "I will call an ambulance to take him to the hospital." The doctor said and picked up his phone. He called the hospital for an ambulance and turned to Anabel and Jethro. "I have called for the ambulance. It will be here soon, and your dad will be taken care of." Anabel’s breath shuddered as fresh fear consumed her. Her greatest nightmare—the thought of losing her father—was tightening its grip around her chest. She couldn’t lose him. She wouldn’t lose him. But right now, it felt like she had no control over that fate. Every second felt like an eternity until the ambulance finally arrived. The flashing lights reflecting off the smooth pavement. The paramedics moved with urgency, but their presence only heightened Anabel’s anxiety. Jethro, her brother, immediately rushed forward to assist Dr. Maxwell in lifting their father from the bed. Anabel stood back, frozen, her hands trembling as she watched them carefully maneuver Sir Orton
Without wasting a second, Anabel called her brother, Jethro. The moment he picked up, she repeated the same panicked message.“Dad collapsed! You have to come home!”“I’ll be there, Anabel! Just hang on!” Jethro replied.After ending the call, she knelt beside her father again, gripping his hand as she watched his shallow breathing. “Daddy, stay with me,” she whispered through her tears. “Don’t leave me. Help is coming. Nothing will happen to you. You are going to be fine.”A few minutes later, she heard a car pull up. She was expecting the doctor, but when the door opened, it was her brother, Jethro. He had to speed up immediately after he answered the call."We need to take him to the hospital," Jethro said just as he entered the room."I've called the doctor. He said he's coming.""You have called the doctor, and he's yet to come?" Jethro asked."I don't know what is delaying him. He said he's coming already.""I don't think I'm going to have that patience. Come on, let's carry him
At this point, she could barely breathe. She was confused and didn’t know what to do. Her dad had been struggling on his own until he went weak. Her dad had been fighting with asthma for a very long time, though he always controlled it. But today, she couldn't tell what triggered it. And she was so startled to see that his inhaler was empty. He always bought dozens of it. But since he started taking his drugs, he has found the inhaler unnecessary. These days, he barely uses it. She tried to wake him up, but it all went futile. At this point, she doesn't need any prophet to tell her that her dad needed urgent medical attention. Anabel zipped down her handbag. Her hands trembled as she fumbled with her phone. Her fingers were slicked with sweat as she scrolled through her contacts. Her breath was uneven, her heart hammering in her chest. She struggled to keep her thoughts straight, but the sight of her father lying motionless on the floor had shattered any semblance of calm she
The next morning, as the soft beams of sunlight filtered through the windows in Anabel’s room, Anabel was busy at her desk, clicking away on her system. Her fingers were moving rapidly over her computer keyboard as she worked through tasks with total focus. Even though she seemed focused, her mind was restless. She had been debating whether or not to visit Sylvester and Vanessa that morning. Desmond’s words had burrowed deep into her thoughts, creating an unsettling doubt that she couldn’t shake. She needed answers. She needed to confirm what was true. She wasn't ready for another heartbreak. Not when she hasn't even recovered from the first heartbreak. Hours passed, and finally, she leaned back in her chair, exhaling sharply as she finished her work. She closed her laptop and rubbed her temples as she tried to clear her thoughts. With a quiet sigh, she got up and stretched before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. As the warm water cascaded down her skin, her thoughts
Without wasting any time, the dad asked, “Why did you reject Reuben? You can't tell me you are not ready for marriage because that is what you need now. A man that will take good care of you and your child.” Anabel let out a sigh and leaned back against the headboard. “I don’t like him," she said flatly. “I’m not just interested in him.” She answered, and her father crossed his arms as he gazed at her. “That doesn’t matter much. What matters is that he loves you. Reuben is a good man. Ever since I knew him, he never caused trouble. All you need is a man that will love and take good care of you. You can start loving him after marriage. You think all those successful marriages started with love? No—commitment comes first, and love follows.” Anabel shook her head, standing her ground. “That’s not how it works for me, Dad. My heart isn’t in it.” Sir Orton exhaled slowly as he sensed frustration creeping into him. He wasn’t angry—not yet—but he was growing weary of Anabel's choices.
Her father continued. “I’ve told him everything. About your first marriage and your divorce. I also told her about your pregnancy, and he still accepted.” Anabel’s lips parted slightly in surprise, but she quickly composed herself. Reuben was a very cute guy, but looking at him, she doesn't see herself gisting with someone like him. She shifted in her seat before speaking. “I appreciate you looking out for me, Father. And I thank the Johnsons for coming.” Sir Johnson smiled faintly, observing her with an unreadable expression. Reuben remained unmoved as he continued to watch her with silent interest. Anabel took a breath and continued, “Under normal circumstances, I might have asked for time to think it over because we have never talked about it. But there is no need for that.” Her father leaned forward slightly and asked. “And why is that?” "I don't know how this will sound, but I am not interested in marriage now.” She answered, and the room went silent. No one was expecting