Chapter Two

Rosalie

"Thank you for letting me know. I'm on my way," I responded, ending the call. I dialed my best friend Kevin, updated him on the situation, and he assured me he'd pick me up. After finishing my makeup, putting on earrings, grabbing my purse, and phone, I rushed out of my room.

"Going somewhere, ma'am?" Serena, the housekeeper, inquired.

"Yes, Serena. I'll be back very late, but if I won't make it, I'll let you know," I replied.

"Should I inform Mr. Vasanten of your absence?" she asked.

"Notifying him won't make a difference," I dismissed. "Just save your breath."

"Is the chauffeur driving you?"

"I called Kevin. Thanks, Serena," I smiled at her and left. Kevin arrived, and we departed for the hospital in his car. "You weren't busy in the office, were you?" I asked him.

"No, I was just heading out when you called. Would've gotten here sooner, but the traffic was hell," He explained. "What happened?"

"Yvette," I let out a beleaguered sigh. "Cecilia called me again saying that she's at the hospital. I'm sick and tired of that woman making my life miserable."

"It's probably because of Adrien," Kevin shrugged. "I mean, you got married to her man."

"He's still hers. They see each other every time," I grunted in frustration. "I can't do this anymore."

"All you can do is divorce him," Kevin suggested, lifting his shoulder in a half shrug.

"I can't divorce Adrien. If I divorce him, I'd lose all the money my father promised me." I thought to myself.

To secure the promised two hundred thousand dollars, I had to bear Adrien's heir. The agreement hinged on the birth of a boy; giving birth to a girl would render the deal null and void. 

However, Adrien had made it clear that the only woman he wanted to bear his child was Yvette. I couldn't dismiss my father and his money, despite my desire to tell him to go to hell, as I desperately needed it. 

Since our university days, Kevin Lockhart have been a steadfast friend, one of the few I could rely on alongside Adrien's housekeeper, Serena. Despite a failed attempt at a romantic relationship, Kevin and I opted to maintain our friendship, valuing our connection over the complexities of a romantic entanglement.

~~~~~

"What the hell are you doing here, Yvette?" I demanded upon entering my mother's hospital room, spotting Yvette with some men. "Strangers aren't allowed inside this room."

"But I'm not a stranger, am I?" Her cheeky smile grated on my nerves, and I wanted to wipe it off her face. "I'm her daughter as well."

"You need to leave. You're not welcome here," I ordered.

"I heard your mother's condition isn't improving, so I brought the best doctors in the city to help her. She needs more than this hospital can offer, don't you think?" Yvette arched her brow.

"We don't need your help, thank you very much. Get out before I make you," I pointed to the door, glancing over her shoulder at the other men. "All of you."

Yvette shot me a sardonic smirk as she invaded my personal space. Anticipating her attempt to provoke me, I readied myself for a counterattack, hoping she remained oblivious to her boyfriend's extramarital activities with me.

"You know, I'm counting down to the days when Adrien would get tired of this sham marriage and divorce you," She stated. "The whole world knows that he doesn't love you, he never will."

"Oh, don't worry about me," I flashed her a saccharine smile. "I can take care of myself. You just worry about not losing your boyfriend to me."

Yvette laughed in my face. "You're hilarious. What makes you think Adrien will ever leave me for someone like you? In case you're unaware, we've been seeing each other," She stated.

"I'm aware," I responded, crossing my arms. "He's cheating on me with you. You know the consequences if I involve his father, right?"

"It'll be worse for you if you do that. He mentioned he can't stand you," Yvette retorted with a hiss. "He finds you repulsive. I probably shouldn't share the things he told me about you because it would bring you to tears."

"Was that before or after he confessed to sleeping with me too?" I snorted in derision.

"What?" Yvette looked genuinely shocked.

Ah, just as I expected. He conveniently omitted that detail to her. Killing two birds with one stone.

"You heard me," I said, my smile turning smug. 

"No way." She shook her head, pacing in front of me. "He can't stand you!"

"Keep telling yourself that," I murmured, enjoying her now crestfallen expression. She didn't seem so arrogant anymore. I sighed, "Look, darling, men are such pigs... except for Kevin, of course. Dangle a pair of tits, and even the strongest one will fall."

"I don't believe you." She murmured.

"See this?" I pushed down my turtleneck collar to reveal the hickey on my neck. "He put it there just two hours ago." My smile widened. "You can ask him if you don't believe me."

"I still don't believe you! He's going to abandon you like your father abandoned your mother!" She spat in my face.

"How dare you?" I lifted my hand and slapped her across the face.

"Did you just..." She was speechless.

"Get out!" I pushed her toward the door.

"I just called the police," Kevin entered the room. "They'll be here soon."

"You're going to pay for this!" Yvette threatened. "I swear to you that you'll pay." She stormed out of the room, and her supposed doctors followed suit.

My palm tingled from the force of the slap, but it felt liberating to release all my pent-up emotions. That was a slap I was confident she'd never forget. Good luck to her if she decided to cry to her boyfriend.

"Thankfully, the noise didn't wake Mom," I said.

"I'm really glad you're finally standing up for yourself, Allie. Your next stop should be either your father or your husband," Kevin advised.

I laughed briefly and shook my head. There was no way I'd survive a confrontation with my father, and I wasn't prepared for one with Adrien. Maybe, I'll never be.

Taking a seat beside my mother's hospital bed, I gently laid my hand on hers, yearning for the moment her eyes would open, acknowledging my presence as I patiently waited for her recovery. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes two years ago, her condition had escalated to pancreatic cancer, prompting my decision to marry Adrien.

Enduring radiation therapy and chemotherapy, my mother showed a brief improvement last year, but the respite was fleeting. As if sensing my thoughts, her eyelids fluttered open, and I clutched her hand tighter, hoping for a sustained moment of wakefulness.

 "Mum?" I whispered. "How are you feeling?"

"Like... I've been run over by a train," she replied with a faint smile. "And you, darling?"

"Fine. I'm just relieved you're awake. I was fearing the worst." Tears welled in my eyes, but I brushed them aside, disregarding the impact on my makeup. Hearing her voice after days of silence was a balm to my soul. Despite her pallor and hair loss, I planned to restore her confidence once she truly recovered.

Kevin, breaking the moment, offered to fetch the doctor. "Not yet," I replied, shaking my head.

"Hello, Ms. McPherson," He greeted.

"Hi, Kev."

"I don't know if I was dreaming, but I thought I heard voices. Familiar voices," my mother remarked. "Was Yvette here again?"

"Yes, Ms. McPherson, but Allie handled her as always," Kevin grinned.

"For quite a while now, my darling, I've been meaning to ask you something."

"What is it, Mom?" I wiped away my tears.

"Is it true that... Adrien doesn't treat you well?" She inquired. "You can be honest with me, dear."

Exchanging a silent glance with Kevin, who responded with a half shrug, I turned to face my mother. She was well aware of the details surrounding my arranged marriage to Adrien, even attempting to intervene before my father sealed the deal. However, I lied, claiming I willingly accepted the marriage to Adrien due to a longstanding liking for him, just to pacify her.

"What are you talking about, Mom? Where did you get that idea? Who told you?" I bombarded her with questions.

"I've never seen him here."

"Who?" I feigned ignorance.

"Adrien. He's never paid me a visit or inquired about my health."

Unbeknownst to Adrien, my mother's illness was kept a secret by my father to avoid criticism and additional responsibilities. He had made it clear that if I didn't conceive by the end of the month, he would cease my mother's monthly allowance. How can I manage that when Adrien ensured I diligently took my birth control pills?  

"He's incredibly busy, traveling the world on business trips. I only see him twice a week. But don't worry, Mother; he'll visit when he can." I replied.

"Alright, but you haven't answered my question. Is he treating you well?"

Feeling guilty for deceiving my mother, I maintained the facade, not wanting her burdened with my marital struggles. 

"Absolutely," I beamed. "He treats me like a queen."

Kevin coughed at that moment, a reaction to my lies, not any physical ailment. Shooting him a disapproving look, he quickly regained composure. "Apologies, something in my throat," He explained, turning away.

"Don't fret, Mother, I'm fine," I reassured her.

"I hope you're being truthful, dear. Don't shield him with lies," She urged.

"I promise, I'm not lying," I affirmed.

Her hospital room's door swung open, and in walked her doctor accompanied by a nurse. He smiled upon seeing her awake, proceeded to conduct an examination, asked her questions, and then diligently documented details on her chart.

"May I speak with you outside, Mrs. Vasanten?" Dr. Henderson inquired.

"Sure." I glanced at my mother, found her asleep, and followed the doctor out of the room. He gestured for me to take a seat on the recliners, and he did the same. The expression on his face did not bode well for me at all. "Is everything alright with my mother?"

Dr. Henderson let out a sigh. "The tests we ran on your mother showed that the cancer is starting to spread to her organs. I'm afraid the treatments won't be enough to save her. Her lifespan of one to two years could very well be shorter than that."

"What are you trying to say, doctor?" I held my breath.

"She has to undergo another surgery for bowel blockage and probably another for the pain depending on how intense it becomes. Right now, she's finding it hard to keep anything down because of the nausea, and she needs nutrients to sustain her."

"How... How much are we talking about here?" I rasped.

"About one hundred and thirty thousand dollars."