Chapter 5: Keep an eye on her

Renee gazed lovingly at his wife, who was giggling while enjoying the taste of the meal.

"What's making you laugh?" Ms. Julia Collins asked with a smile, internally admiring how perfect they looked together.

"Oh, it's just this meal. It's so delicious, I can't help but smile," she said, pushing her dishes aside and leaning her head on Tyler's shoulder.

"Now that you two are together, just take care of each other. I need to head back home," Ms. Julia Collins announced.

"Oh, mom, please stay a bit longer," Renee said with a pout, but Ms. Julia dismissed it with a wave of her hand.

"My business needs my attention. It's time for you two to take on the responsibilities and bring a Collins heir into the world," Ms. Julia said, her voice firm yet affectionate.

She owned a well-established boutique business and was proud of her accomplishments.

Renee's eyes then fell on a silver tray on the center table. "Is that today's mail?" she asked.

"No," Ms. Julia replied with a casual shrug.

"Some of it arrived last night. I had a splitting headache, so I just placed them all together after receiving them. If I remember correctly, they're all for Tyler." She grabbed her bags and stood up.

Tyler and Renee also stood up.

"I'll walk her to the car," Renee said, squeezing Tyler's hand before kissing her lips. He watched his favorite women walk out the door and smiled.

He felt truly blessed with everything in life.

The woman he loved was here, and he had regained his eyesight.

His gaze fell on the stack of envelopes lying on the silver platter. He casually walked over and picked them up.

Most were from his office, just some printed nonsense that wasn't important. Two envelopes were from banks eager for him to invest with them. However, the last envelope caught his attention. It was a light lemon color and unsealed.

He flipped it over to see the name.

Dr. Michael Kim, the family's personal doctor.

A frown creased his forehead.

Why was Marissa using the family doctor, and why was this envelope delivered here?

He took out the folded sheet from the envelope and opened it.

"Dr. Michael Kim was treating her for cysts?" he mumbled, scanning the paper.

There were small black and white images that looked unfamiliar to him. What were they?

Cysts?

Maybe, like Renee, she had them too. When Tyler was blind, he always received reports from Dr. Michael Kim, their family doctor, about Renee's mental health. She often mentioned going to see the gynecologist for check-ups.

And then his eyes fell on the words written at the bottom of the paper.

The ultrasound images revealed the presence of two distinct fetal sacs, indicating twins.

Guilt settled in his heart. He realized he could have shown her more empathy.

Maybe the father wasn't ready to take responsibility.

"What are you doing, babe? Have you started reading?" Renee asked, closing the living room door behind her.

"Nothing, just some official mail," he replied.

"Put it away right now. Have you forgotten? The doctors haven't allowed you to read this soon."

He quickly dropped the envelope on the table, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Are you joining me in the bedroom?" she asked, kissing his lips.

"Umm, hmm," Tyler responded with a smile as she took his hand and led him to the bedroom.

*****

The next morning, Tyler settled into his black Mercedes Benz GLE, while his driver focused on the road. He wore a tailored black suit that hugged his broad shoulders and polished Cap Toe Oxford shoes that gleamed in the morning light.

He took out his phone to make a call.

The phone rang twice before it was answered.

"Marissa, where are you?" he asked.

He could hear different voices in the background and a distant announcement over a microphone. It sounded like she was in a crowded place.

Like an airport.

He wanted to offer me his support.

He wanted to tell me that he would be there for me.

"You... you called? You finally called me?" I felt a surge of hope and had to roll my eyes.

Damn! He hated crying women.

"For God's sake, Marissa, can you stop being so dramatic? I called to offer my support. I just saw your reports. Let me help you. Give me your account details. Tell me who the father is so I can beat him to a pulp."

He grew frustrated when I fell silent.

"Marissa! Are you there?"

In response, he heard my teary laughter. "Listen, Frodo. Keep it simple, okay? Bye."

I disconnected the call without accepting his financial help. I didn't even bother to tell him about the father of the babies. Or was I planning to pin it on him? Suddenly, he felt a chill run through his body.

Frodo? Keep it simple?

Those were the same words Renee used to tease him when he was blind. A popular phrase from The Lord of the Rings, meaning 'Stay calm' or 'Don't worry.'

'How did she know about this? Had Renee shared it with her?'

Something was terribly wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

At that moment, the car stopped in front of a towering skyscraper with its logo prominently displayed on the building.

He stepped out and walked slowly into the hospital, his mind preoccupied with my last words.

"You might regret it too once I'm gone," my words echoed in his head.

Without realizing it, he clutched the ultrasound report to his chest as if it were something very precious.

He needed to find out what was going on, and for that, he was willing to hire the best private investigators.

He quickly made a call. "I need to know everything about Marissa within twelve hours. Keep an eye on her."

Meanwhile, Victoria was on the phone with her uncle as she made her way to the new office she'd been transferred to. Her brow furrowed when she heard her phone ring.

"Marissa?" She chuckled and answered the call.

"Speak of the devil... How are you?"

"Oh, I'm doing well. Uncle Jim is taking very good care of me since I arrived. Where are you? Still at work?"

It had been a day since I left the city. Victoria didn't want to attract any attention by trying to follow me. She planned to join me in a few weeks.

"I just arrived at my new post, where I was transferred! I'm on my way to check out the office. How are my nieces doing? They might be nephews too. Or maybe it's one boy and one girl!"

Victoria chuckled, feeling a sense of joy at the happiness in her friend's voice.

The change of scenery seemed to be doing her good.

Just then, Victoria was so engrossed in my words that she collided with a man who had been waiting for a while.

"Listen, love," she said, pressing the phone to her ear, "I need to go!"

She disconnected the call. "I'm so sorry!" Victoria exclaimed, picking up the envelope that had fallen from the man's hand.

Victoria turned her gaze to the woman standing at the front desk and asked, "Why is he here?" She knew exactly who he was. Damn! She didn't understand why she was stuttering like that.

What was he doing here?