The hospital The light in the emergency room was off. When Mark arrived, the doctor told him that the boy was unconscious and that he did not have a clue when the boy would wake up. Mark furrowed his brows and grabbed the doctor by his collar. The doctor was shocked, his expression changing. “We have tried our best. The patient has a congenital heart disease and might have a heart attack at that moment. So that is why…” Congenital heart disease? Mark let go of the doctor and walked outside the ward, where a girl was crouching on the floor and crying. The doctor told him that this was the boy’s elder sister. The boy’s name was Ayaan Donovan, 12, and the girl was Makayla Donovan, 18. They were orphans. The girl still looked immature and appeared to have an introverted personality, as she looked uneasy and lost. People said that children growing up in the orphanage were withdrawn and afraid of the crowd. She was green and quiet, sharing some characteristics with Summer. So
“Yeah,” he responded. “He will wake up knowing that you are waiting for him.” The corner of the girl’s mouth upturned into a smile. She thought the same. Ayaan would not want to make her sad, and so he would wake up. When they reached the top of the stairs, they inadvertently came face-to-face with Summer and Grace. The two were obviously shopping for clothes, too. A day felt like a long time since they last met. Summer knew that she should not look at him, but she still could not help herself. Apart from her, who was surprised to bump into Mark, there were many other people looking at him. Wearing a black suit with a simple white shirt and a dark blue tie, he looked elegant and smart and always caught the attention of women. Mark saw her yet just glanced over at her, looking haughty and alienated, as if she was a stranger. She had a mixed bag of feelings and more pain inside. They had become strangers to each other at last. While trying to catch up with Mark, the girl sp
Sometimes, you come to your senses in just a matter of seconds, and you suddenly see the light at the end of the tunnel. The sadness, depression, and the feeling of suffocation were fading away. She was now different from the miserable look of the past few days. She was a little excited, her expression brightening up. But then, her expression froze as she looked in a particular direction. Those changes of expressions would never escape Grace’s eyes. She turned around and saw through the transparent glass of Mark and the girl getting into the car together. “No way is he going out with another girl so quickly. Look at your expression; you look like a grumbling woman. Are you sure you can let go of him?” Summer pulled back her eyes and stared at Grace, who was still chewing the straw. “Don’t you think the girl’s behavior is a bit of an eyesore?” “I just think you are jealous. Why do you think that girl is an eyesore to you? Have you thought of a solution?” “Almost.” Grace po
He demeaned himself for the sake of her. Back at the hospital, Summer went to the reception to settle the hospitalization bill. The nurse at the reception told her that someone else had settled the bill. Summer’s breathing sped up, and she felt a pain in her chest, as if a thousand needles pierced her. Her hands and feet curled up and her voice trembled involuntarily. “Who paid for it?” “Mr. Valentine. All the bills would be settled under his name; he has instructed so earlier.” The nurse smiled. She could not even squeeze a smile, the look on her face looking more awful than crying, and her nails sank into the tender flesh of her palms. ‘What a fool!’ She felt touched and as if she wanted to cry. The two emotions came together, and she finally laughed. That thought was breeding and spreading like crazy inside her. Every cell in her body shouted that she missed him. Back in the ward, Daisy was watching TV. But Summer was sitting by the window, taking out some wool and k
Charlotte was still young, but old enough to understand what Summer meant. Her tears started to flow. “Mommy, is that Daddy’s new girlfriend?” Summer said nothing, but hugged Charlotte in her arms with a flash of light in her eyes. She looked cunning, like a fox. Summer’s back was facing Daisy, so Daisy did not see her expression but Charlotte’s crying face. She felt sorry for Charlotte. Daisy had seen Charlotte grow up. It broke her heart as a grandma to see Charlotte crying. “Mommy, has Daddy abandoned me? Will Daddy have a baby with his new girlfriend and never want me again?” She cried so hard that she was out of breath. “It is okay, Charlotte. Daddy will have his new life, but he is still your daddy.” She carried up Charlotte and sat down by the window. Tears flowed down her cheeks like a river burst its bank. Her eyes reddened and swelled as she whimpered. “Will Daddy have children again?” Summer did not answer, but just gently patted Charlotte on the back and coaxe
“Thank you.” He thanked her politely but indifferently, like a stranger. “No problem.” Her heart ached, and she took a deep breath. He did not look at her again as he turned to Daisy and said hello politely. “How are you doing, Mrs. Hart?” Daisy looked at the girl and Mark, then at Summer. “Surviving!” she said grumpily. “Take care. After having dinner with Charlotte, I will send her back.” Mark did not mind Daisy’s reaction. Summer remained silent. It was Daisy who felt not too happy. “Charlotte has already had dinner. Thank you for your kindness.” “I want to have dinner with Daddy. I want to be with Daddy. I am hungry,” Charlotte suddenly said. Charlotte’s words were a slap in the face for Daisy. She looked embarrassed. But it was her own granddaughter; there was nothing she could do about it. “I will send her back safely.” Mark turned around and left with the girl and Charlotte. Mark did not look back again, not even trying to glance out of the corner of his eye. H
When Daisy saw the girl holding a bag of presents in her hand and having a smile on her face, she had to let her in out of politeness, no matter how much she disliked the girl. “Mark asked me to bring you this present, Mrs. Hart. He was concerned when he saw you lost a lot of weight.” The girl smiled and put the present aside. Just then, Summer came out of the bathroom and saw the girl, her brows upturning with surprise. But when she looked around, he did not see Mark. The girl had noticed her behavior and quickly explained, “Mark has gone to see Harry to collect some documents. He will be here in a while.” ‘Very observant.’ Summer thought, her mouth twitching, and she nodded to the girl. “Would you like coffee or tea?” “No, thank you.” The girl was well-mannered, and Summer could see that she was a little nervous. While they were talking, Mark arrived with a present for Charlotte. He said hello to Daisy and then looked at the girl. “We will head back to the apartment tonig
Mark seemed very close to the girl, however. He even took her back to their former apartment. Could it be that Mark had fallen in love with that girl? Thinking of what he said when he left, she was scared and terrified. But she must not back out this time, as she was clear that she wanted him back. Turning on the TV, the news was still about Mark and the girl. It made Daisy’s hackles rise when she saw the presents placed at one side. “Throw these things out.” “Why waste it since he has bought it?” Summer looked calm. Daisy was still angry when she saw Summer’s nonchalant expression. But considering that it was she who wanted Summer to leave Mark, she had nothing more to say. Summer’s aunt called in the evening and said that she was introducing a man to Summer. Daisy readily agreed. Her thinking was, since Mark could find a new woman, so could her daughter. She asked Summer for her opinion, and Summer had no objections and let Daisy do whatever she wanted. … Looking at t