Chapter 3

“Raymond?” I was facing his back. He slowly turned around and his eyes were red.

“It’s all your fault.” What!? He accused me. Out of everyone, he’s the one who accuses me. Tears flowed down my cheeks continuously. No, it’s not my fault.

No, it's not.

Is it?

“It's not my fault. Raymond, listen to me. I want to tell you something.” I pleaded with him to listen to me.

“No, I don’t want to listen to you. It’s all your bloody fault. I don't want to see you again.” He left the hospital room leaving me all alone. I sank to the floor crying.

Why does he have to blame me?

Why?

Will he come back? He can't leave me all alone. I need him, more than ever. I can't do this alone. I can't raise Susan all alone. I need him. He has to be there for his daughter.

I was pulled into a hug. He kneels beside me, rubbing my arms to comfort me.

"It's okay." I know he's trying to control his emotions. I pulled away looking at him.

"He left. He blames me." Rafael shakes his head with tears in his eyes.

"It's not your fault." He pulled me to him and placed his chin on my head.

"He left me all alone." I sniffed.

"You're not alone. I'm here with you." I sobbed in his arms. I don't know how long I stayed like this. He pulled away after some time. "What's this?"

He asked as he lifted the envelope, a nurse gave me a few minutes back. They did some tests when I fainted.

"You're pregnant?"

~~~~

I open my eyes when I feel something wet placed on my eyes. Mara put her hand in the glass of water, she was about to put her hand on my face but stopped when she saw me. She put the glass on the table carefully and threw herself into my arms. I sat straight hugging her. I realized she's crying.

"What happened, sweetheart? Why are you crying?" I kissed her head, rocking her back and forth.

"She called me crying, you're screaming and crying in your sleep." I looked up at Rafael, he sat next to me. I looked down at my crying angel.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, I scared you. I'm so sorry." Tears flowed down my cheek freely. I pushed her hair away from her face.

"Are you having nightmares again?"

"I saw them yesterday." He raised his eyebrow. I explained to him what happened yesterday. He's fuming when he heard about the accident.

"What did the police say about it?" He asked.

"Elena talked to them. I informed Alan over a message." I informed him and he nodded.

"I'll call him and see what he found out." He stood up and walked into the kitchen.

Mara fell asleep in my arms. I kissed her head and hugged her tightly.

'I'm sorry, sweetheart.' I hope these nightmares won't come again.

Raymond POV

"I'm fine, don't cry." I squeezed Julia's hand with my good one. She sat on the side of my bed. I smiled looking at her. I never thought I'd find love again. Two years back I married her because of my mother and it took me more than a year to welcome her into my life.

"Why did you risk your life?" She sniffed.

"I can't let the girl die in front of my eyes." I answered.

The little girl is so adorable. She brought a smile to my face. My heart filled with warmth when I saw her. Her mother left her on the bench and went to buy ice cream.

She's bobbing her head side to side and up and down, her lips moving. I chuckled at her cuteness. When I was only a few feet away from her, I heard her singing a rhyme.

I saw a car zoom in and my heart rate picked up when I saw it was coming towards the girl, she didn't see it. Her mother didn't return yet. My legs springed into action and pulled her out of the way.

I hope the girl is okay. I want to see her again.

"At least her mother thanked you in person." Oliver piped in. He lifted the card from the bouquet that has been there on the side table since I woke up. The flowers are beautiful. "'Thanks for saving my daughter. Get well soon.' No name, nothing."

"What kind of person is she?" Julia expressed her distaste.

I wonder why she did that? She should've at least mentioned her name. I want to meet the girl.

A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. A nurse came in.

"Sir, bill." She handed the bill to Oliver. Isn't the bill supposed to be given when discharged? And the doctor said I can be discharged after two days if everything is fine.

"Oliver, you don't have to pay." I didn't see he took out his card until I heard Julia.

"Oliver, I'm capable of paying." I told him. He might be running a billion dollar company but I'm earning enough to pay for my bills. I don't like taking his money. He's already giving us too much.

"It's already paid, sir." The nurse interrupted. We all looked at her.

"Who paid?" Julia questioned.

"The little girl your husband saved, her mother paid, ma'am." She answered as she checked my chart.

"What's her name?" I asked curiously.

"Sorry sir, I'm not supposed to say. She asked to keep it confidential." She answered and left the room. I looked up at the ceiling thinking, my vision blurred. I just want to see the girl again.

"Do you want me to find out who it is?" Oliver pulled me out of my thoughts.

"No, it's fine. The girl reminds me of someone." I gave him a sad smile.

"Who's it? Do I know that person?" He questioned. I never told him about her.

"I don't think you guys met. Just leave it." I took a deep breath to control my emotions. Julia handed me a tissue and squeezed my hand. She nodded in understanding.

I made the best decision opening up about my pain with her. She healed me.

"Are you sure? I can ask someone to find the girl or her mother." I heard the concern in his voice. He wants to help me.

"I'm good."

Two days later…

"Finally, how did you eat that garbage?" I laughed at her. It's the day of my discharge and Julia is more relieved than me. My hand is fully bandaged and I need at least six to eight weeks rest.

"Wasn't I supposed to be the one complaining?" I asked as she signed the discharge papers.

"Well, you're not complaining. I think the great chef lost his taste buds." She pointed her tongue at me. I laughed and shook my head.

"Where are we going?" I looked out the car window, this is not the way to our new home.

"It's a surprise." She stopped the car in front of a big beautiful beach house. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful. But what are we doing here?" I was confused.

"We're going to stay here for two months." My eyes widened. What did she say?

"Julia, we have a house, a new one. Why do we need to stay here?" I choose my words carefully. I don't want to upset her.

"Because my dear husband, I planned a get-together and our house can't hold that many people at once. They're going to stay with us for as long as they want for the next two months." She told me, her eyes begging me to say yes.

"But it'll be expensive." I whined. I wrapped my free hand around her waist pulling her closer. She's careful not to hurt my hand. "We made plans, didn't we?"

She looked down blushing and I smiled at her.

"But you can't do anything now. You need to rest. Kids can wait." She pulled away from me. I frowned, missing her warmth. "And don't worry, it's cheaper than you think."

"When did you plan all this?" I asked her amused. I know she's not going to take a no.

"Yesterday, the doctor said you need two months rest. I don't want you to feel bored staying at home." I look at her in awe. She did all this for me?

"I love you." She smiled and lifted herself on her toes. She pecked me.

"I love you too." I frowned as she's trying to control her laugh. "Okay okay."

She leaned forward and I used my free hand to pull her closer. I kissed her until she's out of breath. She pulled back blushing.

"Let's get you inside." She squealed excitedly. I followed her.

"Wow!" This was simple yet beautiful. We gave ourselves a tour around the house. Julia explained to me mostly because she saw it online. This house is big with twelve bedrooms. One bedroom is locked. "Who did you invite?"

"Oliver, he said he'll stay on the weekends. Katherine and Jason, Robert, Scarlett will join later. Alex might join us. I met my high school friend on the day of your accident. I wanted to invite her too but she left in a hurry without giving any contact details." She frowned.

"It's okay. It's a small world, you'll meet her again." She smiled and nodded.

"Yeah. Oh I forgot! The company who I rented this place from said someone will be with us during our stay from the company side." She informed me.

"What? Why?" Why would someone do that? Isn't it creepy?

"I don't know, they mentioned something about keeping the house safe. They said they won't get involved in our personal life." I never heard of this type of thing. What if it's all a trap?

"Are you sure, it's a good thing?" What if it's a creepy guy?

"Don't worry too much." Her phone rang, she gave me a peck before she answered it.

I sat on the couch and the doorbell rang. What? Do I have to get up now? Julia is nowhere in sight. I frowned and stood up. I'm a patient. I shouldn't be answering the doors.

I opened the door and stood frozen when I saw who it was. It's been five years, the last time I've seen her. And it's my bloody fault. I blamed her for something she didn't do and I regret it every day.

"Ria!" I found my voice, it brought her back from her frozen state. She shook her head.

"I shouldn't be here." Julia called her name before I opened my mouth to stop her from leaving.

"Maria, thank God! I thought it'd be hard to meet you again." Julia hugged her and Maria returned the hug without breaking eye contact with me. "Are you the one they said is staying with us?"

"Yeah." Her voice came out like a whisper.

"Thank God! We would enjoy our stay here." She turned to me. "Maria this is my husband Raymond and Raymond this is my friend, Maria. We are always attached to the hip in school."

"Mommy!" A small voice interrupted me before I said anything. "Elena is not letting me play with her new phone."

My eyes widened in surprise. She's the same girl I saved. I never thought I'd meet her this soon. She looked up at me and her eyes widened. She hid behind Maria and her eyes were pooling with tears.

What? She's scared of me? What did I do? Why's she scared of me?

"Oh my! Such a cutie pie. Is she your daughter?" I looked at Maria. She nodded looking away.

It's not true.

It can't be.

"Come here, honey." Julia bent down and called the girl but she clutched Maria's legs tightly. Julia's phone rang and she stood straight. "Sorry, I've to take this."

"Maria?"

"Elena, take her inside." She said to the other woman with them. The girl tightened her grip. Maria kneels down next to the girl.

"You promised you won't leave me." The girl cried. Maria wiped away her tears and kissed her cheeks.

"I promised, I'll be with you soon. I'm not leaving." She took out her phone and handed it to the little girl. "Here. Now you know I won't leave, right?"

The girl took the phone and looked at me. She wrapped her tiny hands around my legs. She pulled away before I even reacted and went inside with Elena.

"How are you?" I asked her as soon as we were alone.

"Fine." I got that she's still mad at me.

"Can we talk?" I want to apologize to her first.

"No." Her curt reply hurts like hell. "As long as I'm here, you don't know me and I don't know you."

"Maria, I want you to listen to me. I'm sorry..."

"Thanks for saving Mara." She rushed inside and I saw tears in her eyes. I hurt her. She doesn't want to talk to me.