Chapter-8

Kara’s POV.

It took me three days to get out of the hospital, because they were worried about me having two different wounds on the same leg, which increases the chance of infection. It was quite sad that those three days were the first time since I married Derrick that I felt taken care of.

And it was the first time in three years that I took a break from being a housewife.

But after three days, it was over. While I wasn’t excited to go back to life with Derrick again, I was pretty tired of being bedridden and eating hospital food.

Thankfully, though, Derrick’s assistant Theresa, came to see me almost daily. At first, I thought she was there under Derrick’s orders. In fact, she felt very guilty for letting Derrick treat me like he did, and she wanted to make amends. I didn’t really trust her, but Theresa never had a reason to dislike me, and Derrick treated her badly. Maybe she could relate to me in that manner. Maybe she was actually telling me the truth. Who knew?

But she got me my laptop, so I wasn’t bored, which was great.

“Is that all, then?” Theresa asked me as she helped me pack my meager belongings in the hospital room. “Did you take all your reports and medicine?”

“Yeah, I sure did,” I told her. “Just need to pack up the laptop and wait for the nurse to come by with the release paperwork.”

“Got it. I took care of all the financials on behalf of Mr. Whitney, so you don’t have to worry about it,” Theresa, hovering nervously as I swept around the room, trying to find anything I missed.

“Okay, thanks,” I didn’t feel all that comfortable with that admission, but what can I do?

Fortunately, my phone rang, saving me from any more small talk with Theresa. I was grateful until I realized who the call was from.

I felt cold sweat beads all over me as I took the call.

“Mrs. Whitney, hello.”

“Hello, my dear Kara,” Derrick’s grandmother replied, her voice tight, radiating discomfort even through a phone call. “I hope you are doing well?”

“Yes, Mrs. Whitney, I’m alright,” I said, keeping out the information about my current whereabouts. No need to worry her about it. “How are you?”

“I wish I could say I’m well, dear, but I can’t,” the elderly lady sighed. “You must do me a favor, Kara. You need to stay away from the television, my dear, at least until Derrick explains everything to you.”

“W-what?” I was very confused. “What do you mean?”

“Means you need to ignore every other new headline you see today about Derrick, because the situation is complicated. I urge you to let Derrick explain before coming to the wrong assumptions. Everything is not as it seems.”

With that, she ended the call before I could ask her to clarify further.

“Mrs. Whitney?’ Theresa asked, her eyes wide. “Was that Mr. Whitney’s grandmother?”

Without giving her an answer, I immediately turned to the little TV in my room and turned it on, where the local news report was already showing.

Particularly the gossip section of it. 

“-we see, Jon, after the disastrous runaway event, our local billionaire Derrick Whitney coming to the stage to help the fallen model himself. Just look at the way he’s carrying her, Jon, and taking her straight to his car without even waiting for the event paramedics to come,” the reporter on the TV grinned as if she’d gotten the scoop of the century. “Inside sources say that the fallen model is in fact one of Derrick Whitney’s closest friends, which just makes it even more adorable! We got footage right here, Jon, it’s like a scene out of a movie!”

And then, there Jade was, walking down the runway, tall, confident, and beautiful, with a smolder in her eyes. Suddenly, her leg slipped, the tall heel bending her leg in an unnatural way, making her stumble.

She’d have taken a nasty fall if not for Derrick, who sprang up there like a knight in shining armor to catch her.

Then, for some unfathomable reason, instead of taking event staff to take care of her, Derrick scooped Jade in his arms in a bridal carry, and promptly left the hall, ignoring the numerous people calling after him. Even Jade was visibly confused at what Derrick was doing.

“Oh, no!” I felt Theresa whisper behind me, and I couldn’t help but echo the sentiment, because what the hell?

Derrick wasn’t even supposed to be at the runaway. He had work! He was adamant that he wouldn’t attend, much less make a scene. No wonder his grandmother took me a personal call, this looked so bad.

“Did you know Derrick was going to attend the event?” I asked Theresa, who looked really shocked.

“Mr. Whitney asked me to clear his schedule, but I had no idea-maybe it’s not really like what it seems? Maybe he’s just helping her, Mrs. Whitney-”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that, the sound cold to my own ears. Mrs. Whitney, yeah, what a joke.

“Whatever, Theresa, I don’t care anymore,” I replied, trying to act as if I was indifferent. Theresa didn’t know how it still hurt, especially to have it so public. Everyone saw it. Everyone saw how much he cared for her. How much he loved her. 

“No, Kara, you have to understand. Mr. Whitney still cares for you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have paid for you comfort at the hospital, getting you this nice room and all the amenities!”

“Theresa,” I interrupted her, and tried for a smile. “You don’t have to keep selling your boss’s goodness to me, it’s too late. Derrick already showed me who exactly he is.”

Theresa pursed her lips, nervous, biting on her lips.

“I’m sorry,” she said after a moment, looking down.

“It’s okay, Theresa. It was bound to happen. But I have to thank you for everything, getting me my laptop and coming to visit. I hope…I hope that after the divorce, maybe we can even remain friends?”

Theresa smiled and nodded. “I’d like that, Kara.”

With that, I turned off the TV, and Theresa wandered to where my laptop was.

Because I meant to get back to work in two months, I used the time I spent at the hospital to review my portfolio. It was pretty old, and I hadn’t added any designs to it after I got married. I was certain that my skills were rusty as well. I hadn’t even drawn anything significant except for the occasional doodle, much less touch the graphic designing aspect of it all.

There was so much for me to catch up with.

As I packed my chargers, I heard Theresa gasp.

“Oh, wow,” she said. “These designs are really good! So professional. I didn’t know you were this talented in art.”

“I do have a diploma for it all,” I replied with a smile, a blush rushing to my cheeks. “Those are my former work portfolio.”

“Gosh, but you’re so talented. Like, your graphic design is awesome, but your traditional art? They belong in the Met!”

“Oh,” the blush had overtaken my cheeks. “Thank you so much.”

First the nurse, and now Theresa. It’s been so long since I’ve been complimented in this manner. It was kind of pathetic how the praise was visibly heightening my self-confidence, because I had a really hard time trying to do it myself.

It felt especially good to be praised for my art, because art had been my passion since I could remember. I’ve never wanted to do anything more than be an artist, and I abandoned that dream, thinking Derrick’s love would be worth it all in the end. But no, my sacrifice was for nothing in the end.

If my younger self knew that I abandoned my life’s dream for love, she would never forgive me. I don’t know if present-me would forgive my past-self choosing Derrick over my art.

But it was pointless wallowing on it now. My mind was set, and I was looking forward to the end of this unpleasant chapter in my life.

It still wasn’t too late for me to start anew.

“Say, Theresa,” I asked, feeling confidence blossom in my chest, making me stand taller, taller than Jade on the runaway, even on my still-injured leg. “Would you mind sitting for me when you have time so I can do a portrait of you? Just for me to stretch my fingers a bit.”