Chapter 3

VALENTINA

The whoosh sound of the ceiling fan kept whirring, I lazily dragged my eyes open, meeting with a pair of blurry eyes staring down at me.

I shook my head, trying to clear my vision. That was when I saw the clear image of the person staring at me. It was an old man I had never seen before. He looked frightened which made my chest tightened in panic.

“Who are you?” I asked in a low voice, gripped the sheet and tried to sit up but the man grabbed my hand and pressed my shoulder back to the mattress.

“Hey dear, don't stand up yet.” his voice was a lot calmer than his look and I heaved a sign of relief. At least he wasn't sounding deadly which made me realize he might not be dangerous.

But who the heck was this man? Where the fuck was I?

“You… Who are you?” I gulped down the nervous lump that had formed in my throat as the man adjusted my IV bag, before taking his sit on the stool beside the bed I laid on.

“Oh dear, I was so worried. I thought you wouldn't wake up.” he let out a grateful smile and I arched my brows. It seemed to me like he was avoiding my question, like he didn't want to tell me who he was.

“Am I being kidnapped?” I groaned out, watching as the man’s face dropped as I said that. “Did you kidnapped me?” I hissed when I felt a slight pain under my belly and the man jumped to his feet, running towards the exit.

“Hey, anyone there? Come right here and examine her for me.” the man barked at someone from the other end. I was too busy groaning in pain that I didn't know when some men in which coat ran inside the room, circling my bed and began to check the IV bag and some machines that I never knew was in the room.

It was then that I realized what was going on. Natt made me signed a divorce paper and sent me out of the house in the middle of the night. I had hit my stomach on a rock earlier and I heard a voice asking if I was okay before I passed out on the street. IV and men in white coat made it make sense that I was at the hospital.

I didn't know I had been crying until I heard the man from earlier asking if I was okay. “Hey dear, are you still in pain? Why are you crying? Need me to call the doctors back in?”

I hastily waved my hand to stop him from going after the doctors. “This is not about my health. It is about my life—my marriage.” I busted out crying. I continued crying because the pain was just too much for me. My chest felt heavy and I had to let the tears poured out because it felt like I was dying.

“I may not know what is going on with you, but I won't advise you to cry. You had a surgery and you have been unconscious for three days, crying now should be crossed out of your list.” the man spoke in a calm voice, I nodded and I was about to wipe my face when what he said registered in my head.

“Wh–what do you mean by surgery? And what the heck did you mean by I had been unconscious for three days?” my breath hitched and I stared at the man with confusion written on my face.

“I guess you remember how you were lying on the floor that night, groaning in pain?” he asked and I nodded slowly. Just what the heck was this man trying to say?

“When I got to you, you had already lost conscious. I didn't want to help you before but you were bleeding and I couldn't just leave you there. I brought you here to the hospital and I was told you–em, lost your baby and they need to operate you to have the fetus removed. That's what happened.” the man whose name was still unknown to me said everything in one breath. I couldn't believe my ear because I laid there motionless, didn't know how to process what the man had just said.

“I may not know what it felt like for a woman to lost a fetus. But I do know what it feels like to lose a child. I had just lost my son and his wife to an accident, I was coming from my son's burial when I met you. I shouldn't have helped you but I wondered how your parents will feel if they heard their daughter died on the street.” the man shook his head and I didn't miss the pain in his voice. “They will feel like shit just like how I am feeling right now.”

“I’m sorry,” tears streamed down my eyes as I cried out. Not only did my husband decided to divorce me on the day I found out I was finally pregnant. I also lost the baby that same day and I invaded a stranger's privacy. “I’m sorry for your loss.” 

The man chuckled, the smile not reaching his eyes. “Things like this is inevitable.” he breathed and then sat back down on the stool.

“Why are you out so late that night when you are pregnant? Didn't you know it might be too dangerous to be wandering around so late at night?” he pushed his stool closer, a curious line drew between his eyebrows.

I smiled amidst my tears. “My husband sent me out of the house.” I drew my bottom lip in-between my teeth and bit hard on it. “I told him I was pregnant and he thought the baby wasn't his. He had planned a divorce paper and made me sign it.” if it was before, I wouldn't have share my relationship problem with anyone. But now, I was so overwhelmed by everything that I couldn't just keep them to myself.

“Your husband is a dick.” the man exclaimed and I chuckled slowly. It was funny hearing such an older man saying such. “Where do you want to go now that you're just out of your marriage? To your parents or friends?” the man asked and I shook my head.

“I would have love to. But I don't have anywhere to go.” tears well up my eyes and I sniffed them back in. “My parents are no more, and I don't have any friends either.”

“Life must be boring for you, isn't it?” he signed, pulling out his phone. “I’m leaving the city today, and I wouldn't mind if you want to come with me.” he let out a faint smile and I found myself nodding my head to his request.

A bright smile found its way to his face and I didn't miss the excitement in his voice as he said. “It would be nice having you around, dear.” 

“My name is Valentina.” I smiled back. I adjusted on the bed and pulled out my hand to the man for a handshake. “I hope I can be of any help to you.”

“You can call me William; William Frost. And I hope I can bring out the best in you.” he took my hand in his and gave my hand a soft shake.

I didn't know what I was signing up for, but a mind told me at that moment that my life was about to change for the better.

The thought of Natt came to my mind and I wouldn't lie that my heart still beat for him, but I would never forgive him for what he did to me and to my baby.