Emily was seated in the hospital ward, next to her son's bed when her phone rang. She checked the caller and saw it was her husband. She silenced the phone and placed it back on the table. She couldn't believe he still had the nerves to call her after cheating on her. She recalled Grace's words and how she moaned to her husband's touch. The thought ached her heart. Obviously, Grace had intended to turn off the phone but answered the call mistakenly. Heavens was on her side and wanted to expose her husband, hence, that costly mistake. Her phone rang again and afterwards, she got a message from him. She opened it to see what he had to say.
“Maybe he wants to apologize or cook up another story. You have a sick son and all you could do was to stay in your office, drilling another woman,” she thought. No doubt, he was still interested in Grace and that was why he didn't do everything within his power to make sure she does not become his assistant or to keep her off bay. She blamed herself for being so stupid. She checked his messages and read it. He told her he was going on an impromptu business meeting at the capital city and will be back in three days. He apologized for the sudden travel and asked her to call him as soon as she receives his message. He also asked her to take care of herself and her son, that he would be back before they knew it. He ended the text with, I love you, sweetheart.
“You have already been busted, no need lying to me. I'm sure he's going to finish up what he started with his mistress,” she wailed within. She wanted to cry but she knew this wasn't the time. She needed to be strong for her son. He was her only source of joy and her priority.
Gu Yanxi, who had stepped out to buy some fruits re entered the room.
“He's not awake yet?” she asked.
Emily shook her head in negative. Gu Yanxi placed her hands on her shoulders and consoled her.
“He will soon be fine, okay? Take it easy.”
She sat down beside her and held her hands, offering her support. After some time, Liam finally opened his eyes to Emily's greatest glee.
“Baby, are you alright? How do you feel?”
“Mummy. I'm hungry.”
“It's fine. Try to sit please. I have your food here. Drink some water first.”
“Aunty Yanxi,” he called out.
“Yes my baby. Eat first okay, you have to be strong so that mummy and aunty will not be worried, alright?” Gu Yanxi said to him and he nodded.
Gu Yanxi's phone rang and she slid her hands over the screen. It was her brother.
“Hello brother,” she greeted.
“How are you?”
“I'm fine. And you?”
“What about Emily?” Noah asked.
“Emily?” Gu Yanxi repeated and turned to her friend. She mouthed his name and she shook her head.
“Emily is fine. Is there a problem?”
“Not really. I've been calling her but she isn't taking my calls. Is she there with you?”
“Err…no.” Gu Yanxi said, having received a signal from Emily.
“Alright. If you see her, please, help me tell her to call me when she's free. Also, tell her I travelled and I'll explain to her when she calls. Okay?”
“Sure, I will.”
“Alright. Thanks. I'll talk to you later, I'm in a meeting.”
When Gu Yanxi dropped the phone, she turned to her friend and gave her a questioning look. When Emily didn't say anything, she had to voice it out.
“Start talking. Or don't you think you have something to say?”
“I'll call him, but not now. I'm not calm at the moment and I don't want him to get worried. You know how your brother can be.”
“Ohh. Okay, I was almost frightened. It's fine. Put yourself together and call him when you are okay so that he does not get worried. I'll have to go back to the office. I'll call you at night.”
“Thanks for coming all the way. What would I have done without you?”
“Common Emily. I'm always here for you. I'm just a phone call away. Liam, bye! Get well soon for mummy, daddy and aunty Yanxi, okay?”
“Okay aunty,” he muttered and smiled weakly.
Noah called again later in the evening and Emily declined the call. She sent him a text instead, telling him she was tired and that she received his message. For the next three days, Noah tried calling his wife but she never answered his calls. He resorted to texting her and she replied his texts and long messages with only simple words like ‘okay’ or ‘I've heard you’. This got him highly uncomfortable and as soon as the meeting was over, he flew back home.
It was a weekday when he returned so he didn't expect to see anyone at home. However, he was surprised when Liam came running to him.
“Daddy! Welcome home daddy.”
“Liam? How are you?”
“I'm fine daddy.”
“You didn't go to school today. What happened?”
The little boy folded his arms across his chest and frowned.
“Daddy I was sick for days and you didn't come to see me in the hospital.”
Noah's suitcase dropped from his hands and he ran to his son and held him.
“You were sick? When was that? How do you feel now? Do feel pain anywhere?” he asked, panic written on his face.
“I'm fine now. Mummy took me to the hospital and stayed with me until I recovered.”
“I'm sorry dear. It wasn't intentional, I promise. Daddy wasn't around and I didn't know you were sick. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?” Liam shook his head in negative.
“No daddy. I'm fine now and I've accepted your apology. I know that daddy will not intentionally do that.”
Noah smiled and hugged his son.
However, it puzzled him that his son was sick and his wife didn't deem it fit to breath a word of it to him. Why was she also angry with him? Well, he was back now and it was time to get the answers. He held his son and together, they made their way into the house.