After finishing all the prep work for Samuel, she finally turned on her phone.
Missed calls and message alerts flooded the screen nonstop.
Most came in during the night-from Tyrone, Raine, and even Brad.
It wasn’t until she read Brad’s message that she realized Raine had gone to confront Zera last night.
But healing never came from others. It always started from within.
No one could save her but herself.
Still worried, Aella dialed Raine’s number.
Capital Hospital. Inpatient Ward.
Raine was in trouble. Tyrone was tearing into her while Brad leaned against the wall, enjoying the show.
Tyrone pointed at the door, his face dark. “Did Aella tell you to mess with Zera?”
Raine leaned back against the wall, unfazed. “Aella’s not that childish. She has something better to do.”
Tyrone’s eyes sharpened at his sister. He knew Raine too well.
She and Aella had grown up together.
Raine had a hot temper. Aella was clever and full of ideas.
Ever since they were kids, wherever Aella pointed, Raine struck.
Without Aella’s push, Raine would never have dared to stir up trouble with Zera.
Tyrone’s vein throbbed in rage. “Go apologize to Zera.”
Raine hunched her shoulders but refused to back down. “Not until you apologize to Aella first.”
He stared at his sister. Aella’s face flashed through his mind.
Of course the two of them stuck together-one stubborn, the other defiant.
Sweet as honey when they wanted, impossible to deal with when they didn’t.
Tyrone’s voice hardened when he spoke again, “Raine, if you don’t apologize, I’ll send you overseas. And you can stay there.”
Raine quickly slipped behind Brad, trying to hide. “If you send me away, I’ll tell everyone about your affair!”
Tyrone’s chest rose and fell with anger. “If Aella ever divorces me, that’s on you.”
At that moment, a noise came from inside the room. Tyrone rushed in at once.
Zera saw him enter, and she got visibly worked up.
Fighting through the pain, she swung her legs off the bed and stepped barefoot onto the cold floor. She walked toward him, her face pale. “Tyrone, I want to talk to you,” she said quietly.
He glanced at the maid, who immediately understood and slipped out, leaving the two of them alone.
Tyrone helped Zera back onto the hospital bed. He pulled up a chair and sat beside her. “You’re still hurt. Why did you get up?”
Zera’s face was pale, though she fought hard not to cry.
“Tyrone,” she whispered, “Raine only did that because she was standing up for your wife. Your wife must hate me now.”
Tyrone frowned. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they apologize to you.”
Zera studied his expression carefully.
“I didn’t think Raine and your wife had such a huge misunderstanding about me. Raine called me a homewrecker, hit me, cursed me, and said I was spending your money. If your sister hates me this much, how much worse must your wife feel? If she had been the one to show up last night, she might have killed me.”
The sympathy in Tyrone’s voice was visible.
“Don’t be afraid, Zera. As long as I’m here, no one can hurt you or your son.”
Zera seized the moment, clutching his hand as tears finally spilled down her cheeks.
“It was selfish of me not to let you explain things to your wife, but I was terrified,” she said hurtfully.
“Six years ago, one word from your grandfather ruined our future. Even now, your grandfather and your parents could destroy me again.”
She said, “Your wife hates me so much. If she ever finds out what I went through these past six years, if she learns the truth about my son, she’ll tell everyone. Then your family will despise me even more and look down on me. If that happens, how could my son and I survive in this city? How could I ever face my family or my friends again? If I didn’t come to you, who else could I turn to?”
Tyrone spoke firmly, “Don’t worry. No one will ever know the truth about your child. I’ll take responsibility.”
He knew she had endured cruel suffering, forced to bear a child, while he married another woman-completely unaware of what she went through.
He owed her for that.
Zera went on. “Tyrone, I know my son and I have brought trouble to you and your wife. But I can’t shake this fear. I’m so uneasy. I’m scared … “
Tyrone stood and gently patted her back, trying to calm her. “Don’t let your mind run wild. Just focus on taking care of yourself. Leave the rest to me.”
Zera jumped on the chance and tightened her grip on his hand. “The whole thing started because of me. I can’t keep hiding behind you. I want to apologize to your wife and your sister. This city isn’t that big-we’ll run into each other again. I can’t let them keep misunderstanding me.”
Tyrone quietly pulled his hand away. “You’re the one who’s hurt. They’re the ones who should apologize to you.”
…
Aella had been busy all morning. Time went by fast, but it felt full.
At noon, everyone else left to go home. The big break room was empty except for her.
She could have gone home too, but she didn’t want to make the trip.
Quietly, she sat by the window and didn’t touch the boxed lunch in front of her.
Tyrone pushed the door open. Aella only glanced at him, expressionless.
He sat across from her.
A table separated them. He looked at the untouched lunch, then at her small, delicate face.
She had put on makeup today and looked beautiful.
He liked her without makeup better-simple and pure, the kind of look that made him want to claim her.
Tyrone noticed how quiet she was; he remembered the scene from last night. Aella was holding a fruit knife at the door and begging him not to leave.
His gaze tightened with mixed feelings. He got up and walked over to her.
He reached for her arm and said, “You don’t like the cafeteria food. I’ll take you to a restaurant.”
Aella stayed in her chair, shifted away just a little to dodge his hand.
His hand hung in the air and then dropped.
He was quiet for a moment. Then, he pulled a chair next to hers and turned her body to face her.
“Aella, can we talk calmly?” he asked.
She turned her head slowly and looked at him numbly. “What do you want to talk about?” she asked.
She already knew why he had come.
Raine had just come to see her.
Aella had found out why Tyrone was here from her. To force Raine to apologize to Zera, Tyrone had threatened to send her abroad.
If he could be that cruel to his sister, what kindness could Aella expect from him?
Tyrone fixed his eyes steadily at her. “Zera’s in the hospital,” he said. “Raine hit her.”
Aella answered without thinking. “If you’re calling the police, arrest me,” she said.
It all started because of her.
She couldn’t keep letting Raine fight her battles.
Tyrone reached out and tried to take her hand. “I wouldn’t call the police, but I need you to apologize to Zera,” he said.
Aella pulled her hand back, expressionless. She lifted her chin and met his eyes. “Tyrone,” she said, “you might as well kill me.”
Even though Aella thought she was ready, hearing Tyrone say those words still hurt like a knife in her chest.
She stood to leave, but Tyrone grabbed her wrist. “Wasn’t it you who told Raine to cause trouble for Zera?”
So that’s what this was about-he had come to accuse her.
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