Chapter 60

Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Claudia’s POV
“Oh you are back! I had no idea.” I tried acting cool, but I knew deep down, he needed answers to his question he just asked me.
“Yes,I wanted to see how you were doing and if you needed anything.” He replied calmly.
“I see, well I was just trashing the stuff Sonia brought for me. I don’t like the flower smell at all, you know how I love a good scent.” I lied, and I hope he buys it.
“Yeah I know, just let me know if you need something else.” He said calmly, and I was finally free. He actually believed the lies I told. I just hope Richard doesn’t pull this stuff again. What if Asher saw it? He would think otherwise. I am going to kill him for this, and I regret ever asking him to drive me when I was stranded. I have learnt my lessons now even if it’s the hard way.
“Sure, I will.” I smiled at him, but the smiling traces disappeared when the door opened, revealing Richard and Jason. He is here… damn it… why is he here?
“Oh I am sorry I didn’t tell you, they wanted to stop by and see how you are doing. I guess they must have missed you playing the golf with us, most, especially your putting,” Asher said with a beautiful smile plastered on his face.
“Yes, we do miss you.” Jasper admitted the same as Richard.
Richard stepped forward first, his smile too polished, too calculated. “Hey, good to see you,” he said, his voice smooth but grating to my ears. “How’s your health holding up? We were worried about you, and we are sorry we failed to check on you immediately.” Liar!! I wish I could just scream the word liar, but I can’t.
Jasper nodded, his expression more genuine. “Yeah, we are really sorry,so how are you feeling now?”
I clenched my hands under the blanket, forcing a neutral expression. Every nerve screamed to lash out at Richard, but I couldn’t…not with Jasper, and Asher here. “I’m feeling better now,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside. “Just taking it one day at a time." Thanks for checking in.”
“You don’t need to thank us, you are our best friend's wife, so it’s a must for us to see you.” Richard added. So he knows I am his friend’s wife, yet he wants to claim me as his.
Asher’s warm hand brushed my arm, and he leaned in, kissing my cheek softly. “I need to take this call,” he said as his phone buzzed in his pocket. “I’ll be right back.” He gave me a quick smile before stepping out, leaving the room quietly.
Jasper touched his jaw,“Oh, shoot, I forgot…I bought some fruit for you. It’s still in the car. I’ll grab it real quick.” Before I could protest, he hurried out, his footsteps fading down the hall.
The door clicked shut, and the air thickened. I was alone with Richard. His eyes locked onto mine, a glint of something unsettling in them, and my pulse quickened. The devil himself stood there, and I was trapped.
“Hey love, I guess this is fate, two of us alone…” He started his annoying conversation.
“Richard, stop whatever you are doing. If you do, I won’t say a word to Asher, that I promise you, I will forget all the nonsense you have said to me in the past.” I said hoping he would accept, but he just smiled trying to caress my face, but I hit his hands off.
“Do not touch me.” I roared at him.
“Asher stole you from me, so it’s best I take back what belongs to me.”
“How dare you…” I had to stop when I heard footsteps, either Asher or Jasper. I just hope this cup passes me by. The door opened, and it turned out to be Jasper carrying the small basket of fruits he got for me. I thanked him so much for it, and he engaged me with some interesting conversation, while Richard remained mute but didn’t stop staring at me.
Asher returned and joined us, conversation flowing. I faked my smile because, deep down, I wanted Richard out of here.

I was still in the hospital. The doctor told me I would be discharged the following day. I was happy about the news because I was already tired of staying at the hospital. It’s like I have been here for months.
“Sweetie, you need anything else?” My mom’s voice snapped me out of my daydreams of seeing myself at home already.
She was perched on the edge of the visitor’s chair, her purse clutched on her lap, eyes scanning me like she was making sure I was still in one piece. I shook my head, giving her a tired smile.
Then, there it was, the glint in her eye I knew too well. “Remember that dream I told you about?” She said, leaning in like she was about to spill some ancient prophecy.
Oh, here we go. She’d been itching to bring this up, probably since the first visit when she came with dad.“Yeah, Mom, I remember,” I said, already bracing myself.
She puffed up, all proud and smug. “You know how I dreamed you were pregnant? And you denied it. Well, look at you now!” She became so proud. “My dreams always come true.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “Okay, Mom, fine. I believe your dreams, happy now?”
She was ridiculous, but honestly, having her here filling the room with her dramatic behavior was the best medicine.
My mom, the self-proclaimed dream psychic, never failed to entertain.But then she leaned closer, her face dead serious. “Not so fast. I also told you I saw you with quadruplets in my dream. Four babies, honey. Get ready,‘cause my dreams don’t lie.”
I snorted, trying to hold it together, but the laughter burst out. “Mom, quadruplets? Are you serious? No way. That part’s gotta be a glitch in your dream radar.”
She raised an eyebrow, smirking like she was about to win the lottery. “Wanna bet on it?”I waved her off, still giggling. “No way, Mom. Four kids at once? Absolutely not. I’m not signing up for that chaos.” But deep down, her confidence was almost convincing.
Still enjoying my mom’s discussion, the door opened and it was George.I wasn’t expecting George. How on earth did he know I was here?
“Hey, Claudia!” George said, his voice warm and cheerful. I managed to respond briefly.“Hey George!” Well he is my friend. I shouldn’t be angry about his visit.
He turned to my mom, nodding politely. “Greetings, Mrs. Vivian, great to see you again.”
My mom, who had been talking about my future babies, paused, and squinted at him, her brow creasing as she tried to place him. I jumped in to help. “Mom, you remember George? My classmate from school?”
Her face lit up like a sparkler. “George! Oh, my goodness, that George?” She sprang from her chair, and hugged him. She let out a startled laugh. “Look at you, all grown up, and so handsome! My goodness, you’ve turned out so well!”
George chuckled, hugging her back. I remember how George visited our home most of the time just to have lunch with us and with the others back then in school.
“Thanks, Mrs. Vivian. Been a while, hasn’t it?” I watched them as my mom pulled back, her smile wide. “A while? More like forever! Tell me, George, how have you been? What’s keeping you busy these days?”
“Oh, you know, working hard,” George said, glancing at me with a grin. I chimed in, “He’s a doctor now, Mom. Pretty impressive.” I said to mom, I know she would be happy about it, her eyes widened, and she got excited. “A doctor! Oh, George, that’s marvelous! I always knew you would end up fulfilling your dreams.” She leaned in, her tone turning mischievous. “And tell me, are you married yet? Got a special someone?”
George laughed, scratching his neck. “Nope, Mrs. Vivian, still single. Haven’t found the right one.”
I can’t believe as handsome as George. He's still single, but it's none of my business.
My mom gasped dramatically, hand on her chest. “Single? A handsome young man like you? A successful doctor like you? Oh, if my Claudia wasn’t married, you’d have made a fine suitor for her, I’m telling you!” She winked at me, and I burst out laughing, shaking my head.
“Mom, stop!” I said, laughing about it. George’s easy charm and Mom’s over-the-top matchmaking were too much.
Mom waved me off, still beaming at George. “I’m just saying, a good man like you? You’d have been perfect for my girl back in the day.”
Just then, the door swung open, and Asher stepped in, his expression darkening the moment he caught sight of George standing close to me. I knew he would be angry seeing George with me. He despised him, and I noticed George was also getting angry at his presence. I guess the way Asher attacked him when we were coming out of the hospital together is still in his mind. Maybe he hasn’t forgiven Asher yet.
Asher greeted my mom, acting like George was invisible. “Oh, Asher, you’re just in time! I was telling George here what a fine match he’d have been for Claudia if you two never got married." She laughed, but Asher’s scowl deepened, his gaze flicking between George and me.“Really?” Asher said, his tone clipped, stepping closer to my bed. He looked at George, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And what’s got you dropping by, George?”
"Just checking on Claudia, you got a problem with that?”
“You called him?” Asher faced me and I nodded. Then George bailed me out, saying, “I saw the Livestream, and I also got told by Sonia when I saw her, that’s why I am here, or are you going to hit me again?”
“No.” He went to his seat, and we continued with our conversation. I noticed Asher's eyes were fixed on me despite him being on his phone.
I noticed Asher’s lips pressed into a thin line, and I could feel his jealousy simmering, fueled by Mom’s glowing praise of George, and the way I’d been laughing with him.
My mom was clueless about the tension in the room. She kept going, and included Asher . “Oh, Asher, you should’ve seen George back in the day! Such a charmer. Still is!” She patted George’s shoulder, and Asher’s eyes burned with a mix of anger and jealousy.
I remembered some past events in school. As we talked more, I started laughing real hard. Asher yelled at me, “And why are you laughing that way at someone th
at is not your husband?” We all looked at him in awe.