Chapter 127

Chapter 127
I was lost in thought.
So deep in it, I didn't even realize we had already gotten home.
The car had come to a complete stop, but my mind was still spinning, trapped in loops of confusion and a thousand unanswered questions.
Tricia got out first. She reached for her bag, humming softly, when she turned and saw I hadn't moved a single inch. My hands were still in my lap, my eyes blank and glued to the dashboard.
She frowned. "Hey!" she called, but I didn't flinch.
Then, without warning, she smacked my hand hard.
I jerked, sitting up straight immediately, eyes wide, heart racing like I'd just been yanked out of another world. My gaze darted around in confusion before finally landing on her.
"What the hell, Tricia?"
She rolled her eyes. "You zoned out completely. I was calling your name for the past one minute!"
I looked around again, blinked rapidly, then exhaled. My shoulders slumped. "We're home already?"
"Yes. We've been home for two whole minutes, but you were too busy staring into oblivion."
"Thanks for the ride." I mumbled, grabbing my bag and slowly stepping out of the car.
But even as I stepped into the house, my mind didn't step with me.
It was still stuck in that restaurant.
It was stuck with Jayden.
And her.
The young lady. The one who looked so... perfect beside him. So confident. So effortless. So close.
I couldn't stop replaying the scene over and over again in my head like a broken tape that refused to stop spinning. Jayden's face when he looked at her. That slight smirk. The way he leaned into her space. His hand on her arm.
Does it mean he has moved on?
Was that what our last meeting was supposed to be about? Was that why he wanted to meet me, just to clear the air, apologize, and then make it official that he's with someone else?
My chest tightened.
Maybe he was already in love with her.
Or maybe she's just his new toy. Another beautiful face, another fling to pass the time.
No.
No, she didn't look like a fling. She looked like someone important. Someone... claimed.
And Jayden looked like a man who had already made his decision.
If that's true, if Jayden has truly moved on... then I should be happy.
Right?
I should be overjoyed that he found someone else. I should be proud of myself for finally letting go. I should be free.
But why do I feel like my heart is being slowly crushed?
Why do I feel jealous?
Why am I angry?
And this sick, painful ache in my chest, what is it?
Is it regret?
Or is it the truth?
Does this mean I haven't truly moved on from him?
Why does my heart still react like this... if I've moved on?
I was so deep in those thoughts, I didn't even hear Donald's voice.
"You're back. How was work today?" he asked, but it was like I was under water. His voice was distant, muffled. My vision started to blur and my ears felt like they were ringing.
The hallway swayed beneath my feet. My legs gave out before I could even reach for support.
The next step I took... was the last.
I collapsed.
Everything around me went dark, but I felt arms catch me before I hit the floor.
"Monalisa! Monalisa! Can you hear me? Mona!" Donald's voice sounded frantic, desperate.
"I think we should take her to the hospital!" Tricia's voice trembled behind him.
"Yes. Get the car key!" Donald said urgently.
Tricia rushed off.
Donald gathered me in his arms gently, holding me as though I was glass and might shatter.
He carried me out the front door.
At that moment, Melissa, my secretary, had just stepped out of her apartment beside ours. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw me in Donald's arms.
"What happened to ma'am? Is she okay?" she asked, rushing towards us.
"We don't know yet. She collapsed," Donald replied, carefully placing me into the backseat of the car.
"Oh my goodness," Melissa gasped, hands flying to her mouth. "I hope nothing happens to her..."
"Melissa, no crying please," Donald said, trying to stay calm. "Do one thing. Stay with Joshua until we come back, okay?"
"Yes, sir," she nodded, wiping her tears.
"Sir!" Thomas, came running out from the gate. "I noticed you carrying ma'am Monalisa. Is she okay?"
"She just collapsed and we are taking her to the hospital," Donald said quickly. "Please, you and Melissa take care of Joshua. He must not find out about this, okay?"
"Yes, sir. Understood."
"Let's go, Donald! We've got no time to waste!" Tricia called out from the driver's seat.
Donald didn't waste a second. He climbed into the car, lifting my head gently onto his lap. He held me as though letting go would make it worse.
"Go ahead," he said softly.
"Hang in there," Tricia whispered, and drove off.
Minutes later, we arrived at the hospital.
Tricia ran in first. "Help! Someone help! We need a stretcher now!" she shouted, panic in her voice.
Two nurses and an orderly came running out with a stretcher. Donald climbed out, still holding me carefully, and laid me on it.
They wheeled me away swiftly into the hospital while Donald and Tricia followed closely behind, hearts pounding with fear.
They weren't allowed into the ward and had to wait outside.
But they couldn't sit still.
Donald paced left and right, raking his hand through his hair, whispering prayers under his breath. Tricia sat, stood, sat again, bit her fingernails, and then began pacing too.
"Why isn't the doctor out yet?" Donald whispered, his voice thick with worry.
"She's going to be fine," Tricia said, though her voice didn't sound confident at all. "She has to be."
A few minutes later, the door opened, and the doctor stepped out, removing his gloves.
They both rushed toward him immediately.
"How is she? Is she safe? Is she okay?" Donald bombarded. "Does she need surgery? I'll make the payment immediately, just tell me what to do."
"Hey hey, calm down," the doctor said, putting his hand up. "It's nothing life-threatening. Her blood pressure dropped severely. That's why she lost control and collapsed. We've administered the treatment she needs. What she needs now is rest. That's all."
Donald and Tricia both exhaled at the same time.
"Thank you so much, doctor. She means a lot to me," Donald said sincerely.
"To me too. To us. To so many people," Tricia added. "Can we see her?"
"Yes, you can go in."
"Thank you. Come on, Tricia."
They walked into my ward quietly. I was asleep, pale but peaceful.
Donald reached for my hand and kissed it gently. His eyes burned, his jaw tightened.
"I don't know what would have happened if I'd lost you..." he whispered, his voice cracking. "Maybe I would've joined you. I'm glad you're safe."
"She's a strong lady," Tricia said beside him. "But... why would her blood pressure drop so badly?"
"Thinking. Stress. Too much going on up there," Donald said, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "I'm just glad she's okay."
"I'll step outside and let Melissa and Thomas know what's going on."
"Sure. Go ahead."
"Yes," Tricia nodded and left.
Donald turned back to me, holding my hand in both of his.
"Please get well soon," he whispered. "I can't wait any longer. I need to tell you everything. I want to tell you how much I love you. How badly I've fallen for you."
His voice trembled, and he closed his eyes, swallowing hard.
"I, Diego Donald Duke, am madly in love with you, Monalisa. And I want you to be my wife. I want Joshua to be our son. I want to build this life with you. Not tomorrow. Not someday. Now."
His voice cracked as he finished, raw and vulnerable.
I opened my eyes slowly, still groggy from the medication. My gaze shifted to him.
"You love me?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Donald froze. His eyes widened. Panic flashed across his face.
"Huh?" he said, heart pounding. His voice was caught in his throat.
He hadn't expected me to hear that.
And I hadn't expected him to say it.