Chapter 23: PASSED OUT

I was driving home to get ready for the dinner that was fixed for our family reunion. As much as I don't want to attend, I don't really have an option.

And somehow Charles decided to come with me, which I'm very grateful for. I don't think I can handle my dad alone. I know he is going to get me drunk so he can ask one or two things out of me.

I was driving across the road, and I thought I saw someone like Alda sitting on the passenger’s bench, looking so lost. Wait, it's actually her. Why is she in that state?

I stopped right in front of her and beeped the horn of my car, trying to get her attention, but she was way too distracted to notice.

Looking around, I found the perfect spot to pack my car as I got down to meet her. I walked up to her and sat across from her on the bench, waiting for her to notice my presence around her, but she didn't.

Something is definitely going on with her. I slightly tapped her shoulder, and she gasped in shock and looked up at me. Her beautiful brown eyes were clouded with tears and sadness.

“I'm sorry; I didn't mean to startle you. I saw you while passing by the road and thought I should stop and pick you up,” I said as I scanned her body with my eyes.

There were bruises on her neck and her hands. Her hair was covering mostly the area around her neck. I brushed her hair away from her neck; her skin was all red and swollen.

“What happened to you?” I asked, but she wouldn't answer as she kept staring at me with her teary eyes. Her cheeks were flushed from crying, and her eyes were swollen as well.

“Alda, say something to me. Who did this to you? Isn't Seth?” I asked her again, but she started sobbing as she averted my glance. She covered her mouth with her hands, trying not to draw attention to herself.

How could a thinking, living human being do this to his wife? A woman he promised to cherish and protect right on the altar.

I took off my suit jacket and covered her shivering body as I guided her towards my car. I need to talk to her, but in private.

I was glad when she didn't even resist and followed me. I made her sit besides me in the front seat of my car before helping her with her seat belt.

She just kept sobbing; I didn't know how to calm her down or what to do. The only place I could have enough privacy to talk to her is at my house. I waited for her sobs to die down before packing at the side of the road to ask if it was okay to take her to my house or if she was willing to talk to me right inside my car.

“Alda, Alda, please talk to me,” I said to her when I packed my car on a safe side of the road. I waited for her to respond, but she didn't. Her hair was all over her face, so I couldn't properly see her face.

"Alda,” I said, touching her hand, which she wrapped around herself, and it dropped to her side. My eyes widened in shock when I realised that she had passed out.

“Alda, what's going on? Open your eyes!” I calmly said, shaking her slightly, but she wasn't responding. I placed my hand on her forehead and discovered how hot her body was. She was burning up.

I quickly hit the engine of my car as I drove her to the hospital.

Emily’s POV 

I really looked forward to meeting Charles again, but when we finally managed to meet at the business gathering, I couldn't approach him. I really wish things could be different between us.

“Emily, your brother hasn't called you yet, has he?” Dad asked as he joined me in the sitting room.

"No, he hasn't; I thought he called you and said he was almost close.”

"Yeah, he did, but the problem is that he is not picking up his calls, which is strange. I'm just worried.”

“Don't worry, Dad; maybe he was just caught up with some traffic on his way. I can't even believe he also works during the weekend.”

“Tell me about it. I will just go help your mum set the table. Try calling your brother again if he doesn't reach out to any of us in the next twenty minutes.”

“I will” I watched my dad leave and couldn't help smiling. He is really trying hard to build up the bond he once had with Xender.

The sound of the doorbell came ringing, and I went to get the door. Speaking of Xender, I think he just arrived.

"Xender, what too have you so long?” My voice died out when I saw the person standing in front of me. It was Charles; Xender didn't mention anything about Charles joining the dinner.

“Hi Emily,” he said, as we both stared at each other for a while. I opened my mouth to say something, but I didn't know what to say.

“Can I come in?” He asked again.

“Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you standing outside; I just... came on in,” I said, sounding like an idiot. Biting my lower lips, I drew the door wide open, letting him in.

It was only then that I noticed that he wasn't with Xender. 

“How come Xender is not with you?” I asked him, but he looked kind of surprised to also learn that Xender hasn't arrived yet.

“I don't know; he called me up twenty minutes ago and told me he was already on his way here. I actually assumed he would be here by now.” Xender replied, and that got me all worried as I went in search of my phone upstairs.

“Emily, was that Xender?” Dad called after me from the dining room.

“No, that was Charles.”

“Is he alone?” 

“Yes. He said Xender only called him to inform him that he had already headed out.”

“Okay, this is not getting funny.”

“Let me grab my phone from my room and try calling him up.” 

“Okay.” I quickly rushed to my room to make the call. I hope he is okay.

Xender’s POV

Thank goodness Mike decided to work overtime today. I have been in the waiting room as he checked up on Alda.

I let out a sigh when I couldn't put everything together. Did he attack her? Why was she crying at the bus station? I run my hands through my hair, roughening it. I never could have believed that my day would have ended like this.

I'm supposed to be home with my family, eating and talking over dinner. Speaking of which, I need to call and inform them I won't be able to make it. I can't just leave her like this.

Running my hands through my pants pocket, I figured out I might have left my phone inside the car. That explains why I haven't heard my phone ring. 

I immediately went out to get my phone from my car. I need to call up Emily and let her know of the situation. I was supposed to be with them twenty minutes ago, but here I am at the hospital with Alda.

I really just can't tell why she has been everywhere in my life since this week, or, should I say, since I met her at Mr. Sebastian's company.

“Twenty-five missed calls; what the heck?” I muttered. My last caller was Charles, so I decided to call him back. I'm guessing he has already arrived. He picked up on the first ring, and I heard him telling someone that he had reached me.

“Dude, where the heck are you?”

“At the hospital,” I replied.

“What? Why are you at the hospital? Are you hurt? Where were you involved in an accident?”

“No, but someone I know collapsed. I had to rush her to the hospital, but the problem is that I can't leave her behind until I'm sure she is safe.”

“Who is she?” He asked, and I could hear the curiosity in his voice. I know why he was asking, but I wasn't really in the mood to have him lecture me.

"Charlie, just help me tell everyone I might not be able to make it; I need to go.”

“Wait, don't hang up yet. Who should I tell them they collapsed?”

“Tell them a colleague of mine collapsed.”

“But you are a boss; remember, I can't say your colleague collapsed, so tell me, is she your girlfriend?” I could hear the teasing in his voice.

"Charles, get off my phone, would you? I will call you when things are settled. Bye.”

“No, no, wait.” I ended the call without waiting for him to come up with another excuse to ask more questions. I went back inside and met a nurse, who informed me that Mike was waiting for me in his office.

I hope he has something positive to tell me. I didn't call Alda’s parents because I didn't want them to get worried. I wanted to hear from Mike, a professional doctor, before deciding whether or not to call them.

I just hope she is okay.