Chapter 58: CHAPTER 57

“Are you okay?”

I looked up at Elsie. She had just entered the room, concern evident on her face. She walked over to my hospital bed and stood beside me.

I offered a faint smile, trying to hide my exhaustion. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

She let out a sigh before answering. “Manang Hilda told me... Aeros came to visit you.”

At the mere mention of his name, a sharp ache pierced my chest. I glanced away. “Yes, he did. He saw Manang Hilda, so... I couldn’t pretend not to know him anymore. The peace I built for myself has already been disturbed.”

Elsie reached for my hand and squeezed it gently. “I know. Did he find out the truth... about Amethyst?”

I quickly shook my head. “He asked me if he was Amethyst’s father. But I will never tell him the truth. He has no right to know.”

“That’s good,” Elsie whispered, visibly relieved.

I looked at her, hoping to change the subject. “I thought you and the others were leaving today.”

“We decided to stay until tomorrow,” she interrupted. “We’re waiting for you to be discharged. I can’t leave you like this.”

“I’m getting discharged today anyway. I’m perfectly fine, so stop worrying about me.” I narrowed my eyes playfully, trying to appear energetic. “I’ve already started accepting orders again.”

She looked at me with a mixture of admiration and sadness. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“Since I can’t avoid Aeros anymore, I’ll focus on affiliate marketing instead. A lot of companies have wanted to work with me for years. I just kept turning them down because I’d have to show my face, especially during live-selling events. I was afraid they’d find me. But now?” I shrugged. “I don’t care anymore.”

A bittersweet smile crossed Elsie’s lips. “I never thought you’d be doing things like that. Back then, you’d cry whenever your father gave you a position in the company that you thought was beneath you.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “You’re right. My problems seemed so huge back then, and I was angry at the world because of them. Now... I’m willing to do any honest job as long as I can raise Amethyst and save enough money.”

“That’s still better than going back to the corporate world. It’s too chaotic.”

“I agree. I don’t want to repeat the past. Next time, I might end up as nothing more than a cautionary tale.”

“At least you’ve learned,” Elsie said. “But you’re working too hard now. You need to rest too.”

My gaze drifted into the distance. “I want to take back our mansion from Aeros. It’s the only thing I have left of my parents.”

“Hm. Don’t think about that right now. Focus on getting better first.”

I turned to her, my decision already made. “Elsie, I’m planning to return to Manila.”

Her eyes widened. “Why would you go back? You and Amethyst have a peaceful life here. Why return to the place that hurt you?”

“Because I want to reclaim everything that was taken from us,” I said firmly, my voice trembling with years of buried anger.

“Don’t let your anger guide you,” Elsie pleaded. “Save enough money first. When you’re ready, when you can actually afford to fight, then go back to Manila. Don’t march into battle without a shield.”

I took a deep breath. “Okay.”

“Excuse me, ma’am.”

A soft voice interrupted us from the doorway.

Both Elsie and I turned to see a nurse entering with a tray in hand.

“I’m just here to check the patient’s vital signs,” she said.

“Nurse, is she being discharged today?” Elsie asked immediately.

The nurse nodded while adjusting the equipment. “Yes. I’ll be removing her IV as well.”

“That’s good to hear,” Elsie said with obvious relief.

Silence settled over the room as the nurse carefully removed the IV from my hand. I stared at the tiny wound it left behind. It reminded me of the wounds in my life. A small on the surface, but leaving lasting marks.

“The doctor will stop by before you leave to give you the final instructions,” the nurse said before exiting the room.

I released a long sigh. “Finally. I’ll be able to move around properly again.” I looked at Elsie and forced a lighter tone. “Order some food while we wait for the doctor. I miss eating real food. Everything here tastes like old socks.”

Elsie laughed. “I’ll just buy something nearby. It’ll be faster. What do you want?”

“Hmm... palabok and fried chicken. And plenty of calamansi.”

“Got it. Wait here. I’ll be back soon.”

She stood, patted my shoulder, and left the room.

Once I was alone, I picked up my phone. I needed to focus. I started editing posts for the products I planned to sell. I had filmed the videos the previous week but hadn’t had time to upload them until now.

I needed to earn money.

I needed to stay strong.

As I busied myself with my phone, the door suddenly burst open.

“Elsie, that was fast—”

The words died in my throat.

It wasn’t Elsie.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop the moment Isabel walked in.

The woman who had been the catalyst for the destruction of my life in Manila.

“What do you want? Why are you here?” I asked coldly, setting my phone aside.

She looked me over from head to toe, contempt shining in her eyes.

“You’re really something, aren’t you?” she sneered. “You just couldn’t help yourself. Did you really have to get Aeros’s attention again? Are you that desperate to steal him back?”

I met her glare, my heart pounding with fury, but I refused to back down.

“I left Manila and disappeared from your lives, Isabel. You’re the ones who came here, not me. I’ve been living quietly, so stop bothering me.”

A mocking smile curved her lips. She stepped closer and rested a hand on her stomach.

“You should stay quiet,” she said. “Because Aeros and I are having a baby.”

For a moment, my world crumbled.

I fell silent.

My hands turned cold.

They were having a child.

Of course they were married. Why should it be surprising?

Then why did it still hurt so much?

I swallowed the lump in my throat and faced her with borrowed courage.

“Well... congratulations.”

“Stay away from Aeros,” she warned, her eyes blazing.

I rose from the bed despite the weakness in my legs and met her threatening gaze head-on.

“You’re the ones who should stay away!” I shot back. “I’ve been living peacefully here, and suddenly you show up to cause trouble. If you’re so worried about him, tie him to your waist so he can’t run away. I don’t care about him anymore. I don’t feel even the slightest bit of love for that man. So leave me alone!”

We stared at each other, tension crackling in the air between us.

After a moment, Isabel smiled slowly, a smile of triumph.

“Good,” she said.

Then she turned sharply and walked out of the room, leaving me standing there, trembling with rage and desperately holding back my tears.