Chapter 148 Where Priorities Lie

Chapter 148 Where Priorities Lie
Mariko's POV

The cool air hit us as Amber and I walked out of the hospital. The harsh fluorescent lights had hidden most of the reality, but now, under the sun, I could see the full extent of what had happened to her. Her normally confident stride was replaced with cautious, shaky steps, and the bruises on her skin were stark against her pale complexion. Purple and blue splotches marred her arms, peeking out from under her shirt sleeve, and a heavy ache settled in my chest.

She hadn’t spoken much since the examination, only nodding or giving short answers to the nurses. She also reported the incident, made statements and whatever else was needed of her. Now, she was walking with her head down, her arms wrapped around herself protectively, as if she could somehow shield herself from the world outside. I glanced at her, my heart heavy with concern, wanting to say the right thing but unsure of how.

“You did the right thing,” I said softly, keeping my voice gentle as we reached the car. “Coming here, getting checked... It’s important.” She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, but her eyes stayed fixed on the ground.

I wanted to hug her, to offer some sort of physical comfort, but I wasn’t sure if that’s what she needed right now. So, I did the next best thing. I opened the passenger door and helped her into the car. She moved slowly, wincing as she sat down, her body stiff from the bruises and the trauma. Once she was settled, I shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side, sliding into the seat beside her.

The silence in the car was thick, oppressive even. The engine hummed to life, but neither of us said a word as I pulled out of the hospital parking lot. I kept glancing at her out of the corner of my eye, watching her as she stared out the window, her hands trembling slightly in her lap.

"You’re not alone in this," I said, breaking the silence, hoping to remind her of that simple truth. "You got me, and you got your friends too."

Amber turned her head slightly, looking at me with tired, swollen eyes as we stood at a red light. “I just... I don’t know how to deal with this. I feel so... dirty.” Her voice broke on the last word, and she swallowed hard, her face crumpling as she fought to keep her emotions in check.

I reached over, placing a hand gently on her arm. "This isn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. You hear me? You survived something terrible, and that makes you strong. Don’t let what happened define you. Don’t let him have that power over you."

She looked at me for a long moment, her lip trembling as tears welled up in her eyes. “I don’t feel strong,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I feel... broken.”

My chest tightened at her words, and I had to blink a few times to push down the surge of emotion rising in me. "You are going to get through this. I’m going to help you. We all are." I said firmly.

She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, her gaze drifting back to the window. She didn’t say anything else for the rest of the drive, and I didn’t push her. She needed space, time to process everything.



We finally pulled up in front of her house, and I parked the car in the driveway. She made no move to get out, just sat there, staring at the front door like it was some kind of impenetrable fortress. I could see the hesitation, the fear in her eyes as she bit her lip.

“I don’t want to be alone,” she whispered, barely audible over the sound of the car engine.

My heart sank. I knew I couldn’t stay... not for long. Maddie needed me at home. She was probably already overwhelmed, juggling the kids and the twins, especially since I hadn’t made it back in time for the morning routine. I needed to get Bella and Angel to school, and the twins... Gosh, Maddie was going to be furious with me.

But Amber was fragile right now. This wasn’t the time to leave her alone, not after what she had been through. I couldn’t abandon her, but I couldn’t abandon my family either. It was an impossible choice.

“Let’s get you inside,” I said softly, stepping out of the car and walking around to help her. She hesitated for a moment, but then she took my hand, and I gently guided her out of the car.

Her legs were shaky, her body weak as I helped her up the steps to the house. She leaned on me heavily, and I could feel her trembling. Once we were inside, she collapsed onto the sofa, her face pale, her body limp as if all the strength had drained from her.

I knelt down in front of her, taking her hands in mine. “Amber,” I said gently. “I know you don’t want to tell your mom, but I can’t leave you alone like this. You need someone here with you.”

She shook her head vigorously, her eyes wide with panic. “No, Mariko. Please don’t tell her. She has already been through so much, and I... I just can’t put this on her. She will fall apart.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Alright, I won’t call her. But you need someone here. I’m going to call Gray. She will come over, okay?”

She hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Okay. I will allow her to come over.”

I pulled out my phone and dialed Gray’s number. It rang a few times before she picked up.

“Mariko?" she answered as if confused that I was calling her.

“Gray, it’s Amber,” I said, glancing over at Amber who was staring at the floor, still trembling. “She needs you. Something happened, and... she doesn’t want to be alone.”

Gray was silent for a moment, and I could hear the urgency in her voice when she finally spoke. “I will be there in ten minutes.”

“Thank you,” I said, relief flooding me as I hung up the phone. I turned back to Amber. “Gray is on her way.”

She nodded again, her expression still distant, like she was a million miles away. I helped her up from the sofa and guided her toward her bedroom. She moved like a ghost, her steps slow and uncertain. Once we were in her room, I opened her closet and pulled out some clothes for her, something comfortable, such as sweatpants and a t-shirt. She had to change.

“I can help you change, if you want,” I offered, feeling a knot of awkwardness forming in my stomach. Amber and I had a history, but this... this was different.

She didn’t say anything, just nodded and let me help her. As I carefully lifted her arms to slip the t-shirt over her head, I saw more bruises along her sides, dark and angry. My jaw clenched, and a surge of anger coursed through me. Whoever did this to her... I wanted to make him pay.

Once she was dressed, I helped her sit on the edge of the bed. “Gray will be here soon,” I reminded her, trying to keep my voice calm and steady. “You’re going to be okay. I promise.”

She looked up at me, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

I gave her a small, reassuring smile, even though inside I felt like I was drowning. "You don’t have to thank me. I will always be here for you, you know that."

Even as I said it, I couldn’t shake the guilt gnawing at the back of my mind. I needed to be there for Maddie and my kids. This wasn’t where I was supposed to be, but how could I leave? Just then, there was a knock at the door, and I knew it was Gray. I stood up, giving Amber’s hand a final squeeze before heading to the lounge and letting her in.

As I opened the door, Gray rushed inside, her face full of concern. “What happened?” she asked, her eyes wide with worry.

“Just... be with her,” I said quietly, leading her to the bedroom where Amber sat, looking so small and fragile.

Gray nodded, immediately sitting beside Amber, wrapping her arms around her in a protective embrace. I could see the relief in Amber’s eyes as she leaned into Gray’s warmth.

I took a deep breath, stepping back. It was time for me to go.



Maddie's POV

My eyelids fluttered open slowly. Everything felt hazy, as though I was waking from a dream. I heard faint voices above me, muffled at first, but gradually they became clearer.

“Maddie? Maddie, are you okay?” Rosie’s voice, filled with concern, brought me fully back into reality. I felt her hand on my shoulder, gently shaking me.

I blinked a few times, disoriented, trying to process what had just happened. My body felt weak, as though the effort of simply lifting my head was too much. But I managed to sit up, propping myself against the kitchen counter, my breath coming in shallow, shaky gasps.

“I... I fainted,” I mumbled, trying to find my bearings.

Rosie nodded, her face etched with worry as she knelt beside me. “Yes, you did. Do you need to go to the hospital? We should probably get you checked out.”

I shook my head, though the action made me feel a little lightheaded again. “No... no hospital,” I murmured, pushing the thought away. The last thing I needed was another trip to the hospital. I was already overwhelmed, and I couldn’t handle the chaos of that place right now. “I will be fine. I just need to rest.”

Rosie looked unconvinced, but she didn’t argue with me. Instead, she helped me up slowly, guiding me onto one of the kitchen barstools. I sat down carefully, my legs still feeling weak, and leaned against the counter for support.

“You need to eat something,” she said, her tone soft but firm. “I think you’re just exhausted. You aren't taking care of yourself. Let me get you some food.”

I sighed, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. I knew she was right. I hadn’t been taking care of myself, not with the twins needing constant attention, Bella and Angel’s school routines, and Mariko being with Amber. My mind flashed back to the note I had found from him earlier, off attending to Amber of all people. The thought made my blood boil, but I pushed it down for the moment.

Rosie placed a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of me. “Eat,” she insisted.

I picked up my fork, trying to focus on the simple task of eating. I could feel my hands trembling slightly as I lifted the fork to my mouth, but I forced myself. Breakfast tasted bland, but I wasn’t really hungry. It felt more like I was eating to keep myself from falling apart.

She watched me for a moment, and when she was satisfied that I was eating, she stepped back. “I will take care of the kids for now. You just focus on yourself, okay?”

I nodded, grateful but still too caught up in my own thoughts to properly thank her. The kitchen felt stifling, even as I sat there eating in silence. I was angry... no, furious with Mariko. How could he just leave like that? How could he put someone else before his family? Before me?

As I was finishing the last bite, Angel came into the kitchen, her backpack slung over her shoulder. She looked at me with a mixture of concern and determination in her eyes. “Maddie,” she started, her voice steady but gentle, “I can take Bella to school today. I will call a cab. I will make sure she’s safe. I went to school on my own when I was in London...before being adopted.”

My heart swelled at how responsible she was being, but there was no way I could let her do that, not with everything going on and to risk her safety. “No, Angel. I can’t risk that. It's not that you aren't allowed, but this is for your safety too. I will be okay. I will get dressed and take you both.”

She hesitated, glancing between me and Rosie, who now appeared in the kitchen with Mikayla in her arms. “Are you sure? You don’t look like you’re ready to get out of the house yet,” Rosie said.

I forced a smile, though I wasn’t sure how convincing it was. “I will be fine. Just give me a few minutes, okay?”

Angel gave me a skeptical look but didn’t argue further. “Alright. I will get Bella ready.” Rosie offered.

Once they were out of the kitchen, I let out a long, exhausted breath. The truth was, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the day. But I had no choice. Mariko wasn’t here and I needed to step up for the kids.

After a few moments of collecting myself, I took a shower and changed into something presentable, and got Bella and Angel out the door. The ride in the cab to school was uneventful, but my mind was racing the entire time. By the time I dropped them off, I was running on fumes. But there was no rest for me because I had work to get to.



It wasn’t until late morning that Mariko walked into my office, looking disheveled and tired. I didn’t even look up from my desk at first, pretending to be immersed in my work... my sketches as I sat behind my desk. My heart was pounding in my chest, anger simmering just beneath the surface.

“Maddie,” he started softly, closing the door behind him. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there this morning. I had to deal with something-something important with Amber.”

I looked up, my eyes narrowing. “Amber,” my voice was sharp, colder than I intended.

He nodded, his expression tense. “Yeah... she was assaulted at a party last night. She called me in a panic, and I had to take her to the hospital.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to keep myself from snapping at him immediately. “Mariko, I get that you care about her, but you have a family here. I fainted this morning. Do you know that? I collapsed in the kitchen, and Rosie had to help me. The kids were late for school, the twins were crying, and I was left to deal with it all because you weren’t there.”

His eyes widened, concern flashing across his face. "Are you okay? I didn’t know... I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for-”

“No, you never mean for anything, do you?” I interrupted, my voice rising with the anger that had been building all morning. “This is exactly why I didn’t want more kids. This! Because I knew it would be too much for me. And now, you’re running off to take care of someone else while I’m here drowning.”

He stepped closer to my desk, “I had no choice. Amber... she needed-”

“Don’t,” I cut him off again, shaking my head. “Don’t make this about her. This is about us, about our family. You have a family. Me, Bella, Angel, and the twins. We need you. I needed you and you weren't there.”

He looked hurt, as though my words had struck something deep inside him. “I’m trying to be there for everyone, but it’s hard. Amber was in trouble-”

“And so was I!” I snapped. “You didn’t even know I fainted until just now. What does that say about where your priorities are?”

He stood there, silent for a moment, his jaw clenched tightly. “You’re right,” he finally admitted, his voice quiet. “I should’ve been there. I should’ve been taking care of you and the kids.”

I let out a shaky breath, feeling a mixture of relief and frustration. “I can’t do this alone.”

He nodded, his eyes filled with regret. “I understand. I will put our family first, but if a friend is in need of help, then I will be there too if they reach out to me...if I can be there for them.” he held my gaze.

I nodded, I couldn't change that, but I needed him this morning. I wasn’t ready to forgive him, not yet. I still felt the weight of everything on my shoulders, and the anger was too fresh... too raw. “I need to get back to work,” I said, briefly looking down at my sketches before looking up at him again, signaling that the conversation was over.

He hesitated, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he nodded. “Okay. But I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere.”

I didn’t respond as I looked down at the dress I was busy sketching in front of me as he walked out of my office. Even after he left, my mind was still racing, my body still tense. The exhaustion weighed heavily on me, but I couldn’t rest. Not yet. I picked up my pencil and started sketching, trying to focus, trying to distract myself from the emotions swirling inside me. But even as I worked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were far from okay.