Adaline opened her eyes, unsure of how many times she had done so already. But this time, what she saw was slightly different from the last time she opened her eyes. The ceiling was still white, but the turquoise curtains she had seen before were no longer there.
"Darling, are you awake?" asked a voice beside her. Adaline turned her head and saw her mother-in-law standing on the right side of her bed.
"Mamma?" she asked, puzzled.
"Yes, dear. It's Mamma. How are you feeling now? Are you still dizzy? Weak?"
"A bit, Mamma," she weakly replied. "Where's Tessa?"
"She left to go back to the office earlier. She said she'll come back here later this afternoon. I've already contacted your mother; the driver is picking her up to come here," Delila continued without Adaline asking. "Why didn't you tell me that you were experiencing severe morning sickness?" Her mother-in-law reprimanded her. Adaline winced.
The sound of the door opening diverted their attention. "Darling, are you okay?" Altezza rushed in. Behind him, Antony walked calmly.
"Altezza, calm down a bit. This is a hospital," his cousin's brother warned.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," he said, full of regret.
Ignoring his mother's presence, he approached Adaline in the bed. He reached for her right hand, which was free from the IV tube, and gently squeezed it. Adaline smiled and returned the grip.
"It's okay, Al. Everything's fine. Right, Mamma?" She turned to her mother-in-law, seeking assistance.
But instead of answering, her mother-in-law turned her head away with a huff. Delila must be upset with her only son.
"Aunty, where's Claire? I heard she brought you here," Antony asked, looking around for his wife.
"We came here without having lunch. So, your wife went to get lunch for us," Mrs. Delila replied, now seated on the room's sofa.
"How are you feeling, better?" Antony directed the question to Adaline this time.
"Better," Adaline replied. "Thank goodness for Gian and Duncan," she said without any particular intention.
"Yes, thank goodness for them," Antony replied with a meaningful smile. "What did the doctor say, Aunty?"
"The doctor said she's malnourished," Delila replied curtly. "Seems like she's lacking attention and affection too," she continued in the same tone.
"Mamma..." Adaline tried to make her mother-in-law understand.
"Let it be, you don't need to defend your husband. How can a husband not know that his wife is experiencing severe morning sickness? What kind of husband is that?" Delila squeezed her son's hand tighter, silently asking him not to entertain his mother.
Altezza nodded.
"Have you eaten? Do you want something to eat?" he asked with concern. Adaline shook her head.
"I'm not hungry," she whispered softly.
"But you haven't had lunch yet, Darling. You fainted before lunchtime. Tessa told me earlier," her mother-in-law chimed in.
"Well..." Adaline bit her lower lip awkwardly. "I want a chocolate milkshake and tiramisu cake," she said, her face flushing.
"Oh my." Altezza sighed, slapping his forehead. "The cake?" He turned to Antony.
He had forgotten the cake he had bought earlier and left it in the car. Antony handed him the car keys without being asked.
"I'll go buy the milkshake," Altezza said. Adaline nodded. He kissed her forehead briefly before leaving. Just as Altezza opened the door, Claire arrived with two bags of food.
"Where are you going?" she asked Altezza, her forehead furrowing in confusion.
"To the cafeteria downstairs," he quickly replied.
Claire only muttered 'Oh' as she continued into the room. "Aunty, here's your lunch." Claire placed the food bag on the table, handing one food box to her aunt-in-law, then to Antony, who had also requested it to be bought for him. She then walked over to the bed and handed the food to Adaline.
"Come on, let's eat first." Claire adjusted the bed's position until Adaline was sitting up, and then adjusted the table to align with the bed.
Adaline opened her meal box and saw a salmon steak complete with vegetable salad. Thinking about rice earlier had made her feel nauseous. But after seeing the menu in front of her, she suddenly salivated.
Seeing Adaline looking enthusiastic about her lunch, Claire returned to the table and started eating with her husband and mother-in-law. Altezza appeared with a cup of chocolate milkshake complete with ice cream topping. He also brought a large tiramisu cake that he had bought before going to the hospital. Without many words, he handed the treats to Adaline, who had almost finished half of her meal.
"This is your lunch," Claire handed another box that she had ordered for Altezza.
Altezza murmured his thanks and began to eat his lunch. Meanwhile, Adaline started on her tiramisu.
In the evening, Tessa, Gian, and Duncan came to visit. Mrs. Delila, Claire, and Antony had already returned home. In the room, there were only Adaline, Altezza, Violet, and Emma.
"Feeling better?" Tessa asked.
Adaline nodded. "I'll be able to go home tomorrow," she replied.
"Thank goodness," Gian sighed in relief.
They continued their light conversation until eventually, the three colleagues decided to leave. Duncan kindly offered to drive Violet and Emma home, while Altezza stayed behind to keep Adaline company at the hospital.
When they were alone, Altezza tried to initiate a conversation with his wife.
"Are you ready to sleep?" Altezza asked. Adaline shook her head. "There's something I want to talk to you about. It's about my ex-wife."
Adaline knew that this conversation would eventually come up. She observed Altezza carefully, trying to gauge his reaction.
"Yes. Is there something you want to discuss?" Adaline chose to listen because, even though she postponed it, sooner or later the story would reach her ears. She preferred to hear it directly from him rather than from someone else, as it had happened before, albeit accidentally.
"My ex-wife, she..."
"Jovanka Lawrence," Adaline interjected. Her husband nodded.
"I heard from Antony that you saw Jovanka at the office three days ago," Adaline nodded in agreement. "I really didn't know what she was thinking until she dared to show up at the company. But what I want to clarify here is that we no longer have any relationship."
"Are you sure?" Adaline asked. Altezza furrowed his brow. "Initially, Adaline didn't know what relationship there was between you and Jovanka. And yesterday, Adaline was still uncertain until she saw Antony's expression, only then did Adaline realize that Jovanka was a woman from the past that Aa had mentioned."
"But what I want to know is, is it true that your relationship with Jovanka has really ended? I may not have the right to ask this given my actual position. And even if your relationship with Jovanka hasn't ended, it's no problem for me.
"It's just perhaps better if you both settle everything properly. Don't let either of you suffer, and ultimately tarnish the reputation you've built all this time.
"You've succeeded in your career and so has Jovanka."
"No, dear. Listen to your husband carefully. Jovanka and I have absolutely no relationship anymore. Our business is finished.
"She is now a stranger. Maybe she was my wife for six years in the past, but now Adaline Scott Quirino is my only wife.
"I have promised that there will be no other women in our marriage. And I will keep that vow."
"But Al..."
"No 'buts'." Altezza didn't want to be opposed. "My business with Jovanka is over, period."
"Do you still love her?" Adaline tried to investigate her husband's expression, but couldn't guess it. "Because I know that she still loves you."