Chapter 56 I need you here
~After A Week~
Anita ghosted Arthur again, leaving him extremely worried. He’d wait at the office for her to show up until late night.
He barely even had time for the boys, and this was beginning to get to him.
‘Maybe this is a sign that I shouldn’t get involved with her. I’ve always wanted her to stay away. Why am I worried now?’ He thought, staring at the numerous messages he left her on iMessage, which she saw and refused to reply.
He felt angry at himself for worrying so much about her after he promised himself never to do it again.
He headed back home from the office and met the boys playing in the living room with Theo.
Usually, the boys would run to him and embrace him, but this time, they were cold to him.
“What’s wrong boys?” He asked, and Ryan folded his arms around his chest, staring at the television, pretending not to hear what he said.
“Ryan?” Arthur called, moving closer to him. He wanted to touch him but Ryan moved away.
“No!” They chorused, catching Arthur unaware. He looked at Theo who shrugged and heaved a deep sigh.
“Why are you all mad at me?” Arthur pouted his mouth, squatting in front of them.
“You don’t love us anymore!” Ryan yelled, running out of the living room, heading to their room.
“Riley? Rowan?!” He called, but they followed behind Ryan, and after a few moments, he heard them slam the door shut.
“Oh.” Theo muttered, turning to look at Arthur.
“What’s up with them?” Arthur asked tiredly, settling on the couch.
“You haven’t been talking or playing with them lately. You leave the office very late and most times, they are already asleep. And then you leave very early in the morning while they are preparing for school, and you don’t bother to drop them off. They feel you don’t love them anymore.” Theo explained.
“They told you all that?” Arthur asked in surprise, and he nodded.
“Not only that. They want to discuss their upcoming birthday party plans with you, but you’re always busy. Though they’ve been in touch with Miss Aurora over the phone, they wish you two could plan it together.” Theo added.
“Oh God… I almost forgot their birthday is in less than two weeks. I’m such a horrible father.” Arthur mumbled, running his finger through his slightly tangled hair.
“Are you alright though? You haven’t been yourself lately.” Theo uttered, making Arthur look at him.
“Yea, I am. I have just been pretty busy lately. I have so many things on my mind, but don’t worry. That will stop now. I don’t want my boys to completely hate me.”
“So what are you going to do now? They’re so mad.”
“I’ll try to bribe them with some chocolates. I’ll stay home tomorrow since it’s the weekend. I'll talk to Aurora about their birthday plans. That should make them happy, right?” He asked Theo, and Theo nodded in response.
“Right. You’ve been in touch with Miss Aurora lately?” Theo further asked, reaching for Arthur’s briefcase so he could carry it to his room.
“No. Why?” Arthur answered, unbuttoning his shirt as he stood up and followed behind Theo to his room.
“Well, the boys won’t stop asking if you two are on talking terms. They keep asking about you from Aurora, asking if you two talk well and she keeps lying to them. But that won’t work forever. The boys are pretty smart.”
“Not pretty smart. They are very smart.” Arthur answered with a chuckle.
Theo took a half and looked at Arthur from above his shoulder. “Don’t you miss her?” He inquired.
“Aurora?” Arthur answered and Theo nodded.
Just when Arthur opened his mouth to speak, the doorbell rang. They both looked towards the door with furrowed brows.
“That is from the gate.” Theo uttered. “Who could it be? It’s past 9 .p.m.” he added.
“I’ll get it. You can go ahead and drop the briefcase in my room.” Arthur said, walking to the door with his shirt unbuttoned.
Stepping out of the house, the cool breeze hit his chest, lifting his shirt as he walked towards the gate.
“Who is it?” He asked as soon as he got closer.
“Arthur.” He heard Anita’s voice, and his eyes popped wide open.
“Anita? What the hell are you doing here? It’s late! How did you even find my house?” He bombarded her with questions as he was about to open the door.
Opening the door, his jaw dropped. What he saw terrified him.
Anita’s body and face was covered with so many reddish marks, just like he saw on her neck the other day.
The corner of her lips was covered in clotted blood and she was panting heavily, like she couldn’t breathe properly.
“Oh God, Anita!” Arthur called in terror and she fell into his arms.
“I… I am in pain.” She stuttered, holding onto Arthur’s firmly so she wouldn’t fall.
“What the hell happened?” Arthur inquired, still very terrified. Helping her into his compound, he peeped out to see if she was being followed.
When he confirmed she was alone, he locked the gate. He grabbed her by the waist, standing at her side as a support. She could barely stand on her own.
“Did he do this?” He asked, his voice filled with anger and compassion for her state of health.
Tears rolled down Anita’s eyes and she refused to say a word. All she did was pant very hard.
Getting into the house, Arthur helped her to the couch. “Theo! Get the first aid box!” Arthur yelled from the living room.
“What’s going on?” Theo rushed to the living room from the boys’ room and found a young lady lying on the couch, covered in red marks.
“What the hell!”
“Hurry!” Arthur yelled, and he hastily nodded, running to the store to get the first aid box.
“Dad?” Ryan called, causing Arthur to look away from Anita for the first time.
“Ryan, please go back to your room. I don’t want you to see this.” Arthur answered, but Ryan stood still.
“Who is she? Is she okay?” He answered worriedly.
“She’s fine, okay? Please go back to your room.” Arthur uttered. Theo returned with the box and placed it on the couch.
“Take the boys back to their room.” He said to Theo, and Theo nodded, leading them back to their room, even though he had so many questions.
‘Who is she? Why is she in such a terrible state? Why did she come to the house instead of the hospital? Why is Mr Arthur so worried about her?’
But he saved all these questions for when Arthur was ready for them.
Arthur gave her some pain killers before he began to apply ointment on her wounds. He cleaned off the blood at the corner of her lips with a cotton board and then applied some disinfectant.
After a short while, Anita’s breathing regulated, calming Arthur down a little bit.
She stared into his eyes weakly, watching him stare at her. “What happened?” He asked, and she shook her head.
“I… don’t want to talk about it now. Can I please spend the night here? I can’t go back to that house, or I’ll be dead.”
Her words confirmed Arthur’s suspicions. The man that came to his office to threaten him probably lived in the same house with her and has been maltreating her.
But he didn’t understand some things. ‘Who is he to her? Why can’t she leave the damn house?!’
“Yes, you can spend the night here. But tomorrow, you have to tell me what happened.” Arthur said to her, and she nodded, letting out a faint smile.
“Thank you so much.” She raised her hand slowly and cupped his face.
Arthur gulped hard and heaved a sigh. “Let’s get you into one of the rooms. This couch isn’t very comfortable.” He uttered, standing up.
He grabbed her hand and gently pulled her up, putting her weight on him again.
“Argh!” She groaned as she managed to stand on her two legs.
“I can’t do this. I’ll just stay here.” She mumbled, shaking her head. Arthur looked at her legs and saw that they could hardly stay firm.
“The couch isn’t comfortable. I’ll carry you.” Arthur suggested, and Anita nodded slowly.
Arthur lifted her in a bridal manner and she smiled softly, holding onto his back as he carried her to the stairs.
Anita hid her face in his chest as he climbed up the stairs. He took her to one of the guest rooms and laid her on the bed.
“You’re still as caring as ever.” She complimented in a soft manner as she watched him tuck her in.
Arthur said no words and continued trying to make the room conducive for her.
He turned on the air conditioner and placed the remote on the bedside table, where she could easily reach it.
“You can turn it off if it gets too cold. I’ll leave now.” He uttered and turned to leave, but Anita grabbed his hand, causing him to stop.
“I… I don’t think I want to be alone tonight. I can’t stop seeing the look on his face when he threw punches at me. I’m terrified, Arthur. Please stay with me.” She mumbled, tightening her grip on his hand.
He stared at her hand and her pitiful face speechlessly.
“Please, Arthur. I need you here.”