14

14.

With many things running through his mind, Malik returns back to the kind family at the dining table.

He kept a straight face while she cried like a child about not seeing her family, but he knows that there is more to it than what she just said.

This is a grown lady of about twenty-six years who can't have her privacy, his old man is up her business and it's the most disgusting thing he has heard of lately.

He knows that his father made her marry his stupid brother, but he didn't think that this was the case, anyway, he is going to have a conversation about this with his father.

He sits at the table and the small conversation going on between the family comes to an end as everyone turns their attention to him.

"So, is she fine? She almost gave me a scare. " Anna sighs. " What's up with her?"

"Don't worry too much, Edna is fine. " He brightens up his face with a smile, to make his tale more believable.

"She seems like she had something on her mind. " Ji says.

"Oh, yes, she does. " Malik agrees. " She is always working so hard and she hardly has time for herself. "

"Oh, she is such a strong woman. " Lucy comments with a smile.

"She is. " Malik nods. " She is one of the pillars of the company and we wouldn't have gotten to where we are without her. "

" That's just great. " Mister Kim Soo says. " I wish my sons would find wives like that. "

Young and Ji exchange glances and smiles, and Malik can't help but smile too. His father would say the same, but he would totally prefer a woman who would shrink in his presence as Edna does.

"Please, let's eat on," Malik suggests. " It's no cause to worry, Edna is going to be fine. "

"I will make sure fresh portions are kept for her so that she doesn't get too hungry when she wakes up. " Lucy says.

"Good idea, my dear wife. " Mister Kim Soo smiles.

******

Edna can't contain her happiness. She can't believe that she is holding Malik's phone in her hands.

She can't believe that she will be able to speak to her parents for as long as she can.

She bolts her door and walks into the bathroom and shuts the door.

She sits on the toilet seat and dials her Dad's phone number. She has had it in her head since she was a kid.

It rings a few times and then someone picks up. She wipes her shaky hands on her thighs and tries to steady her fluttering heart.

"Hello?"

She almost breaks into tears as soon as she hears that voice.

It's her Dad, the same voice she used to hear when she was younger. The voice that encouraged her, the voice that disciplined her, the voice that told her that she would grow up to be someone great one day.

A tear slips from her eye and trickles down the side of her face. She sniffs and places her index finger against the corner of her eye to keep any more tears from coming out.

"Dad?" She croaks, her voice is so ladened with emotions.

"Edna?!" His voice sounds so bruised and beaten down.

"Yes, Dad, yes, it's me. " She laughs and cries at the same time.

Her father laughs at the other end of the phone. She is so happy to hear his voice and she knows that it's a mutual feeling.

"Hold on, child. Let me get your mother and the rest. How long do you have left?" He asks.

She dips her head down and presses the phone tightly in her hands. It has always been like that, they never had enough phone time with her.

"Don't worry Dad, I have all the time in the world. " She smiles.

"Are you sure honey? We don't want to get Mister Jackson all mad at you. "

" Well, Mister Jackson isn't here and he can't listen to our conversation. " She tells him. " I borrowed someone's phone and that means that we can have free conversations and for as long as we like. "

There is a beat, her father is too lost to utter a word.

" Wow. " He says when he finally speaks. " How is this possible?"

" Long story, Dad, but the good thing is that I can speak to you guys now. " She notes.

She hears loud exciting talks around her dad and it makes her smile with happiness. Her mum, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew must have come to the phone.

"Edna! " Her mother is so close to tears. " Edna, how are you?!"

"I'm fine, Mama. " She answers. " How are Doreen and the kids?"

"Doreen is here, but the kids went to school. " Her mother answers.

"Doreen, speak to your sister. " Her mother hands the phone over to Doreen, her sister-in-law.

" Doreen?" Edna clutches the phone with both of her hands as if to get closer to the other side.

" Sister Edna, oh my God. "Doreen's voice quivers.

"Stop it, Doreen. " Edna rebukes her. " You know that you will have to stay strong for Papa, Mama, Natasha, Augustus, AND Philip. "

At the mention of the last name, Philip, Doreen breaks into tears. Edna sighs and closes her eyes, she is trying not to cry herself.

Philip is her brother who is currently on life support, he has been on life support for the past four years and it's only with the generous help of Mister Jackson that he is still alive.

" Philip moved. " Doreen cried. " Philip moved his finger the other day, he did. "

"What?! He did?!" Edna's eyes bulge.

"Yes, Edna, it's a miracle. " Her mother adds from the other side.

Edna places the phone on her chest and throws her head back. More and more tears slip out and run down the corner of her face.

She returns the phone to her ear and wipes her tears away.

"Praise God, then. " She heaves. " Thanks to him who is good and benevolent. "

"And thanks to you, Edna. "Doreen insists. " Philip would have long been dead if it wasn't for a sister like you. We owe you our lives. "

"Oh, please, you don't. " She waves off with a modest smile. " Any one of you would have done the same for me."

"Are you sure you don't have to go, Edna? " Her mother sounds worried. " We don't want you to get in trouble with your family. "

Edna feels a tightening in her chest. She twists her mouth to the side, but she doesn't say anything.

It's odd to hear her mother referring to the Jacksons as her family when they are the only ones she considers as family.

"No mum. " She calmly replies. " I already told you guys, I can talk for as long as you guys want. "

"Well, that's great. " Her mother truly sounds happy. " Gus always told us that he would like to sing this song for you and he hasn't had the chance to. "

Edna smiles.

"Sure, I think I can stick to that. "

"Papa went to pick them up already, they will be here really soon. "

"I've got you guys, I'm here. " She smiles.

*****

Edna missed her family, but she had no idea that she would be speaking to them for three hours straight.

Those three hours were full of talking, crying, laughing, and just the pure joy of spending time with the people she loves.

At the end of the call, she had made her mind up with one thing. She is not going to give up on them.

If she will have to keep up being the trophy wife, she is going to do that. She is going to endure it all so that her brother would get the help he needs and her parents would have access to good health care. Her brother's family will be happy too, she doesn't mind sacrificing her head for that.

She drops the call with a heaviness in her heart because she doesn't know if she will have the opportunity to do it again, but she doesn't forget to tell them just how much she loves them.

Her butt feels numb as she walks out of the bathroom. Coincidentally, Anna is getting into the room with a tray of food in her head.

"Hey, Edna. " Anna offers her a smile. " I brought you some food, so you don't have to come out. "

"Wow, thank you so much. That's very thoughtful of you. " Edna appreciates.

Anna finds a suitable place and sets it down.

"Have you seen Malik?" Edna asks her.

Anna looks lost for a moment, her eyes are deep in thoughts.

"Malik? He left hours ago, right after dinner. " Anna tells her.

"He did?" Edna asks with surprise. Why would he do that when he left his phone with her?

"He said he has some important business to attend to, that's why. " Anna explains. " He turned down my dad's offer to spend the night. "

Typical of Malik, that's what she expects him to do. But what is she to do now that she has his phone?