Chapter 43: Deborah
After having a quickie with Austin down the hall, I smoothened out my dress and turned to walk out, cat_walking into the corridor. Actually, I have just arrived at the hospital and couldn't control my sexual urge. I searched around for Austin, I dragged him down the hall and he was as happy as I was to quench my thirst. Now, I need to see that queen of the west and her friend before searching for Michael. I step out of the elevator and walk down the hall to Nina's ward.
Her parents were standing near the window holding each other with tears in their eyes. A little boy was sleeping on a couch close by.
I snorted at them "Oh you Nina, aren't you a lucky girl. Both your parents and brother are all around you with your friends " I schooled my expression into a sad face as I forced tears into my eyes. I ran up to them screaming silently afraid of waking the little boy. "Oh my! Oh my! Nina, why? What happened to her sir, ma'am?" I screamed with tears streaming down my face. Nina's parents were shocked as they stood looking at me surprised.
"I'm sorry, who are you? Do you know my daughter?"
Nina's father said, looking up at me as he tried to wipe the tears away from his eyes.
"I'm so sorry sir, I'm Deborah Melton, Nina's friend and neighbour" I said while praying in my heart that Nina didn't tell her parents about me.
"friend? Neighbour? Nina's fathers asked shocked as he watched me curiously" she has never told me about a neighbour friend" I sighed heavily as I turned to look at her covered in bandages. Though, my heart bled for her but I never regret what we did. "Nina, I hope you are happy wherever you are now. I hope in your next life, you will not seduce another woman's husband. This should be a lesson to you. I never wanted to do this to you but I had never had a stable family. My dad is always changing wives and I don't even know who my mother is. See, who will accept a woman like me in this condition but only Michael. I've always wanted him since we were young. Everything was fine until you came along and changed him, I can't step back and do nothing, hope you understand. Moreover, I did warn you that the battle line has been drawn" I said in my heart by shedding fake tears. Her parents were trying to console me probably wondering what to do to me since I've been crying uncontrollably.
"Deborah Melton?" A shocked voice exclaimed as I turned around to look at the person who seemed to know me. A young man with golden hair stood with arms akimbo watching me while I searched my brains for where I might know him. Maybe he's a fan. "I'm sorry do I know you?" I asked him sniffling as I searched my bag for a handkerchief to clean my eyes.
"Yes, not in person actually " he replies as he walk closer to me stretching forth his hands "I'm Andrea, manager of Lush Beauty"
I took his hands in mind shaking them with a smile on my face" Nice to meet you, Mr. Andrea. You are right, I've heard so much about you for Michael but this is my first time seeing you".
He smiled as he turned to say something to Nina's parents before coming back to where I stood watching Nina "Come let me show you to Lillian's ward. I trust you will want to say hello to her too" He said guiding me into the elevator while I quietly followed him wondering in my heart where Michael could be, maybe he's with Danny. I did see his car in the parking lot when I arrived.
"We are here" Andrea's voice pulled me out of my thoughts as I strolled out of the elevator into the private ICU where Lillian was. Danny was sitting beside her holding her hands and watching her sleep.
I felt sympathy for Danny. He has always been good to me ever since I've known him. Though I hated Lilian, I wouldn't have wished this on her. She never really offended me just by being Nina's friend and I can't take that away from her. Hope she wakes up soon. "The doctor said, she's alright and the baby is good," Andrea's voice called out to me. I turned to look at him. A sad smile grace his lips as he left my side at the window and walk in " I need to say hello to Danny"
I nodded at him. I sat down on the chair across the room and took out my phone to put a call through to Michael.
He picked up on the third ring, his voice sounded cold and distant with a curt "Hello"
Tears sprang immediately to my eyes as I wondered why he was behaving this way with me " Michael, are you all right?"
"Why did you call Deborah?" Michael said, ignoring my question.
I forced back the tears as I sniffled into the phone "I'm at the hospital to see Nina and Lillian. I was wondering where you are so that we could go home together" I said as I braced my overly beating heart for his response. "Really? That's great then" Michael replied with a lack of enthusiasm " I'm not at hospital. I left earlier"
"Oh! Okay. I
"The phone went dead in my hands before I could complete my sentence. What's going on?.
"Do you want to come in?" Danny's sad voice brought me out of my thoughts as I looked up at him. His eyes were red and puffy while his shirt was rolled up at the sleeves. My heart reached out to him as I nodded slowly and stood up to follow him into Lillian's room. We were standing side-by-side beside her bed while Andrea stood across from us holding Lillian's hand tightly. I swallow the lumps of tears in my throat as I force myself away from the sight.
"I'm sorry, you have to go through this. I wish this never had to happen" I whispered to Danny sad for him. Danny was the only person apart from Michael who accepted me with all my flaws when no one wanted to be associated with me. That's why I'm feeling sorry for him. "Pardon, what did you say?" Danny asked as he turned to look at me.
"I said I'm sorry that you had to go through this" I repeated the words I had whispered to him.
Danny smiled, his eyes glinting with sadness as his eyes went back to look at Lilian with so much affection "I feel so sad for Nina. We don't even know what's wrong with her. Have you been to see her?"
"Yes" I replied " Her parents were there. That's too bad. How did all of this happen?"
"No one knows. She is the only one who could tell us but now she's no longer of this world. I feel so bad for Michael" Danny lamented bitterly.
"Speaking of Michael, I need to go see him and console him. I could never imagine what he is going through right now knowing how much Nina meant to him" I replied softly as I turned to walk out of the room but Andrea's cold voice stopped me on my track as I turned to glare at him.
"If you knew how much Nina meant to him. Why did you push through with the wedding?" Andrea asked me Coldly. I never would have imagined that he was the same man I met at Nina's ward. Another Nina's die hard fan I guess.
I put on my dramatic look and sad face as I turned to stare at him slowly, willing tears into my eyes " I did try. I stopped all communication with Michael " I replied as I sniffed fake tears from my eyes.
"But what to do when his parents were adamant on getting us married. I was prepared to raise my child alone but his mom refused when I told her of my plans" I sobbed uncontrollably as Danny came over to console me with a pitiful look in his eyes.
"I'm sorry. I know none of you like me but believe me, I never hate Nina enough as to wish death on her. Right now, I'm praying for her to come back. You won't believe how much I missed her" I said as I turned to walk out of the room after seeing the pitiful look on each of their eyes.
"Way to go Deborah Melton. That was such an Oscar performance" I said, praising myself as I walked into the elevator. If only I knew I would be so good at acting. I would have ventured into it more than modelling.
I walked out of the elevator into the parking lot to see that Michael's car was no longer in the spot it was when I had arrived.
I huffed and got into my car as I drove all the way to his parent's. Wondering in my heart, what could have changed him from being loving and caring one minute to cold and distant the next minute?.
"Maybe seeing Nina lying lifeless in the hospital had triggered some sort of emotions in him" I whispered to myself as I shrugged.
My phone ringing pulled me out of my thoughts as I turned to pick it up only to discover that it was my dad calling. In my rush to get to Austin's house this morning has made me forget to put a call through to him. I'm sure he must be dying to know what happened. "Hello dad," I called slowly into the phone not wanting to sound too happy or sad.
"Deborah. What's going on?" Dad asked, suspicion laced his voice as I rolled my eyes at him.
"What do you mean dad?" I asked him as I avoided his question. Dad can be a pain in the ass sometimes but I still adore him.
"Did you have anything to do with Nina and Lillian's accident?"
"What? How could you say that, dad?. I was at home with Michael's cook when the accident happened. I don't know anything, I only did find out on the news" I replied hastily as I pulled into Michael's parents mansion.
"I'm just asking considering how much you've always hated her," Dad said as I imagined him shrugging from frustration. I'm sure he regret sacking Nina though he did it to please me.
"I didn't do anything to her. Though, I hated her but I would never wish death on her. I have to go now, I'm at Michael's parents " I replied, preparing to hang up the call.
"Okay dear. Extend my greetings to Daniel and Diana. And your mom says hi" Dad said and hung up. I sigh heavily as I retouched my make up briefly before stepping out of the car.
I was shone into the garden by Maria. I smiled at her as she walked back into the mansion while I waited patiently for Michael's mom who has always been on my side.
Michael's mom stepped out of the door looking frail and tired. Her eyes were red and puffy like she's been crying. I stood up in a rush and went over to guide her slowly to the couch across from mine.
"Are you alright, Diana?" I asked her softly after she was seated on the couch.
"Yes. I'm just sad about Nina's accident" Diana replied as I raised my eyebrow at her shock. Why is she sad about that? She never liked Nina or has she changed her mind?
I pushed the thoughts out of my mind as I watched her with caution " Why, Diana?"
"Nothing. I just feel guilty. Like I've been harsh on her. I mean she never really offended me " Diana said as I looked at her surprised. I can't believe what she's saying right now.
"What do you mean? She seduced Michael into falling in love with her" I shouted at her. She looked at me surprised by my outburst. I smiled sadly at her, as I tried to calm my heart.
Diana continued as she pretended not to hear my outburst" Deborah, I've come to realise that nobody can force love. The only crime she ever committed was loving my son. You and I both know that love is not a crime, if it was then all of us will be guilty of it. I wish she would wake up, she said shrugging. I stood up abruptly, taking my bag with me.
"Are you leaving so soon? Wait for lunch " She asked me shocked.
"Yes. I won't be able to do that, I need to go see my parents' ' I lied to her as I turned to walk out of the garden. I can't believe what I'm hearing.
To think that I came here to report Michael to her. Here she was repenting of crimes against Nina. I angrily got into my car and pulled out of the driveway, diving to the only person that loved me more in the world.
Safely in the comfort of my car, I let the tears fall as I cried for real this time " I hope you rot in hell Nina. I hope you never wake up. I hate you! I hate you so much" I screamed as tears streamed down my face.0000