Chapter 30: Chapter 30

She was somewhat relieved that the caller was Hart, and immediately answered.

“Baby, are you fine?”

“Yeah, I have just seen the doctor.” She tried to sound as natural as she could. She didn’t need Hart to worry about her unnecessarily.

“I won’t be able to see you tonight. I have a proposal that needs to be submitted first thing Monday morning. And tonight, I have a meeting with-”

He didn’t complete his sentence, but Myra felt strongly that Hart was keeping things from her. Something he had promised her not to in the past. But she couldn’t blame him, after how she had kissed Jake behind his back. She also knew that his job was extremely important to him.

“Thanks for sending me to the hospital, Hart.”

The line went silent, although Hart hadn’t disconnected the call. She heard nothing for minutes after that, until finally Hart responded.

“I have to go. I’ll call you later, Myra.”

This time, the call clicked. Myra put down her cell phone with a heavy heart. Was it karma? It was punishing her because she had indecent thoughts about Jake. Like everyone said, karma would come to bite her back on the butt. If only, she could reverse time. Then everything could have turned out differently. Maybe she shouldn’t have gone on that trip, otherwise, she wouldn’t be feeling so conflicted and terrible right now.

Myra was absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard someone open the door and come into the room. At first, she figured it was the nurse earlier, but his familiar deep voice gave her a slight jolt.

“Jake?”

He had put on a navy sweater and trendy black jeans. After not hearing from him in two weeks, she wondered what was the occasion for his sudden visit. Her chest twitched warmly as if anticipating his embrace.

“Myra, I’m sorry for neglecting you for so long. There were affairs I needed to take care of, before we could proceed with our marriage.”

Marriage? So this was why he had come to see her? Then, it dawned upon her that she hadn’t told Hart about her impending marriage to Jake. She needed to get the truth out to Hart, and quickly.

Jake focused on her, contemplating how he had spent the entire two weeks away from Myra. First off, he had been sick for a number of days, after standing in the rain. He got his chauffeur to send Myra home later, with an excuse, but when she didn’t call for some time, he knew she needed some space.

Then, Yuna had returned. But it wasn’t for long, before she told him she would be leaving for her new programme. He didn’t find it suspicious that she was flying again soon with her pregnancy, but she claimed to have a doctor’s letter supporting her travels, and he couldn’t be bothered. Having her gone from his eyes was his best therapy. She gave him such a headache when she was around.

He sensed she had lost her interest in him recently, following some dissatisfactory remarks from his father. His father insisted she was not good for him, and came up with the suggestion to take care of her pregnancy until she gave birth and then after that, Jake would claim full custody of her child and give her a vast sum of money.

For the first weeks that they lived separately, she had given him some annoying calls, but after that, she promptly gave up and went on with her own life. He sent her handsome sums of money, which he believed she should be satisfied with.

This time, he gave her a lot more and told her to take care of herself. She should be able to pamper herself excessively with what he had given her.

For one week after that, he kept his mind preoccupied to abstain from thinking of Myra, but she didn’t call. Having no choice, he went over to visit her and had a faceoff with Hatta Baderan. The man didn’t say much, but he could tell something was wrong. Ignoring him, he pushed open the door to find a collapsed almost-nude Myra on the bed.

In his anger, he had attempted to punch the man, but the man was strong and evaded his blows easily. Hart even tried to talk some sense into him, but he wouldn’t have it. In the end, he said to Jake, “Hey, you have all the time in your life, but I don't. I have to go, so if you would, please help me bring my girlfriend to the hospital. She couldn’t wake up no matter how many times I called her.”

Damn, the man was so irresponsible! He slammed his fist on the wall, but Hart was nowhere to be seen. What kind of boyfriend just dumped his girl on another man expecting him to do something that he should do? Wasn’t he concerned about his girl at all?

And that was how he had sent Myra to the hospital. She didn’t need to know, but he was concerned for her well-being. The two weeks of not seeing her actually bore deep into his soul, like something was missing from his life, but it was nothing compared to how he felt the months she vanished from his life. It prompted him to make a change for the better.

“Myra, are things going well for you in this first-class suite?”

She didn’t know how to answer him other than with a nod. She just wanted to get home as quickly as possible, and be away from this place. Hadn’t the nurse said she would be discharged? She would be glad to.

“How’s my father?” she asked, putting an end to the silence encompassing them. Jake answered confidently while striving not to create any worry for her.

“He’s been well. In no time, he should make a speedy recovery. Although he can’t talk or move much, he should be able to recognise you.”

“Let’s hope for the best,” she sighed. “But what brings you here?”

“I’m just checking up on you.”

She looked puzzled. How did he even know she was hospitalised? It was only a number of hours since she ended in the hospital, but he had already caught a whiff of it. Did he have such a wide radar that anything that happened to her could not pass his magical eyes?

“I heard you were taken to hospital.” He didn’t want to reveal too much about what he had done, especially after that brawl with his love rival. Only that Hatta Baderan didn’t seem much of a competitor at this stage, more like someone needing elimination. But if she was going to get married to Jake after all, he had already won. There wasn’t a reason for her to continue her relationship with Hart anymore if she was Jake’s wife.

“Jake, about our marriage…” She spoke her words slowly and carefully.

“Yes, have you made a decision?”

She pursed her lips, gathering her courage to say the words that would determine the future she had with the both of them. She hadn’t spared it much thought, but she sincerely hoped Jake would agree.

“I would like to propose that the two of us get into a political marriage.”

His jaw dropped. “But why, Myra?”

“You know the answer, Jake, You have Yuna and a child with her. I can’t interfere with that or your past. Regardless if you love her now or then, rice has been cooked into porridge. It’s already a reality. What I can ask for, is your help for me to save my father’s businesses. It means a lot to me, Jake.”

He took her hand slowly, staring into her emotional eyes.

“I will help you, Myra. No matter if you accept or reject me in future.”

It hurt when she had rejected him that night. But even then, he couldn’t bring himself to deny her of the assistance she needed. Her father’s businesses were more than that. Alfred Yang had a woman and the woman had a daughter. And then, there were the employees and other partners of his businesses. He couldn’t be so heartless and selfish to push Myra and the others into poverty.

“And about the political marriage…”

He continued to hold on to her hand, clutching it to his chest. “If that’s what you want, Myra, I agree to have an agreement drawn up for that purpose. And one day if you change your mind, that position in my heart will always be open for you. I missed the chance with you once, Myra. I can’t let that happen again. I’ll wait for you.”

Her eyes brimmed with tears. Jake took her in his warm embrace rather instantaneously.

“Myra, I know I hurt you before. But people change. I changed. From now on, I will only give you the best. I genuinely do care for you, Myra, even if it means giving up anything for you. No matter how hard it takes, I’ll help you. I’ll not let you down.”

She bawled loudly, holding on to him tightly. At her most vulnerable moment, she now had Jake, who was the answer to her problems. While she would always be sorry to Hart. She needed Jake, but Hart was the person she owed too much.

They found their way to each others’ lips once more, forgetting every of their worries and pain as they melted in their ensuing kisses. It was a tight spot for her, being in between both men, even if Myra knew who her heart truly wanted. But it was fate who would have the last say.

While entwined with Jake in the solitude of her private suite, she thought once more about the report from the doctor she had left folded in her bag.