Chapter 97: Chapter 97

I waited until Dr. Vergara came back. Her eyes flew wide as she saw me holding a record of another patient.

“Miss Yen, this is not allowed. All records must be confidential,” she explained politely, even though her voice didn’t conceal her being upset with me.

“I understand, doc, but he is my husband. So, if you tell me everything, that would save him from my lifetime hatred.”

The doctor sighed, but she began telling me a little about Zed.

“He’s been with me for a couple of months already. However, I believe that the reason he’s not improving yet is because of the secrets he hides from you. If you want to know more, talk to him.”

I hurried out of the doctor’s clinic. And for the first time in 6 months, I stepped into the place that created my best memories with Zed. The grass had grown tall, and dried leaves filled the lawn. But it looked like no one was living here anymore.

I had no choice but to call Ara and asked for a video call. In a few seconds, she was already shrieking -- too happy to see me again!

“How are you, Yen? I am already sulking. You haven’t answered my calls and messages for a long time already.”

“I’m sorry, Ar. How’s the baby?”

Ara moved the camera and focused it on the baby taking his baby steps on the lawn. And I felt a pang of pain wrapping my heart when I saw that the man holding him was Zed. He looked happy and was even laughing now and then. Perhaps, he had already forgotten about me. I then wondered how he would be as a father if our daughter had lived.

“Ar, it looks like Zed, and you have become closer to each other. I’m happy for both of you.”

“Silly girl! Zed attended a convention here, so he brought the baby with him. And besides, I am already settled here, so the baby can already stay with me."

“Are you sure there’s nothing special?”

Ara moved the camera again and focused it on a handsome guy beside her. “Yen, meet Alex, my boyfriend. He’s the lawyer that handles Mr. Yuki’s businesses here. We already have wedding plans, so be here at our wedding as my matron of honor.”

The man waved at me, but Ara moved the camera back to her.

“How’s Tim?”

“I’ve heard he’s back in his hometown, driving a motorcycle for a living.”

I sighed and shook my head. Who would ever expect that Tim, who aspired to become rich, had then returned to his old life? But Ara, who chose peace and freedom for Tim and Maezy, had been rewarded with a good life.

“Ar, can you please  tell Zed that I want to talk to him?”

____

After three days, I went to Zed’s house again. This was the day he promised to talk to me. To my surprise, the garden was clean again, and the plants were all trimmed. Perhaps expecting my arrival, Zed opened the door right away, but he didn’t come out to meet me. He was standing in the living room, waiting for me to come inside.

“Hi,” I said, pursing a smile. I felt so awkward, especially when the memories of how Zed had loved and cared for me flashed in my mind again.

“Hi. Please sit down.”

I hated him at that moment. I knew he could speak so well, but at this time, he waited for me to initiate the conversation.

“I went to Dr. Vergara and accidentally saw your record. I just want to apologize for not listening to you back then -- for accusing you.”

“It’s in the past," he chuckled, "but I admit that it hurt like hell. However, I had thought it’s the easier way to let you go. Or, the easier way for you to leave me.”

Moved by his words, I stood up immediately and threw my arms around him. And at that moment, I poured out my regrets into a bitter sob. Zed cried with me, but we both laughed afterward.

“I joined an investigation unit at that time, and we were sent to Japan. A syndicate penetrated the country, and reports had pointed to Mr. James Mori as the mastermind. So we disguised our presence there as delegates of a convention that took place in the hotel where Mr. James Mori frequented.”

“It so happened that our lookout saw him dragging a woman inside a room. But, of course, we couldn’t stop him if he paid for a woman. That was not the violation that concerned us. But then the lookout insisted that we should do something.”

“I felt uneasy, so I insisted on barging into the room. But I’m sorry, we were already too late.”

“I hid you from the authorities and transported you through our private plane. When I saw that the incident affected you so much, I got frightened that the process would torture you mentally and emotionally. So I begged at my friend to give you time to heal. And that's the reason why I kept the evidence.”

“But don’t worry, I already gave it to Kim, including the video footage.”

“How did Maezy come into the picture?” I asked, despite the sobs that choked my words.

“She was your recruiter, so we threatened her so that she should cooperate. We needed your VISA and passport that she kept illegally instead of giving them to you.  Aside from that, she was there inside the room, taking video of the crime.”

“Why was she there?” I asked, too confused already.

“Because she was Mr. James Mori’s girlfriend. That was the video she used to threaten him."

I broke into a sob again, feeling so sorry that I had accused the wrong person. Of all people out there, despite his goodness to me, why did I ever doubt him?

When I finally stopped crying, Zed held me at arm’s length. “Put everything behind and be happy with your new family. I know Mr. Mori loves you as much as I do.”

I cried even louder and said, “You’re one in a million, Zed. I could never find someone like you. Not even Kim.”

“Thank you. You’re also God’s best gift to me.”

“What will you do now?” I asked, unable to keep myself from worrying about him.

He smiled and patted my head. “I will still go through the process of healing and forgetting, but that’s life. Still hoping that someday, I’ll be able to move on.”

I hugged Zed again, and he also held me tight. I wanted to kiss him for the last time, but he only pressed his lips on my temple. He never took the opportunity to do what he would have wanted to do to me. He respected the fact that I was no longer his wife.

A realization hit me at that moment -- that even if Zed had a flaw and couldn’t give me the sexual satisfaction I yearned -- that failure could never outweigh the fact that I was too lucky to have married a man such as him. Sexual pathologies can always be treated if we seek professional management. And it wasn’t Zed who failed in this marriage, but me.

Zed treated me to dinner for the last time, but after I put my cutleries down, I heard the sound of a car’s engine stopping in front of the house. We then heard knocks on the door, and Zed stood up to open it.

My eyes grew wide when I saw Kim standing by the doorway. But Zed turned to me and said,

“It’s time for you to start all over again.”