Chapter 33: Chapter 33

Chloe Montclair

"Y'all seem not to like her that much." I decided to chime in. It's hard trying to keep my cool off when they say bad things about me like this.

I've been clenching and unclenching my fist since and It's hard to act like everything is cool but too bad, I can't even burst out else, they'll find out who I am and hate me for the rest of my life for lying and deceiving them. Also, Ken will be in danger too... I can't seem to do that to him. He's done enough for me.

"Like you said? Like is an understatement... I never liked that girl ever since the news about her getting out. Look Vivian, you need to be very careful out there. I heard, she's dangerous too... I do not want her to hurt you since she's out of prison now."

"Mom! She's not even a monster! How can she hurt Vivian like that? Stop being ridiculous." Janet said rolling her eyes.

"You crazy girl! Are you supporting that ill girl over your mother?."

"Mom, I might not like her but, I don't hate her either."

"Janet is right. Besides, she's not a member of this family so, we shouldn't be troubled about her this much. She means nothing to us." Mrs. Domanco commented.

"Yes, Aunt is right. Let's just forget about that girl." Janet said.

I wanted to say something but all of a sudden, out of nowhere... I felt someone's hand on mine and drag me up from my seat. "Ken! What are you doing? How can you drag her up like that? She's a lady and not a man like you." His mom scolds him.

"I think, we've spent enough time with you guys. We have to go home. I also have to drop her at home too."

"But, she's not complaining, right? Besides, you two can stay for the night here and leave tomorrow morning. We still have a lot of catch-ups to do with her." His mom protested.

"Catch up you said, mom. This is nothing like catching up. Y'all have been here talking about some girl and you called this catch-up?."

"Hey! Why are you taking this personal? We are only having a conversation that has nothing to do with any of us." Janet defended themselves as she pointed her index finger at him. "That reminds me, I heard she was brought to your prison premises years ago... Don't tell me, you've been having secret affairs with that lunatic girl and that's why you're taking her side this much." She said as she and her mom including Ken's mom fixed their gaze intently at him.

No, this is not turning out well at all. I have to do something.

"Ouch!" I suddenly exclaimed.

"What's it? Are you okay, Vivian?." I got all of their attention including Ken too who was right beside me.

"Are you okay?." He asked in a calm tone even though, his eyes says it all. He's worried too.

"My stomach, it hurts." I lied.

"Oh my goodness! Why are you there standing like a robot? Take her up to one of the rooms and lay her down there... I will call the doctor to check up on her." His mom said in a worried tone.

Okay, all I wanted to do is lie to them by pretending to have a stomach ache so I can leave here but, why am I feeling the pain all of a sudden? Why is it hurting so badly?

"You're burning up." Ken said as he placed his palm on my forehead and widened his eyes in horror.

"Ouch!!!" I groaned out in pain again and almost fell but all thanks to Ken who was quick to hold me tightly preventing me from falling. He scoop me up in his arm and rushed up to a room I have no idea of. I could hear his dad's voice and the rest behind us.

He lay me gently on the bed and I wouldn't stop crying. "Ken, it hurt so much." I said with tears flowing down my cheeks.

"You'll be fine. I promise." He clutch my hand tightly in his as he caressed them softly.

"Vivian, not to worry. You'll be fine soon. The doctor is on his way coming. It's going to take less than 5 minutes for him to arrive here." His mom said to me in a worried tone while I still lay there groaning in pain.

"Don't worry, Vivian. You'll be fine. Good that uncle has doctors stay close to us... So, you'll be fine. I promise."

I can't help but think about it. They all cared for me so much without knowing my true identity. They love and cared for Vivian but hate and resent Chloe for no reason.

How can they have two different personalities towards the same person?

I was still groaning in pain and thinking about their attitudes toward me when a maid brought in the doctor. He check up on me and gave me an injection... That was the last thing I remembered before darkness took over me.

•

"Doctor, are you sure she's okay now? This is the second time you're checking up on her. Can you at least tell us the reason why she was in pain?." I heard several voices but can't open my eyes.

I know, I'm familiar with those voices but, who does it belong to?

"Why was she in severe pain yesterday? You said to give you some time to carry out a test." I heard the second voice say. This same voice, I'm familiar with it... I know who it belongs to- Ken.

But, why is Ken here at my place?

I slowly opened my eyes and found myself in a strange room. No, this doesn't look like my room at all. Turning my head to the right side, I saw a group of people with Ken between them having a deep conversation. They look so serious and worried too... From the look on their faces.

What are they doing here and, where's Christiana?

Where am I?

I tried to recall what happened to me when all of a sudden, it sink into my head. I was with Ken all through yesterday night in his parent's house, we were discussing with his mom and Aunt but, I wasn't okay with that. By lying that I have a stomach ache, it all of a sudden turned into reality.

The doctor came, inject me with something and I slept off without knowing where I was.

And now?! Oh my goodness! Do not tell me it's morning already?!!

Christiana! She's going to skin me alive for this. I didn't drop her a call or a message.

"K... ke... Ken." I called out his name softly. All heads turned to me and they hurriedly move closer to me.

"Vivian, you're awake?." His mom asked in a happy tone as she took hold of my hand in hers.

"Silly girl! You got us all worried." His Aunt hissed as she smack my shoulder at the same time.

"Ouch!"

"Mom!!"

"Aunt!!!!"

"Kate!!!" We all said at the same time.

"Sorry... Did I hurt you again?." She asked me in a worried tone before facing them. "What? Why are you all looking at me like that? I was only worried, that's all." She said pouting.

"Ken, water please." I whispered but loud enough to hear me. They brought in a glass of water and he helped me sit but my back was lying on his chest.

He helped me up as I gulp down the water slowly and when I was done, I saw his father asking the doctor the same question I heard before waking up. "So, what was the cause of her sickness?."

"Sir... She has a very low blood sugar which is very harmful to her health and also, she's developed an ulcer. I think, it has been accumulating in her system for a while now and the effect began to show its effect yesterday night."

"Oh my goodness! You don't eat, Vivian?." Jawad's Aunt asked and all I could do is look down in shame.

Of course, I don't. It has been hard for me especially then in prison when I used to get into a fight with those crazy girls every blessed day. How can I be fine when I can only eat a pack of medium bread just once a day and that will be the only food I got to eat throughout the day since I broke one of the rules and got into a fight?

"Aunt, this is not the right time to scold her as you can see." Ken said.

"So, doctor. What do we do now?."

"For now, she's good to go due to the drip I gave her.. and I will also prescribe some drugs to her too... She needs to take them all without leaving s single one out of it. After then, she can come for a check-up and another test too to know her status. That's all."

"Okay doctor Felix, please do. Before you leave, I'll transfer your payment into your account." Ken's dad said.

"Thank you so much, your excellency. Thank you. " He said with a broad smile written all over his face.

I wonder how much he's going to get from treating me.

"Here is the prescription of the drugs she's going to get. Please, make sure you get them latest at the end of the day. You must begin your medication as soon as possible."

"Thank you, your exce-" I stopped in my mid-sentence and quickly correct myself. "Dad. Thank you so much. I do not know how to thank you enough." I said to him but, my face was fixed on every one of them as I say that.

"It's fine. You don't have to thank us. I'm glad you're fine now. Please, you need to improve your food and immune system too. What if, we were not there with you yesterday? Only God knows what would have happened. Always take care of yourself... Okay?."

"Yes, ma."

"Ma?."

"I mean, mom." I corrected myself.

It's been a long I get to see someone scold me in a motherly manner. Even though, Christiana has always been there for me... She always adds the fact that we're friends at the end.

"So, we will allow you two to talk."

"Okay, mom."

"Take care of yourself." She said and smiled at me before leaving the room with her husband.

"Are you sure, you don't need me?." Janet asked.

"I will be fine, thank you." I gave her a small smile.

"You crazy girl! Ken is here with her so, she will be fine." Her mom smacks her arm before dragging her out.

I can't help but smiled a little. These two won't cease to amaze me. I haven't seen them acted like a mother and daughter rather, they act like sisters.

"How come you ended up like that? You should have at least taken good care of yourself and be cautious too. You made people worry about you." He hissed.

"What?! Are you blaming me now?."

"You should know how to take care of yourself first! Everyone was so worried that it was hard for them to sleep." He said more in an angry tone.

What?! Now, he has the right to be upset at me?

"Wait, are you talking on behalf of them or what? Plus, don't you think, you have no right to be upset at me? You're the cause of everything so, don't you dare get mad at me." I hissed and rolled my eyes at him.

"What?." He scoffed. "You mean, I was the reason why you couldn't eat? Am I now your stomach that would tell you what time to eat and not? Stop being ridiculous right now. You should own up to your mistake and stop blaming others."

"Stop acting like you have no hand in this. You put me in this and now acting like a saint. Who gave out that crazy rules for not giving the prisoners food if they end up fighting? You! You gave that stupid rule and that landed me in what I'm going through right now.