Shanaya's Answer

Today is the day that Caius will come back to hear about my decision. And I already thought about it.

Right now, I am at the hospital garden. Just like before, I am just staring at nothing. I'm sure that Caius will have his way to find me it Dr. Thompson really knows how to mess with my life.

"Listen here, just pick a card. Whatever you like. Just pick but don't show it to me."

"Dr.—"

"Come on, just do it. Don't embarrass me here."

Unfortunately, Dr. Thompson is doing some magic trick and he's forcing me to be the victim of his idiocy.

"You know, I come here to have a peaceful and quiet afternoon. Not to play dumb with you." I snorted, crossing my arms and leaning back to the wheelchair.

"And I am here to hang out with you. Now, pick."

I shake my head in surrender then pick one card. Just like he wanted.

"Then don't tell me what it is," he smiled cheekily. "Now look at it then place it back in whenever you desire."

Okay, I obliged. He scatter the cards on the table then did some kinds of flipping.

"If I guessed right, let's make a deal."

"A deal?"

"Yes, if I picked up your card, you will let me eat with you for lunch." He says confidently.

A smile slowly forms on my lips. "Alright then. If you can guess it right."

My eyes were deeply focus on Dr. Thompson's grinning face and I am very amaze that he can contain such energy. He keeps on coming back to mess with me.

He takes one card out then look at it with one eye then shows it to me. "Is this your card?"

I bit down the laugh that was going to escape from me. Then slowly shook my head. "No, mine was eight of red hearts." I laughed because he brings out a six of black fans.

"No?" His shoulders dropped but I just keep on laughing at him while seeing the disappointment in his eyes. "Damn, I lose." Then he stands up. "I lost our deal, I am going to leave you now."

"Wait." I stopped him from walking out.

"Yes?"

"Stay, you may have lost but that depends on my decision." I stated, raising my head up to look at him. He's a tall man so I really have to adjust my head up high. "It's alright, you can eat lunch with me as long as you buy me the New York cheesecake at the cafeteria."

"Deal! Wait here." Dr. Thompson grins then disappears for a moment. That's an epic face.

He must have been so happy to hear these words from me because these past few days that has gone, I pushed him away.

Maybe they are right, I have to open up.

Nothing will happen if I just let myself be like this.

A few minutes later, Dr. Thompson was carrying a plate of vegetable salad, mashed potatoes, tomato soup, friend chicken, cheeseburger and garlic breads.

"Woah, I told you to just buy a cheesecake." I laughed, helping him set the plates down.

"I said we're having lunch together so you better eat up like me." Dr. Thompson placed the plate of salad in front of me as well as the cheesecake and the mashed potato. Like a mother. He is totally making it easy for me. All I have to do now is just lift my fork and bite. That's it.

"I can do this alone, Dr. Thompson."

"Please, just call me Jonny." He insisted with a laugh. "I don't like it when I'm being called Dr when I'm trying to make friends with someone."

"Make friends? What are we, kindergarten?" I joked.

"Oh, you're joking now?" He looks surprised then continues to laugh. "Keep it up! Smiling and laughing suits you." Jonny started doing some crazy dances causing me to to laugh even harder.

"You look like an idiot." I chuckled, as I lift my fork to taste vegetable then put it inside my mouth. "You want some?" I offered him.

"Sure!" He says, excitedly. "But you should feed it to me."

"Oh never mind." I eat them instead.

"Come on, just one." He uses his puppy eyes to me.

"You look disgusting. Cut that out." I hissed at him.

"Please..." he smiled sheepishly.

"Fine, just one. I'm only doing this because I want you to stop looking at me like that." I muttered, diving my spoon on the tomato soup then lifts it up to his opened mouth.

The spoon was halfway in when a strong grip stopped me from going through. I looked up to see Caius standing there, stopping my hand from feeding Jonny. He had a smile on his face but you can sense the coldness in it.

There is something evil behind it.

"You two look so sweet together. Do you mind if I join in?" Caius interrupted then pushed my hand down to the table. His eyes were menacing but remained that fake happiness as he look at Jonny.

"Dr. Bateman!" Jonny stands up and grins. "Hi, Shanaya and I are having lunch together."

"I have eyes to see it, Dr. Thompson." He spat, turning his eyes towards me.

"Oh, then join us." Jonny remained cool and I'm surprised he can stand the danger in the air. "The more the merrier."

I felt like something is stuck in my throat. Every time he's around, my tongue just go numb and I was unable to speak.

"Dr. Thompson is just here to keep me company." I manage to say it without looking at him. I reached out for the cheesecake and deep my fork in it immediately then puts it inside my mouth. And I moan in delight as the taste melts in my tongue.

This is heaven in food.

"This cheesecake tastes soooo good, Jonny." I can't help myself to say my amazement as I continue to eat it more.

"I'm happy you love it." Jonny smiles at me then suddenly his phone beeps. And it seems like it is about work. "I'm sorry that I can't join you longer for this lunch. The others are calling me in." He stands up from his chair then pats my head then winks. "See you around, Shanaya. Make sure to eat these all up."

He hurries to leave and now, Caius's eyes followed him as he disappears. Now, why does me and Caius always ends up alone? How can I relax or brace myself if he always comes here without any warnings.

"You and Dr. Thompson are starting to get along." Caius started, crossing his arms. "You even calls him by his first name."

"I don't think something is wrong about that." I pointed out. "And this is the first time I let him stay longer around me. I just appreciated his patience towards me."

"He's no good so don't waste your time with him."

"Excuse me?" My eyebrows furrowed and gave him an exasperated look. "Who are you to tell me these things?"

"Just imagine that you are getting an advice from someone." He crossed his legs then takes out his phone, and types something. "So, have you thought about my proposal the other day? I told you I will give you three days."

"Yes, I have thought about it. And my answer is no." I replied, my voice stern. "I think it is better if you behave like a stranger to me or act like a doctor should approach their patient."

No sign of any emotion shows in his eyes. Instead, he just looks straight at me without breaking an eye contact. Seems like he is into staring contests.

"Anyway, did someone already pay my charges here in the hospital?" I asked.

"Yes, me." Caius uncrosses his legs. "I paid for everything. I was the one who sign the contract about the operations that they did to you. Actually, us, surgeons are not allowed to operate a patient without any consent from a family member. So in your case, you don't have anything. So basically, I was the one who paid and signed it so you could live." He explained, not even a hint of smile on his lips.

"I owe you then. Dr. Thompson told me that I could have been dead any minute if I didn't got that operation. Thank you. I will pay you back everything once I healed—"

"I'm not asking for a money in return. I'm a wealthy man so money is not a problem to me." Caius murmured, leaning closer to me. "Instead, I want you to repay me for marrying me. That's why I planned the proposal."

Now everything makes sense to me. Man, this man is really making my head hurt so bad. My life just got even worse when I met him.

"No." I remained solid with my decision. "I just got from a bad engagement and now I am receiving another one from you. I had enough for now. Let my heart heal first before we jump into these decisions."

His face darkens. The first ever emotion that came out from him. "I am not asking you to love me in this engagement. All I need is you to be my wife. Feelings is not involved."

Damn.

"Caius—"

"If you don't want to marry me then let me do this in a hard way." Caius started typing on his phone again before placing it down on the table when it started ringing.

He has it in load speaker.

Within seconds, someone answered it. And hearing that voice makes my mind go blank with anger and pain quickly spreads in my chest.

"Hello? Who is this?"

It's the voice of Gale.

This fucking doctor just called the main reason why I ended up here in the hospital!

"Good day, Mr. Archibald. I know you are looking for Ms. Campbell and I actually have a clue where she—"

My eyes widen. He is going to tell him where I am. Before he could continue what he is going to say, my body just moves on it's own. I picks up his phone and threw it somewhere causing it to shatter and break.

"Fine, fine. I will marry you!" I sigh of frustration. The word that came out from my mouth in anger. "Damn you, Dr. Bateman."

A victory smirk spreads on his lips. "Good. It's better this way." He stands up and took out something in his pockets before grabbing my hand in his. I felt something cold in my palm.

I opened my hand to see a sparkling silver diamond ring.

"I will make sure that you will enjoy this engagement, Shanaya. I swear to you that Gale will beg for forgiveness." Caius remarked, mischievously then he slides the ring in my finger. "Perfect size." Then he leans his lips down to kiss my hand.

Making my face go red.

God, I can't believe this is happening to me.

I just got blackmailed for a wedding!

What kind of a man that will offer a marriage to someone you don't even know? And he offers it like it's nothing.

Marriage is a sacred thing! It is something that will bound two people that loves each other. Two people that are ready to take challenges in life, ready to face everything together.

Yes, I am ready do those things with Gale before.

But what happened between us is very traumatising.

"You will be a spoiled wife, Shanaya. I can guarantee that." He whispered at me , giving me that odd sensation inside my tummy.

"Can't believe this is happening." I muttered, in disbelief as I run my hand through my hair. "You know, I can sue you for this."

"Yeah?" He raised his chin challengingly then stands up. "Lets see if you can try. Your ex fiancé is a lawyer, right? Maybe he can help you."

"Damn you so many times, Dr. Bateman." I hissed trough clenched jaw. He is really irritating the heck out of me.

"Just you wait and see." He whispered at me before taking a bite of my cheesecake.

"Hey!" I protested. If could just stand up, I already kicked his balls for making my life shit. "Give me those! That's mine."

"I know." He smirked then in a swift, he had the fork between my lips, feeding me the cheesecake.

Because our face was so close to each other, the way he stares at my face makes me throwback to the night that we first met. The kiss we shared. Damn, my face is getting heated again just by remembering it.

My mouth just moves on its own when it opened and I let him feed me.

"You're a sly girl, huh?" He teased.

"And you're evil." I retorted back.

"I know." He murmured, standing up then called a nearby doctor. "Take her back to her room. I will go talk to the board to get their permission that she can continue her medication at home."

"H-home? Where?"

"Mine, of course." He stated, matter of factly.

"Is it alright? Would it be better if I stay here?"

"No, it doesn't matter. I think it is better if you stay under my roof." He replied, before disappearing. The nurse he instructed takes me back to my room, and because the nurses already knows me, she leaves me alone.

-----

Six hours later, it was already evening. The board permitted Caius to take me home. I do not know what charm he uses towards them that they agreed immediately. He said he will take full responsibility for me whatever happens.

Jonny didn't look happy that I was discharge from the hospital because he thinks that it is not right.

But I don't know what magic Caius did to the boards. He's unpredictable.

Caius brings me to his home, I'm in a wheelchair, of course. I'm also impressed because he is really very careful when he's handling me.

And wow, his home is huge. It's a one storey house but it's amazing.

"It's full of glass

"It's full of glass." I commented. This place is far from the neighbourhood. Its like so near to the forest part and far from the main high way. I bet this guy likes isolated place, huh?

He brought me in and there are few household people standing by the living room.

"Welcome back, Dr. Bateman." They greeted. All of them are looking me with confusion in their eyes. I'm sure they are surprised to see a woman in wheelchair suddenly barges in their peaceful house.

I look up to him and he places a hand in my shoulder. "Shanaya, this is Claire, the head maid of the house or should I say the housekeeper." The woman in her late fifties eyed me with her chin up, if you know what I mean. He had this strict aura around her just in how she glances at me. "This is her daughter, the scullery maid, Leah." He pointed out to the blonde lady who looks exactly like the head maid.

Well, of course. She's her daughter, brainiac.

The daughter looks jolly because she has a huge grin in her face then did a small wave.

"Next, this is Clint. He's the handyman." The man bows her head as a greeting. "Marsha, the cook maid and then Marian, the laundry maid. And Gwen, the housemaid."

"Wow, you sure have someone to do all the chores." I muttered. My family is rich and we have so many staffs and servants at the mansion but it's appropriate because we used to live in a big mansion when we are all still living together!

But Caius is just one man! And his house is not a mansion but even though it's a huge house.

Well, you can't expect a man doing everything so I understand.

"This is Shanaya, everyone. Shanaya Campbell and soon to be my wife. She will be living here from now on with me so you better respect and treat her well." Caius demanded.

They all nodded, understanding what he just said.

"She will be staying in my room. Gwen, did you cleaned the new closet I for her?"

"Yes, Dr. Bateman." She nods her head.

"Good." Caius stated, before pushing the wheelchair towards his room. And man, the glass wall gives it such a good view that take your breath away.

"Wow

"Wow." I gasped, seeing the whole ocean view. I thought we are near the forest but we are actually at the end of it. This is so cool.

"You will staying here with me. But since I am always out even at night, this is practically your room."

"Out? Why, do surgeons work at night too?" I suddenly got curious.

"Yes, I have work to do even at night." He answered. "A physical therapist will come here daily, every morning to help you regain the strength in your legs." Caius arranged his bed and without saying anything. He picks me up very gently from the wheelchair then places me down on the bed.

"Will it take a long time for me to start walking again?" I asked, feeling the softness of his huge bed.

"Not really, some people heals and recovers quickly, some aren't. But in your case, I think that you will regain your walking in a few months." He answered, tucking me under his covers.

"I'm not a kid. I can do that myself." I nagged, removing his hands from touching me.

"Just taking care of you." He raised both of his hands then walks around. "You get some rest, I know your tired."

"Tired? I just slept the whole day in my room so there is no way I will feel that." I complained, scoffing. "You know, you don't really need to take care of me. If you have a night life then go. I won't stop and I wont get in your way. You can do whatever you want."

"Actually, I don't have any where else to go tonight so you have me all by yourself." Caius muttered then turns to leave the room.

We are going to spend the whole night together? In this room? Just two the two of us. No shit.

To be continued