“DO you feel better now?” Lucas asked the moment Bridge opens her eyes.

She thought she was just dreaming when she heard Lucas and Ara’s voices. But now that she’s feeling better and awake, it’s them she first saw. Though they talk over the phone from time to time, it’s been a while since she last saw them.

Ara suddenly pouted her lips. “Why does it seems like you’re not happy to see us?”

She showed them a genuine smile. “Of course I do,” her voice sounded a little hoarse.

She’s happy to see her friends and also thankful since she knows how busy they are but still stayed with her. It’s just that, it wasn’t them she was expecting to see the moment she wakes up. She remembers herself telling Shan about the meeting but here she is, wanting to see him so bad.

“If you’re looking for your stupid boyfriend, he hasn’t come back yet.”

“Lucas!” Ara hit his husband on his arm before smiling at her. “Don’t mind him. Shan said he’ll be back after his meeting. I think he’ll just get a little late.”

“A little late? It’s been seven hours since he left. Is that still considered a little?”

“What’s wrong with you, Lucas? Do you really want to make Bridge upset? He just woke up for pete’s sake!”

“It’s fine, Ara. I completely understand why Lucas is being like that,” she said as she moves to sit on her bed.

“And yet, you still don’t listen,” Lucas said while giving her support to sit.

Sometimes she finds it cute that Lucas treats her like a little sister that he wants to protect so badly. That made her treat him like an older brother too who she respects so much. The bad side of it though is that she can’t talk back whenever he scolds her.

“Careful,” Ara said and placed a pillow on her back.

“Until when do you plan to hurt yourself, Bridge? He’ll never realize your worth if you’ll just keep on enduring the pain and support him in everything that he does. His battle is still far from over, Bridge. Unless he decides to kill his father which I doubt he would. So please, while you still can, save your self from being broken completely.”

Ever since Lucas has been so vocal about his opinion in the situation she’s in. He found Shan’s decision of getting married to Belle foolish and since then, he didn’t talk with Shan again. Lucas has told her a lot of times to break up but he never listened.

“Believe me, I really tried to do what you told me to do. But then, just thinking about it already makes me feel like I’m going to lose my mind. I know you’re just concern about me but this is my life, Lucas. And Shan, he is my life.”

ARA texted that Bridge has woken up but he didn’t have the chance to call. When his schedule’s finally clear, he called his bodyguard to prepare his Kawazaki Ninja H2R so he can reach the hospital faster. He’s heading at the exit when he saw his father standing there.

“I’m heading to your house. Let’s just use my car and tell your bodyguard to convoy.”

“Y-you’re going in the house? Why?”

“Belle invited me to dinner. Let's go.”

“But, Sir-.”

“What? Don’t tell me it’s your secretary again? Is she more important than me and your wife for you?”

She is.

“I just want to check on her condition.”

“Then ask someone to do that for you. Let's go.”

His mind was bombarding his father with curses but in reality, he was silent and still obeyed him.

-Something came up. I don’t think I can go there right now. But don’t worry, there’s someone who’ll come there. Is she awake?-

That was Shan’s message that Ara showed to her. She smiled bitterly as she’s already expecting it. For sure Belle used his father-in-law again to take hold of Shan.

“Just tell him I’m still sleeping then you can go home already.”

“What? No. We won't leave until that person he said will come arrives.”

“I’ll be fine by myself, Ara. I can even go to work by tomorrow.”

“I’m really going to beat Shan if he lets you do that.”

She just smiled at her. “Thank you for coming. Say my thanks to Lucas too and just tell him Shan’s already here. I don’t want him to get mad with Shan even more.”

Lucas said he might just beat Shan if he sees him so he decided to wait for his wife in the car. It’s been a while since he went down and for sure it can only add up to his anger if he finds out Shan’s not coming.

Ara tried to insist to stay but in the end, she finally gave in. “Fine. I’ll just come back tomorrow.”

“No need. I’m sure I’ll be out tomorrow.”

“Then what more can I say? See you when I see you?”

She nods and waved at her. “Take care.”

But instead of waving back, she went to his side and hugged him. “I hope you understand that Lucas just wants you to be happy.”

She hugged her back. “I know.”

She smiles and waved for the last time before Ara left her room. When she was gone, her smile slowly disappeared. It only took a few minutes for Mang Sammy to arrive like he was just waiting somewhere in the hospital. But even with Mang Sammy’s presence, she never felt this alone in her entire life.

“GOOD evening, my love. How’s work?” Belle said before kissing him on his lips. “Did everything went well?”

Belle’s obviously doing it on purpose, acting as a caring wife to his husband since she knows he won't resist in front of his father.

He fakes a smile but he didn’t say a word.

“You look stressed. Did something happened in the office?”

“Stop talking about business and tell me about your plans with your family. Your anniversary is getting near. Do you have any plans to travel abroad?” his father interrupted.

They were in the dining area and the maids are starting serving the food.

“We will, Dad. I want to do it ahead of our anniversary though. This month has been so stressful for Shan. That’s why I wanted him to enjoy and relax right after the meeting with Dia Corporation which I’m sure will go well. But it will still depend on you, Dad.”

He looked at Belle who’s smiling widely. Does she really think he’d go with her to travel just because she said it in front of his father? And why does she even doing this?

“It’s not going to be a problem with me as long as Shan can close that deal successfully. I can trust you on that, right? Shan?”

“Of course, Sir.”

“I told you to call me Dad when we are not in the company, Shan.”

He clenched his hand under the table. “I’m sorry, D-Dad.”

It’s been more than a year now but he’ll never be able to get comfortable calling the man he hates the most “Dad”.