"Have you heard from him?" Yesha asked Matt for the umpteenth time and her brother-in-law gave her a worried look as he shook his head.
It had been a week since Adam walked out of their apartment and Yesha had never experienced being as miserable as she'd been that night. Every day, she would wait at their apartment wondering if Adam would show up or call, and in the evening, she'd drop by the bar to ask Matt if his best friend contacted him.
"I see… Thank you," Yesha said softly, her eyes moistening as she blinked back tears.
"Big Sis, I think you shouldn't be coming here much. The smell of liquor and cigarette isn't good for you and the baby."
Matt eyed his sister-in-law worriedly. Yesha's face looked drawn and she looked so fragile he feared she'd break if touched. Her huge eyes were haunted and she clearly had lost a lot of weight.
"Have you eaten?" he asked and Yesha shook her head. "Please come to the kitchen with me and I'll serve you something," he offered but she shook her head once more.
"I can't stay long. Adam might come back home," she said with a ghostly smile and Matt felt furious at his friend.
"I'll take you to the apartment," he offered but his sister-in-law refused his offer.
"Just call me when Adam contacted you, okay?" she pleaded as she turned around and Matt wasn't able to do anything but follow her with his eyes. Before she reached the door however, she suddenly stopped and swayed.
"Big Sis?" Matt called as he ran towards his sisyer-in-law. As soon as he reached her, Yesha collapsed, nearly hitting her head on the marble floor. "Big Sis!"
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"Sir, there's someone who wants to see you."
I looked up from the documents in my hand and glared at my secretary. "Haven't I told you I don't want any visitors?" I snapped and the woman flinched at my tone. Before I told her to get lost however, the door opened and Matt stepped in.
"I told her it was very important," Matt said as he stared at me with an unreadable expression and I nodded as I stood up and walked around my table.
"Leave," I told my secretary and she hurriedly bowed and stepped out.
"What brings you here?" I asked Matt and he quickly closed the gap between us and swung his fist at my face, hitting my jaw.
The forced knocked me off my feet and I stumbled on the floor. Tasting blood and feeling pain at the corner of my mouth, I looked at Matt with my eyes narrowed.
"You better have a good reason for doing that," I warned as I pushed myself up back to my feet.
"I'm surprised you don't know," he replied with a mocking tone and I scowled.
"What did Yesha tell you?" I asked again. "Did she tell you how she kept my baby from me?"
I watched as Matt's face darkened.
"No," he replied. "But if you keep being a bastard, Yesha won't be able to keep the baby at all," he announced and my eyes widened.
"She's aborting my child?" I yelled and Matt grabbed me by the collar.
"Listen here, Adam Kingsley," he snapped angrily, using the name I hadn't heard him use for years. Matt was truly angry. "I know you've met a lot of bitches and bastards in your life, but don't you dare include us with them!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" I snarled as I pushed Matt away but he pushed me right back.
"I'm talking about Yesha! She's lying at the hospital now holding onto your baby because you're so fucking emo!" he yelled back and I froze.
"W-What?" I stared wide-eyed at him again as I absorbed his words. "W-what happened?" I asked, my voice trembling as I let go of him and he did the same.
"The doctor said it's a mixture of depression and stress. Plus Yesha hasn't been taking good care of herself recently, she was malnourished. We're guessing she hasn't been eating and sleeping enough these past few days."
Hearing this, my heart constricted painfully in my chest. This was all my fault.
"Adam…" Matt began as he sighed heavily and I knew his anger had passed. "I already warned you that you can never force love on anyone," he reminded me and my eyes filled with moisture, my throat clogging with raw emotions and I nodded, realizing the extent of my mistake.
"Please don't make her suffer just because she didn't do what a person in love would. You were the one who wanted to be with her. Bear with it…"
With his words, I closed my eyes and let my tears slide down my cheek. He was right. I had no right to get angry at Yesha. From the beginning, it was me who forced her to stay. "I will…"
======
I found my angel sleeping on the hospital bed. She looked paler and thinner than I last saw her. She lay there very still, that if it weren't for the subtle rise and fall of her chest, I would have feared the worst. I weakly sat next to her bed as I reached out a trembling hand to hold onto hers.
As if sensing I was there, her lids slowly fluttered as her eyes opened and I found myself holding my breath, waiting for her to see me. Would she be angry at me? Would she shout at me? I wondered as her gaze started to slowly focus until they landed on my face.
"Yesha…" I called out her name, swallowing hard as I waited for her to throw a tantrum.
Instead of that however, her face slowly lit up into a weak smile as she put pressure on my hand.
"Adam…you're here," she whispered and I nodded as I leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips.
"I'm sorry, baby," I whispered huskily against her cheek and I felt her arms wrap around me.
"It's okay. It's my fault too. I should have told you sooner," she whispered and I shook my head.
"No, it's my fault," I insisted as I cupped her face with my hands.
"Yesha, will you marry me?" I asked desperately as I studied her expression.
She stared at me for a while, searching my face.
"For the baby?" she asked and I shook my head once more.
"For me – for us. I want you to be my wife," I said as I fished my pocket for the sapphire ring I bought on the way here and placed it on her finger. "Please say yes..."
I watched as her lips trembled, her eyes filling up with tears as she pulled me in her embrace. "Yes…" she sobbed and I felt like the happiest man on Earth.