Fiona could not stop glancing down at her phone. Every five seconds, she would look down for anything. Texts, missed calls that wouldn't go through, just something to get her out of this frustrating wait. She eventually decided to cave and just send another text. What? it was only going to make it thirty unanswered texts.
"Do you have somewhere else you need to be, Fiona?" That high-pitched and incredibly unpleasant voice startled the worried woman into glancing up. The entire table was looking at her, but directly opposite her were the glaring eyes of her boss. Arin Fay.
"I'm sorry, I'll pay attention." She apologised and set her phone down on the table.
Arin's head tilted to the side, and she crossed her hands across her chest. "Oh no, don't stop looking at your phone during such an important meeting, for my sake."
Fiona stared at Arin's fake smile in exasperation. On a normal day, she would just apologize and let it go but it was a week since she last saw Xian. After dropping her off at the hospital, she hadn't heard anything from her. She itched to go to the hospital to see how she was doing, but Xian made her swear not to come close to the hospital until she called. The wait was killing her.
"Really? In that case, I will excuse myself from the meeting today." Fiona replied, grabbing her phone and standing. She would not lie. It felt good to see Arin's sweet but fake smile fade. The rest of the table stared at her like she was mad, but Fiona kept her eyes locked on Arin's.
"Fiona-"
"Thanks a lot, boss. You are simply the best." Before the flabbergasted woman could say more, Fiona was already sprinting out of the room. So the only thing she could do was scream after her.
"Get back here! Fiona! You can't leave. Don't you know how important this is? It's my first lead role! Get back here. I need my stylist!"
Normally, Fiona would feel bad about ditching her work. But not this time. It's not like she is the only actress that has led a movie before. Why was she overdoing it? They weren't even actors or part of the cast. But she insisted that her beauty team meet every day for a month to come up with skincare routines and styles that would make her look her best.
"Well, she has to take care of her face since she doesn't have any acting skills. The viewers should at least get something out of it."
***
She couldn't make sense of the mire of emotions she was experiencing. The tears that flowed down her cheeks, and the fact that she was inconsolable. Sure, seeing little babies so stick they had to have drips tucked in their tiny heads was unpleasant for anyone, but she was full-on bawling. This was not normal. She should not feel this bad. They were not her children! But even that thought met such an intense resistance within her. These babies didn't have anyone but her.
She did this. If she hadn't woken up during the surgery or stolen their mother's body then they never would have had to suffer like this. These tiny things came from inside her... Xian. And they were just absolute angels.
It was so bizarre, but she loved them. She loved these babies with her heart and her soul, and she didn't even think she wanted to be a mother.
"Mrs Zhen it's been hours. You're also a patient. You have to return to your room." The nurse assigned to her stated.
Zena glared at the woman and stood protectively in front of her boys. "Are you telling a woman, a mother, that she has been with her children for long enough?"
The nurse blinked at her. "But you don't even believe they are yours."
"Who said so? The only memory I have of being in this body are those two beautiful boys, although they were covered by a lot of blood and honestly, looked quite disgusting when I saw them-" she shook her head. She was getting off track "Anyway, I am their mother whether I like it or not. It's either me or nothing. And they will not have nothing."
"Fine, but you have to freshen up and take your medication."
"You'll let me come back?"
"Yes, I'll let you come back." The nurse promised.
"I'll believe you this time, but any funny business and I'll bite you." She threatened and she meant it.
"What?"
"Try me."