"Ava, how is the US treating you? I hope you have adjusted to your new environment" Kiara's voice echoed from the other end. I felt more like I was being mocked.
"Who the hell told you I was in the US?" I foamed in anger.
"There is the internet and a news channel. It's not like you married a poor, infamous man. It's the opposite, and everyone knows.
"Well, good for you. I'm hanging up this minute."
She wanted to say something else, but I mistakenly hung up. I didn't know what it was she would have said, but it didn't sound like she would apologize anytime.
I blocked her. She was an old friend, but not a friend anymore. Someone who betrays her best friend is good to be hanged. Bit the fuck... I didn't even love Josh that much. Okay, I might have.
But the moment he started to give me some sort of attitude after my father fell ill, the infatuation started to disappear, and he finally died the day he broke up with me.
***
It's been a day plus. I didn't know I would ever be locked in a room by a man I call my husband. without food or water.
Thankfully, I had some bottle water in my box. I've been surviving on that and scrolling through Instagram.
I haven't posted anything for a while, and my followers have remained stagnant.
It's still surprising how I moved from 7k+ followers to 15k+ followers following my scandal.
I lay on the bed, staring at the chandelier on the ceiling. I felt my head become porous.
My strength was withering, and I might even die before someone remembers I am in here.
I suddenly noticed some hasty movement towards my door, and you also heard Grandma's voice.
"Where did you say Ava is?" I heard grandma's voice. She seems to be the only one who cares about me, and I don't even know why she loves me that much.
"She is receiving a punishment that she deserves." Gabriel's voice was cold and emotionless.
"It wouldn't be surprising if I actually died because of you, Gabriel. Why would you lock up a woman? Not just any woman. Your wife! In a room for close to three days, and you ordered Evelyn not to serve her a meal?"
There was silence, followed by the clicking of the door and then the sound of the key.
Gabriel could be dramatic, but I think I am more dramatic than him. I decided to act as I really felt. Like someone who would die the next few seconds, first I lay down like I was half dead on the bed.
Gabriel fucking Fernandez rushed towards me immediately, and the door shut open. Even before Grandma could get to me,
I wanted the opposite. For grandma to see me like this and get mad at Gabriel or even give him his own punishment
"Ava..." Gabriel tapped me gently. He sounded like someone whose lover was shot dead, and he was trying to wake her up to stay alive for him. "Ava Williams, please wake the fuck up!".
Before I could think of what next to do, he carried me to his arm and then to the hospital.
I never knew grandma could be so scary. It was so scary that Gabriel had to pretend to be affectionate towards me just not to receive her punishment.
"You should go outside while we treat her. By the way, what's your relationship with the patient? Your wife?"..
"Uhmm no. Brother in law"
I clenched my fist at his response. I wasn't ugly. So why would he deny that I was not his wife? Does he hate me that much?
I was more worried about this than about the doctor coming out today. I have been pretending all this while and that I am alright.
There is no way I could be okay considering my condition. A pregnant woman starving for close to two days isn't some funny shit. I might not have practiced for once, but I studied medicine at a certified medical college.
A few minutes later, after taking my blood sample and checking my vitals, the doctor was given my test result, and he requested the nurse call my family.
I jacked up from the bed like someone who had escaped a zombie apocalypse in the dreamworld.
"Can I have my test result, doctor?"
"Sure," he handed it over to me and checked my vitals again before Gabriel Charlotte and my grandmother arrived.
"How is my daughter doing?" Grandma sat beside me on the bed and hugged me. For the first time in a long while, I felt that warm embrace from a loved one, and I almost began to weep.
"Luckily, she is okay. Considering her condition, she shouldn't be in such a ridiculous situation again. I wonder how that monster of a husband looks that he would starve a pretty lady for so long". The doctor brought out a card from his wallet and gave it to me: "Take this, madam. You can call the NGO to arrest that filthy man if he plays some silly again".
I noticed Gabriel gnashing his teeth. I don't know what's resisting him, but I feel that he desperately wishes to punch the fucking blood out of the doctor's mouth.
"Thanks doc" I took the card and shoved it inside my phone pack.
"What condition were you taking about, doctor?" Gabriel asked, and a knot suddenly grew in my stomach.
"Didn't you know?" The doctor's eyes widened; she's been"
"What condition do you expect from me more worse than being forced to marry a man I barely know and almost starving to death?" I quickly cut the doctor off. "Is there any worse than that brother-in-law?" The sarcasm in my face hunted his emotions.
"I see you have fully recovered. Let's go home."
"Not so fast. She will stay here until she is really ready to go home." Grandma turned to the doctor and said, "Move us to a VIP room".
"This is a VIP room, madam."
"Then to a VIP room."
The doctor nodded. He looked more confused than I have ever seen someone look before.
I was moved to another room. The only difference I noticed was that it was more spacious and had my bed beside the window. I could view the city from there.
My phone rang. I pulled out my phone from under the pillow, stood up, and walked towards the door.
"Ava! Something terrible is about to happen to your father. He requests to see you now!" My stepmom's voice echoed in my ear.
I was stunned.
She sounded scared and terrified, and I wondered what could be wrong with him that made her like that.
My relationship with my father wasn't so good. I couldn't still forgive him for getting married again just a month after Mom died.