Arella had a confused expression on her face. Who asked for his name?
'But Nicholas Smith, it sounds a little familiar. Do I know him from somewhere?' Arella pondered as she lay comfortably on the bed.
She had all the time in the world. Acting as a cherry on the top, whatever happened in the forest was counted in the work related injury, and they were entitled to get compensation for it!
Anne and Devon were alive and would recover soon. Among them, she was probably the least hurt.
After resting for a while, she thought of giving Anne a visit first. So, she asked for the cook's assistance and left her ward. Fortunately, other than being weak and spiritually drained, she was fine.
She walked at a snail's pace. The cook was very patient and helped her stabilize every step she took. After walking for a while, Arella felt short of breath. No, why was Anne's ward so far away? She struggled between turning back and moving forward. But, truthfully, she had energy for neither.
As she remained tussling with her thoughts, a voice jerked her back to the reality.
"I told you to have some rest." It was none other than Nicholas.
And unlike the previous time, where she only felt being rebuked, this time she was sure of it.
His judgemental eyes kept gawking at her. Unbeknownst to her, a stamp of 'reckless' was imposed upon her.
Breaking the awkward silence, a person came with a wheelchair.
"Sir, the wheelchair you requested is here."
"Thank you."
Now, with an empty wheelchair by his side, he once again started staring at Arella.
This time not only Arella, even the cook was confused. 'Was the wheelchair for my Madam? But if so, why didn't he ask Madam to sit on it?'
"Do you want me to carry you to the wheelchair?" A deadpan expression appeared on Nicholas's face.
"Uh! No, no. I will do it on my own. Thank you!" Arella read the situation a bit late, but once understood, she took swift action. She covered the distance with two steps and comfortably sat in the wheelchair.
Once settled down, she tilted her head to the side to thank him once again, but what met her eyes was nothing but air. 'Where did he go? Why was he acting like that? What a weirdo!' Nicholas was acting like a friend, but she doesn't remember meeting him at all!
Leaving the thoughts aside, she maneuvered the wheelchair in Anne's direction. The cook had offered help, but she resolutely refused. Why? Because sitting in a wheelchair, she was bubbling with excitement!
A wheelchair! It was a rarity on their planet. The beast clan had exceptional healing abilities. So, wheelchairs were very rare. It wasn't an indigenous product either. It is said that the wheelchairs were procured from other planets. How could Arella disregard the chance of enjoying this antique?
Happily, she swirled the wheels and wheee she went. She had to agree, it was very exciting.
As she was drowning in the happiness of enjoying a rarity, she saw something that made her stop in her tracks.
Was it Arthur, her father? Yes, it was! Was he here to check on her? Sweetness filled her core. The cold treatment was all in the past. Arella couldn't forget that, but her core still had hopes of enjoying the warmth of a father daughter relationship.
"Father!" A cheery voice filled the corridor.
The man turned around and found a girl sitting in a wheelchair looking at him.
"Arella? Why are you here? And why are you sitting in that thing?" Arthur though surprised, remained calm.
The bubbling happiness in Arella died down. So, he didn't know about her. He wasn't here to meet her. How many times was she supposed to fall in order to let go? A mocking sneer crept on her face, and she felt a chill on her back.
Reigning her emotions, she faked calm.
"Greetings, Father. I had an accident at work. So, I was sent here to recuperate." Arella kept her head low.
"Okay. Why don't you get out of that first? It's not befitting for a member of Beastclan to appear so weak." Arthur spoke in a stern voice. No matter how hard he tried, the disgust and disappointment kept leaking from his face.
A wheelchair was a disgrace to the strong. Most Beastclan members had big egos. They would die but not show a shred of weakness.
What was a novel experience for her, was a disgrace to her father.
All her life, her father was the only one who remained indifferent. The stepmother didn't like her, and Stella hated her to the core. But her father never showed any emotions. He neither praised nor showed disappointment in front of her.
But today, the blatant disgust can be seen with the naked eye. Was Arella blinded by the hope of familial ties? Was he always like this?
"Oh, darling! Let her go. She has always been weak. If she wants to use that thing, let her. Moreover, now she is married, we don't have the right to order her." A sweet talking woman came and stood next to Arthur. The stepmother was here too.
"Hmm. Now that you are here, pay Stella a visit. She is pregnant." Arthur commanded in a stern voice and walked away.
The stepmother soon followed him, and both of them entered a ward to their left.
What…what did he say? Stella was pregnant? This wasn't new. Wasn't she pregnant before getting married? Maybe she didn't tell anyone.
Stella was smart. The gestation period is different for everyone. So, there is no late or pre mature delivery. Revealing that she has a child now would make her a good partner. Instead of a fiance snatching slut that she was!
It was a good move, but it was none of her concern. The farther she stayed from her, the better. She wanted to turn around and leave.
But as soon as she touched the wheels, her father came out of the ward.
"Why are you still here? Go inside. I am going out for a while. Keep her company till then." Without asking for her opinion, Arthur spoke and left.
Arella thought, if she didn't go, would he be more disappointed in her? He already looks displeased, if she didn't go, would he despise her?
Hmm, for all those years, let's just honor his words for one last time. Afterward, she won't appear in front of him ever again.
She decided to visit Stella for a minute and then leave. Asking the cook to stay behind, she wheeled her way into Stella's ward.