Chapter 23
Minutes passed by and everyone was getting agitated about Marlie's state.
Some of the servants stood by the gate wishing and waiting for the ambulance to come fast but it seemed not to come.
"I will take her to the hospital myself!"Chad said, lifting Marlie in his arms. At that very moment, he couldn't deny the fact that it reminded him of having Marlie in his arms on his engagement day.
The faint breath of the woman in his arms was bringing back all the memories of that unfaithful day, the memories he wanted to forget. He got lost in seconds looking at Charlie's (Marlie)face.
But he was interrupted in his thoughts by Gideon who proposed to drive the car. Soon enough, they reached Castaneda's hospital minutes later.
Marlie was placed on a stretcher and wheeled into the hospital.
" Call for Doctor Jake, he is our family doctor!" Chad told Gideon, giving him his phone.
Chad picked Doctor Jake for their family because he believed the doctor was the best among all the doctors in the hospital. He wouldn't risk entrusting his family to any random doctor.
But they were stopped by another doctor who appeared out of nowhere.
"With her condition, I'm not sure it's wise to wait for Doctor Jake." That young doctor in front of him would not barge and insist.
But before Chad could say anything, he entered Marlie's ward and checked up on her. Minutes later he came out.
Chad rushed to his side and inquired, "How is she?"
"She will be fine." The doctor assured Chad. But for some unexplainable reason, the doctor got mad at Chad.
"Did you think the patient would have been able to hold on until your so-called family doctor came? I will be in charge of taking care of her." The Doctor said.
Chad's face turned blue with anger at Mark's statement. He had gone through a lot that day and didn't need that doctor, to give him more headache.
And did he say 'so-called'?
"Who the hell do you think you are?!!" Chad shouted at the doctor whose hand was on the chest of a raging Chad trying to stop him from pouncing on him.
"I am Mark." The doctor introduced himself to Chad.
"I don't give a shit about your identity. Just get the hell out of my sight!" Chad was so annoyed with Mark's statement.
He said to the face of Mark who was wearing his usual signature smile. Chad at that point felt Mark was annoying. How dare Mark talk to him like that.
"Call Doctor Jake to come here now!"
Chad instructed Gideon. He wasn't going to let that annoying Doctor Mark continue taking care of Charlie (Marlie)
Gideon thought letting Mark continue attending to Marlie wouldn't be anything bad but he had no choice but to call the family doctor, as the husband says.
Chad asked Ken to go and fill the record forms and he left the three alone.
Gideon tried Doctor Jake's number but he wasn't picking up. He signalled Chad who insisted that Gideon keep calling the doctor until he picks.
"Mr Baristanas your wife needs to be attended to.. We can't risk waiting for Doctor Jake, he might be too busy to come here ."
Mark said trying to make Chad see reasons. He needed to be in Marlie's ward. When he saw her on the stretcher, Mark knew something was wrong. Since he already knew about Marlie's plan, he wanted to be the one to take care of her in case something was off.
But when the statement caught Chad's ears, he and even Gideon became suspicious of Mark.
"I didn't give you any information about us so how did you know she's my wife?" A fuming Chad questioned Mark first.
"How did you know the relationship between him and the patient?" Gideon's question followed.
"Doctor Mark please the patient is awake and wants to see you." The nurse called for Mark.
Mark gave a faint smile to the nurse a thankful gaze for being saved. He turned to leave but Chad wouldn't let him.
He needed the answer to his question. Chad doesn't recall meeting him before. Neither does Charlie or he would have known.
Mark realized the situation might jeopardize Marlie's plans if he didn't think fast. What was he supposed to do?
Because Chad was proving impossible. He slammed the hospital door back when Mark tried escaping them.
With a sigh, he said... "I am a family member," Mark replied trying to buy his way out but Chad wasn't stupid. He knew all the family members of the Andersons.
Mark realized it too with the help of Chad's icy cold piercing glare. Chad wouldn't have become the Baristanas company owner if he was so dumb. Moreover, his hands were still on the door hindering Mark from leaving. An idea came into Mark's mind and he cursed at Marlie inwardly before turning to face Chad's gaze with his signature smile.
"I know you and your wife because I was the boyfriend of her sister Marlie." What a perfect lie. Mark thought inwardly and cussed at himself.
Damn it! That hit Chad hard. His hands dropped away from the door and Mark gained the chance to finally go back to Marlie.
Chad couldn't believe his ears. He traced back in his steps and Gideon caught him before he hit the wall. Chad passed a glance at a worried Gideon and closed his eyes.
"Damn it! Am such a fool!"
Though Chad was not showing it, his heart ached at Mark's words.
Here he was so messed up about a woman who was supposedly with another man.
He hadn't for once forgotten about her but she was living her life happily in the arms of another man. What a joke.
*********
Marlie fell back to bed upon the opening of the door thinking it was someone else.
But when Mark spoke she got up from the bed.
Mark inquired about the nurse and she informed him that except for the scratch on the side of her head, nothing serious.
Mark thanked her and she left to inform Chad and the rest about Marlie's condition.
"What happened Marlie?" Mark asked Marlie when the nurse left them alone.
"The witch mother was hurting me so l had to plan this hospital thing" Marlie replied nonchalantly.
"It's been just two days and you are already in the hospital?" Mark angrily questioned and chuckled.
"How cruel these people could be." He continued... "Are you sure it's okay to leave you alone with them in that house? I mean you could stay away from them and still exact your vengeance." Mark inquired worriedly about Marlie.
"You can direct your worry to them, they need it, especially that stiff Chad," Marlie said lying back on the bed.
Speaking of Chad, Mark had forgotten to tell Marlie what had happened. "By the way, I had to introduce myself as your boyfriend to your brother-in-law," Mark said checking on her wound.
Marlie's eyes popped out in shock. Why would Mark do that? Of all the excuses, he had to introduce himself that way.
It was not like she was afraid or angry. She just cared not but...
"He was just insisting on letting Doctor Jake take care of you, I couldn't let the plan fail," Mark told Marlie.
"But I could tell from his face he was stunned when I introduced myself as your boyfriend," Mark said with a smirk.
Marlie rolled her eyes at that. As if Chad ever cared.
To her, Chad had thought she would be alone all her life.
"Of course, he would never thought I would find such a handsome man as a boyfriend." Marlie blunts out without thinking. Mark couldn't help but laugh.
"Why are you laughing like a crazy person?"
Marlie asked ignorant of her words causing the laughter.
Mark replied still giggling...
"NOTHING"
Curiosity drew on Marlie's face and she had to think back to what caused Mark to be laughing. She scoffed when she remembered her words...
"You think you are handsome?" Marlie asked with an irked face
"You can't deny that I am, Marlie. Anyway, let's forget about that. I finally met your sister's husband." Mark said.
Marlie didn't want to hear it. But Mark was also not stopping... "He is very handsome, I might say."
Marlie rolled her eyes at that. What does she care if he is handsome? She will still exact her revenge. But Mark has a different view,
"With his features, are you sure you will not fall for him and fail this revenge as time goes by?" Mark teased.