Massey was allergic to nuts; everyone at home and school knew that. We were always careful when packing things for her consumption.
Henry had also commanded the chefs to throw away anything with any portion of nuts in it.
I hoped it wasn't Massey that the parents were talking about because the chef and I had never made a mistake while packing food for her!
When I reached the place,the situation in the swimming arena was chaotic; paramedics were giving a young girl on a stretcher first aid.
I quickly ran in their direction, and to my alarm, it was Massey lying on that stretcher. I immediately held her hand as I soothed her hair in tears. A medical paramedic was trying to get me to let go. How could I?
"I am her mother," I said to the medical team.
"Ma'am, we now have to take the child to the hospital. She is out of danger now, but we still have to properly monitor her situation," a woman I assumed was a nurse said.
I quickly shook my head in understanding as I let Massey be carried away. However, I wondered how Massey could have ingested anything associated with nuts! Nothing containing them was packed!
I quickly rushed to the teacher who had promised to take very good care of Massey before asking her what led to her situation.
"I am so sorry, ma'am. A young boy in her class gave her a drink unknowingly; a certain lady told him to," the teacher apologetically said.
"Who is that lady?" I asked.
"The little boy can't seem to remember. I am sorry; I should have been more careful," the teacher said.
"Shiba? What happened? Where is Massey?" I heard Lilly ask as she walked in my direction with Klain.
"Klain, let the driver take you home. Mom will go be with Massey," I gently held Klain's face as I said.
I had no time to waste on Lilly, so I hurriedly followed behind the paramedics as I carried Massey's bag.
"Such a careless parent! Where had she gone? Isn't she Mr. Henry's wife? I saw her on the news," I heard whispers from surrounding parents as I rushed by.
I sat in the ambulance, and we headed to Muni Main Hospital. Massey had been put out of danger and could now talk; however, she had swollen spots all over her skin.
"Massey, do you remember who gave you that drink? I mean the woman who told the boy to give it to you?" I immediately asked when we reached the hospital and Massey was lying down on the hospital bed.
"No," Massey replied as she attempted to scratch her skin. I immediately stopped her actions.
"Don't scratch; bear with it a little. It will slowly go away," I sighed as I said.
"Didn't I warn you not to take or drink anything from strangers?" I gently asked.
"I am sorry, Mom; it won't happen again," Massey apologetically said. I could only smile before arranging her hair.
"Don't take things from strangers again," I said.
"Where were you? Why could she take anything from anyone when you were supposed to be watching her?" I heard Henry say as he entered the room. My body immediately tensed.
"Dad! It's not Mom's fault; I was wrong," Massey immediately said.
"Okay, how are you feeling now? I was worried sick when I was told about your condition," Henry smiled as he asked, sitting beside Massey.
"I am fine! It wasn't anything big," Massey replied.
"Your brother and Lilly were worried about you too; they simply couldn't go home, so they came with me," Henry said.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Lilly, holding Klain's hand, walked in.
"Please place them at the table," Lilly gently requested of the driver who was following behind with food containers.
"Lilly asked the chef to cook your favorite food; see if you like it," Henry said.
Massey looked at Lilly before she shook her head in understanding, picked up the food package, and started eating slowly.
After some time, the doctor entered and informed us that Massey was out of danger and that there was nothing to worry about.
"Thank God you are fine. Daddy was really worried. Your grandparents sent me a request; they will pick you up today. This gave them a scare, so spend a few days there and relieve their tension, okay?" Henry said as he gently stroked Massey's shoulders.
"Okay, but please don't blame Mom; it wasn't her fault," Massey said.
"Of course, you never worry about yourself, always about others," Henry said as he gently smiled at Massey.
An hour passed, and Mr. Musa's driver came to pick up Massey. Henry told Klain to go with her sister too.
"Lilly, please send greetings to Dad and Mom, and escort the children well," Henry said as he gently held Lilly's hand.
"Don't worry, I will make sure that nothing happens to them," Lilly said.
"Okay," Henry said as he lifted his hand and gently stroked Lilly's hair. Lilly smiled gently before sitting in the car. The car quickly disappeared.
I wanted to personally escort Massey and Klain, but I simply couldn't say a thing; Henry had already decided.
"Let's go home and have a proper chat, shall we?" Henry said as he held my hand, leading me toward the hospital parking lot.
Henry told his driver to take the day off, as he would personally drive me home. He quickly stepped on the gas, driving straight there.
When we reached home,he told Demilia to let all the employees retire early for the day before leading me upstairs.
I immediately knew his intentions, but there was nothing I could do.
Henry tied my hands with his necktie and tied me to the bedpost. He then proceeded to angrily unbuckle his suit belt.
"I am so tired of you, Shiba. You literally make living in the same space as you unbearable! Where had you gone?" Henry asked.
I could never reveal anything about the internet café; that would literally put me in danger or even get me killed! I couldn't take that risk.
"Hm? Can't talk?" Henry rhetorically asked as his facial muscles twitched before striking my face with the belt. I immediately screamed in pain and terror.
"I will ask you again: where had you gone?" Henry asked.
I could only cry in pain, as the agony on my face was tremendous.
Henry rapidly struck me on every part of my body. My dress eventually ripped, and blood dripped from my arms, face, and head, but Henry didn't stop.
"I can kill you right at this very moment, and no one will bat an eye; that's how worthless your life is," Henry calmly said before he folded his shirt and threw the belt aside.
"Where were you?" Henry repeated as he lifted my head by my hair and punched me directly in the face.
The pain was too much for me to handle as Henry kicked me in the stomach, slapped me, and punched me several times.
My face was covered with blood mixed with tears. I couldn't die without revealing what kind of monster this man and Zire were! I thought as I was on the brink of collapse.
Suddenly, Henry stopped his actions. My eyes couldn't open at this point, so I couldn't see what Henry was doing.
"Pearl? Yes, there is an emergency; come and have a look," I heard Henry say before I fainted.
When I woke up, my head was wrapped in a bandage; only one of my eyes could open with great difficulty. I saw Henry sitting in the corner as he watched me.
"We have to take her to the hospital; I simply can't treat her from here," I heard Pearl say to Henry.
"Take her there then; such ill luck!" Henry said as he moved out of the room, shutting the door behind him with a bang. I immediately shivered in fright.
"You had a miscarriage," Demilia bluntly said.
Grief immediately overcame me. I didn't know I was pregnant! My child didn't get to see the light of this world all because of that monster! My hatred for Henry immediately reached an all-time high.
I would make sure to expose him or die trying!