POV: Victoria
I was sitting on a bench outside the hospital when Claire walked out and engulfed me in a bear hug,
"I don't know how you did it, Vee, but I'm glad you did. Mom and I are so proud of you. I am so lucky to have you by my side, I'm proud to call you my sister." She confessed happily. I couldn't stop the tears that spilled down my cheeks when she said these words to me. Her words brought so much comfort to my heart, making me feel loved after my father and Raphael almost ruined my day. I wiped the tears away before she could see it, I plastered a fake smile on my face, trying to ease her worries.
"Errrm, Vee, about the rumors online…"
"Yeah, about that. I'm sorry, Claire, I should have told you about Raphael and I before now. I'm in a relationship with him and it has been him paying for mom's hospital bills all this while." I explained. She opened her mouth in shock as she stared at me in disbelief
"You are sure it's a healthy relationship and not what the bloggers are saying about you being bullied by him. If he's bullying you, Vee, you can tell me all about it and I promise not to judge. I'll go straight to that huge mansion of his, and I'll punch him in his fucking face!" she threatened fiercely, making me giggle for the first time today.
"First of all, you won't even make it past security. And even if you do, I'm sure you'll end up drooling over him like I did the first time I set eyes on him." I joked.
"Yeah, you're right. I've seen him on television and damn, he's so cute. I can't wait to get interviewed on TV so I can tell the whole world that my big sister is getting married to a billionaire. Tell me, how did you meet him, how is he in person, is he as cute as he is on television?
How long have you two been dating, has he kissed you yet, has he…"
"Enough Claire!
My, God, you are going to give me a heart attack. This is not the place or time, and you are not allowed to grant interviews or talk about us with anyone. Now, go in there and take care of Mom already!" I instructed her firmly. I'm sure she would not give up until she gets the answers to her questions.
I intend to stall until I ask Raphael about it. I have to ask him what I can say if people ask about our first meeting. It will be so humiliating if we go about telling different lies about our relationship. People could piece together our different stories and the rumors will start circulating again.
I thought to call him and ask him about it, but I lost his card and I don't think I remembered to save his number. How would I remember that when all he's done is yell and scream at me since we met. I sat all alone on the bench, listening to the sound of crickets, thinking deeply about my deal with Ralph. Suddenly, my phone beeps to notify me of a message. I picked up my phone and saw that it was from a strange number. I opened the message and gasped in shock when I realized who it was.
"Where are you?" these were the only words in the text. I don't need a magician to tell me that there is only one person in my life who can be so rude and annoying. I turned around to view my surroundings when I was sure he was nowhere in sight, I decided to lie my ass off.
"I'm at home, about to go to bed." I lied.
"What about your mother, you did not stay to take care of her after the surgery?" he asked again. I've forgotten so soon that he knows in supposed to be at the hospital. I thought to come clean, but I quickly pushed that thought to the back of my head.
"Nope!
Not today!
I won't come clean with him. He is not catching my lies today, I won't give him another reason to call me a gold digging whore and a liar." I said to myself as I typed a message for him explaining to him that Claire was with Mom tonight and not me.
"Mom was sleeping peacefully. I needed a break, I needed to clear my thoughts. So I came home to rest a bit while my sister stayed with her for the night. I'll be going back there early tomorrow morning to relieve her. It would be nice if you stopped texting me now so I could sleep." I responded.
"Hmmm," was his only response to me. I smiled to myself, thinking I was smart. I waited for him to say something else, but he didn't. So I got up and decided to check on Claire and Mom.
"What's wrong, Vee?
You have been this moody since you got back. Did something happen while you were away?" Claire asked me when I walked back to the hospital. I couldn't respond because I'd just walked in on them celebrating Mom's successful surgeries and possible recovery. No one told me about this celebration and that made me furious.
"What's going on here, I thought you were sleeping?" I asked Mom in surprise. She smiled at me, looking so happy.
"We were out there talking just now, weren't we?
How did you get these drinks in here and why didn't you tell me that mom is awake?" I asked Claire, more like yelled at her actually.
"I'm sorry Vee. You said you wanted to be alone and I didn't want to bother you. The doctors were here, Sis. They are positive about Mom's recovery this time and they are hinting at discharging her from the hospital as soon as she can get out." Claire told me excitedly as she clinked her glass with Kyle's
"Here, they brought this," she said excitedly as she hugged me right, sobbing on my shoulder. It was the receipt of payment and mom's file. This shows that we are no longer owing the hospital a dime. Raphael has kept to his end of the bargain, and his mom's hospital bills are now fully settled.
I know I should be grateful and happy, but this receipt made me recall that I'd asked for my father's help and he embarrassed and denied me publicly. I can't seem to shake off that feeling of rejection from my father. He sounded so certain when he said I was not his, I felt so terrible. He has just succeeded in giving Charlotte and her mom something new to abuse me with.
"Are you okay?" Claire asked again, this time looking puzzled and concerned about me.
"I'm fine, sis. I just need a few minutes to myself." I responded with a sad smile as I walked out again, heading back to the bench out there. Well, I wish I'd stayed inside.