Just as darkness was about to envelop Elena, Lana entered the room.
"Mrs. Morrison, are you okay?" Lana asked as she rushed to the bed, her eyes widening in panic.
"Doctor, we need help here." Lana shouted in fear.
"Doctor!!!" She screamed louder.
Moments later, the door swung open and a team of nurses and the doctor stormed in.
"You have to leave the room so we can attend to her better." The doctor told Lana.
"I... I..." Lana was hesitant but a nurse started to lead her outside as the doctor began to work to stabilize Elena's health.
~~~~~~~~~
Three Days Later;
Elena stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the simple dress she wore.
"Huh..." She heaved a deep sigh.
Her discharge from the hospital was bittersweet. She was home, but her heart was heavier than before.
As she looked at her pale face in the mirror, her mind drifted back to the day she was discharged from the hospital.
*FLASHBACK*
"What shocking event happened to you recently, Mrs. Morrison?" The doctor had asked her as she sat across him in his office, that day.
Elena had swallowed hard before replying.
"N... Nothing. Why did you ask?" She tried to feign ignorance. The doctor sighed.
"Your attack yesterday was caused by shock. Your heart couldn't handle the shock." The doctor had informed her.
Elena sighed heavily.
"You need to take care of yourself, Mrs. Morrison. Your body can't handle any more stress like that." The doctor had continued while signing her discharge papers.
"I understand, doctor. Thank you." Elena had nodded, but it was obvious she wasn't okay.
Lana, ever the optimist, had tried to lift her spirits as they headed home, after sensing her sad mood.
"Ma'am, your husband did come by the hospital." Lana had offered cheerfully but Elena raised her eyebrows skeptically.
"Really?" She had inquired, her tone sharp.
"Yes. You were asleep. He didn't want to wake you..." Lana had continued and Elena scoffed.
"Lana, don't lie to me." She snapped angrily.
"I'm not lying, ma'am!" Lana protested weakly.
"He wouldn't have come. Not after yesterday." Elena said firmly.
Lana opened her mouth but then closed it, realizing she had been caught.
Elena swallowed hard.
"Let's just go home." She said softly but Lana could sense the sadness in her voice.
"I need answers… from Adrian." Elena had whispered to herself.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
The familiar hum of Adrian's car jolted Elena back to reality and she gasped in surprise.
"He comes home today?" Elena mumbled under her breath in disbelief and without realizing, her legs started to take her to the living room in a hurry.
She got to the living room and stood by the window, watching the driveway. Her heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and dread.
After a moment, the front door opened, and Adrian stepped inside, his briefcase in his hand, looking as composed as ever, as if he had no worry in the world.
"Whereas I am worried sick?" Elena couldn't hold it in any longer and gritted her teeth in annoyance.
"Where have you been?" She demanded, trying to sound firm but her voice trembling wouldn't allow that.
Adrian glanced at her, unbothered.
"What sort of a silly question is that? Well, if you must get a response, I have been at where I should be." He replied flatly, setting his briefcase down.
"At work?" Elena asked, disbelief etched across her face.
"Of course, where else? Work doesn't stop." Adrian shrugged, loosening his tie.
"So, you were so busy to even come to see me when I was discharged from the hospital?" Elena asked, her voice breaking.
"I told you. I was busy." Adrian snapped, sounding irritated.
Then, he looked away and was about to start walking into the bedroom when Elena stopped him.
"That is a lie!" Elena snapped. Adrian turned to face her, obviously taken aback by her reaction.
"I know you are lying about being busy. It is this same work that you have been doing since we got married, yet you were able to create time for me, unlike now." She added and her eyes searched his face, desperate for a hint of remorse.
Adrian met her gaze, calm but cold.
"Believe what you want. I don't care anymore." He said.
Elena staggered slightly, as if his words had physically struck her.
"Why are you doing this to me? What have I done to deserve this? I am doing all I can to get us to resolve any quarrel which we may have even though I don't know of any, to make our home peaceful but you are being so nonchalant. Why?" She asked, almost yelling.
Adrian shook his head, acting confused.
"You are doing what you want, Elena and I'm not stopping you. So what is the problem here?" He asked.
"I'm doing what I want and you do not see the problem here?" Elena repeated, her eyes filled with tears.
"Yes." Adrian's expression didn't waver.
"Adrian, this is not how you used to behave to me! You have been distant, even the kids have complained about not seeing you around lately." Elena snapped in exasperation.
Then as if she caught herself and decided not to escalate the matter, she gritted her teeth and exhaled sharply. And her voice went low.
"What did you mean by what you said at the hospital?" She asked.
"I meant every word. Find the meaning yourself." Adrian replied.
Elena clenched her fists.
"I need to understand! What did I do wrong? Why are you being like this to me?"
Adrian's eyes darkened, and for the first time since they started the conversation, there was a flicker of something in his expression--- anger and resentment.
"Do you really want to know?" He asked dangerously low, raising his eyebrows.
"Yes. Tell me." Elena stood her ground, her voice steadier now.
Adrian straightened, stepping closer to her.
"You caused all of this, Elena. Everything you are going through—you deserve it all. It is your fault!" He blurted coldly. His words were slo
w and deliberate.
Elena's eyes widened in shock and her breath got caught.
"What...? How?" She whispered, disbelief flooding her.