Chapter 62 Mia Pighati

<Mia>

"Who are they?" I asked the elderly woman standing outside the gate.

"Are you Ethan's wife?" she asked with a smile.

Who is this person again? How many women will come and ask for Ethan? I nodded in response. I don't know her.

"Oh! You're so beautiful, my dear! I am Ethan's mother. My son really knows how to pick a woman," she said happily while cupping my face.

"Is Ethan here?" she asked me, looking behind.

"He's not h-here," I replied politely. Ethan hasn't been coming home, and it makes me extremely sad.

"Oh, I see. Maybe he's busy at the hospital," she said.

I invited her inside the house.

"What would you like for a snack?" I asked her and called one of the household staff to bring her some.

"Oh, no need. Your house is so big," she commented, glancing around our home. I thought Ethan had no parents? And who is this woman standing in front of me?

"Ah, pardon me for asking. Are you really Ethan's mother?" I bravely asked. I thought she might be pretending and could be a thief, given her expensive-looking bag.

She laughed at my question, "Yes! You've only seen me now, haven't you? I also just met you now," she teased, "I left my children with their grandfather to give them a better life. I couldn't raise them on my own, especially since I'm a single mom. I have no one in my life, no one who loves me," she said emotionally, "the twins are angry with me because I left them when they were still babies. They don't understand what I felt as a mother. They don't know how painful it was for me to leave them and not see them," she started crying in front of me.

She wiped her tears, "I'm sorry for getting emotional. It's just that I'm not in good terms with the twins," she sighed, "but it's okay because I understand them. I'm here to make amends with them," she said sadly while holding my hand.

Ethan never opened up about his parents or his family.

"Anak, do you have money? Can you lend me some? I bought gifts for the twins, but I'm a bit short on cash," she asked me. I was taken aback by her request. She just met me and is already asking for a loan. It's a turn-off.

"I'll pay you back next week. I'll receive my pension, so I have no money at the moment," she added.

I don't have any money left either.

I lent her some money, giving her the remaining cash I had.

"Oh! You're so kind. My son is lucky to have you. You're a heaven-sent," she happily said while counting the money I lent her.

"Anak, can you please not tell Ethan that I borrowed money? He might get angry at me again," she pleaded with me. I reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"I'll go ahead then. I still need to buy gifts for Ann and Mark," she bid farewell. Before I could respond, she disappeared from my sight. I sighed deeply; it wouldn't be surprising if Ethan and her mother weren't on good terms. Her sudden appearance at our house and borrowing money from me were both surprising.

"E-Ethan?" I called out as he arrived home. I was about to approach him when he almost stumbled, thankfully catching himself on the door.

Is he drunk?

"Ethan, did you drink?" I asked gently.

"Ethan!" I called out nervously as he lost consciousness. I immediately panicked and called for all the household staff while crying. My mind wasn't functioning, so I called my sister.

"Ate, Ethan passed out," I cried when she answered the call.

"Shit!" I looked at the caller as a man's voice spoke. I was so out of it that I ended up calling Nathan.

The household staff worked together to bring Ethan to our room. Even they didn't know what to do, and I was left crying.

"Ma'am, should we call an ambulance?" one of the household staff asked anxiously. I just stared, looking at Ethan who was unconscious. I didn't know if he finally came home or if it was all just a dream. He passed out. I felt a mix of emotions. I'm having a breakdown.

Nathan arrived and refused to take his twin brother to the hospital.

"He has a fever. Don't bring him to the hospital because it's dirty there, and he might catch some illness. If it's treatable, it's better for him to recover at home," he said calmly.

"I'm sorry," I apologized to him. I don't know why I'm seeking his forgiveness.

"My brother has been drinking nonstop. He is abusing his health, which is bad," he said, shaking his head. I looked at him, but he avoided my gaze.

"There's a better woman for him. She's more beautiful than you. Many women deserve my brother's love. I don't know what he sees in you."

I didn't respond.

"Why are you hurting my twin brother?"

I froze at his question.

"Nothing is going on between me and Hermione. Before I met Ethan, I was in a relationship with Yunie," I explained to him.

"Whatever," he replied, seemingly indifferent to my explanation.

"Ethan doesn't like being with women or getting close to them. He hates women so much because of our mother. She abandoned us when we were babies. When I saw Ethan getting close to you, I knew he was falling in love with you. I couldn't do anything to my twin. I can't dictate his heart."

I know my husband is deeply in love with me.

Nathan's phone rang.

"I'll go ahead. Solve your problem with Hermione. You deal with my brother. By the way, how is he?"

"I'm home. I'll go home late," I replied to his text message, adding heart emoticons.

"Okay, text me when you're going home. Drive safely," I texted back.

I sat tiredly on the sofa, still in my work clothes, lost in my thoughts. I didn't notice Ethan's arrival until he came with flowers in his hands.

"Wife? Why are you still awake?" he asked, holding out the bouquet.

I looked in his direction, holding back my smile. My heart melted seeing him with flowers. I was a bit upset earlier because he couldn't pick me up from work, and he hasn't been talking to me much these past few days.

"It's your first day at work. I bought you flowers," he said. He always accompanies me to work and picks me up, and on the rare occasion that he can't, he sends his driver to fetch me. I understand that his schedule at the hospital is hectic, and there are high expectations from his grandfather, who happens to be his favorite grandchild.

I accepted the flowers he offered and tried to suppress my smile. My heart was filled with warmth. I was upset earlier, thinking he had abandoned and forgotten about me. I thought he no longer cared. But his actions spoke otherwise.

"Hey, why are you crying?" he asked with concern. He closed the distance between us and cupped my face in his hands.

"I thought you abandoned me and forgot about me. You didn't pick me up earlier, and you haven't been talking to me much these past few days," I sniffled, feeling emotional.

He gently wiped away my tears. "Why would I abandon you? You're my wife. I'm sorry if I couldn't pick you up earlier. Grandpa called us; there's an emergency announcement," he explained. "Stop crying, I'm here," he said softly, trying to soothe me.

I couldn't help but hug him tightly, and he stilled for a moment. I knew it surprised him because he's usually the one to initiate our hugs.

"Have you eaten?" he asked, hugging me back gently. "Hush now, baby..." his voice was warm and soothing.

I shook my head while burying my face in his chest.

"Fuck! Why haven't you eaten? What time is it, Mia?" he sounded angry.

"I didn't want to eat," all I wanted to do right now was to sleep.

"And I already had dinner outside before coming home," I added.

"I'll take you out for dinner tomorrow, okay?" he suggested.

"Stop worrying about me. I ate dinner earlier," I pouted, looking up at him. Ethan never failed to feed me or ask about my well-being. He always takes care of me.

"You should have told me that you hadn't eaten. I worry about you, Mia," he said, pretending to be overly concerned. I had already told him I ate earlier, but he kept acting.

"I'm not hungry," I said, giving in to his concern.

"You should take care of yourself, baby," he said, kissing my lips gently.

"How was your first day at work?" he asked, his eyes full of concern. Even when tired from work and feeling sleepy, he always found time to ask about my day.

"My co-workers are nice, and the work environment is good for my mental health," I replied.

"That's good to hear, baby. Tell me if something bad happened, okay?" he reminded me. He always tells me that. He supports all my decisions and desires in life. My husband never judges my choices, and I feel like I'm always right in his eyes. He loves me unconditionally and puts no one above me. He gives me all his love and care, his expensive gifts like Gucci and Prada. My sugar daddy.

"My baby misses me so much," he teased.

As we embraced, I couldn't help but feel grateful for having him in my life. He was my rock, my protector, and my confidant. I was truly blessed to have Ethan as my husband.