Chapter 23
From my room I can hear the sound of greetings as if welcoming someone, Adam must be here. looking at the wall clock in my room it is exactly 12 pm on the dot. Wow, very punctual.
I feel so nervous right now, I don't know how to react. How did we get here? This whole thing still feels like a dream, gently I pinched myself just so I could be sure, the sharp pain I felt confirmed my reality.
"Ouch" I gasp in pain, robbing the part I pinched. Shit that hurts.
"Are you alright?" Amanda asks with a worried look on her face.
"Yes I am fine."
"Alright you need to go down now, I think Adam is here I can hear voices coming from downstairs"
"Yes, same here" I said but still sitting where I was.
"So what are you waiting for, let go". Amanda said excitedly. She seems so happy to see Adam again, how I wish I could be as excited as her.
This whole thing is nothing but fake, very soon they will all find out the truth. Oh God please help me, what have I gotten myself into?
"Come on Cathy, don't keep my brother in law waiting." She jokes, making Miranda chuckle.
"Yes Cathy, Amanda is right. It is not good to keep your future husband waiting" She said, winking at me earning a smile from my end.
"Alright, I am going now before you both kill me with your non stop chattering."
"Good. Miranda, our work is finished, we can leave her now." Amanda said as she took Miranda's hand and left my room.
All alone I look at my reflection one more time. This is it, I just need to be myself and everything will be fine.
Without hesitating, I left my room. I can't sit there all day. I have to face him, if I don't see now I will see him tomorrow at work so there is really no place for me to hide.
As I got to the stairs I could hear the sounds of laughter. I wonder what could be so funny making them laugh so hard. Descending from the stairs, I scan the room, mom is with Amanda laughing over something she said.
But my gaze is looking for a certain someone.. Adam. Just when I was about to give up my eyes fell on him. Quickly I took in his appearance as he stood tall looking like a snack. Like those models in a magazine.
He is wearing a black chinos pants with a white shirt not buttoned up completely, exposing part of his chest. He must love white shirts so much and it suits him too.
His suit is hung on his right arm, with his long sleeve shirt folded up stopping at the lower part of his elbow adding a dangerous feel to his look.
Just then, I noticed he wasn't alone, he was talking to dad at the far end in the room. His facial expression remains the same, unreadable. While dad has a pleasant smile on his wrinkled face.
Age is telling on him, how sad. I wish I could return his youthfulness to him so he can live forever. Him and mom.
As if sensing my presence, Adam looked up towards my direction and our eyes locked making my heart skip a bit. I can feel butterflies in my tummy. It took every ounce of strength in me to look away as I looked for something to distract me from this beast in front of me.
My attention moved to his shoes. He is wearing a brown designer loafers shoe that made his feet look cute. Oh my, everything about him is cute in a masculine way of course.
His burning gaze on me as he took in my appearance left me restless, almost tripping off literally. Thank goodness for the rays in the stairs, these days I have become rather clumsy.
Feeling embarrassed, I look up at him catching the usual annoying smirk on his face.
What a jerk.
Leaving dad while he was still talking to him Adam came to me to help me get down the stairs. Ignoring his hand, I walk past him leaving him shocked. I bet no one has ever walked past him before.
"That serves him right," I said to myself, smirking.
How dare he walk away when dad is still talking to him? Such rude behavior towards my father will not be accepted by me. But my happy mood didn't last long as dad ruined it.
"Catherine! Why did you do that?" Dad ask feeling displease with my rude behavior
"Dad, I have my reason. He shouldn't have.."
"No Cathy that is wrong. Whatever the reason, you must not be disrespectful, okay?"
I look at dad in utter shock, ever since yesterday I no longer understand him. First, he forgave me so easily and now this? He is tolerating Adam's unruly behavior!
"Something is fishy" I said to myself while looking at him suspiciously trying to figure out what could be the reason behind dad's sudden change of attitude.
"You heard that Cherry, that behavior is unacceptable" Adam said teasingly. Although his voice is calm I can tell he is trying very hard to keep his cool.
"The same is applicable to you too" I said in anger
"Me?"
"Yes you. The way you behaved some minutes ago towards my dad is unacceptable. You have no right to walk away when he is not done talking"
"Really? From what I can see, your dad isn't complaining. Or is he?" He asks provokingly just to get a reaction from me and he definitely will!
So pissed at his rudeness I wanted to hit him again on his but dad stopped me in time
"Catherine! Enough" He said almost yelling before suddenly he started coughing, placing his hand on his chest like he was in so much pain.
"Oh no, dad!" I ran to him, dropping my silver purse on the floor without any care in the world.
"What is wrong, dad! Please talk to me. Someone get water! John!" I yelled.
"Nicholas!" Mom screamed in horror as she ran towards him.
"Someone please call 911!" I yelled. He isn't looking too good at all, I think he had a heart attack.
Adam was still in shock with the whole situation as he stood looking at dad before finally snapping out of his shock state.
"Catherine, we need to take him to the hospital now!" He said as he carried dad like he weighed nothing. My God, how strong is he?
Quickly I ran ahead of him, towards the door opening it so he could pass. Opening his car he placed dad gently at the back seat of his red Ferrari and entered the driver's seat.
I followed suit, entering the front passenger seat. The rest of my family followed behind us in another car.
I didn't realize I was crying until something wet touched my hand on my lap. Dad hardly fell sick, I can't remember the last time he went to the hospital. So how did this happen, when did he start having a problem with his heart?
I wish I hadn't behaved rudely towards Adam at least dad will be fine. Now he is lying unconscious at the back of Adam's car and it is all my fault.
"Everything will be fine" Adam said assuringly as he placed one hand in my hand while the other on the steering wheel. The kind gesture, although small, melted my heart in a million ways.
Within no time, we arrived at Central hospital. Dad was admitted immediately without any delay or procedure carried out. All it took was for Adam saying his name.
"How powerful is he?" I can't help but wonder.
After thirty minutes that felt like endless hours the doctor tending to dad came out. Quickly mom went to him before anyone could get to him.
"Please tell me, how is my husband doing?" Mom asks crying, she has not been herself ever since she saw dad lying unconscious.
"Your husband is fine, his vitals are stable now. He just experience little shock that is all"
The good news brought so much joy to me, I felt so happy I didn't know when I hugged Adam, shedding tears of joy.
"It is okay, everything is fine now" Adam said reassuringly with a voice so soothing, making me calm.
"Dad gave me a big freight" I said in between tears, as I wiped my tears with his white unused handkerchief he gave me.
"I know, everything is fine now Cherry" He said, placing a warm kiss on my forehead.
