Chapter 69

Thea's Point of View

“Thea, the doctor just said that it won't be good for you when you think about too much stress.” Megan's face changed immediately, her eyes pitying me as if she wasn't used to seeing me like this.

This was the first time she'd seen me in this state. She hadn't seen how much my heart was breaking. Because I didn't sleep every day while I was in Spain, I'm not sure what reaction she was having. She probably didn't think I'd end up in this situation after witnessing my daily laughter and our minute-by-minute stories about our life dreams.

“How can I find Cray if I just lay here?” Perhaps he's seeking food, or perhaps he's looking for milk because I'm not with him. Who is going to combine his milk?” I'm battling with Megan right now because she makes me rest and covers me with a comforter, which I'm removing. “Are you hiding something from me?”

I held her hand, so she wouldn't do anything else to me, since it was pointless. I'm going to stand, and I will simply be going to stand again, no matter what. So, she somehow, well, stops what she's doing.

“N-no. Nothing. What can I hide from you?” She stepped back twice as if she realized that she was holding me while my body was on fire. She seemed to be burned because she promptly removed her palms then turned to the door as if she was waiting for someone to save her.

“Then let me out. The doctor said I need to eat, my stomach is still empty.” I stomped my foot on the cold floor. But as I stood up, my feet suddenly gave way as if it were the first time I had stepped on the ground. I look like Ariel in the famous cartoons of The Little Mermaid. If only Megan hadn't caught me, my chin might have hit the wood of the bed.

Our situation was made even more amusing by the fact that she was clutching my top garment. Too easy, I think. Maybe it was just easy on her, or if she just acted like a man.

We miss the days when no one else was worried about how to get by the instructors while cutting class since we were so tired. We haven't spoken since I got home. She placed me back down on the bed.

When I looked her in the eyes, she seemed much more agitated. It seemed as though she hadn't slept because she was so worried about me. Now I wonder what if she wasn't there? What about me?

“Thea, I'll just get you some food, I told you, you can't come outside.”

“Thank you but—”

She didn't hear what I was saying any longer, since she raced out the door without listening to what I was saying. What she did shook me to my core. It appears that part of her personality is to behave without listening to the person with whom she is conversing. I'm not sure why she and Rayleigh stayed together. I just don't know if they're married yet. I simply disregarded her rush.

I pressed my numb feet together. I can still feel the tile's coldness. However, I am no longer able to feel my whole legs. Perhaps it was due to what Wayne had injected. I instantly remembered what was done to Wayne; he became a victim, but I can't justify what he did correctly. Maybe he was still thinking clearly, but his need was overpowering his body.

I tried to rise and move carefully when I felt my foot go down. It took me about 30 minutes, but Megan still hadn't returned. I stood without assistance and, thankfully, I was able to stand and move. When I opened the door, there was no one in the entire home.

I even went on a walk to see if there were any helpers, but I couldn't find anyone. I could hear every step of my foot on the only polished and brown stairway. Even if I'm not wearing slippers, I can hear my feet, although faintly. Looking out the window while holding the railing, I noticed a crowd forming outside the gate.

I stepped out quietly, making no noise, so as not to disturb them while they were busy.

Rayleigh placed his arms around Megan's back as she held a piece of paper. I noticed Megan's child playing with the assistants when I turned to the left. I would have gone because it appears that what Megan and they are discussing is serious, but my eyes nearly widened as she tore the page she was holding.

Even though she didn't hold much movement, she seemed to be chasing her breath. Rayleigh calmed her down, but she suddenly pushed someone outside so my feet that were supposed to go to her daughter suddenly went straight towards them. Megan is not violent, so, surprisingly, she acted like this and Rayleigh did not even stop her.

They still can't hear me or notice me because my steps are so light. Until I came out, I didn't wear slippers, so the wet grass touched my feet. I wasn't disgusted because I also liked to do it when I was young. I stopped behind them and saw a police officer who seemed to be accompanied by an attorney. I would have just touched Megan when she spoke again, and it was loud as if she couldn't control her anger anymore.

“THEA WILL NOT SIGN THAT! JUST WAIT AND SHE WILL TAKE HER SON BACK!” She pointed to the torn papers. The policeman did not move as well as the attorney who was with him, but the attorney looked at me.

“Looks like you shouldn't be the one answering that. Why don’t we give Miss Thea Curtis a chance to give her answer? I'll just follow the paper for her to sign.” The man held out his hand to me as if to present and introduce me to many people.

I could not understand what they were saying. What are they asserting? But I’m only sure of one thing. They mentioned something about Cray. Megan gave me a way to face the man who reached the sky with a grin. I frowned.

“Which demon sent you today?” I don’t have to show them that I’m hesitant because when I do that, I’m just giving them a spot where they should hit me.

The attorney's face changed, his hands clenched, but the policeman just stayed in his place, it looked like he just needed to accompany this attorney for the possibilities to happen.

“Miss Thea, Miss Felicity, wants to adopt your son Cray Curtis. That will be replaced by the last name of Mr. Craig Holden because he also wants your child to go to him. However, there is a law that says the child must grow up with the mother if it is only one to seven years old. There is also a law that says the father can take the child back if the mother no longer can support the child financially.” He sneezed, and the smile seemed to win at some gamble. “In what happened to you, it looks like even a box of milk you can no longer afford for the child -”

He didn't finish what he was saying because Rayleigh's first had already landed on his face. His glasses were shattered, and he looked like a defeated bully in the anime I often see in what Cray watches.

Adopt? Will the last name be changed? Did Craig think I would just let him do that to me? To my child?

“He should give my son back to me. I will find where I can borrow money just to accuse them of both —his demon fiancés. Until tomorrow, if he doesn't return my son to me, we will only meet in court.” The smile on the attorney's lips was gone. I pushed Rayleigh and Megan slightly, and I closed the gate.

At times, I discovered that Cray is in Craig's hand. It eased my heart, but it was quickly overtaken with the terror of knowing Felicity was with him. That woman might think otherwise; Craig may wake up one day with my son suspended in the air, a rope around his neck. When the gate closed, I gazed at it for a long time, trying to find the solution to my dilemma.

“Sorry. I didn't realize he'd do that, and I'm sorry I didn't warn you.” Megan sniffed, even though she hadn't done anything. I was even more delighted because she tore up the papers, something she knew I would never do. She is a mother.

“Why? Did she do anything so far apart from sending that worthless attorney here?” I did not hold back my laughter at every slur that I hurled at them.

“Yes. It was broadcast on television,” she says hesitantly.

“And what other lie do I have to watch and hear from their rotting words?”

“I have a strong feeling that Felicity initiated all this because the news said that you left your child, and you suddenly disappeared,” Ray answered my question. Megan looks very upset with what is happening and is afraid that it will affect me.

I am so thankful that Megan became my friend, the one who cared about me while Ray looks the same. I am so thankful that they have become my friends.

“Where else can I possibly leave my child so that they can accuse me of those things?” I don’t bother with what they accuse me of because I know the truth and if I have to work hard to prove that I can raise my child on my own. They broke a miserable Thea, Craig broke the second chance I gave to him.

“It is… It isn't specified where, so what she stated is even more suspicious. My cousin did not support her, so I'm not sure what's going on.” Ray was still who answered, and Megan was still listening.

We’re about to go inside now as I think about where Megan put the bag I was carrying when Wayne kidnapped me. I needed that because that’s where the bank logbook Craig gave me was. That was a lot of money, so I knew Felicity didn’t know about it. She thought that everything would be easier for her because I had lost everything.

“Let them do what they want as long as my son is not returned before the end of tomorrow, we will meet in court,” I said as I entered the first room to look for the bag. Aside from just using it for Cray, I'll be doing something else with it. That was the only way I could reclaim the firm.

It didn't take long for me to check the room, but I couldn't find it anywhere in the corner. I even vanquished the mother who had gone into hiding from her son since I was out of breath trying to find the things I was looking for. I couldn't even find my phone, so I got up and went to Megan's room right away. It was just lunchtime when the house was quite peaceful; it reminded me of the ambiance we had at home when Cray and I were still living in Spain, with the exception that this house is not veiled in grief. It has a bright aura that can be felt even when you are not looking at it.

When I was right in front of their door, it swung open just in time. So, I no longer had to knock.

Ray unexpectedly embraced her back to pull her back into the room, and she looked astonished. I appeared to have arrived at an inconvenient time; I was going to turn around when she hastily slammed the door shut. Despite Ray's efforts to follow her, she did not open. I just held on to the back of my neck because I was ashamed. I also had a husband, and it seemed odd that they couldn't do what they wanted because I was around.