Chapter 5

Adam's chest hemorrhaged due to the emotional rollercoaster he had experienced. Things looked bleak, and nothing they did seemed to work. Isla had rushed over when she heard the news. She was so terrified that she nearly collapsed right then and there. Arthur immediately caught her in his arms, gently rubbing her back as he soothed, "Adam will be okay. You need to take care of yourself, especially the baby you're carrying." Isla sobbed even harder as she weakly collapsed into Adam's embrace, unable to summon the strength to even stand. The two clung to each other, behaving just like any other parent bound together in worry over a sickly child. They looked so united and so utterly intertwined in their joys and sorrows. Maya stood in the corner alone as the pain in her chest grew more pronounced. If Arthur had only treated Isla kindly out of spite, then it was now painfully obvious that he had come to genuinely care for her. Maya was jerked out of her thoughts when the doctor said urgently, "The patient has lost too much blood. He urgently needs type B blood. We can't afford to waste time getting some from the blood bank. Who here is type B?" Several of them were type B. However, Maya and Adam were the only ones who were genetically kin. Arthur was quick to realize this. When he did, he didn't even hesitate to grab her and order, "Do the blood transfusion." He has said in a voice that brooked no argument. It was as if he'd forgotten that she was also a patient in this hospital, a patient who was recovering from stomach illness and burn injuries. Still, Maya said nothing. Instead, she straightened and quietly followed the nurse. She stared as the thick needle pierced through her skin, eating into her vein. The sensation of her blood leaving her body was not unlike an army of ants slowly crawling out of her. She had always been afraid of pain. Her face would scrunch up in distaste and fear whenever she had to get an injection. Back then, Arthur would always pull her into his arms, cover her eyes, and whisper reassuringly into her ear, "It's okay, honey. I'm here." Now, she was alone. There was only a single wall between them. Yet, he was embracing another woman, their minds filled with worry about their child. Her blood slowly flowed out of her, seemingly taking her life with it. The world blurred before her eyes, and she had no idea how much blood was taken from her body. All she knew was that she eventually lost her grip on reality and fell unconscious. When she awoke, she was surprised to see Arthur accompanying her. He looked visibly exhausted as he had been awake for a day and a night. His eyes lit up with joy when he saw that she was awake. He was about to ask her something when his phone rang. Isla's voice carried through the receiver as she asked, "Adam's awake and he's asking for you. Could you come by?" Maya noticed how Arthur's expression immediately softened as he said yes. Then, he left her ward without so much as a backward glance. Soon, she heard joyful laughter and chuckles from the neighbouring ward. Adam called him Daddy over and over again. In his excitement, he didn't even stop to take a breath in between. Maya felt her lungs stop functioning upon hearing that form of address. After what seemed like eternity, she heard Arthur answer, "Yes." Those words fell upon her heart like something painfully final. It was as if he wasn't just answering an eager child, but also spelling out the ending of their complete farce of a marriage. She slowly curled into herself, hiding under the blankets as she covered her ears. She was acting as if by doing so… she could pretend that the harmonious scene playing in the other ward would cease to exist. Arthur all but lived in that ward in the days that followed. … During the quietest hours of the night, Maya would hear a familiar sigh. However, it was so fleeting that it didn't seem real. Meanwhile, gossip ran rampant through the hospital halls. Every look cast her way was tinted with pity. Fortunately for her, it was soon time for George's death anniversary, so they all went to the cemetery together. Paul and Barbara took Adam ahead, whereas Arthur, Isla, and Maya sat in the same car. Isla naturally slid into the passenger seat. She had just fastened her seatbelt when she suddenly turned to look behind her, saying in a flustered tone, "I'm so sorry. This is Maya's seat. I'll move." Arthur pressed her hand down firmly. "No. You're the mother of my child. This is where you belong." Those few words made Maya's chest ache so badly she could hardly breathe. So, she swallowed her tears and quietly slid into the back seat. … Their car quickly arrived at the cemetery, where Adam was already kneeling by George's grave. Barbara was weeping openly as she laid down her bouquet of flowers. Then, she spoke in a somewhat thankful tone. "George, we'll take good care of Adam. He's your son. He'll inherit the Selwyns' business and visit you every year." Barbara only had one simple wish—to keep George's line alive. She would do anything to see that future come to fruition, even if she had to make a mess of their lives. Still, would Arthur actually dance to her tune?