Burning Passion

CHAPTER 24: BUT NOT HER HEART

Nikki dropped her body on the bed. What a day!

Doctor Yonah did a lot of tests, from blood samples to a PAP Smear and other tests. She forgets what it calls to prepare her body for pregnancy.

All she knew from observing her neighborhood was that a woman just gets pregnant after getting married or living together with her boyfriend without a checkup. But for rich people, there are so many steps and rituals to assure the womb is healthy to carry a child.

She does not concern if how wealthy that mysterious man is, but she is more worried and nervous when that day comes. What must she do?

Still, it was unclear to her as that man hasn't shown up yet, or if he will ever show up in front of her before the day of doing that thing? Yeah, she doesn't want to think about it, even those THREE WORDS.

Ugh... could she turn back? She feels her energy draining out from every limb of her body.

But her stomach growling, that's why. She did the fasting for the test; now, she was this hungry. Jasmine, her nurse, went to get her meal from the 9th floor. She just knows there is a special kitchen for wealthy patients.

If she never agreed with him, she would never have the chance to explore this part of the hospital, nor ever in her wildest dream of staying here.

The per-night billing amount is worth a nice vacation in the local tourist spots, and her dream is the famous Hiryuu Island!

She badly wanted to try their spa and the hot spring from the Volcano. She also dreams of working at the Dragon Empire Solaris Hotel and Resort. It was a new paradise for everyone and a wedding destination for many.

Yes, the most famous Sunset Wedding, especially when the occasion falls when a full moon is on its peak.

They said, could request a special ritual wedding. She's uncertain if this is true. But how if the other one is not your soulmate or your twin mate? Isn't it a waste to marry when, after years and small misunderstandings, leading to divorce?

But she heard a talk. The Ritual Wedding won't work when one of you doesn't love genuinely. So it was a matter of loving each other.

Anyway, why she has to concern herself about this stuff? She just wanted to take a vacation on that island.

She saved most of her salary from two years of working in the café. She plans to take her mother to that island, and if she gets an opportunity, she will ask around if the hotel needs any position, even as a waitress, she will apply for it! She still aims to work there, but she can't leave her alone with her mother's condition.

Is everything would be just a dream? Soon, another chapter she must write.

But it was like words she cannot construct into a sentence, but it draws tangled letters from every corner of a paper. A direction she cannot decide where to go, nor where to start, it is a point of no return: in which she finds herself in the middle, confused, lost.

Moreover, she has no option but to pay him back. Shedding tears is not either a choice for her.

"Miss, your meal is here." the nurse came in and lay the tray of a complete meal in her bed.

This is like the last meal for a person who will face death soon.

Growl.... her stomach grumbling. She understands it was ranting off like these, "STOP YOUR F*CKING DRAMA AND FEED ME!"

"...." yeah, she's speechless and would obediently eat to satisfy her stomach.

"Thank you, Jasmine. How about yours?" she asked the nurse.

"Don't worry, Miss. I have my food from the kitchen."

"That's good, then."

"Just press the button if you need anything, Miss."

She nodded, and the nurse left after bowing at her. She eats quietly. But as she felt bored and restless, here she goes again, contemplating her uncertainties.

What if they see something wrong, and she cannot bear a child? What will happen if it turns out like that? Is he going to slaves her instead?

'Shut up! You imagine things again.' A part of her scolded herself. Yeah. Her brain is overthinking again, and it was the crazy thing.

Nikki was in the middle of conversing with herself when she hears her message notification tone. It was from that man. Reading the message, she somehow feels relieved.

"I received all the results. Everything is good. They see no problems for you to bear a child. I'll contact you again after a week."

So then, Nikki replied a non-relevant subject to her being getting pregnant soon. She's biting her lower lip if what question she must raise. She has a lot of concerns, but it embarrassed her to ask one.

"Can I see my mother now?"

She waits for the response and even cheers to hurry! She wanted to see her mother as soon as possible.

"Of course, but you need to avoid staying late from now on."

"What do you mean by that?" she wondered.

"If you can assign someone to look after your mother 24/7, I will pay for it. I don't want you to put my child in danger when your hemoglobin went low once again."

"I'm just lack of sleep, that's all. I will pay for a nurse; you need not bother about it."

She learns from Miss Erika that this man paid her mother's hospital bills in full. Including the future treatment of her mother, he will shoulder it all. But she won't let him shoulder even for the payment of a nanny. She won't allow him to own everything about her life.

"Alright. I will contact you again after a week."

Next week, huh? She doesn't want to think about it yet, but to see her mother now.

Nikki changes her robe into her clothes: a pair of tight jeans and a plain white t-shirt. Pushing up her hair on top of her head, she tied it to a bun and applied lip gloss which was the only one she found in her bag with the clothes. 

Anyway, she doesn't apply makeup every day unless for work. She still needs to look presentable. Nikki stepped out of the bedroom, and Jasmine is waiting for her already.

"Miss, I was told by Miss Erika that you would go out today."

"Yes, Jasmine. Thank you."

"Please, request for me once you have to stay here again!" the nurse beg.

She smiled. She may have no plans to come back here, but it looks she has to once she gets pregnant.

"All right. But don't pray I will get sick again. The last thing I should be, but from now I must stay healthy. But how about a 24/7 nanny? I mean, for my mother. Someone to watch her at night. Could you even accept this kind of job?"

"Oh, we do! You can apply for our agency. I was actually on call. If there is no special request, I was assigned to the Emergency Unit."

"I see. Okay, I will look at it."

"Thanks, Miss!" Jasmine looks excited.

Nikki leaves that room and heads for the elevator when someone she crosses on the aisle.

"Nikki?"

"Theo, hi!"

"I heard from Doctor Ben; your mother has finally got the surgery she needed."

"Oh, yes. Gladly, she is."

"Going to see her?"

"Yup! So, I will head now." she pointed to the elevator.

"Okay. Take care..." he said.

She averted her gaze. Theo is scanning her body from head to toe as it seems she was naked. His gaze is burning, and she feels uncomfortable. From now on, she has to stay away from him.

First, he already has a girlfriend. Second, she will be a mother soon. It means, physically, someone owns her body already as a vessel of a child for him.

That's right. That man is more like, purchases her body is the truth. But not her heart.

She tilted her head to shake the tears that threaten to be shed in front of Theo.. She enters the lift without bidding goodbye as she fought back her tears.