Her

Two doctors come out of the ward, whispering to each other behind their masks as they pass by Evalena's side. She steals a glance at them when Adam's arm comes to hold her shoulder. It gets her attention as she looks up at him, giving him a small smile.

The restlessness she has been feeling since she entered the building with the intention of seeing Nicole now seems to fade away just by a single gesture of assurance that Adam shows to her.

He smiles back and they walk inside to meet Nicole. Inside, there are her parents, too. Her father stands up, walking up to Adam as they greet each other and indulge in a conversation after the old man acknowledges Evalena's greeting and smiles at her kindly which she appreciates.

While the men talk, Evalena leaves Adam's embrace, walking up to Nicole. She greets Nicole's mother but there's no response from her side, unlike Nicole's father. Not even a small gesture.

However, Evalena doesn't remain there. She doesn't crave her attention or her response to her greetings.

Her mother gives Evalena a stink eye which Evalena isn't aware of. She stands beside Nicole's bed as she asks, "How are you doing?"

Nicole rolls her eyes, as expected. She doesn't even wish to hide her hatred towards Evalena. But the woman doesn't care about her hatred. She sighs under her breath, knowing very well that Nicole won't speak even if she tries once again.

She scans her body that's hidden under the blanket and her head is bandaged, showing her main injury covered.

"Uh... she's doing fine. Just not in the mood to speak with anyone," her mother speaks for her, looking up at Evalena.

"I see."

Nicole scoffs, turning her neck to look away from Evalena. Her gaze lands upon Adam and they soften in an instant. The sight of the man of her dreams makes her smile like a child. The smile is innocent and dreamy, way too visible to be ignored at first attempt.

Evalena watches her eyes' destination but doesn't make a comment to throw at her even though her heart burns. Call her typical but she doesn't like women gawking at her husband. To her, he is only hers. Not even as a sight, she wishes to share him with anyone. Well, don't blame her but she is a woman who treasures her husband who is no less than a gemstone in her possession.

"Don't stress your poor neck," says Evalena as a light chide, that makes Nicole frown.

"Your face isn't something very pleasant even to look at. Spare my poor eyes." Her bitter answer makes Evalena roll her eyes while Nicole's mother chuckles.

That's unexpected as well as absurd to Evalena. She knows that none of them are very fond of her but they feel it quite necessary to make it obvious. Like they want the entire world to know it. Both mother and daughter don't hide their bitterness towards her. She can understand Nicole's bitterness but what wrong she ever did to her mother, she wonders.

On the other hand, Adam moves to stand beside Evalena so he can meet Nicole after he has conversed with Nicole's father. He greets Nicole's mother, coming to his wife.

Evalena has no idea what they talked about and no women among them even tried to eavesdrop, being busy with each other.

"Hey, hope you're doing well," says Adam with his usual self. A smile adorns his lips.

Nicole immediately nods at him with a bright smile. A moment ago, someone said she was in no mood to converse, no?

"Don't trouble your neck. Your doctor has forbidden unnecessary usage of it," Adam reminds her, taking a seat while Evalena stands beside him.

"Sorry. I forget about it," she replies, stealing a glance at Evalena. "Got never hurt this bad." Sarcastic, but Evalena wonders to whom Nicole wishes to recognize this sarcasm, and Evalena, too, is sarcastic in her head because both of the young women know what's the truth.

"You talk, I'll be back in a few minutes." Nicole's mother excuses to leave, following after her husband. Finally, it is only Adam, Evalena, and Nicole left inside. Adam makes Evalena sit where Nicole's mother sat while Nicole watches her with hatred.

"Why have you brought her?" She asks in a sharp tone, glaring at Evalena. Adam frowns, nevertheless, letting her continue, "To show her that finally, she has succeeded in hurting me?"

That irks Adam. His jaw twitches and none of the women are aware of it. Being a gentleman, he wishes to let his anger remain behind the veil unless it seems necessary to be unveiled.

"She hasn't done anything, Nicole," says he, not giving any chance to Evalena because he knows that if she comes to answer, Nicole will forget every pinch of morality that's been taught to her and will go harsh upon Evalena.

She may even use very offensive words towards her and why would he even want to give her a chance?

Adam despises it. He wishes to snatch every chance that Nicole can grab to bring his wife down in her or anyone's eyes.

Evalena deserves respect and honor. She deserves love and care. She should be looked at with admiration in eyes for her chastity. Her standards are set high and she should be praised for her firm belief. Because she's Adam's wife.

Nicole scoffs, narrowing her eyes at Evalena as she asks her bitterly, "Oh? Have you told him the truth or just filled his ears with lies and bitterness towards me? Wasn't it you who pushed me from the stairs? And just look at me for what you've done to me!"

"Nicole, talk to me. Stop yelling at her," Adam mutters, earning Nicole's gaze on himself. His jaw is set and his grip becomes firm upon the edge of Nicole's bed.

She swallows, feeling a bit of agitation that builds inside her as she looks into his eyes and she can feel him looking through her very body to the reality that makes her less confident in a moment.

The burning orbs in his enchanting eyes have brought down her confidence.

"She hasn't done anything, do you understand? Stop accusing her," he adds firmly, making anger bubble up inside her.

She clenches the hospital cover between her fingers. Her knuckles turn white and the veins on the back of her palm throb. The tube connected to the back of her palm pains her but she has overseen it because of her fury.

"You take her side? After what she has done to you, do you still believe her?" She yells, unexpectedly to Evalena who looks at her with shock. How long has she been holding onto her anger?

Being a doctor who has handled countless patients in her life to date, she wishes to give her a precaution that she might have heard enough times but Adam doesn't let her.

"Yes, I do it, Nicole, because I still trust her, and every day she wins my trust," he gives her a quiet answer even after Nicole has come to yell at him.

But now Evalena wants to leave, not wishing to let Nicole's words work on her. Nicole is harsh and her words bitter. They will distress as well as demotivate her if she hears enough.

Without even letting them know, she leaves her seat and walks out of the room, meeting Reumah right in front of the door.

Evalena doesn't say a word to her and walks away and Reumah hears the loud voice of Nicole from inside. It doesn't take her much time to realize what might have made Evalena leave the room.

"Witch!" She mutters under her breath, walking inside.

"Bullshit! She's a cruel woman. I wonder what spell she has cast upon you! Don't you remember at all what she did to Nora?" She yells louder, ignoring the presence of a doctor around her who came to check on her.

"I won't mourn over it for the rest of my life, Nicole. And stop yelling," he adds, standing up.

She watches him confusedly, gritting her teeth, and suddenly her headaches. A cry escapes her lips as she holds her head. Her eyes squint as unbearable pain shoots through her head. Tears form in her eyes, escaping through the corners.

Adam lets go of his resentment that she was forced to take birth inside him and immediately catches her. He holds her hands, pulling them away from her head so that she won't put more pressure.

She whimpers in pain and the doctor comes to handle her.

"Told you not to put pressure on your head, didn't we?" The doctor mocks her but Nicole only glares at her in response, her sharp gaze escaping Adam's body that stands between the women.

"Shut up," she grits out, leaning her head against the headboard. Her grip becomes tight on Adam's hand as he lets her hold him. At least, it is better than letting her clutch her head.

Adam ignores Nicole's bitter tone towards the doctor and asks the doctor to proceed. She does it, muttering profanities under her breath to Nicole which she can't hear.

Adam grumbles at her to stop using profanities and she falls silent. Meanwhile, Evalena finds calmness in serenity where there is none around.

She stands in front of the glass walls of the building. Arms folded on her chest, she stares blankly at the sky above that has begun to be covered by falling darkness. The sun is melting into the horizon as her eyes behold it happening, filled with unshed tears. Neither the moon nor the stars are showing their faces in the sky to bid the Sun goodbye. Seems like the sky has covered itself with sackcloth tonight.

Her mind plays Nicole's words and she is amazed to find such a woman who speaks lies in the face! Shameless, wicked, and indeed surprising to her because she has never met such a person. She was always surrounded by kindness.

But Nicole's hatred—makes her restless because even if she talks nonsense, she reminds her of her past which wasn't pleasant at all. It brings her fear.

Nora's death, her being her doctor, Adam's anger, and finally their separation.

These reminders of what happened in the past scare her somewhere. It's hidden deep inside her chest. She fears confessing that fear because she doesn't want to let go of Adam.

Not this time at least.

She is scared of losing him. She fears that once again he will walk away in disappointment because she has made many mistakes in her life. She knows she doesn't deserve him if this is the way she walks before him but still, she wants him.

He wasn't someone she blabbered to people about. He was someone she had prayed for enough in her lifetime. She has asked him in her prayers with a pure heart. She can't let him walk away after crushing her hopes that are grown up. It will hurt so bad.

And it saddens her. The anticipation and her mind's unstoppable fearful imaginations eat her from inside and she has her heart wrung inside her chest because of the grief it brings forth.

The tears in her eyes are of the fear that's been taking root inside her even though things were going well between them but fear is fear, decaying one's bones and fainting the soul of that poor creation. She is that creation and she fears letting go of Adam, not keeping in mind the Word of the Lord that says that nothing shall separate them.

Only if she had a courageous heart.

"So you're here." A voice comes from behind, alarming her of the second presence. She blinks her eyes to drink back her tears.

The person walks to stand beside her and Evalena bows her head lightly in respect, acknowledging the woman, "Mrs Samuel."

Mrs Samuel, Nicole's mother, as Evalena addressed her, doesn't acknowledge her respect and turns to regard her with a hateful glare.

"Being a doctor, shouldn't you be around my daughter? Or the concern comes out for a second of telecast, only when your husband is around?"

Evalena's brows corrugate in a moment after she drinks back those unshed tears. Nicole's mother speaks the way her daughter speaks.

"Whatever you want to say, please, say it straight, Mrs Samuel." She turns away from the glass wall, regarding the old woman with a calculating gaze.

"It's simple, Evalena, that you're such a double-sided woman. After hurting my daughter, you've put on a facade to represent yourself before us, innocent?"

"Mrs Samuel—"

"Oh, stop with that charming tone! You can convince your husband and others with your lies but not me. Look at your innocent face! Who might know what you hide behind this simple appearance?—hatred towards my daughter!" She steps ahead, her heel clicking against the tiled floor as she looks like she will pounce on Evalena anytime.

Her voice booms in that silence as there's none around. Evalena looks at her with anticipation as well as confusion as once again she has found a person who hates her for no reason. She wants to explain things to Nicole's mother because the woman looks highly delusional. Maybe her daughter has succeeded in filling her mind with lies to the brink and Evalena sees the effect.

"Oh, what has she ever done to you?" She asks, tired and confused, "But what else should I expect from a woman like you? A homewrecker! First, you killed an innocent woman and then wooed her husband into a marriage. What a game planner—"

"What lies Nicole has fed you with, I wonder, Mrs Samuel! Because what opinions you have about me are totally wrong." She puts on a blank facade but in her chest, she has been attacked straight into her heart.

A homewrecker, that's what she has called her and the word speaks volumes of their opinions about Evalena.

"You don't tell me about my opinions!"

"I have to because I can't keep listening to nonsense. I respect you, that doesn't mean you'll come out of nowhere and start deriding me just because your daughter—being sick in her head—has told you countless lies out of her jealousy."

"Seriously? You think my daughter would be jealous of you?" She laughs humorlessly, narrowing her eyes at Evalena but as she stands firm and confident with her words, Nicole's mother instantly grumbles out, "What treasure do you own that my daughter would be jealous of you?"

"Ask her how shamelessly she has desired a man who's married—my husband. Ask her how badly she covets—"

Unable to hear more of Evalena's accusations for her daughter, she utters loudly, "How dare you accuse my daughter!" raising her hand to hit her.

Evalena, in reflex, raises an arm for her defense but the slap never comes her way. Keeping her hand above her face, she gradually raises her eyes to witness whatever stopped Nicole's mother and she is surprised to find Adam standing between them, holding the old woman's wrist in the air and glaring down at her with resentment.

"And how dare you even think of raising your hand on my wife?" says her husband who has shielded her, being her protector.

Nicole's mother inhales a deep breath as fury burns within her chest. She snatches her wrist and Adam's simple grip lets go of her.

"Adam, would you now question me for this shameless woman?" She gapes at the tall man, shocked as well as hurt. "You should ask her how she's planned such a cruel thing to hurt Nicole, so now she's in the hospital. Don't you see her condition?—how feeble it is?"

Tears burn the old woman's eyes while Adam listens to her silently, holding respect in his heart and being aware of everything.

She loves her daughter so much, Adam doesn't need proof of it.

"Evalena is innocent in this all," that's all he says before a sigh escapes his lips, "May Nicole soon tell you the truth and get healed properly. Till then, take care of her. I hope you'll let me know about her through a call."

Nicole's mother gapes at him after he tells her that he would only listen to Nicole over the phone. Simple, he meant that Nicole wouldn't be welcomed in his house anymore, or else, like every time, he would have made efforts to come to Nicole and see how she was doing.

But Adam has decided in an instant that he needs to stay away from Nicole and pay no regard to her. He came to her out of respect, his morals, and his worry about her but now both mother and daughter have lost this privilege because of Nicole trying lies and influence in his house to keep him away from his wife. Especially after the way her mother has disrespected his wife out of ignorance. Doesn't matter what the way was, he regrets coming to see Nicole even after learning the truth.

Why does goodness always have to bear such consequences?

Though he silently wonders in his heart, a small whisper answers him that the world, being corrupted, doesn't welcome goodness and righteousness, at all. These belong to God and He welcomes such humans who wish to walk in His path, being clothed with His righteousness.

In this world, problems will come and the world will torture those who commit their lives to God but surely those who remain firmly till the end, holding onto their hopes, shall see the kingdom of God coming with a joyous heart. They wouldn't be among those who beat their breasts because they know their destination in eternity.

Adam, declaring his decision to the old woman, now wishes to leave.

Those were the last words he said to her. After that, he holds Evalena's hand, intertwines their fingers, and walks away from the old woman's presence. On the way, none of them say anything to each other.

They sit inside the car and Adam drives away. Evalena understands that he is angry but she knows that he won't vent out his frustration upon her if she wishes to talk to him. But that isn't something that troubles her.

She is blessed to have a husband like him, but she is hurt, too. And the pain in her chest doesn't let her speak even a word to Adam.