His Perfect Wife

Chapter 7: Doctor’s Chamber

Austin’s POV

I wake up late. It’s Saturday and usually, I can just stay home. But because of the new businesses, I have to rush to the office. I have to attend two meetings. As I go to the bathroom, I see dried blood on my chest from last night. Is it natural to bleed this much? God knows! I am already late for the meeting. No time for the gym! I take a quick shower and walk inside my closet. I groan as I look for what to wear. Well, it really feels good when she chooses something for me. I guess she may have thought of today as a holiday. I sigh! Why am I thinking about these ridiculous matters in the morning? I grab my things and go downstairs.

“Are you sure that’s the only thing you want?” as I hit the stairs, I hear Mrs. White.

“Yes, Mrs. White. I am fine with the juice.” Valerie replies.

“But how did you get hurt?” Mrs. White asks again. Hurt! Valerie is hurt! What’s wrong? My legs stop for a moment.

“It’s… it’s nothing serious. I… I bite myself,” Valerie replies.

What’s going on here? I rush downstairs.

“Is that so? And what’s this?” as I reach, I see Mrs. White asking Valerie, pointing at her hand. I walk closer only to find out a large bruise on her arm. Is that the same place where I was holding her last night? Have I really held her that tight? Did I hurt her? Then my eyes fall on her lips. They are swollen as well.

“It's… it's… just…” Valerie stumbles, she still hasn’t noticed my presence yet.

Mrs. White starts laughing, “don’t lie anymore. I know you, young people, very well.”

“What’s the matter?” I ask them, but Valerie ignores me.

“Mrs. White, I need to rush. I’ll be late tonight. Bye,” she grabs her bag and runs towards the front door.

I feel dishearten. Every morning, her smile greets me with a sweet message, “good morning, hubby.” But today she looks different. She has not even looked at me. What’s wrong with me? Why shall I feel like that? It’s money that she wants. That’s right. Her cheque.

“Valerie” I call her from behind, maybe for the first time, I called her by her name. She stops without turning back. I let out a sigh and I walk towards her. Why is she behaving like that? Too ashamed to face me! I take out the cheque from my pocket and hold it in front of her eyes, “here, the money you have asked for.”

Valerie stands there in silence for a moment. Is she hesitant if she should take that? If she has any self-respect, she will never take that money. And somehow a part of me has wished for her rejection. The thing I did with her last night was an assault, and no woman with even a little dignity will take the money after that.

Valerie lifts her hand slowly and takes the cheque and then speaks in a very low voice before storming out of the house, “thank you, Austin.”

Yes, you proved it, Valerie. You can sell yourself for money. I know it from the beginning. Then why am I feeling bad? I sigh as my legs drag me towards the table. I see a pile of pancakes, maple syrup, strawberry sauce, whipping creams on the table. I frown at the food.

“Mrs. White, what’s this?” I ask her. I hate pancakes and all these sweet things for breakfast.

“I’m so sorry, Austin. I told Valerie that you don’t like pancakes, even so, she ignored me and made this pile. Just give me a moment. I’ll make something else.” Mrs. White explains.

Valerie made these! But why? Even after knowing I hate them! Is this another of her tricks? She didn’t even wish me morning; she didn’t prepare my cloth and now she made this! URGH! What a terrible start. But I suddenly want to taste the pancakes she has made. I take my usual seat as I speak, “that’s okay. I’ll manage.”

“Did she make my lunch?” I ask her again as I pour some strawberry sauce on my pancakes. She makes my lunch every day, but I ignore it every time, but she makes sure it reaches my office timely. I smile inwardly at her action.

“Ah, yes. But I’m not sure if you want that.” Mrs. White speaks again.

“What do you mean?” I frown again as I ask while taking a bite. Well, these are not that bad.

“She made burrito bowl for you,” Mrs. White replies.

Burrito bowl? I hate rice, and I hate Mexican food.

“What’s wrong with her?”

I haven’t realized that I've said that out loud. Mrs. White smiles a little as she speaks again, “maybe you should treat her a little more gently. Maybe this her way of showing you her anger.”

Her anger! Yes, what I did last night. She indeed should be angry. But why didn’t she say anything? She could have yelled at me, instead, she accepted the money. What rights she has if she herself doesn’t know how to keep her self-esteem?

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Valerie’s POV

I can hardly believe how Austin has treated me last night. If it weren’t for that little girl, who is laying in the hospital, fighting day and night with death, I would have never accepted his money. I tried hard to arrange the money, but it's too much for a commoner like me. I even told Liam and Cora. We all tried to raise some money with the charity events but that was not even near to thousand dollars. As my last resource, I asked him. I am your wife, Austin. Don’t I have this much right to ask for fifty grand? Is that too much for you? He played with my dignity. He humiliated me and above all; he hurt me again. There are marks all over my body. Internal bleedings. I don’t know if I can ever forgive you for this, Austin. But maybe it is good in this way. Maybe you will hate me more thinking that I can sell my dignity in the name of money. Maybe you will be happy on the day I will leave you and your world.

As I grab the cheque from his hand, I put it in my bag and storm out of the house. I can hardly hold back my tears anymore. Enjoy your pancake, Mr. Grumpy. Why should I do all the good things for you when you never cared about me? Huh! But isn’t it what I always wanted? A husband whom I’ll love unconditionally and who will hate me from the core of his heart. Why does it hurt so much?

I walk to the bus stop and wait. I need to go to the hospital first. At least Susan will be alright. The money we have raised along with these fifty grand should do the job. I board on the bus and wait for my stop. As I get down, my eyes meet sister Agnes. She is parking her car. I dash towards her.

“Val, I was thinking about you only.” Sister Agnes speaks at first.

“What is it, sister Agnes?” I ask her.

“Val, I don’t think we can afford her to stay in the hospital anymore and I can't see any hope either.” She replies in a sad tone. I know it. Susan is admitted for almost ten days. Agnes is doing what she can, but her hands are bound.

“I’ve got good news for you, sister Agnes.” I declare with a smile as I hand her the cheque, “see, someone has donated this amount.”

“Oh god! Fifty grand! That’s exactly what we need, Val,” sister Agnes shouts in happiness. I smile with a nod.

“Who is this, Val?” she asks again.

“I don’t know.” I lie again.

We walk into the hospital to visit Susan. I put down the fruits I bought on my way here. You’ll be alright, little angel. You don’t have to suffer like me.

As I leave her room, I bump into Dr. Smith. I really don’t have any intention of meeting him as I have little money left. Thank god I am living with Austin. So, the rent and food are at least free.

“Valerie? Oh god!” Dr. Smith exclaims as his eyes fall on my swollen lips and then on my arm.

“Dr. Smith! How are you?” I ask casually.

“You are asking me? Oh god! Come with me.” He almost drags me to his chamber.

Dr. Smith has graduated from med school recently. And lucky me he has a special interest in rare diseases and hence he never charges me anything. I’m his scapegoat; but in a good way. Once we are in his chamber, he makes me sit on the chair and then starts examining every inch of me with his blue eyes.

“For god’s sake, Val, what’s wrong with you? So many bruises? You know you have Hemophilia. Your blood doesn’t clot like other normal humans. Above all, you have acute aplastic anemia. How can you be so careless? Your body doesn’t generate the required blood and we can’t afford internal bleedings.” And here we go again. He keeps ranting.

After examining me for another few minutes, he looks at me and asks in a very serious tone, “did you have intercourse?”

What! How did he know? Of course, he’s a doctor! I smile shyly. And dr. Smith sighs loudly.

“Listen, Val. I know you don’t want to continue the treatment, and I also know that you have accepted your fate. Despite that, you need to take care of yourself. If you don’t do that properly, you may get infections, and then you’ll be ended up in the hospital. You are an orphan, living in an unknown city. What will you do by then? Who will stand by your side?” he repeats.

I know he cares about me. He is probably the only person who knows the actual condition. I know he is already doing enough for me. He knows my financial conditions very well and hence sometimes he gives me free medicines as well. He is a nice man. I also know he will never regret his decision on helping me, but I can’t keep relying on him. My husband humiliated me for asking for money. How can I reply to some other man! God knows what he will think in his head.

“Alright, don’t cry.” Dr. Smith consoles me again. I haven’t realized that I am crying.

“Look, Val. I know you are a very self-sufficient person, and you don’t want my help. But I just don’t want you to end up badly. The time you are living is not much, and I want you to live a good life. Don’t hurt yourself. And I’ll suggest you tell your partner about your disease. You need someone to take care of you.” He speaks again in a soothing voice. I don’t know what to say. He stands up and grabs a syringe.

“Just relax. I’ll run some tests to check your condition.” He speaks again as he draws a little blood from my hand. He is very skillful. He removes the syringe and then put some ointments on the spot promptly to avoid bleeding. Then he writes another prescription for me.

“Here,” he says, handing it over to me, “and take these. I will give you a call once I get the results. Now be a good girl and come with me. You have bled a lot lately. It’s better to have some blood transfusion.”