Fake Love

Chapter 3

“Stella, you are finally here.” Ethan’s father gasped when he saw her limping through the ward. Walking over to her, he held her arms and looked at her from top to bottom. “Why are you wearing this uniform? Did something happen?”

“Not really,” Stella brushed off his question. “How is Ethan?”

“The surgery was successful, but he is still unconscious. Once he wakes up, they will shift him to a private ward. We can meet him then.”

Stella’s couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks. “We made it, Dad. Ethan will be able to walk soon.”

“There is still a long way to go, but with you by his side, I can rest assured.” He squeezed Stella’s shoulder and said in an emotional voice, “You must take good care of him during the therapy sessions, too.”

Stella let out a shaky breath and nodded, “Don’t worry, Dad. I will.”

After talking to the doctor about Ethan’s condition, Stella went back to the hotel to shower and change. She prepared some thin congee and packed it before heading back.

When she opened the door of the ward, she saw a woman feeding Ethan. Dressed in a short black dress, she looked pretty gorgeous.

Stella froze.

Who is this woman? Why is Ethan looking at her with such a gentle expression?

“Ariel, you know what? You are my lucky star.” The way Ethan smiled at her made Stella’s heart ache. “We have tried so many ways to cure my legs, but nothing ever worked. However, the moment you reappeared in my life, I got the good news that my legs would fully recover in three months.”

“What are you saying, Ethan.” Ariel wiped his mouth with a tissue and spoke in a flustered tone. “If your wife hears this, she won’t be happy. Uncle told me how she has been taking care of you over these past two years.”

Ethan’s expression turned bitter at the mention of Stella’s name. His amorous voice turned cold as he spoke. “I don’t know why Dad keeps heaping praises on Stella. She is just doing her duty.”

“That sounds a bit harsh, doesn’t it? After all, she is….”

“Don’t worry,” Ethan cut her off. “I will reward her well for her services and give her a huge sum as alimony.”

Stella’s ears rang with a shrill buzz, and the world before dimmed.

Alimony? Ethan is thinking of divorcing me? No! That is impossible. He wouldn’t do that to me after everything I have done for him. He must have just spoken those words in a moment of agitation.

Ethan must be angry because I went missing during the surgery. Yes! That must be it. Everything will be fine once I apologise.

“Are you just going to stand there all day?” Ethan’s voice pierced through her daze.

“How are you feeling now?” Stella asked, struggling to keep her voice even. Walking over to him, she placed the thermos on the table. “I made some congee for you. Would you like to have some?”

“No. Take it back. Eating the congee made by you will probably make me even more sick.”

Stella’s face flushed, and she bit her lower lip. Blinking away the tears that had welled in her eyes, she forced a smile. “Okay.”

“Now that your wife is here. I will take my leave.” Ariel got up from the chair and turned to face Stella. Her lips curved into a smile, and she gave her a curt nod. “Take good care of Ethan. If anything goes wrong again, I won’t forgive you.”

“Again?” Stella’s forehead creased with a frown as she turned back to look at Ethan. “Did something happen when I was away?”

“You have the nerve to ask me that?” Ethan’s eyes darkened with a mixture of anger and disgust. “While I was lying in the hospital in desperate need of blood, what did you do? You just disappeared on me. If Ariel hadn’t arranged for blood on time, I would have died.”

“This…. I think there is some misunderstanding.”

“Enough! I don’t want to hear any excuses.”

“But….”

“Leave now before I explode in anger.”

Stella wanted to explain herself but held back when she saw the monitor. Ethan had just undergone a surgery. It wouldn’t be good if his heartbeat rises above normal.

“Okay, okay, please don’t get angry.” Stella put up her hands in defeat and sighed. “I will leave.”

Walking outside the ward, she made a phone call. “Hello Linda. There is something I wanted to ask you.”

“Yes?”

“What happened to the blood I had asked to take to Riverdale Hospital?”

“Don’t worry, Stella. I made it right on time. Though we were short on two units of blood, the surgery went smoothly.” There was a slight pause. “Why are you asking me this, anyway? Haven’t you made it to the hospital yet? Did you run into some trouble? It’s already eleven. Do you want me to pick you up?”

“Linda, Linda, enough. I am completely fine, and I am already at the hospital. There was some misunderstanding. So….”

“What misunderstanding?”

“Umm… It’s nothing. I just want to confirm if you handed the container to Ethan’s father”

“Mr. Brown had gone to get some medicines. So, I gave it to Ethan’s childhood friend, Ariel.”

Ariel. It is that woman again. Did she deliberately weave a tale? No, that is not possible. Such things happen only in dramas.

I will ask her to clarify everything to Ethan.

Stella caught up with Ariel outside the hospital gates.

“Ariel!” she called out, trotting after her. But instead of stopping, Ariel increased her pace.

Stella ran after her, blocked her way, “Ariel, Ethan seems to have misunderstood something. Can you please come with me and explain to him that the blood was arranged by me?”

“Sorry?” Ariel scoffed. “I don’t know what you are talking about. All I know is that you sneaked out of the hospital on the pretext of collecting blood and disappeared. We were able to save his life because Mr. Brown called me.”

“Ariel! How can you be so shameless? You clearly know it in your heart that I was the one who sent Linda.”

“Linda? Who is that? I don’t know any Linda. Now, if you will excuse me.” Ariel grabbed her arm and dragged her to the side. “I am a very busy person.”

Stella kept calling after her, but Ariel didn’t stop. She got into her car and sped away.