Marlinie really didnât want to discuss anything about that man. It was only for her daughterâs sake that she had returned to this city, which she once vowed never to step foot in again. This place stirred up many memories she preferred to forget..
Lea carried a glass of water over, hoping to distract Marlinie from her troubles. âMs. Marlinie, would you like some water?â
Marlinie shook her head. âNo, thank you. Lea. There is something I need to ask of you.â
Lea put the water down. Her large, earnest eyes were now solely focused on the woman in bed.
âAnything for you, maâam!â
âI didnât want to bother your father due to the tension between your parents, but I have no other choice now. Could you ask your father to get his men to bring Arnold from the Mendoza family to see me? I hope itâs not too much trouble.â
Lea nodded. âOh, thatâs no trouble at all! Iâm planning to settle scores with that mother-daughter duo anyway. Itâs no bother to have their man brought along too.â
Marlinie wanted to tell Lea not to seek revenge on her behalf, but considering the mother-daughter duo had once bullied her dear Pearl, they deserved some punishment, so she kept silent.
â
W Bertha dragged Thaddeus into the hospitalâs stairwell before she began to speak, not wanting to disturb the other patients.
âWhat were you thinking?! Why would you say all that in front of Marlinie?! She has been alone for so many years, and she deserves some sympathy!â
Thaddeus wasnât really listening. As soon as they were alone, he pulled her into his arms. âYou scared me to death! Thank God youâre not hurt!â
Bertha was taken aback, and her anger quickly dissipated. âWhat are you doing? Weâre too old for public displays of affection!â
Thaddeus didnât care. âThereâs nobody here! Bertha, come home with me! I canât stand the thought of you and Lea living out there on your own!â
Bertha frowned. She was almost ready to give in. âLet go of me first.â
Thaddeus released her. âWhat do you say, Bertha? Will you come home with me?â
Bertha felt torn. As she looked at the man before her, she realized that she wasnât ready to part ways.
She and Thaddeus had each been married before they found each other.
Thaddeus was married off in his youth by his family. Though he and his wife had a daughter, their relationship was distant, and his wife eventually passed away due to a severe illness.
Her ex-husband was a good-for-nothing. He put on a good act before they were married, but after, he revealed his true colors. He was a man proficient in all sorts of vices.
She had to help her ex-husband pay off his gambling debts time and time again. Each time, he promised to change, but he never did. After two years of marriage, she filed for divorce. A process that took another two years to finalize.
After the divorce, she met Thaddeus, who pursued her persistently.
Because of Thaddeusâ bad reputation, Marlinie feared she would make the same mistake again and was against their relationship, which caused Thaddeus to resent Marlinie.
Perhaps she was a bit naive, but she accepted Thaddeusâ proposal, figuring that if it didnât work out, she could always get another divorce. This was how they spent all these years together.
Thaddeus wasnât as bad as the rumors made him out to be. In their marriage, he was a traditional and caring man. He always treated her well, never taking her for granted after they got married.
The only source of conflict between them was his eldest daughter, Sophia.
Sophia was the only problem.
âLetâs not talk about this now. I need to stay in the hospital with Marlinie.â
âDidnât the doctor say sheâs out of danger? I can arrange for a nurse to take care of her. You donât have to stay here with her.â Thaddeus wasnât ready to give up.