Flashback.......Riley's POV

It was Thursday, and Brayden was still not talking to me. I had asked him several times what was wrong but he didn't give me an answer.

I had once asked his sister, who was a grade lower than me if there was anything wrong in their house, but she said no. On the contrary, Brayden had been behaving fine at home.

Something was wrong and I had a feeling it was me. So after school, I decided I would talk to him. When the bell went for school over, people came rushing out of their classes.

There was a soccer match today. Brayden was going to be a sub for this match so I had time to talk to him, but it was limited. I caught sight of him some distance away from my locker talking to John, his teammate. I was about to go when a tall figure blocked my path. I looked up.

Zach.

He liked me, but I didn't like him back and he was also a big jerk. On Monday, he tried to kiss me, but I pushed him off. He had made some advances before that, but that was the closest.

He was a rich spoilt kid and also the captain of the soccer team.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"I just wanted to ask how you were doing.". Seriously, just stupid him.

I glanced to see Brayden looking at us with a look....an angry look. Was that what all this was about? Zach. Did he know of what Zach almost did?

"Look I don't have time for this.", I said and wanted to go when he grabbed my arm and drew me back, his nails piercing my skin. "Let go of me.", I said through gritted teeth.

"And if I don't.", he said, tightening his grip.
"Let go of me.", I said, my tone higher.

Suddenly he was yanked away from me. I turned just in time to see Caleb land a punch on his jaw.
"What part of stay away from her did you not understand.", Caleb yelled and a small group of people had already gathered.

I hated attention like this.
"C'mon Caleb, he's not worth it.", I said and pulled Caleb away. Since that day, Zach had never bothered me again.

Present Day

I entered the hospital. I didn't need to ask the nurse because I knew where his ward was. I knocked lightly and entered. Jessie was playing gently with his hair. He looked at me and gave me a small smile.

"Caleb.", I said and went to hug him. I held back my tears. "H..how are you feeling now?", I asked.
"Tired but better."
"We were all worried sick about you.", I said.

Jessie must have sensed that we would need some time together so she excused herself.

"You needed this rest.", I said and he rubbed his face with his hands tiredly.
"But now I have two times my normal work to do.", he said.

After the accident, I stayed with Jessie for a while and she told me about Caleb working extra hard. Sometimes he would come home very late and would even shout at her for the littlest of things.

From all she had told me, I was shocked. He hardly related to his kids. He would always be gone before they woke up and arrived when they would have slept.

"Ansel doesn't even work like this.", I said with a little frustration in my tone.
"That's because he already has a company with branches in various parts of the world, so he doesn't have to be as uptight as some of us down here.", he said.

"Jessie told me everything.", I said and he looked at me.
"What did she tell you?", he asked.
I sighed before talking.

"That you focus so much on work that you barely have time for her and the kids."
"Is that what she told you.", he said sounding somewhat pissed.

"Yes, Caleb that's what she told me. And from what she said you've been a shitty dad to your kids and a shitty husband to her.", I said my tone higher.
"Why didn't you just ask for help? I wouldn't have hesitated.", I chastised.

"Because my younger sister is already a beggar in an awful marriage and I can't turn myself into a one. Also, what would Ansel's family think? It's already bad enough that you're with him for the money and I don't want to have that sort of relationship with him or anyone else especially you.", he yelled before taking a deep breath.

He wanted to say something else but I stopped him with a wave of my hand.
"I've been insulted enough.", I said and left. When I came out I saw Jessie.
"I'm sorry.", she said.
"Don't be. I should be the one saying sorry, that my brother is.....excuse me.", I rushed out unable to form any other words.

I entered the car and put my face in my hands before I broke out into sobs. The tears ran unchecked down my cheek. I cried because I was shit. Everything everyone had said so far was true. I was a beggar. I was in a terrible marriage, no different from the person I hated most in this world, Theresa. I was trying to help Paloma when I couldn't even help myself.

The car stopped and I looked up to see that we had arrived at home. I wiped my eyes, muttered a thank you to Mekhi and left.
As I came out, I looked at the house. It felt...terrible that this was my reality.

Instead of heading in, I went to the garage, took my car key and drove off. I was doing something I hadn't done in a while, I was running.

I needed some time alone. I needed to go away from all this. My heart ached and I was tired of the mental trauma that was slowly building up pressure in my head.

The skies were darkening as evening approached. I had been driving and everywhere was dark. My phone had been ringing for a while but I didn't want to answer. I was speeding and I knew I was. I took a dark and quiet route that I knew the end of, but I still went on.

I turned and saw bright lights, before I could turn from the incoming car, I felt my head hit something. The world was spinning. I tried to open the door, but I was hooked in an uncomfortable position.

My head cleared for a while and I realized I was upside down. I started struggling but the dizziness came back and before I knew what was happening the door opened, but that was what I could see before blacking out.

///////////////

I woke up with a slight headache. I touched my forehead and felt a bandage on my head. I sat up to realize I was in a hospital. How did I get here? Who brought me here?

The door opened and I saw someone with a familiar face. I was trying to find the memory of the person when he spoke.

"You were in an accident, your car kinda hit mine and it tumbled. Your car almost fell off the cliff and..."

"Okay, who are you?" I asked when I was tired of trying to remember.
"Oh forgive me, where are my manners? I'm Zach, Zach Buhlington.", he said and my eyes widened in shock.

"It's just that I thought you would remember me and...."
"Zach, as in high school Zach.", I said.
"And as in Buhlington, I mean, people know me.", he said proudly.

Yep! It was high school Zach, who felt just his name was worth millions of dollars

"How did I get here?", I asked.
"First of all, you're welcome and second I brought you here, in my baldly damaged car. I still can't believe I drove in that.", he said to himself as he sat on the chair beside the bed.

"S..so are you better now?", he asked.
"Slight headache, but fine.", I said.

At least I was relieved it was someone I knew who brought me here.

"And you, how's life.", I asked.
"Oh life is great for me. I have a wife and three beautiful and smart daughters and a bubbling on-the-way boy, I mean he is unborn.", he said clarifying but I still stared at him wide-eyed.

"What's shocking?", he asked.
"You're a family guy now."
"Yeah, it's been a long time, I know."
"Wow. Life has been great for you.", I said.

"And you?", he asked.
"Oh, I'm married." At the mention of the words, I remembered Ansel.

Shit!

He must be worried sick.
"Where's my phone?", I asked.
"It got damaged I guess."
"Oh no, I have to call him.", I said.

"Who, your husband."
"Yes, he would be worried now."

"Do you really wanna bother him? He could be all these extremely loving husbands who would want to run down here.", he said but continued. "Plus, we are in a remote hospital, on the outskirts of the city.", he ended.

"Well if this is a remote hospital, how can I contact him later.", I said.
"You're forgetting you're with Zach Buhlington, the Zach Buhlington.", he said.

"Ugh! You haven't quit the attitude have ya.", I said.
"What attitude."
"Saying your name as if it worths so much.", I said.
"Oh. Well no.", he said and laughed as I rolled my eyes.

"I must say, you're different from the jerk of high school. Sure you still have some qualities but there's been some change.", I said.

"All thanks to the most beautiful wife in the world. Nari.", he said dreamily.
"Well she must be a true Jem, for the Zach Buhlington to be admiring her so much.", I said.
"Yeah she truly is.", he said dreamily.

Something about the way he said it made me wonder if Ansel ever talked to anyone about me like that. Would he see me as a wife or did he feel unfortunate for loving me the way he did?

"You should stop thinking and get some rest. I promise you by tomorrow, your husband would know of your situation and we would get you home.", he said.
"We? You're with someone?", I asked.

"Oh pardon me, I'll get you home.", he said.
"Oh."
"Well, good night then."
"Good night.", I said. "Oh and Zach," I called as he made his way to the door. "Thank you."

"You're welcome.", he said with a curt nod and left. He had changed a lot.

The next day, I got discharged, but I still had the bandage on my head. He helped me into the car and we left.

"Your car doesn't look damaged.", I said as the car looked unscratched let alone in an accident.
"Oh, this is another one. My driver brought it here last night and took the damaged one."
"Oh.", I said.

The ride back was quiet. A news station was on.
"I thought you were all those kinda guys who played loud music whenever they had a chance."
"First, if I was, I wouldn't, seeing I have a recuperating person in my car and second, I'm not."

"Oh, I guess I had so many misconceptions about you.", I said.
"Indeed you did.", he said.

After a long drive, we got to the busy part of the town.
"You can drop me off here I'll find my way.", I said.
"Oh no, I'll drop you at your house."

"No, seriously I can find my way."
"Please I insist. See it as my way of saying sorry for my car hitting yours.", he said.

"My car hit yours, not the other way.", I said pointedly.
"Oh, I'm trying to be a gentleman. Can you stop making it hard and tell me where to go.", he said and I laughed.
"Okay okay fine. Turn left.", I started.

We arrived at my house and he stopped at the gate.
"Should I horn?", he asked but soon, Oscar came out and Zach rolled down the windows.

Oscar saw me and I nodded at him to open the gate which he did immediately.
When we entered, I saw Ansel coming down the stairs. He looked angry, of course, he was.

But when he saw me, his expression morphed ever so quickly to shock. It must be the bandage. He walked faster and came to me.
"I'm fine, just a little accident.", I said as his hand went up to my head.

He looked at Zach and his expression changed.

"This is Zach...."
"I don't need you to introduce me.", Zach said interrupting me. "I'm Zach Buhlington and I saved your dear wife from an accident, took her to a hospital and brought her safely and sound to your household. ", he said.

Ansel's expression softened a bit, a bit and he muttered a thank you.
"You're welcome, well I'll take my leave now.", he said. "Goodbye then.", he said to me and entered the car and drove off.

I didn't know what to say to Ansel so I went into the house. He entered and soon took my arm forcing me to face him. We were so close that I had to step back a little.

"Are you okay? Since we danced at the bar you've seemed so distant, and yesterday Mekhi told me you were crying and now this stranger brings you home saying you were in an accident..."

"I'm fine.", I said cutting him off.
"You don't look fine.", he said and I started feeling slightly dizzy. I need to rest
"I just had an accident, but trust me I'm fine," I said and turned, but before I could take another step, I lost footing and fainted.

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