“I am a weak-hearted person who has built a strong wall around myself.” 

SEVEN: CONTRACT & DEFEAT. 

"HELLO,"

"Yes, Theodore Raymond speaking." The authority in his voice never failed to amuse me, making goosebumps blanket my arm and take me off guard. And even if he hadn't introduced himself, I would have guessed that it was his voice, one of a kind - thick, husky, and a bit of British accent. 

"Mr. Raymond, are the papers ready?" I came directly to the point. 

"Yes the contract is ready, when are you coming to sign them?"

"Um..." I said, looking at my watch and then back at the 'Operation Theater', "actually I won't be able to come, can you send the papers? And can it be a bit quicker cause the chemotherapy is going to start in two hours." 

"Okay, I'll send Christian. He will be there in an hour." He stated.

"Can't it be a bit earlier?" I hesitated while nibbling on my lip, sparing another glance backward. 

"No Ms. Hargrave, people have a business to attend to and their only job isn't to carry files to you." He said as a matter-of-factly making me grunt. 

"Okay," I said, ending the call not being able to cope up with his mood swings.

 Sometimes he's totally well behaved and chivalrous and other times he's rude. Gosh, he is suffering from a split personality disorder and I am going to handle that for an entire year. 

But right now I don't have free time to spare on him. I continue scrolling around the waiting room. The doctors informed me that the chemotherapy will start at two o'clock and me being alone here it's helping, just making me more nervous. All the staff from the NGO are busy in one thing or the other and Mrs. Smith would come after the school hours are over. 

"Aurellia Hargrave?" An unrecognizable voice says but when I turn around to face the owner of the voice, he turns out to be Christian. 

"Christian," I greet. "You got the papers?" I ask as he produced a black file and extends it to me. 

"That's why I am here," he said sarcastically and I nod, not having much time at hand. I quickly sign the papers with the pen I have been holding for almost half an hour.

 "Done." I declare and hand it back. 

"Okay, I have paid the bills at the counter so no worries." He smiles politely and I do the same but as gratitude.

 A team of doctors marches towards the operation room and I sit on the metal armchair, tapping my foot on the ground out of nervousness and uneasiness and worry. I felt a figure sit down beside me and gave me a warm smile, assuring one. 

I smiled weakly at Christian, knotting my fingers on my knee. Actually, Christian was a sweet guy. Tall built, broad shoulders, good looks, helpful, and comfort emitting out from him. Realizing I haven't even read the contract before signing, I asked him to let me have a read. 

I turned the pages as my eyes scanned them, double-checking as well. "Now I know how come such a beautiful girl agreed to marry my brother, " his eyes shined with mischief and in-joke and I rolled my eyes playfully. 

"As if girls aren't already falling head over heels for him," I stated, slightly astonished that how come I reacted so playfully and casually at him. 

"Yeah, that's true. But, now my big brother has got standards. And he isn't that easy to capture." His voice lacked playfulness. 

"But I captured him. I think I really am talented, aren't I?" I wink, trying to keep up with him. 

"I think... I like you already!" He smiled with twinkling eyes. 

"Um, I like myself too?" I laughed as he joined in. There was a silence of a few moments after that. 

"I never got this chance to apologize to you..." He raised his eyebrows with a smirk playing on his lips. "You know for what," I added sternly, narrowing my eyes and he chuckled nodding. 

"So, yeah I am sorry." I smiled sadly. 

"Apology accepted and forgiveness granted, my child." He said in this thick, pretentious accent making me laugh.

 "But nothing much happened to me. It was just a sprain which I realized that you didn't cause. You had pressed the brakes on time. But I was so shocked that I stumbled, twisting my foot. But the very next day I was walking. So, no worries." He struggled casually. 

"And your bloody brother took away my license." I cursed a few more colorful words under my breath as he openly barked with laughter. 

"It's going to be great looking at you guys bicker all day." He managed to say between remnants of laughter. 

"Yeah, for one year." Suddenly, I felt so sad. I didn't want to waste my one year just doing nothing. 

You'll get to work in the office! And you'll be safe, not doing anything illegal and fearing of the consequences. Finally, you'll get to live a normal life which you always wanted, since childhood. 

But what if I had already molded myself to go through rough situations and abnormalities?

"But Theo is not really a bad guy-"

"Leave that. Tell me something about yourself. What are you studying? How old are you? And stuff." I shrugged, trying not to let him sweet talk about his beloved brother. 

"I am twenty-five. And I work in the financial sector back at Raymond Enterprise Holding." He confidently stated. 

"Seriously? Even I am gonna work in that field." I said turning at him. I saw a ray of hope. 

"Wonderful. I'll make sure that we sit next to each other. And make fun of grumpy pants." He whispered the last part, with a wink making me giggle. 

"Okay! Nice idea." I whisper back. 

***

"The patient is not taking the therapy. Her body isn't reacting to even medicines we tried giving her." The doctor informed us with an apologetic maneuver. 

"Her body might react to the next chemotherapy," Mr. Butler fought back. He was the chairman of CCC and a very renowned figure who had connections with the government and other elite families. With an age of above fifty and a responsibility to look after the Centre, he was like a father figure. 

"I understand your feelings but even if she hadn't taken the last one and after today's therapy, I don't think you need to invest more in this. Let her live until her body doesn't give up. Technicalities cannot aid her. Sorry. You can meet her tomorrow after ten." 

After the doctor was gone there was an air of tension and a wave of defeat hanging between us. The fact that there was nothing, not even money, which could bring her back to life was defending my senses. 

I didn't know what to think and how to even talk to Aria about this. I knew I wasn't the best person who could handle this situation but Mr. and Mrs. Watkins could lift her mood. They always wanted to adopt her, ever since she was four but after it was detected that she's suffering from a carcinogenic disease made them back off.

 But they never failed to bring gifts and good wishes for her as well as other children. And she was too, fond of them. 

"Ms. Hargrave, you can go home. I and Richards will be here for the night." Mrs. Smith spoke, putting a hand on my arm, assuringly but even he emitted a sigh of defeat. 

I curtly looked at my watch, which showed 7:56. "Call me, if anything comes up." 

She nodded and I looked back at Christian who was quietly sitting on the chair, looking at the shining tiled floor. 

"Christian, we are leaving," I spoke lightly, nearing him. We talked so much about random stuff, laughed that the lamest jokes but during the last hour of the therapy his arm was supporting me, and I doubted how I let him in that easily. 

We silently made out in the parking when he said, "Dinner?" 

And I nodded. We settled in his car and he assured me to bring me back to the Hospital so that I could go home in my own car. 

The dinner was silent, very silent and even Christian's spirits were dampened compared to his outgoing self. There were a few words exchanged, a bit more of gestures, from his side which said time will pass and things will be fine. 

Or at least I'll mold to accept it as 'fine'. The ride back home made me realize that even if we claim to have so much power, money being one of the biggest but yet we cannot stop something or actually anything. What is meant to be would happen, irrespective of the power people claim to attain and assert.

It felt as if I was inside a bubble of a variety of emotions like disbelief, annoyance, uneasiness, and defeat. My home, which I always thought was a rescue from the world, was also not providing any relief. It was like the walls were echoing something I wasn't able to perceive. It made me feel restless, till my soul. 

Unsure of what would happen tomorrow, I embraced the welcoming escape of sleep.

***

I know this wasn't the best chapter... But they are coming soon! Stay tuned! 

Meet you soon! ❤