Chapter 4 All You're Worth

• When Zayla awoke, she found herself alone in a hospital room, her phone still dead. She didn't know how long she had slept. Glimpsing out the window, she noted the darkened sky, indicating the lateness of the hour. Slipping on her shoes and snatching her bag, Zayla rose to her feet and ventured out. She couldn't resist pausing at the slightly ajar door as she passed Melanie's hospital room.
• Melanie rested inside, accompanied by Zayla's legal husband, Joaquin. Despite the hospital attire, Melanie exuded a youthful vibrancy, her graceful demeanor undimmed. Her fair complexion framed her bright, exquisite eyes, radiating an aura of innocence. Zayla couldn't shake the notion that Joaquin was drawn to Melanie's innate purity. In contrast, she saw herself as the unwanted visitor, the malicious presence that disrupted a once-happy connection.
• Witnessing Joaquin's tenderness towards Melanie ignited a pang of jealousy within Zayla. Her jaw ached from clenching it after prolonged scrutiny. While others might perceive Joaquin as naturally aloof, Zayla knew he reserved all his tenderness for Melanie, unwilling to share it with anyone else. Admittedly, there was a time when he showed kindness towards Zayla, but those days were now a distant memory.
• Zayla's subtle spying finally grabbed the attention of the duo. Melanie trembled like a startled hare when she saw Zayla, and she sought solace behind Joaquin. She looked timid, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as if she had just encountered a nasty villain.
• Joaquin patted Melanie's shoulder gently and then shifted his gaze to Zayla at the doorway, his expression turning frosty. A hint of annoyance flickered in his eyes, evolving swiftly into derision. His emotions were etched on his face as he rebuked Zayla. "Why are you watching us silently?"
• Zayla stood at the doorway, peering at the intertwined figures in the room, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest. She hadn't intended to linger, yet she couldn't look away. This was a part of Joaquin she hadn't glimpsed before, which she yearned for. As she watched them intently, her sight blurred... The ache was unbearable, leaving her heart hollow.
• With Melanie sheltered behind him, Joaquin's eyes narrowed, a surge of conflicting emotions coursing through him as he noticed Zayla's sickly, lifeless complexion. His brows furrowed. "Since you're awake, it's time to leave."
• Zayla paused, her voice rough as she inquired, "Will you be back tonight?" Catching Joaquin's guarded expression, she decided against explaining further. She didn't know what grievous offenses she had unknowingly committed all these years to warrant him being so guarded against her.
• Zayla's heart was fragile and delicate. Even though she had thwarted his union with Melanie, Zayla had spent the last four years of their marriage caring for Joaquin, tending to his every need like a devoted housekeeper, managing his daily routines and meals. Despite the absence of harmony and joy in their partnership, she never probed into his relationship with Melanie.
• Joaquin was initially at a disadvantage. However, the Steele family's fortune silently waned, slipping from the affluent ranks. Hence, Zayla was no longer a threat to him.
• Zayla had always refrained from dredging up Melanie and Joaquin's history. Still, it was simply inconceivable to think that Zayla didn't mind. In choosing Joaquin, Zayla had relinquished everything. Now that she was battling stomach cancer and her life was nearing its end, she continued to prolong Melanie's life. Zayla's own existence hung on the line, but who would extend a helping hand to her?
• A surge of agonizing pain ripped through Zayla's heart, akin to a million needles piercing her, spreading torment through her veins, engulfing every inch of her being. Even her fingertips trembled with anguish. Zayla had long ceased questioning Joaquin's instructions. She had grown accustomed to them with time, transitioning from an initial eagerness to please him to a resigned acceptance, confining herself to his will.
• Turning away, Zayla heard Melanie's voice from within. "Is Zayla okay after donating so much blood? She looks so pale..."
• "She's fine. She's always been healthy."