Chapter 12

• Before Adira got married, she discovered that her husband had a messy love triangle in the past. Chadwick loves Isa, but Isa loves someone else.
• Adira did not research more about the third person since she and he won’t see each other anyway. And knowing her husband’s woman is enough. However, playing ignorant at the details will be her mistake.
• “Brother, why are you here?” Isa asked her brother, Geoffrey.
• The man who Isa loves so dearly is no other than her stepbrother, Geoffrey Cullen, the bartender who’s working at Adira’s favorite bar.
• Isa and Geoffrey became step siblings because their parents remarried. But ever since their parents died, Geoffrey cut ties with his stepsister. Main reason is because he’s aware of Isa’s feelings for him, which he cannot accept.
• “What are you doing here in the hospital? Are you sick?!” Isa inquired her stepbrother with worried face.
• With downcast eyes, Geoffrey kept his lips pursed. His heart was pounding so hard before, but now, it calmed down.
• He did not have a plan to talk to her and start any conversation, and so he walked past by her towards the entrance.
• Geoffrey ignored her.
• It is always like this.
• Whenever Isa tried her best to reach him, he would always run away.
• But she’s used to this chasing game. Although it hurt, Isa’s heart went numb to the point that she let her feelings turn from love to obsession.
• “Chadwick got into a car accident.”
• At Isa’s words, Geoffrey halted.
• Chadwick McElroy. Geoffrey knows that name better than anyone. He is the man who followed his stepsister ever since high school. And also, that guy, Chadwick, hates Geoffrey so much for pushing Isa away.
• ‘That bastard,’ Geoffrey said inwardly.
• Geoffrey and Chadwick mutually hated each other. For Chadwick, he hates the playboy stepbrother who keeps on hurting Isa. For Geoffrey, he hates that silly man who’s jealous of him when he does not have to.
• They are just like East and West, black and white or Atlantic and Pacific. Never will collide.
• “I came here because Chadwick got injured. So, I wanted to take care of him. The doctor said that he’d be okay. But still, I wanted to be by his side,” Isa shared, waiting for Geoffrey to turn around.
• “I see,” Geoffrey murmured. He put his hands inside his pockets and walked again.
• That’s all. He is not interested bit about Chadwick and Isa, who seemed like playing a tag and pull game.
• “Is that all?!” Isa shouted that echoed around the big space.
• Once again, Geoffrey stopped while fetching a sigh. He knows his stepsister’s tantrum and hates it. But for the sake of old times, when he really treated her just like a family, Geoffrey sometimes stayed to hear her grumbles. She’s an orphan like him, after all.
• “Won’t you get angry? That I am still hanging around with that guy I rejected before?!”
• This time, Geoffrey turned around and looked at her with his eagle-like sharp eyes.
• “Isa,” he called.
• Isa’s hanged opened mouth shut. She took a deep breath, waiting for his next words.
• “Did you tell me that you’re with Chadwick to say that you’re really worried about him? Or…”
• A sly smile appeared on his heart-shaped lips. Then he continued in a colder tone than ever.
• “It is your tactic to make me jealous?”
• Isa’s eyes widened then subsided. She really got worried for Chadwick but at the same time, she told this to Geoffrey in hope that he would feel somewhat regretful or jealous. However, she does not see a hint of jealousy in her stepbrother’s eyes. Only pity and empathy reside at his bored gaze.
• She could not retort at his harsh questions that appeared like his answers too. Even so, she gulped her pride and decided to accompany him a little bit longer.
• “Before you go, at least, tell me why you are here,” she said.
• “I don’t need to answer that,” Geoffrey murmured. “Ever since the day our parents died, I cut all ties with you. We don’t have any connection, Isa.”
• Isa clenched her fists at the hemline of her skirt.
• It is not supposed to be like this.
• If only not because of that mistake she made in the past, Geoffrey might have stayed by her side, not as her lover, but as brother.
• But she ruined it. She lost his trust just because of her confession.
• “Wishing for Chadwick to recover fast, though,” Geoffrey whispered before he stepped away.
• Each of his steps resonated around the underground parking lot.
• Tak.
• Tak.
• Tak.
• Every time it dropped, Isa’s heart’s temperature also dropped, as if freezing in the North-pole.
• When she could no longer hear the footsteps, she realized how sad it is to be abandoned, to be alone in a world who never loves her. It was then she remembered the only man who shows her affection.
• Chadwick McElroy.
• The married man who loves nothing but her.
• Because of Geoffrey, who abandoned her, Isa finds comfort from the only guy who really cares for her.
• While she keeps on chasing at the man who will never reach her hand, Isa is rest assured that there will be someone from the back who will catch her.
• Chadwick is her comfort zone. Someone she can never love back but can’t lose.
• So even if he’s married, Isa decided not to let go of the man who had to be by her side until the end. It is his role in the past, in the present and in the future.
• Therefore, a wife like Adira can’t interfere. Isa will make sure that Adira won’t snatch the summer in his frozen heart.
• Meanwhile, Chadwick is alone in the room and waiting. He felt thirsty so he tried to grab the glass of water from the side. But as soon as he raised his right arm, he felt a jabbing pain, as if thousands of needles prickled his skin and bone.
• “Argh,” he groaned.
• His eyes diverted to the door where Adira and Isa both walked out.
• A moment ago, after Adira left, Isa also said she had to hurry and follow his wife. Isa wanted to talk to Adira to say sorry for being so overreacted, just because she’s worried about Chadwick.
• [“Your wife might misunderstand our relationship again. So, I need to reassure her that we are just friends.”] Isa said to Chadwick before she followed Adira.
• It is true that Chadwick has feelings for Isa. But they don’t have that kind of relationship. He’s married and although he does not like Adira romantically, he can’t cheat. Besides, Isa won’t feel the same emotion he has.
• Now he ponders how comforting it would be if only Adira is as kind and understanding as Isa. They can be friends for a long time, until the end of their relationship. Both knew that in the future, they would divorce soon.
• ‘But… do I really hate her?’ Chadwick asked himself.
• When he’s living with her for six months, he was so irritated at the sight of that perverted woman who asked nothing but sex. He tried his very best to avoid her or even start a conversation with his wife. However, he felt worried every time Adira caught him comforting Isa.
• Chadwick feels pathetic when Adira says she does not care if he has another mistress. He knew it is because of his pride.
• Then what about that sad gaze of Adira when they were in the orphanage?
• What about the odd feelings he had when he saw her crying just a moment ago?
• She’s so unpredictable that Chadwick doesn’t know where to put himself; to the place where he must hate her? Or the place where he wanted to know more about Adira?
• Chadwick shook his head, trying to sweep away thoughts in his mind. Then his eyes caught the paper bag at the side.
• It is the gift for his wife’s birthday.
• During the car accident, Chadwick protected the paper bag, that is why he got his arm injured.
• ‘What about that?’
• Why did he protect it at all costs if he does not really care about his wife?
• Isn’t it because Adira left his car with this hopeless face, saying that not all people need love?
• “I don’t know anymore,” Chadwick mumbled, so confused.
• The only reason why he wanted her to stay longer is because he had to give her the gift. That’s all? Is it really the only reason?
• He even said to Isa to leave them alone!
• ‘Exactly, what’s wrong with me?’
• Chadwick blamed that maybe, living with a crazy person also makes him one.
• A moment later, his secretary entered the room.
• “Sir, you’re awake,” Neil greeted.
• Chadwick lifted his gaze and looked at his secretary who looked at him with an apathetic gaze.
• “Yes. Can you give me the water?”
• “Sure,” Neil gave him a feeble response. He grabbed the glass and gave it to his boss. “Here it is.”
• Chadwick held the glass with his left and took a sip. Neil stared at him with less emotion.
• Just a moment ago, when Neil saw Chadwick in his wreck car, he was panicking, as if it was him who got into an accident. But now, Neil gawked at his boss very differently.
• ‘Is Adira’s emotionless face contagious?’ Chadwick wondered, thinking if Neil got his wife’s infamous poker face.
• Chadwick forged a cough, “Ahem.” And he continued, “I can’t go to the company with this injury. They will make it a big deal. What did the doctor say? How many days should I stay in the hospital?”
• “A week, sir,” Neil answered.
• “I see,” Chadwick murmured, sighing. “Then during that week, bring the paperwork that needed to be sign. I’ll work here instead.”
• “Okay.”
• Neil avoided his boss gaze, which confused Chadwick even more.
• Why is Neil acting as if he hates to be with Chadwick?
• There are times when Chadwick is moody, but he always makes sure he is treating his secretary better than anyone else.
• “What’s wrong with you?” Chadwick couldn’t help and asked.
• “Yes?” Neil answered, without looking back. “Nothing, sir.”
• “No. Seriously. What’s wrong with you?”
• Neil rolled his eyes.
• Chadwick saw that and had his eyes wide open. Did he really just see his secretary rolling his eyes?!
• “Y-You…!” Chadwick gasped, pointing at him.
• Neil, who cannot take it anymore, looked back to his boss and said what’s bothering him.
• “Sir. Why are you so mean?” Neil exploded.
• “H-Huh?”
• “You forgot that it is madam’s birthday. Then now… I mean, you are so mean to madam.”
• Chadwick narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t understand his secretary’s blabber. And so, he flung him the question:
• “Explain it to me in words I can understand. How did I wrong her?”