Chapter 5 A Habit
Drifting in and out of sleep, Giselle had several nightmares. As she jolted awake, she saw Fabian sitting by the bed.
“Did you have a bad dream again?” He pulled her into his embrace, patted her back gently, and took a wet tissue to wipe her face.
“Mr. Mercado, we should keep our distance,” Giselle said coldly.
“I’m sorry. It’s become a habit after these years,” Fabian blurted out and was stunned by his own words.
“My legs hurt!” Tatiana, who was at the door, suddenly exclaimed and fell to the floor.
Immediately, Fabian strode toward her.
“Tatiana, are you hurt? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me in the room? Why did you come out? I’ll take you back.”
As Fabian helped Tatiana back, Adeline brought Giselle the soup.
“Mrs. Mercado, have some soup. Mr. Mercado specifically asked me to make this for you. He still loves you so much.”
Giselle thought, “Love? He loves me? Then how does he feel about Tatiana?
“No. Fabian has never loved me. He’s merely being a dutiful husband because we haven’t divorced yet.”
All of a sudden, she was disgusted by Fabian’s hypocrisy. “Adeline,
Chapter 5 & Haha
11
take it away. I don’t wanna eat it now.”
“But you haven’t eaten anything the whole day. At least have a few spoonfuls, OK? I’ll feed you,” Adeline said..
“No, Adeline.” Giselle turned away and wrapped herself tightly with the blanket.
Honestly, she was starving. But she’d rather be starved than accept Fabian’s pity.
***
Tortured by starvation and stomachache, Giselle was half–asleep, tossing and turning in bed. Just then, Fabian’s voice rang out in her ear, as gentle as ever, “Why didn’t you eat the soup? Did it taste bad? I’ll have the servants remake it.”
No woman could say no to such gentleness and thoughtfulness.
“Come, Gigi. Let me help you up. At least eat a little, OK? You haven’t eaten anything all day. You should pay extra attention to your meals because of your weak stomach.”
“OK,” Giselle responded in a sobbing voice as she took the bowl from him and took a big sip.
“Slow down. It’s still hot.”
She finished the entire bowl of soup.
Then Fabian said, “Gigi, shall I take you to Brocade Villa?”
Giselle nodded, realizing he wanted to send her away because the place now belonged to him and Tatiana. Staying here for another
second would be so humiliating–Fabian couldn’t wait to get rid of her.
She thought, “Mom will be so upset if she sees me like this. Maybe I shouldn’t go back now.
“Dad and Mom will be so worried when they hear about the divorce. It dreads me to think how they’ll react after knowing about the baby.
“Dad’s got a weak heart and high blood pressure. What if the shock is too much for him?”
Though no one lived in Brocade Villa, it was dust–free thanks to regular cleaning, and the fridge was filled with Giselle’s favorite food.
“Gigi. I’ll be on a business trip and won’t be back for a week. You may stay here for the next few days,” Fabian said.
Giselle nodded, “OK. Tell me after you’re back, and we’ll go to the courthouse to finalize the divorce.”
“Alright. You can take the time to think about what you want after the divorce. I’ll say yes to all as long as I have it.”
Giselle fell silent. What if she told him he was what she wanted? Would he fulfill her wish?
Fabian said, “I’m off. Get some proper rest.”
“OK.”
She stared at his retreating figure, lost in thought for a long time.
A frozen silence filled the villa, accentuating the hollowness in her
heart.
”
In the past, she used to pray for Fabian’s return from business trips. But this time, she wanted exactly the opposite.
