Upon hearing the name âHoward Mountain Villaâ, Bryanâs pupils trembled. He furrowed his brow, asking, âDad, are you going to see my mom?â
McNeil nodded. âI have a few questions for her.â
Bryan showed a sense of helplessness. âDo you really need to go in person? Dad, youâre not in the best shape for a long journey.â
McNeil insisted, âTake me there now! There are things I need to clear up, or I wonât sleep a wink at home! Bryan, turn the car around!â
Bryan opened his mouth to dissuade his father but eventually fell silent, signaling the driver to change directions towards Howard Mountain Villa.
His mother had been living at the villa these past years. It was less of a choice and more of a house arrest following a series of her mistakes, imposed by his grandparents and father.
He hadnât visited his mother during his years abroad.
Sigh!
After overhearing his fatherâs conversation with the lady in the hospital corridor, Bryan had some speculations. Apparently, his father shared the same suspicion that his mother was the instigator of the past misunderstandings.
Bertha had a doctor examine Marlinie in her room. The doctor claimed her irregular heartbeat was due to emotional distress; there were no major concerns if she rested and avoided overthinking.
Marlinie politely followed the doctorâs advice, asking Bertha to escort him out.
Returning from seeing off the doctor, Bertha looked at Marlinie with worry, âMarlinie, even the doctor says youâre overthinking! You canât keep going like this; youâre gonna wear yourself down, even if your wounds heal!â
Marlinie managed a pained smile. âIâm sorry, Bertha, Iâve made you worry again. Youâve been up all night, ordering sandwich and handling uninvited guests for me.â
Bertha sat down and turned on her phoneâs camera, snapping a picture of Marlinie, âLook at yourself.
Your smile is more painful than a cry right now!â Marlinie looked at her reflection on the phone that Bertha held up, agreeing that her current state was indeed worse than crying.
Bertha laid her hand on Marlinieâs. âMarlinie, I know seeing him again must have been tough, but heâs gone now! Iâve said all that needed to be said, so he shouldnât bother you again!â
Marlinie paused, looking at Bertha. âWhat did you tell him?â
Bertha replied, âI told him heâs done enough damage to you and Ellinor. If he had any decency left, he wouldnât bother you anymore! Butâ¦â
Marlinie waited quietly, her eyes shining, for Bertha to continue.
Bertha added, âBut, he didnât seem to know about the assassination attempt on you back then. When I accused him, he looked bewildered, asking what happened. I suspect he might have been pretending!â
Marlinieâs eyes sparkled for a moment, then dimmed again.
âAlright, Marlinie, at least for now, we know heâs gone and wonât bother you for a while. Try to rest a bit and stop overthinking!â
Marlinie nodded, her mind a mess.
If it were so easy to control oneâs thoughts, psychological issues wouldnât be so prevalent!
But she knew that as long as she was awake, Bertha wouldnât be able to rest either. So, for Berthaâs sake, even if she wasnât tired, she decided to pretend to sleep.
Marlinie lay down and closed her eyes.