I settled into the passenger seat, my eyes fixed on the window as the city lights blurred by. The silence between us was oppressive, but I wasn't about to break it. At least, that's what I told myself.
As we drove, the familiar route began to register in my mind. It was the same way we had gone to his mother's restaurant that one time. A small spark of curiosity ignited within me, and I couldn't help but wonder if we were headed there again.
"Where are we going?" I asked finally, trying to sound cold and unchallenged.
Ace's gaze didn't waver from the road. "You'll see," he replied, his voice low and smooth.
I raised an eyebrow, but he didn't elaborate. Instead, he continued driving, the silence between us growing thicker than before.
As the hospital came into view, I turned to him, my voice laced with confusion. "Why are we at the hospital?" I asked, my brow furrowed in concern.
Ace's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Get down," he said, his voice low and husky.
I rolled my eyes, but a low "Fine" slipped out, despite my best efforts to keep it in. Ace's smile grew, and he asked, "What did you just say?"
"Nothing," I muttered, getting out of the car.
Ace chuckled and walked around to my side, taking my hand in his. I tried to pull away, but he held firm, leading me towards the hospital entrance.
We stopped in front of a door marked "VIP Lounge." Ace took a deep breath, his chest expanding as he inhaled. Then, he pushed open the door, and I followed him inside.
The room was sleek and modern, with a hospital bed in the center. And on the bed, with a bandage wrapped around her head, was Ace's mother. My heart skipped a beat as I rushed over to her side.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" I asked, my voice shaking with concern.
Ace's mother smiled, her eyes warm and kind. "Ah, the beautiful Sharon. How are you doing?"
I felt my eyes well up with tears as I looked at her. "I'm fine, ma'am. What happened to you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
She smiled again, and I could see the effort it took. "It's nothing, dear. Just a little accident," she said, her voice weak but reassuring.
I looked up at Ace, but he was watching me, his expression unreadable. I turned back to his mother, trying to process what was happening. Why was she in the hospital? And what had happened to her?
I couldn't hold back my tears as I watched her closely, her words of reassurance only making me more emotional. I felt Ace stir beside me, and I quickly bent my head, trying to clean my tears with the back of my hand. But before I could even process what was happening, Ace's mother reached out and gently supported my chin with her hand, drawing my head back up.
She wiped away my tears with her thumb, her touch gentle and soothing. "Don't cry, my darling. I'm fine," she said, her voice full of warmth and concern.
I sniffled, trying to compose myself. "How did this happen?" I asked, my voice shaking.
Ace's deep voice replied from behind me. "She just got involved in a little accident, and she's been asking to see you. I decided to bring you here."
I turned to him, my eyes flashing with scolding. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier? Why did you keep it to yourself?" I demanded, feeling a surge of worry and frustration.
Ace's mother burst out laughing, the sound warm and rich. I turned to her, my voice taking on a sad tone. "Mom..."
She smiled at me, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Don't be angry, my dear. You just sound like a mother right now, scolding him." She glanced at Ace, who was watching us with an unreadable expression.
Ace coughed under his breath, and I couldn't help but smile. I sat down next to his mother on the bed, bombarding her with questions. "How are you feeling? Does it hurt? What did the doctor say?"
Ace's mother laughed and patted my head, her touch soothing. "I'm fine, my darling. Don't worry about me."
I wrapped my arms around Ace's mother, holding her gently so as not to hurt her. "Have you eaten? Are you okay?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.
She chuckled and patted my back. "Yes, I've eaten. I've just been wanting to see you since...and I've been trying to get Ace to bring you to me, but he wasn't saying anything." She smiled at me, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "It's been so long since I've seen you, dear."
I smiled back at her, feeling a surge of affection for her. "Well, Ace isn't a good friend," I said, trying to sound stern.
But her expression turned serious, and she asked, "What do you mean by that? Did Ace do something?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, and I could see the protective mother bear coming out.
I leaned in close, my voice barely above a whisper. "We'll talk about that later. Something private. We have to keep it away from Ace."
Ace's mother burst out laughing again, the sound warm and rich. I couldn't help but laugh with her, feeling a sense of camaraderie with her.
Ace, who had been watching us with an unreadable expression, cleared his throat. "I'll just go get something," he said, excusing himself from the room.
As he left, his mother turned to me and whispered, "I think we're going to have some fun with him, don't you?" She winked at me, and I giggled, feeling like we were in on some secret joke.
Ace's mother turned to me with a concerned and serious face. "Sharon, I would like to tell you something," she said, her voice low and urgent.
"What is it, ma'am?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"I got this accident at home," she said, her eyes locked on mine. "I was attacked by some people, and I think it has to do with Ace's...father."
I felt a jolt of surprise, my mind racing with questions. "I don't understand, ma'am. Like Ace's father...your ex-husband?"
She nodded, her expression grim. "Yes, my ex-husband."
I was taken aback, but I tried to process the information. "Okay," I said slowly.
Ace's mother took a deep breath. "But that's not the main reason right now. The main reason is...when I was in a coma, Ace was totally broken down, and he had no connection, no one to turn too.It breaks me to think my son would be so lonely if ever something happens to me." I could feel her pains too
"But there was a time when he said something about you...and I think Ace likes you more than being a friend." She continued
I felt a flutter in my chest, and I tried to brush off the feeling. "No, no, no, ma'am. You're getting it wrong. Ace is married," I said, trying to sound convincing.
But Ace's mother's expression didn't change. "He's married to her because he was coerced into it," she said, her voice low and serious. "It was an arranged marriage, and not of his will."
I was taken aback by her words, but I tried to process everything she was saying. I knew about the arranged marriage, but I hadn't realized it was that serious, to the extent of being life threatening. I felt a pang of sympathy for Ace, and my expression must have softened because Ace's mother reached out and took my hand.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this little mess," she said, her eyes filled with concern. "But Ace likes you."
I shook my head, trying to deny it. "No, ma'am, it's not like that."
But she smiled and continued. "Ace loves you. And I think I want a woman like you for my son."
I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at her. "But, ma'am, you don't even know me that well," I stammered.
She chuckled and said, "You don't need to study a person full time to know if they are good or bad."
I looked at her, tears welling up in my eyes. "But he keeps treating me like trash, and now he confuses my feelings. I don't know...it all started from a contract..."
I trailed off, realizing I had said too much. Ace's mother's expression turned stern, her eyes locked on mine. "A contract?" she repeated.
I quickly tried to cover her tracks. "It's nothing," I said quickly, trying to downplay it.
Ace's mother smiled, but her eyes were piercing. "Don't worry, you don't have to tell me the details. But I just want you to be there for Ace, because he really needs you. Ace is someone who would rather keep everything to himself and break alone than share with people he loves, because he doesn't want to endanger them."
I felt a pang in my heart as I looked at her. She was right. Ace was like that. He would rather suffer in silence than burden others with his problems. And I realized that I wanted to be there for him, to support him and help him through his struggles but if only he lets me in...
Just then, the door to the hospital room opened, and Ace's mother whispered, "I want you to marry him." My eyes widened in shock, and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I was left staring at her, my mind reeling with the sudden request.
Before I could respond, Ace walked towards us, a look of concern on his face. "What's going on?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for something.
I felt like I was in a daze, my mind still reeling from his mother's words. I couldn't believe what she'd just asked me. Marry Ace? Was she kidding? I turned to look at her, but she was smiling serenely, her eyes locked on Ace's face.
Ace's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between his mother and me. "Mom, what's going on?" he asked, his voice low and even.
But his mother just smiled and reached out to pat his hand. "Nothing, dear. Just girl talk," she said, her voice light and airy.
I felt like I was trapped in a whirlwind, unsure of what was happening or what to say. All I could do was stare at Ace's mother, my mind racing with questions and doubts.