The sun has risen, peeking through the open window that I deliberately left uncovered to enjoy the moonlight all night. I couldn't sleep, once again torn between missing Andrew and forcing myself to stay away from that man. The sound of the door opening, a female nurse brought a breakfast and medications I didn't understand.
"Eat it after breakfast," the nurse said.
"What kind of medicine is this?" I asked worriedly.
"It has been prescribed by Dr. Collin; you don't need to worry."
When I finished with the pill earlier, someone suddenly knocked on my room door. However, my hands suddenly trembled, terrified that it was Andew outside, and my body reflexively tensed up at the thought of his punch.
Curled up on the bed, I let the door make noise with its prolonged knocking. I never expected Leo's influence on me to be this strong; if I keep being with him, maybe if I don't go completely insane, I will die.
"Matilda, it's me, Collin." When I heard Dr. Collin's voice, for some reason, the tension within me eased, transforming into an inexplicable sense of calm.
I invited Dr. Collin in; he arrived in my room with a purple suitcase of mine. "Did you manage to bring it?" I thought Andew's henchmen would be waiting for me to return to the same place.
"They were indeed on guard there; fortunately, I was able to seize the opportunity when they left," Dr. Collin explained. Today, Doctor Collin looked different; he was wearing a doctor's outfit that I had never seen him wear before.
"Are you starting to work here?" My question successfully made Dr. Collin glance at me quickly. He seemed surprised because I was paying attention to him.
"Katerina offered me a job here," he said briefly, before we heard footsteps running quickly towards my room.
"Doctor Collin, there are many people looking for you in front of the hospital," a nurse conveyed the message, looking exhausted and hurried. However, as if understanding, I hurried to the window of my room.
Andew is out there, along with a countless number of his henchmen. I glanced back at Dr. Collin, who also seemed curious. "Andrew," I said briefly.
"You wait here and lock the door; don't open it unless it's me or Katerina who asks. Close the windows too; don't look out the window again." Doctor Collin warned, then left with the female nurse who was still waiting for him.
I followed all of Dr. Collin's orders, quickly running to lock the door and close the window, also drawing the curtains so that there was no access to see inside. I tried to stay calm while my heart rate quickened even more. Cold sweat drenched me, and I found my hands trembling quite strongly again.
Almost twenty minutes have passed without anyone knocking on the door, and I can't hear anything from here. The desire to peek through the window makes me restless every second, but my mind keeps pressing me to obey Dr. Collin's orders.
Until about ten minutes later, Dr. Collin knocked on the door, his voice reassuring me that the one outside was indeed Dr. Collin.
"Andrewwants to talk to me privately. I agreed to it, but no one from his side is allowed to enter the hospital and disturb the patients here. If you want, you can listen to our conversation from outside quietly." I nodded, following Dr. Collin into a room where Andrew was inside. Andrew didn't know I was outside eavesdropping on his conversation with Dr. Collin; there was a gap in the door where I could also see what they were doing inside.
"You are hiding Matilda here, right?" Doctor Collin nodded honestly.
"Why do you dare to hide someone else's wife? I came here to pick her up," Andrew stated frankly.
"You just got divorced. Matilda's current status is my patient; I am protecting my patient from things that cause her trauma and pain."
"IS MY LOVE CONSIDERED A SOURCE OF PAIN?" Andrew shouted, slamming the table, and I flinched outside. Doctor Collin didn't flinch at all, as if this wasn't the first time he had dealt with someone like Andrew.
"In fact, she ran away from you. If she was comfortable and received the right kind of love, she wouldn't have left."
"SHE HAS NEVER BEEN REBELLIOUS BEFORE! You must have influenced her!" Andrew pointed at Dr. Collin's face with his index finger, his words full of emphasis and accusation.
"I have been licensed as a psychologist for fifteen years, and in fact, your ex-wife is truly mentally and physically hurt. As a husband at that time, did you notice her reflexive movements of fear when you were about to touch her? Did you know that her body often trembles and she breaks out in a cold sweat when she hears loud bangs and thunder?" At that moment, Andrew fell silent; he didn't realize how deeply hurt I seemed. He didn't seem to realize how hurt I was. Suddenly, I felt pity.
"Yes, I'm sorry. Now hand Matilda over to me. I truly love her."
Doctor Collin shook his head. "I won't hand Matilda over to you that easily."
"DAMN IT, WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" This time unexpectedly, Andrew stood up and grabbed the collar of the shirt under the doctor's coat worn by Dr. Collin.
"YOU WANT MONEY? TELL ME HOW MUCH YOU WANT, AND HAND MATILDA OVER TO ME!" Andrew's ear-piercing shout was met only with a shake of Dr. Collin's head. Once again, Dr. Collin seemed too patient for a person full of emotions.
As Andrew's grip tightened, Dr. Collin said, "I will hand it over only if you are willing to change your attitude. If at that time Matilda's trauma gradually improves, I will allow you to take her away. Are you willing to accept it?"