4. Take Time To Think
"You have to sign," the man said, which made me exhale and stare at the document with a flat stare.
"I'd like to ask for more time to think things over."
I did need that, even though I agreed to our agreed terms, but this was challenging for me. For the first time, I was bound to a man.
"The sooner you decide to legalize this agreement, the better."
I smiled sarcastically.
"It will only be good for you. Give me two days, after which I'll sign the agreement."
My eyes rose to look at Rion, who was staring at me with his amber eyes. I don't know why those eyes affected me.
"Alright, you come here to sign two days later, but I assume you've already agreed to this agreement."
I nodded and stood up from my seat.
"Fabio will take you home."
I frowned momentarily, and then the middle-aged man who had driven me here appeared behind the door he had opened.
So his name was Fabio.
Leaving where I was standing and approaching Fabio, my steps were halted when Rion said his goodbyes.
"See you soon, Amelia."
Suddenly, a memory popped up in my mind showing a man whose face was unclear. Still, when he said the sentence Rion had just said, his voice was exactly the same as that man's, but the name he mentioned was not mine, but Rebecca.
Rebecca? Who is she?
"Miss Watson?!"
Fabio's call jolted me from seeing that flash of memory.
"A-ah, yes." I was so surprised that I only looked half-shouldered at Rion, then continued to follow Fabio.
Have I ever met him? He feels familiar.
That assumption echoed in my mind, and I thought about it all the way, leaving Rion's luxurious mansion until Fabio asked me again.
"Do you want a ride home or to campus?" the middle-aged man asked before he closed the limousine door.
"Can you take me to Vienna Hospital? I want to go there."
"Yes, ma'am," said Fabio as he nodded once and closed the limousine door. I had to see my mother first before returning to the flat. After that, I left for work. I thanked Fabio when exited the limo and arrived at the hospital parking lot. People were looking at me, making me a little nervous and awkward. I'm not necessary, but I'm riding in this luxurious car. People must think I'm an important person.
"Ms. Watson, I will return to pick you up in two days."
I turned around in surprise at Fabio's words. Still, as I watched, he was already about to climb into the Limousine at the wheel. Back in my mother's infirmary, I sat on the sofa and stared at the ring finger of my right hand with a half-empty stare as I thought about what had happened to me in less than 48 hours. Everything didn't make sense, especially about Rion being a werewolf. I exhaled loudly, and as the door to my mother's treatment room opened, Doctor Daniel appeared with his friendly and charming smile. I couldn't help but smile at him.
"Did you take the vitamins?" asked Doctor Daniel, to which I replied with a gasp, I'd forgotten about that.
"Not yet, after dinner," I replied with a smile and a guilty conscience. I should have listened to Dr. Daniel's words about taking my vitamins because I wasn't planning on getting sick.
"Amelia, two years have passed, and your mother hasn't shown any improvement. Don't you want to consider the advice of the various experts back then?"
Doctor Daniel's question made me pause for a moment. I still didn't want to give up on my mother.
"I still don't want to give up," I replied.
"But you'll have to bear any costs for this."
I exhaled again; I knew it. For two years, I've been living alone with all the burdens. Ever since my mother fell into an accidental coma a year ago, I've been working very hard for myself. My mom's valuables have all been sold off for her medical bills, plus my tuition fees. My mom used to work as a cleaning service at the hotel where I work now, but because of the accident, I had to take her place so we could still earn a living. Before the accident, I had also worked as a waitress at a fast food restaurant, but only as a part-time worker to supplement our living expenses.
"You don't have to worry about that; I'll take responsibility; maybe if I were in my mom's shoes right now, she wouldn't give up on me either."
I suddenly thought of an idea. However, I needed to think about it again to realize that idea.
"And your time limit is only three years, Amelia; after that, the team of doctors will declare their decision."
I nodded at Dr. Daniel's words and hoped that before the three-year mark, my mother would open her eyes again. Living life alone often made me want to give up, but when I saw my mother struggling, I thought of moving on and facing reality. About my father, my mother never wanted to talk about it; she just said that he left us.
Doctor Daniel sat beside me, his soft perfume invading my sense of smell—one of the men I never imagined that I would have a lover like Dr. Daniel. But right now, I've bonded with a man who is not much different from him or perhaps even more so than Doctor Daniel himself.
"If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask me, Amelia," he said, and it was something he had said a dozen times, but I had yet to fulfill it.
"I just... I don't want to burden anyone," I said, explaining why I never asked for his help. Doctor Daniel could be heard exhaling loudly. I just looked down at the floor of this room.
"You've endured enough on your own; there's nothing wrong with asking for help," Doctor Daniel said, which I knew meant that I wouldn't have to endure everything alone, but I had already been living my life alone since my mother fell into a coma. I smiled at his good intentions, which never changed until this moment.
"I'll use the favor card for things I can't handle because I think a favor from you is hard to get for nothing."
I turned and looked at him, who was laughing lightly; then, he got up from his seat and faced me.
"Don't forget to take your vitamins before work."
I gave him a definite nod to reassure him. After that, Doctor Daniel left me alone. I thought back to the agreement and the man named Orion.
"I must be crazy," I muttered, adjusting my hair as I looked down. However, everything had already happened, and I did not want to be the aggrieved party. I lay down on the long sofa, the only thing I could sleep on in this room. I look at the watch on my left wrist; there's still an hour left before I go to work. I'm going to sleep first.
I slept too well and woke up late; if it weren't for Karina, I would have gone to work half an hour later, affecting my salary.
"You look tired; what if you call in sick?"
I shook my head; it was impossible. I kept my absences to a minimum.
"I'm fine. I've had enough sleep, and Dr. Daniel gave me vitamins," I said as I stuffed the things I would take to work into my rectangular backpack.
"Remember, if you work late again, let me know early. You weren't even reachable that time."
The memory of that night with Orion returned, but I quickly ended it.
"Yeah, I know, I'm leaving."
When I had just closed the door to the room where my mother was being treated, I saw Doctor Daniel and Orion talking in the hospital corridor in front of the desk at the nurse's station. The sight naturally took me by surprise for a moment.
Did they know each other?