Ghost of My Heart - Chapter 60

It is the first time, Keira talked back to her in a sarcastic tone. Keira is a person who doesn’t talk much and always isolates herself from mixing with all of the gossiping queens in the company. Pretty much, around her, Jennet has always felt at ease although she never tells Keira about it.

“Just go home,” Keira said to her with an assuring smile. “Pamper yourself a bit.” She added in her softened voice.

Jennet gasped looking her natural smile. Keira never smiles to anyone but right now she is smiling without any restraint on her face.

Jennet snapped back to reality when Keira waved her hand to attract her attention.

“Hey, are you with me?” Keira asked with her brows knitted.

Jennet smiled back at her and nodded her head, “Ah, yes. I will go home afterwards.” She said and immediately tidied her working desk.

Before leaving, she left a note on Marvina’s desk along with her lunch box which she hasn’t eaten yet. On the note, she wrote: I’m on sick leave for three days. Please enjoy this lunch. -Jennet-

She drove her car, leaving the building but she drove away from the direction to her villa. She just drove around and found a pharmacy. She smiled with ease as she parked her car in front of the pharmacy where there was a parking area.

However, she had a mixed feeling either to get in or not. If she goes home, she won’t get any rest and she will have to pamper the pampered man. Furthermore, pampering him requires her to be intimate with him which she had tried to avoid.

Moreover, she felt so embarrassed to visit the hospital again after the ‘chickenpox’ incident. Whenever she sees the doctors or the nurses, she would tremble. Her heart had never been at peace. Who knows, what kind of diagnosis she will have to hear from them again.

But now, she is contemplating within herself. She felt so uneasy, thinking that the person inside may be an experienced doctor who can see through her.

After inhaling a few deep breaths, she glanced around from inside the car. She wanted to make sure no one she knew passed by the area.

Then, taking a spectacle from the dashboard, she headed out with her handbag, walking with confidence after pushing aside her uneasiness.

As soon as she entered, a middle-aged woman greeted her from the counter. The woman politely asked her with a smiling face, “How may I help you?”

Jennet glanced at the name tag on the woman’s chest. Wanda.

Good, it’s not Tiana!

Jennet’s heart was beating so hard but she kept on masking her face with her poker face. However, her hands were trembling by her side which caught the attention of the woman before her. She clutched tightly on the handbag using both of her hands, hoping to hide her trembling hands from the woman’s wary eyes.

“Do you have any painkillers for muscle pain?” She asked without delaying more on her intention. Her tone was neither harsh nor cold. But still, she sounded polite.

“Yes, we do,” Wanda answered smoothly and she took a small box of painkiller from the cabinet behind her.

Jennet paid the price in cash after looking at the price on the box. Then, she tucked the box inside her handbag before she walked out.

But then, she stopped just before she was about to push the door open. She bit her own lower lips, contemplating deep within once again.

‘Should or should I not buy that thing?’ She thought hard.

After making up her mind, she turned up at the counter again which made Wanda smiled even wider at her.

Jennet was looking so flustered when she asked with a slight cough between her words, “Do you…have anything…ehem…to prevent pregnancy?”

The actual reason she came to the pharmacy is to buy contraceptives. She had just executed her tactics to get to her main aim.

Once again, Wanda smiled and nodded. “Yes, we do. We have pills, and also condom. As for the condom, you can choose either for external or internal use. So which one do you prefer?”

Jennet was in silent once again as she processes her questions in her head. She was hoping she would say they didn’t have any of it because she felt it was already embarrassing enough to ask for it. But then, it was the other way around and now she had to choose.

Why is there such preference in buying those things? Why is it so hard to buy those things without having to choose?

Confusion and uncertainty came crashing within her like huge waves. Raising her head, she looked at Wanda.

“Which one is better?” She asked.

Although she was dead embarrassed, there were determinations in her eyes, burning like a raging fire. For her mission, she must succeed in buying the things she needed.

Wanda was a bit surprised after hearing her question, but then, she smiled at her. “Are you buying it for someone else or is it for your own keeping?” She asked, in a teasing tone.

Well, if she’s buying it for someone else, they must have their own preferences. But, if she’s buying it for herself then that’s a different story.

Every day, she had seen different kind of people coming and going. Each and every one of her customer is either already used to it or some are not used to it. Few, even, just hand her a piece of paper with the list of the things that they wanted to buy.

“Well, umm…it’s umm…” Jennet tried to explain with her fingers flying in the air. But she just couldn’t think of a better word.

She looked at Wanda with a speechless look.

She totally failed to keep her professional demeanour with her non-stop stuttering. Why can’t she just say it out smoothly like how she handles her clients?

“Well, it’s for me and I’m buying both,” Jennet said at last before Wanda had time to give her recommendation. She doesn’t want to think so much anymore and she needed to get away, fast!

Wanda smiled again and handed three boxes of different contraceptive to her and each box had a different size.

Jennet didn’t take much time and paid it in cash and hurriedly left the pharmacy. She slammed the door shut as soon as she sat inside the car. Then, she glanced at the things that she had just purchased.

Once again, she had mixed feelings if she had actually taken a good measure to solve her problem.

“No, no, this is the right way to avoid getting accidental pregnancy. Yes, I take a good measure of prevention. My top priority is my career and I can’t risk getting pregnant out of the blue. Hmm…” She nodded her head in agreement before starting the engine and drove away.

She went to a mall and bought new sets of inner wear and a few sets of new clothes. Then, she checked into a hotel.

The hotel was located far away from the city centre and most importantly, far from her villa where the lustful demon husband of hers currently resides.

Inside her luxurious room, she took a nice bath. She spent quite some time in the tub, easing her aching body.

After her nice bath, she went to sleep after taking one tablet of the painkiller.

Well, she had been so tired because she didn’t get enough sleep and also had been exhausted due to intense workouts on the bed for two nights in a row, so sleepiness gnawed on her completely within minutes.

The huge room was in silence after quite some time. Suddenly, her mobile phone inside her handbag rang.

However, the sound didn’t arouse the sleeping woman from her deep slumber. The phone kept ringing for three times before it went into total silence.

Suddenly, a message popped up and on the screen, the name of the sender was listed as ‘Home’.

***

Luca Tybelg inhaled a deep breath when he stared at his phone screen. The woman he called didn’t even answer his phone call.

He headed out of his study room after exhaling a deep sigh.

He went to the living room and he saw an elegant older woman sitting comfortably on one of the sofas.

Her black hair was tied in a neat bun, matching her simple and conservative dark blue, knee-length dress with a white belt.

She was sipping on her tea silently without making any clanking sound every time she placed the cup on the saucer which she held on her left hand.

She was sitting with her back straight. Her demeanour was calm and composed. There was not the slightest change in her facial expression nor did she appear to be fierce.

Luca sat opposite her and a butler appeared and poured him a cup of tea. Thanking the butler, he took the teacup and sipped its content in a proper manner.

Gently placing the cup back on its saucer, he looked at the elegant woman before him. There was longing in his eyes but he couldn’t voice it out.

The woman didn’t raise her head to look at him but kept on sipping on her tea, totally ignoring his presence. No words coming out of her mouth although her lips just stayed at the rim of the teacup.

Luca gazed at her. “Mother, I have found my other half.” He said, trying to start a conversation with her.

The woman whom he called ‘mother’ stopped ‘sipping’ on the tea. She seemed to be frozen after hearing his words. Then, she placed the cup on the saucer in a slow manner.

She raised her head, staring into his eyes. Her stare was like an endless pit, nothing could be dug out from them. Nothing could be deciphered from behind her stare.

“When will you bring her to see me?” She asked and then continue to sip on her tea again.

“Next week,” Luca said with a smile. “I’ll bring her home to see you.” He added. He stared at her with anticipation.

“Hmm, I’m looking forward to that.” She said and continued to enjoy her tea in her silence.

Luca’s heart budded with happiness. “Thank you, mother.”

The woman is called Arena Tybelg and she is Luca’s biological mother. She is a woman who always had a calm expression on her face and didn’t talk much. Luca loves his mother so much and he had always does anything to make her happy because, since his childhood, he didn’t have a motherly love let alone love from a father.

His father died in an accident when he was just five years old. Since then, the cheerful mother had become passive and had always had a cold expression.

Since his childhood, he didn’t understand the reason his mother always ignored him. Every time she sees his face, her attitude would turn ice cold. That was why he had always been with either a nanny or a butler.

Luca smiled in his seat. Although his mother didn’t say a word he knew, she is looking forward to meeting the woman he loves.

“How’s your work?” Arena asked, breaking the silence with a question.

“I’ve just opening a new branch in Country M and Country P and business is progressing well from year to year,” Luca explained, getting happy.

It is very rare for his mother to ask him a question about his work and today seemed to be a new kind of blessing for him.

“That’s good but don’t overdo everything.” She said and placed her cup and saucer on the table.

Then she added, “I’m going to rest. Sleep early.” She rose from her seat. Her expression was as cold as usual.

Luca nodded his head and his smile faded a bit when his mother disappeared upstairs to her own room.

Over the years, their conversation never lasted for 10 minutes. His mother had always ended their conversation fast and will always retreat to her room whenever he comes to visit her at home.

That was also the reason why he always hung out with his girlfriends in order to forget about his mother’s cold treatment.

He sometimes would spend his time at work, drowning his sadness deep within him. He had never shared his trouble with anyone except Felix, his personal assistant.

Rapha the head butler, who stood beside him, asked a question in a soft tone, “Sir, should I prepare any meal for your mother? She hasn’t eaten yet.”

Luca looked upstairs. Then, he nodded his head. “Let the head maid attend to her needs. Maybe, she will feel much better if I’m not around.” He answered and smiled bitterly at the butler.

Rapha exhaled a deep breath. “I am not so sure about that but, she had always spent her time in the reading room, looking at the family’s photos. Maybe, she misses you but just felt awkward around you.” He explained.

He had always caught Mrs Tybelg gazing at the family photos after the passing of her dear husband, Rezo Tybelg.

“Thank you for letting me know.” Luca smiled. His chest tightened in melancholy. Maybe, his mother did miss him, even for a bit would do.

Luca stared at Rapha, “Had she received all of the presents that I sent to her?” He asked, softly.

Rapha smiled widely and nodded his head, “She did. But, as usual, she asked the head maid to store it away without opening them.” He explained, getting a gloomy look on his face.

Again, Luca’s heart sank upon hearing the news of the presents that he sent for her. But he managed to keep on smiling and said, “Thanks Rapha. Look after my mother well.”

He rose from the sofa and took his phone. Facing the butler, he said, “I’ll come home next week. I hope my mother feels much better when he sees the woman who is going to be her daughter-in-law.”

Rapha gasped in excitement, “You’re getting married?” He asked in anticipation.

Luca smiled and nodded his head. “Yes, we’re getting to know each other and she’s an amazing woman.” He said and the smiled. “Prepare one of the guest room for her.”

“Sure, sir,” Replied Rapha. “Also, be careful on the road,” Rapha added in a concerned tone.

Luca nodded his head. Shortly after that, he left the mansion, feeling gloomy.

Every time he had to go overseas, he would stop by his mother’s place to see her but as usual, she always retires herself early. She never even looked at his face but just looking away either focusing on what she held at the moment or totally fleeing from seeing him.

It was so hard to continue the conversation with her and he was saddened by her cold treatment towards him.

He had tried his best to bring back the smile on her face by sending her birthday presents every year although he never received his own present from her. He wanted to see her smiling again and to forget her grievance over her loss.

He started a travel agency because he wanted to ease her mother’s pain. If one day she wanted to travel all around the world, there would always be someone looking after his mother on his behalf. He had always done his best for the sake of his mother, the only blood relations he had in the world.

***

Meanwhile, villa by the hill…

Hue was grunting alone while pacing back and forth in the living room.

“Why is she not home yet? It’s already the time for her to be back.” He mumbled and glanced at the clock on the wall. Jennet should be home by now.

Then, he stared at the TV screen. “Show me her current location.” He commanded.

The blank screen lit up and showed a sleeping woman in a bathrobe on a bed, and also she is inside a foreign room. From the look of it, she is at a hotel.

Hue gritted his teeth feeling so unhappy, “She’s running away as usual!” He said. “This is why I have to tire her body from having the energy to sleep in another place that is not even our home.” He added.

He is never enough of having her and yet, she ran away from him and even sleep peacefully at another place when she had a home to return to.

“Why is it so hard for her to believe in me?” He asked, mulling alone with a sour-looking face.

Why can’t she stayed calm and accept the truth about their marriage?

Last night, she was so meek and submissive and he thought she had accepted him wholeheartedly but it was just one of her excuse to make him lower his guard around her.

Well, if she needed proof, she had to bear his children and that’s the proof. But, she can never understand his good intentions. She had always looked at him as if he is an alien who invaded the Earth.

He gave the TV a stern glare and said, “Get me connected to the other TV screen in her room. If you dare to stop me, I’ll rip you apart with my bare hands.” He threatened it.

Out of the blue, Little Veen appeared and pushed him away from the TV. Although he had a small physique, he is quite strong compared to normal children.

Hue fell down on his bums on the cold floor.

He shouted at him with an annoyed glare, “Why did you push me? I need to reach my wife over there!” He pointed straight at the TV screen which currently displayed the location of his wife.

Little Veen clicked his tongue. “Tch, so childish.” He said and then sat comfortably on a sofa.