After the meeting, he started feeling stomach pain. His assistant called an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
Laura saw Gilbert there. "What happened to you?"
Gilbert replied, "Nothing, it's just a stomach ache."
The nurse took him inside for a check-up. Meanwhile, Laura called Rita and Ray.
"Hi Rita, it's Laura. Do you remember me?"
Rita replied, "Yes, I remember."
Laura said, "Your husband is in the hospital. Come quickly."
Rita said, "Okay."
Rita thought something serious might have happened. He had been sick in the morning.
After the check-up, Laura and Ray went inside to see Gilbert. Seeing Ray made him happy, but he couldn't show it.
Gilbert asked, "Why are you here?"
Ray replied, "She called me and said you were in the hospital. I was nearby, so I came."
Gilbert said, "Thanks."
Laura said, "Please stop fighting. This is irritating. Come on, at least hug."
Gilbert, looking in the other direction, said, "I'm on the bed. How can I go there to hug?"
Laura looked at Ray.
Ray went near Gilbert and hugged him.
Laura said, "Finally."
Ray said, "Get well soon."
Gilbert replied, "Thanks for coming."
While the three were talking, Rita arrived. "Oh, sorry, I came inside like this."
Laura said, "Hey, it's okay. We are leaving. You can come like this—he is your husband."
Rita said, "Why are you going? I just came. I'll be happy if you stay for a while."
Then the nurse came and asked who the relative was. Both Laura and Ray left the room, leaving them alone.
Rita said, "I am his cousin."
Gilbert looked at her in shock. "What are you saying?"
The nurse didn't care. "Is there any immediate family member?"
Gilbert said, "She is my wife."
The nurse sighed, thinking, these days couples fight over small things. She asked Rita to complete the formalities.
Gilbert stopped her. "It's okay, my assistant will do it. You don't need to go."
Rita said, "You think I can't even handle hospital work?"
Gilbert, controlling his anger, said, "I don't mean anything like that. Please, I want to rest. Don't stress me."
Then he realized he had hurt her again. He looked at her. "I'm sorry for the morning. I wasn't looking down on you just now. I want you to stay here."
Rita said, "You know, when you act like this, I hate you even more."
Gilbert asked, "How?"
Rita replied, "Forget it. You're ill now, I don't want to disturb you."
The assistant came into the room for Rita's signature.
"The doctor said sir has a stomach infection, but he is fine now. He gave some medicine. No need to worry."
Rita said, "It's okay, I'm not worried."
The assistant said, "I've arranged the medicines."
After the assistant left, Gilbert said, "Don't say such things in front of others."
Rita replied, "Now you sound like my father."
Gilbert said, "You can go and rest. I'll come later."
Rita said, "It's fine."
Gilbert fell asleep.
When he woke up, it was already dinner time. He saw Rita sleeping on the couch, her purse and phone on the ground.
He thought, How can she sleep so carelessly? What if I needed something?
He got up from the bed to wake her. He placed her purse and phone on the table. "Rita, sleep on the bed."
She looked frightened. Checking her phone, she realized it was dinner time. "Do you want something to eat? I'll bring it."
Gilbert said, "I'm a patient here. They will bring my food. You can order from the hospital phone."
Rita said, "But I didn't bring my clothes."
Gilbert tapped her head. "Wake up. Are you a kid? Call someone to bring your clothes."
She felt embarrassed. "I don't want to eat." She went to the bed and lay down.
Gilbert wondered, Is she really here for me? He checked his phone and messaged Laura: "Where are you?"
Laura replied, "You both were sleeping, and we didn't want to disturb you, so we left."
Gilbert said, "Okay, good night."
Laura replied, "Good night."
Feeling bored, Gilbert asked his assistant to bring his laptop and got busy with work. Then his mother called, so he stepped outside.
"Mom, I'm fine now," he said.
She replied, "Why don't you tell me anything?"
Gilbert said, "But you still found out."
She said, "Thankfully Laura's father was there. What if something had happened to you?"
Gilbert said, "Okay, Mom, I'm tired. I need to rest."
He hung up, thinking, Why does she talk like that when she doesn't even care?
He went back inside and saw the blanket on the ground. "Oh God, how does this woman sleep?"
He covered her with the blanket.
She woke up and saw him. "What are you doing?"
He got startled. "Nothing."
Rita asked, "Are you still working?"
Gilbert said, "Yes, I have a few things to finish before the next meeting."
Rita said, "You should rest, or you'll get sick again."
Gilbert asked, "Are you worried about me?"
Rita replied, "I have empathy, which you lack," and smiled.
Gilbert said, "Last time you called me a selfish jerk."
Rita turned away.
Gilbert continued, "Then why not tell me about yourself?"
"I don't want to," she replied.
"Then how will I know my 'victim'? You said ask your victims—I'm asking you," he said seriously.
Rita said, "I still don't see seriousness in your words."
Gilbert held her hand. "I genuinely want to know," he said, looking into her eyes.
Rita pulled her hand away. "That won't work on me."
She got up to use the bathroom but couldn't find her slippers. Gilbert saw them under the couch, bent down, took them out, and placed them near her feet.
She was startled. "Stay away from me."
Gilbert said, "I'm just trying to help."
Rita said, "No need," and ran to the bathroom.
She knew this might be fake, but somewhere she felt herself softening. So she decided to avoid him until he stopped acting like this.
After Gilbert was discharged, he got busy with work. To avoid him, Rita went back to her home.
Gilbert began losing hope, wondering why his efforts as an "ideal husband" weren't working.
Rita, at home, kept thinking about him. To push him out of her mind, she reminded herself that he had hurt her. But after a few days, her family started asking about him, and she made excuses.
Her aunt Iris looked suspicious. "Do you think she's hiding something?"
Rita's mother replied, "I think so too."
Her aunt asked, "What should we do?"
Rita's mother said, "I'll call Gilbert for dinner today."
Later, she called him.
"Hello, aunty," Gilbert said.
"Hi, dear. Since your marriage, you haven't visited us. If you're free, come for dinner tonight."
Gilbert agreed.
That evening, everyone prepared for his arrival.
Gilbert tried calling Rita, but her phone was busy. He messaged her that he would arrive at 8, but she didn't respond.
He muttered, "Who is she talking to for so long?"
When he reached Helianthus Villa, he was warmly welcomed. He felt overwhelmed, thinking, Even my parents don't treat me like this.
At the dining table, he looked around. "Aunty, where is Rita?"
"She's in her room. I'll call her," her aunt said.
Upstairs, her aunt told Rita, "Wear this."
Rita asked, "Why?"
"We have a special guest."
Rita came downstairs and froze seeing Gilbert.
How could my family do this? she thought.
She silently sat beside him.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" she asked.
Gilbert said, "Check your phone."
She checked and realized his number was blocked. "Sorry, it was by accident."
He didn't believe her but stayed quiet.
During dinner, everyone served Gilbert, while Rita had to serve herself. She couldn't reach the bread. Gilbert got up. "I'll help you."
Her aunt scolded her, "Eat properly!"
Gilbert said calmly, "It's okay, aunty. She can eat however she wants. I like serving my wife."
Rita looked at him, surprised.
Inside, she thought, He's acting again.
Yet, she couldn't deny—if she didn't know his past, she might have believed him.