"What—?! Who are you?!" Liliane yelled as she jolted upright, her breath ragged, heart pounding like war drums in her ears.
The face hovering above her reeled back as she instinctively shoved it away. Pain shot through her skull, and she gasped, her head wrapped in bandages, the dull ache flared as she tried to sit up.
She blinked against the sterile white lights, that's when she realized she was in a hospital and she had just pushed away a nurse.
"I… I'm so sorry," she murmured, cringing at her own reflex.
The nurse steadied herself, brushing her coat.
"Thank God you're finally awake. You've been unconscious for two days," she said, eyes soft with concern. "You lost a lot of blood. We were starting to panic. We tried contacting the family numbers we found on your phone… but they hung up on us. Twice."
Liliane's heart dropped. "Wh.. what?! Unconscious?" She muttered.
That's when the memories came rushing in—The broken ceramic, the arguments and the disgusting remarks.
"Witch." "Zombie." "Disgusting."
Her fingers crept to her head and found the plaster. Another wrapped her foot.
"So I… I collapsed out there on the street," she whispered.
The nurse nodded. "I found you lying face down on the street, barely breathing. You were bleeding badly so I called an emergency immediately."
Liliane's eyes welled up with emotion. "You… saved me?"
"I just did what any decent human would," the nurse smiled. "I'm Alexa by the way."
"I'm Liliane," she replied, voice trembling. "Thank you, Alexa… Thank you for being human when no one else was. I accidentally hit my head against a ceramic and got myself in a mess."
Alexa touched her shoulder gently. "You're welcome. You'll be discharged soon. Just… take it easy, okay?"
A Short While Later…
"You're all set. And—" Alexa glanced out the window. "Looks like it's going to rain again. Here, you can have this umbrella." She handed it over with a kind smile. "Please be careful next time.
Liliane's smile was faint but sincere. "Thanks… for everything."
She stepped outside into the cool night, the air damp with the scent of fresh rain. Clouds grumbled in the distance as droplets kissed her skin. She opened the umbrella slowly, eyes distant.
And then she suddenly stopped, her gaze hardened. "So.. those malicious family members of mine didn't even try to check on me even after the nurse informed them of my condition." she muttered. Her voice was quiet, but venom laced every word.
"Never cared if I died. Never cared if I suffer. All they could ever think of, is their wealth and profit."
Her grip tightened on the umbrella handle. "Always thinking about how they can make money out of you. God punish them." She muttered as she continued walking home furiously.
Then an unexpected commotion caught her attention—
A car screeched and parked hastily on the side of the street. A sharply dressed man stormed out, cursing loudly.
Whack! He kicked a dirty beggar curled on the sidewalk.
"Goddamn lunatic!" the man barked.
Then, another kick. "Move out of the bloody way next time!"
Liliane's brow furrowed. The beggar was muddy, drenched, hair matted to his face. Barefoot and shivering.
The man raised his foot again but then Liliane stepped in, quickly grabbing the man's wrist with her uninjured hand.
"Sir, that's enough!" she said, voice low but steady. "He's already hurt. What could he have done to deserve this?"
The man turned sharply, eyes bulging. "Madam, this madman nearly cost me my life! Staggered right in front of my car like some damn ghost! I swerved so hard I almost slammed into a pole! To make the matter worse, when I stepped out to confront him, guess what he said? 'You're beautiful… like my wife.'"
He scoffed, face twisted with disbelief. "What kind of sick joke is that? Huh?"
Liliane took a calming breath. "Okay. I'm sorry you were startled. But clearly, he's not well. You've beaten him enough." She said, but the man wasn't finished. His eyes swept Liliane from head to toe.
She was still wearing the dried-blood dress from the night she collapsed, mud-streaked, rain-drenched, eyes hollow from exhaustion.
Then he bursted into a loud laughter. "Haha, this is insane mahn! I was dealing with a madman, now a zombie comes to his rescue. What kind of cursed street is this?"
Liliane's hands clenched at her side. She said nothing, just stared, her rage simmering.
The man scoffed and turned toward his car.
"What a fucking night," he muttered before slamming the door and speeding away.
Liliane dropped to her knees, gently lifting the beggar's bowl and brushing his matted hair from his face. "Sir, sorry for his ridiculous actions, here is your—" And then… words refused to flow out of her mouth. Her eyes froze and her breath caught in her throat.
The beggar was Elior!
"ELIOR?" She muttered as she tore the umbrella from her shoulder and flung it aside, palms trembling as she cupped his dirt-caked face.
Elior stirred slightly, lifting his head. "Elior?!" He too replied, as if playfully copying her words.
"ELIOR!" she cried again, hope clawing out of her throat.
And then, he smiled softly as he raised a trembling hand to her cheek.
"You're pretty… just like my wife," he mumbled, reaching for her face. "Do you have any money…?"
Liliane's heart shattered. She let out a sob that sounded more like a gasp, her chest heaving.
"Oh my God… Elior… What on earth happened to you? What did they do to you?"
She threw her arms around him, holding him like she was afraid he'd vanish again. Her tears mixed with the rain as she patted his soaked back again and again, willing him to come back to her.
"Thank you so much for staying alive. I'm more than grateful." She said, then pulled back just enough to meet his eyes.
"I missed you so much, Elior… I never stopped waiting."
He blinked slowly—eyes empty, yet pitiful.
She wiped her tears and tried to steady herself. "Come on, love. Let's go home now, we've both survived the worst." She said as she helped him to his feet, her arm steady around his waist. He leaned into her like a fragile child.
"How long have you been like this?" she whispered as they walked.
"How much have you suffered in these five years…?" Another tear rolled down her cheek as she muttered.
A Short While Later – THE WHITMORE MANSION
They stepped into the grand compound. Rain trailed their footsteps across the marble entryway. Liliane knocked hard on the door, again and again.
"Who's there?" A voice finally called out from inside.
The door creaked open to reveal Lady Virelle. Her silk robe shimmered in the hall light.
She blinked. "Oh… Liliane? You're still alive? I thought the nurse said something about you nearly dying," she said, smirking. A jest sharp enough to hurt even when you expect it.
Then her gaze shifted beside Liliane. Her face twisted.
"Who's that—?! How dare you bring a filthy beggar here..." She said, then leaned forward. Her eyes narrowed. "Wait a second… Is that—?"
Liliane nodded solemnly. "Yes. It's Elior. I found him on the street like this."
Lady Virelle's mouth parted slightly in disbelief. She stepped closer.
"Elior?" she said cautiously, waving a hand in front of his face.
Elior copied her movement like a child mimicking a game. "Elior?" he echoed with a crooked grin.
"Jesus! Wh-what's the meaning of this for God's sake…?"
Liliane stepped forward protectively. "He's presently not in his right mind. But he's alive and that's all that matters."
"Alive? He's brain-dead!" Lady Virelle snapped. "You brought a lunatic into this house? Have you completely lost your mind?!"
Liliane's voice dropped cold, "watch your mouth, madam! My husband is not insane."
Lady Virelle gave a sarcastic smile, "oh? Then what would you call...this?"
Liliane didn't blink. "He.. he had simply faced a lot, I guessed." She mumbled.
"This is outrageous!" Lady Virelle yelled. "There's no way I'll allow this man to step one foot further into this house—"
"And there's no way you can fucking stop me!" Liliane snapped back. Her voice now razor-sharp, "last time I checked, I am the legal owner of this mansion according to my father's will, since I'm his only child. You should be grateful I'm still letting you stay here! Okay?"
Lady Virelle stiffened, her lips twitching. She had always believed Liliane never knew the truth since she never brought it up like this.
"I'm calling your grandfather right away, this is madness!" She hissed, storming up the stairs.
Liliane turned back to Elior, her voice soft again. "Let's go, sweetheart. You're home now."
Li…liane," Elior suddenly muttered.
Liliane froze. Her lips parted in disbelief. "You… what did you just say?" She muttered. A mix of confusion and a slight hope.