Claudine's POV
If I have to be like this just to have my husband's time and attention, I'm willing to be a monster in his eyes. Elijah was blindly in love with Samantha, and it hurts me like crazy.
I know how stupid I am for falling in love with a man that gives me the worst pain that I can never imagine, but… I did. I'M MADLY IN LOVE WITH THIS BASTARD!
He glares at me. "I said sit down. Do I have to kick your ass to make you listen to me, huh?! I hate repeating myself, Elijah," I growled.
This isn't me. I'm not like this, but for the last two years, I knew how he lived happily with his mistress while I suffered alone in England.
I can't even contact my family every time I wish to do so. He even threatened them that all the things his parents gave to mine will be doubled once he asks them to pay him.
That would mean 3.8 billion. They have to give him three of their five companies. I told them I can take it. Now it's time to make things right.
"The way you react, my hunch was right. Your woman is the one who takes care of this matter, isn't she?!"
"Don't bring Samantha into this shit!" he roars. I scoff.
I grab my glasses and meet his eyes. "SHIT?! We are in this shit because of that woman!" I roared back. "The two of you, will you discuss things without yelling at each other?"
"Damn it! Stay out of this!" Elijah roars at his maternal cousin. "Don't yell at Jin-ah like that!" I growled. After my mom-in-law died, she's the only ally I have on his side.
"Yaaaaaaaa!" she screamed loud and long. Her accent was Korean when she yelled at us.
"Geuman-an-hae, ohh?"
I sighed. "I was trying to. It was him who—forget it," I utter.
I understand what she says. It's just a single word that you can hear from most Korean dramas, and you'll understand right away. It means 'cut it out or enough.'
"You know that I am investigating any anomalies when it comes to the financial aspect within Riego and Sartoni Group of companies. Whether you like it or not, I'll be able to learn whatever secrets you are hiding," I assert firmly.
"I won't go easy on you or on anyone else who is doing something shady if it's okay with you to tolerate such acts. Not me, Elijah. I hope you are not involved in this one also. If you do, I won't go easy on you," I remarked.
I grab my glasses and put them on again. I cross my legs and massage my neck. I've been reading for hours straight.
"You can leave now, Jin-ah, and even you, Riego Elijah," I stated.
My husband stood up right away and left. I knew he hated me, but a part of me felt sad and hopeful at the same time.
"He really hates me, Jin-ah," I whispered.
"He was in love with that woman and her lies. Just bear with it, and if you will, try my suggestion, then maybe…" Jina-ah halts.
She knew herself that her suggestion was tricky and hard. "Let's talk about it some other time. You can go," I utter.
I took a long and deep breath. I leaned back and closed my eyes. I'm getting dizzy again. "Are you okay? You look pale," Jin-ah asks. I raised my hand and signed for her to leave. "I'm okay."
I start to feel nauseous. I've had this feeling for the past three months. I got a little dizzy, and my head was aching in a strange manner. I feel like my head was splitting into two.
"Your nose is bleeding! Are you sure you're okay?!" Jin-ah screams.
I opened my eyes and placed my finger under my nose. There's indeed blood on it. I took a deep breath and groaned. Damn! My head is aching! What is wrong with me?!
I grab the throw pillow and nestle my face on it. I scream in pain and try to bear with it, but it's not helping at all!
I grasp its side tightly and endure the pain that feels like it's slicing my head. "Aaaggghhhh!" I screamed. The next thing I knew was when my vision was getting darker and darker…
The next moment I open my eyes. A white ceiling is what I see. I slowly get up and look around. My hunch was right; Jin-ah brings me into the hospital.
I saw her sitting on the chair next to me. "I'm glad you're awake now! You scared the hell out of me!" she exclaimed. I sadly smile.
"What's the finding? I'm sure they ran a test right away. She looks at me intently, then a sad smile runs on her lips. I knew it.
"It's bad news, right?" I mumbled.
She held my hand. "My cousin's parent learned the truth before they both died. But you told them not to tell the truth to Elijah. That truth was hunting you down, Claudine," she remarked. I frowned.
"What did you mean by that? I don't understand, Jin-ah."
"You saved my cousin from that accident three years ago, right? The one that Samantha claimed. Your car and Elijah's car were caught up in a demolition derby," she says, pausing.
She shed her tears, actually. "You saw another car was about to hit his car, and even if you're already in bad shape, you get off your car and save him. You covered your body on his as soon as you both fell on the road and…"
I raised my hand and stopped her from stating the truth, but she didn't stop. "That debris hit your head, and now it will cost you your life. You must tell him the truth!" Jin-ah yells.
She's trying to convince me. I shake my head. "NO. I don't want Elijah to like me just because of an act of kindness that I gave from a distant past. If he dislikes me, let him be. If he hates me, I'll accept that. Promise to me, Jin-ah, you won't tell him!" I roared.
Asking her, begging her. She bites her lower lip. She looks conflicted because of my request.
"How can you ask that, huh?! Did you know that because of saving him, your life is now in danger?! Did you know that you have a blood clot in your head?!" she roars.
My eyes dilated. "How come? That can't be! They run a complete test on me and make sure I don't have a—no! That's not true!" I exclaimed. She looks at me with such worried eyes.
"That clot was too small or unnoticeable that time. As time goes by, it grows, and now… You have to undergo treatment now, or else you'll die! You need an operation. We have to do something!" Jin-ah says.
I knew she was hiding more. I held her hand tighter. "Tell me the truth! Be honest with me! What else did the doctor say, huh?" I ask, begging her.
She looks down. Her hands turned cold. I knew it. Jin-ah was hiding something. "Just tell me already!" I screamed.