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“Mom?”

“, my sweet baby, I can’t believe you’re awake! I’ve been calling every day.”

“Ask Dad to connect to video call. I want to see you.”

“I’m all disheveled. You’re going to be scared.”

Against all odds, I start to laugh. Macy has always been very vain. Even though cancer took away almost half of her weight, she makes a point of keeping her growing hair tidy. She also never forgets her lipstick.

After Christos left me, the nurse came to see me with a phone in a box. My previous line was transferred to the new device. The man simply thought of everything.

Being with him again is like riding a roller coaster—exciting and a little scary. His mood swings confuse me. When I saw him, he gave me a lecture and then seemed to want to stay by my side. A few minutes later, he said I could move if I wanted to.

The he knew would run off without a second thought, but that’s no longer how I face my problems.

We have to talk, but now is not the best time. However, I don’t intend to go anywhere. When Bia is released from the hospital because God willing, it will be soon, I’ll ask him to bring her here. As for me, I won’t budge until we clear up everything about the past.

I’m tired of being afraid to live.

I left Barcelona because I thought he was involved in the incident with Pauline. But if I’m being honest, I would probably have run away when I got that money in the envelope, anyway.

Not anymore. I almost died and lost my family and friend because of that sick man I married. The time has come to face adversity like an adult.

Dad shows up behind Mom on camera, waving.

“I love you both. I can’t express how much. Forgive me for what happened.”

They are so old. So fragile.

“We only found out that it might have been Mike who set our house on fire when the policeman came to interrogate us at the hospital. You’re not to blame for anything, sweetie. If Bia hadn’t been so smart, the worst could have happened.”

“I promise I’ll work hard to give you another home, Mom.”

The insurance is supposed to cover the damage caused by the fire, but as the house has already been mortgaged twice, it won’t make any difference to my parents. My goal is to pay off their debts and buy them a new home.

“It doesn’t matter, . Houses can be replaced, but lives cannot. I would like to hear news of Bia. I’m worried about leaving her alone in that hospital.”

“Me too, Mom, mostly because she has no family but us. I plan to call Miguel later to confirm that, because if it’s not so, we need to let whoever they are know.”

“How are the burns?”

“They were superficial. The one on the hand might leave a mark, but I can correct it with surgery. And you?”

“We and Ann had nothing but a little smoke inhalation. Our only concern now is your and Bia’s health.”

“What about your . . . um . . .other pains?” I hate the word cancer .

“I think I’ve been through so much emotionally these past few days that God spared me everything else. I hardly needed the medication. ”

“That’s great! What about Daddy?”

“I’m fine too, sweet pea,” he says, showing his face again. “Now, you take care, okay? And let us know about Bia as soon as you hear anything.”

I end the call and google the number of the hospital where Beth said my friend is.

They take a long time to answer, and when they do, it takes a good ten minutes before they tell me that her condition has not changed.

I need to call Miguel later. He’s probably elsewhere in the world, but he’ll want to hear about our friend.

I don’t see Christos anymore. Yesterday, I had dinner alone in my room because the nurse told me that Mr. Lykaios was locked up in his office and didn’t want to be disturbed.

I understood that as keep your distance, and like a good girl, I obeyed.

But today, I’ve decided that I won’t stay in the suite anymore. If my presence bothers him, why did he bring me here? Maybe he doesn’t want to talk, but I do.

I feel better this morning and no longer have a hard time with my burned hand. The problem is if I hit the back of it by accident. So yeah, then it burns like hell.

Along with the nurse, a doctor is staying on the first floor of the house. But he said yesterday that since I don’t need any more close monitoring, Beth is enough for me. Apparently, hospitals need all the professional help they can get as the virus keeps spreading.

This morning, I called my mother again and asked about Mike’s disappearance.

She didn’t know anything about it either. When she tried contacting his mother, her old friend, no one answered. Or rather, she answered but said she didn’t want to talk to anyone in our family.

The police must have looked for her, of course. It’s the only reason she could be angry, as I’ve only met her once. She didn’t even attend my wedding at the registry office.

It’s only today that the memory of what happened that night of the fire comes to light.

Mike probably went mad. Does he hate me so much he’s willing to destroy his own life just to get revenge because I left him?

I’ve never considered myself a violent person, but he shouldn’t feel safe if he shows up and I have a gun in my hand.

I walk to the bedroom door, glad my legs are steadier now. I intend to walk around the huge garden of the house. I’ve put on one of the dresses that are in the closet, and it surprised me that it was exactly my size.

God, he’s thought of everything.

Why take care of me if, now that we are together, he seems to want to stay as far away as possible?

I shake my head, confused. I have no idea what these mixed messages he sends me mean.

I’ve barely stepped out of the bedroom when my phone rings. I left it on the bedside table, so I return to get it.

“Hello?”

“ Turner?”

“Yes. Who’s speaking?”

“My name is Nick Irving. I’m a police detective and a friend of Bia Ramos.”