Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

AINSLEY HOSPITAL

IN WARD 206

Ria reminisced over the earlier incident with the man who had retrieved her purse at the pack. She had really tried to concentrate on counting her steps back to the ward with the bottle in her hand but then someone had bumped in her way and she lost concentration with the bottle falling off her grip. It didn’t take long for her to hear giggling in the hallway then she realized children were around. She had searched for the bottle of water but couldn’t find it and at that point she almost regretted not letting Emily take her back to the ward. All her mind was on Phoebe who needed water and she was still searching when she heard masculine voice but as usual she could see nothing. Ria was blind so she couldn’t see whoever it was!

Ria remembered how she had tensed up immediately, how her heart beats rapidly and the palms of her hands becoming sweaty when her whole system processed there was a man right in front of her.

“Are you okay?” The raspy voice had said and her body trembled when he took her hands to drop the bottle.

At that moment, Ria thought of hitting him with the stick for holding her but he was wise enough to step away from her. She doesn’t know what he saw but she concluded that it must have been the way she held the stick in a defensive stance ready to fight him if he did anything stupid.

“All they know is harassing women and never minding our feelings.” Ria mumbled to herself.

Ria doesn’t think he was different. To her all men are the same. They are monstrous in nature! Men are cruel! They don’t deserve to live! But Ria once knew a good man, the only one good man in the world who was different from every other men – Her father. He is the only she regards as a good man.

“Why is he here at the hospital?” Ria wondered if Ian was stalking her when Phoenix said he was the same guy that retrieved her purse at the park. In the end she had to leave when she felt uncomfortable around the so called Ian.

“Phoebe!” Phoenix screamed when they entered the ward. He went to his sister and left Ria to find her way to the bed.

“Why are you here? You should be at school.” Phoebe questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“His teacher called Ma’am Elise and said that he won’t stop crying because of you.” Ria responded to her question.

“You are such a crybaby.” Phoebe muttered.

“Come on Phoebe, don’t be mad at him. Phoenix is only worried about you.” Ria stood on that spot the little boy had left her.

“I know but he should have stayed at school and wait till I return home.” Phoebe countered.

“Are you mad at me? I couldn’t concentrate on what my teacher was teaching me because I was worried about you.” Phoenix said in a sober tone and a pout on his lips.

“We can’t afford to miss a day at school. It costs a lot of money to attend a private school.” Phoebe said to her brother.

“Let it go, Phoebe. I got water for you. I am sorry it took me forever to bring it to you.” Ria raised it up in the air.

“It’s okay mom.” Phoebe gestured to her brother to help Ria out. He went back to her and led her to the bed.

“Phoenix.” Ria called him.

“Yes mom.” He replied in a low tone.

“He is probably getting ready to cry.” Phoebe took the water from Ria.

“Stop that Phoebe. Don’t try to tease your brother. I am sure he won’t do it again.” Ria silenced her.

“Come to me Phoenix. Don’t pay attention to her.” Ria spread out her arms. Phoenix helped his sister open the bottle of water before he embraced Ria.

“Look mom, she is sticking out her tongue at me.” Phoenix reported.

“Phoebe-”

“Okay fine.. I am sorry. I won’t tease him anymore.” Phoebe apologized followed by a giggling sound from her.

The door opened. “Hello Phoebe.” Ma’am Elise walked in.

“Hi, ma’am Elise.” Phoebe answered before gulping down the liquid down her throat.

“How are you feeling now?” Ma’am Elise asked.

“I am good.” Phoebe answered.

“Look, I stopped by at the restaurant and bought you hamburger.” Ma’am Elise raised the paper bag up.

A smile broke out on her face. “Wow! Thank you, ma’am Elise.”

“Can she eat it now?” Ria asked.

“Yes.. yes I meet Doctor Gillian at the reception and she said Phoebe can eat now.” Ma’am Elise responded. She gave one hamburger to Phoebe and another to Phoenix.

“Here you go little man.” She smiled.

“Thank you, ma’am Elise.” Ria let go of him to get the hamburger.

“You are welcome. Do you care for doughnut, miss Ria?” Ma’am Elise offered.

“No, I am okay. So did you get the materials?” Ria demanded.

Ma’am Elise heaved a sigh. “I barely even made it to the store when I got a call from his teacher. I was worried that he would cry himself out so I had to go to school to get him. But you don’t have to worry too much about it, I already called Mrs Rose.”

“What did she say?”

“She already packed the ones we need after I sent the new list to her. I’ll get everything tomorrow.” Ma’am Elise responded.

“Okay.” Ria mumbled.

“The nurse assigned to care for Phoebe has been given the instruction to discharge her by night.” Ma’am Elise informed her.

“Oh! Nurse Hazel. She was here to check on Phoebe. That’s good.” Ria sighed.

Some minutes passed by in silence before ma’am Elise spoke up. “And… about that guy earlier…” She paused to study Ria’s expression.

Her forehead creased. “What’s about him?” Ria asked.

“Well I mean Mr Ian.. he seems like a good guy.” Ma’am Elise stuttered.

“I don’t need to know.” Ria spat. To her, there are no good guys in the world.

“Yeah I understand you, miss Ria. I know there is no good man in your world but I am just saying Mr Ian is a good guy in my world. And you also need to see how he was staring at you.. like he was in love.” Mrs Elise laughed.

“Love?” Ria snorted.

“Yes.. his eyes were on you when you walked away with Phoebe. I had to clear my throat to get his full attention.” Ma’am Elise added.

“Ma’am Elise, let us not talk about that right here. The kids are listening.” Ria said.

Ma’am Elise looked at the children who were busy enjoying the burger. “Oh! Okay. But I gave him your business card.”

“You did what?!” Ria arched her eyebrows.

“I gave him a card.” Ma’am Elise said with a shrug.

“Why?” Ria demanded.

“What else? To make a dress.” Ma’am Elise replied.

“I don’t major in male wears.” Ria gritted.

“Yes I know that but Mr Ian must have a sister, a mom or wife. No, Mr Ian is not married since he doesn’t have a wedding ring on.” Ma’am Elise pointed out.

“Whatever. But you shouldn’t have given him my business card. I don’t give it to any man because I don’t need one close to me.” Ria said in a harsh tone.

“Miss Ria, don’t bring that into your business. I understand where you are driving at but at the same time I suggest you don’t think like that. Who knows Mr Ian might be of help to us. He looks though so he might introduce us to rich people too.” Ma’am Elise countered.

Ria stood up from the bed. “Help? What help?! I don’t care if he has all the money in the world. I don’t need his help! I don’t want any help from his kind! So you don’t try to convince me to think he is a good man or that he might be of help to me in anyway.” She yelled.

The children were surprised by the sudden outburst and Ma’am Elise knew Ria was going to get worked up about it. She shouldn’t have told her about Ian but she was only trying to tell her what I saw about him.

No doubt, ma’am Elise knew Mr Ian is interested in Ria. There was love in his eyes as he looked at Ria but she doesn’t know if the man knows that too. From the way he looked at her when she was going back into the ward, it was so clear he felt something for her and it was like Ria was going to make him an happy man. Ma’am Elise knew that for sure from her experiences with men.

Ria is having issues trusting me. And from what Ria told ma’am Elise about her past, it is enough for her to distrust men but not to the extent of hating all of them. On several occasions, Ma’am Elise has tried to tell her that all men are not the same but Ria gets mad each time she defends men. Love doesn’t exist for Ria. It is the least of her concern and she has made up her mind never to be with any man because of what she went through in the hands of Lucas.

Ma’am Elise met Ria two years ago. That day she wanted to take a bus down to the store to buy some materials. Ma’am Elise figured Ria was blind when she saw the walk stick and without wasting time she helped her into the bus. Ma’am Elise had wondered how a blind lady could find her way to the bus station.

Ma’am Elise was interested in the blind lady who seemed to know her way. They did little introduction and Ria shared her business card and she was more shocked to find out her profession. Ma’am Elise had to believe Ria after hearing the words of her mouth.

Ria is a special human and not an ordinary blind lady. A woman full of dreams and determination to fulfill them. The conversation they had made ma’am Elise realize how optimistic and ambitious a blind lady could be.

And on that faithful day, ma’am Elise had decided to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge after her husband left her to be with her best friend.

FLASHBACK

Elise woke up one morning to the sound of the doorbell hoping to find her husband who hasn’t been home for days but she found a divorce paper from the court with a note attached to it. The note attached to the papers was written by her husband.

Her very own husband said he fell in love with her best friend who was now carrying his child. He said he wasn’t ready to spend his whole life with a barren woman. Elise has been married to her husband for more than ten years but she couldn’t bear him a child. He left Elise to be with her friend who would give him a child.

Elise cried for days and when she couldn’t take the pain anymore she decided to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. But she changed her mind after meeting a blind woman full of dreams.

Elise got into thinking as she looked at Ria. “Someone who is blind didn’t give up on herself then what’s wrong with me?”

Ria sensed Elise wasn’t happy as they communicated and then she pestered her to say everything. Elise told Ria her story in tears and she comforted her with soothing words. Ria cheered Elise to never to give up on herself just because her husband was gone.

Her soothing words hit Elise so instead of saying goodbye to the blind lady when she got to her destination, Ria pleaded with Elise to follow her to the store and she agreed because she wanted to get to know more about the blind lady and her business.

Elise and Ria became good friends that day. Some weeks later, Elise noticed that Ria was afraid to be around men. Elise cried her eyes out when Ria shared her story. Indeed, Ria is strong to have survived that incident. She is a broken woman who needed someone to care for her. Those horrible experiences with Lucas made her distrust men completely and the hatred towards men is beyond human imagination.

FLASH FORWARDConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Ria never want to have anything to do with any man that’s why she was quick took in Phoebe and Phoenix in. She is determined to take care of them like they are her own children. It wasn’t easy getting permission from the court because they are supposed to stay at the children center.

Ma’am Elise sighed as she went closer to Ria. “I am sorry, miss Ria. I didn’t mean to get you upset.” She wiped a tear that already strayed down Ria’s cheek.

Phoebe and Phoenix exchanged confused glances. They don’t understand why Ria is so mad at the mention of the man who is a hero to them.

“I am so sorry. Miss Ria, I didn’t mean to make you cry.. please don’t t cry. I am just trying to help our business.” Ma’am Elise apologized.

“It is okay. And I am also sorry for yelling at you. I was just-” Ria stopped and sniffed.

“I know… I know Miss Ria that you have been able to survive without any man help. And I am sorry for mentioning that guy’s name.”

Ria shook her head slowly before ma’am Elise embraced her. The kids just kept looking at the women as they wondered why Ria acted that way but they would never understand.