Chapter 3: Final Shot

The night was long and unbearable for June. It was the first time in five years she wasn’t sleeping beside Rauf. And though Ellie tried everything to make her comfortable, all she did was turn and toss on the bed.

With just one thought on her mind, there was no way he could have forgotten her so easily.

By morning, she was the first to wake up. She took her bath and borrowed one of Ellie’s dresses. Thankfully, Ellie wasn’t that much different from her, so her clothes fitted.

She had no idea if Rauf had been discharged or if he was still at the hospital. But, based on yesterday’s events, it would be impossible for her to gain entrance into the Salvador Mansion.

She decided to go to the hospital early, hopefully before her sister arrived.

The ride to the hospital was filled with one thought: how to convince Rauf she was his legally married wife.

On arriving at the hospital, she met the same guards at the door. After pleading with them, they allowed her entrance into his room.

Rauf was awake and, thankfully, alone.

Being alone with him in the same room made her heart skip.

"You’re back." His voice sounded irritated. "What do you want from me? Money?"

June felt like a thousand feet were stepping on her heart.

How could he reduce all of their five years to money?

"Papi..." she said slowly.

Immediately, Rauf turned towards her, his eyes widening. "How did..." He shook his head. "Have you been spying on me and your sister?"

For all he knew, it was only his wife who called him Papi. And it wasn’t even at the beginning of their marriage. It was when they had finally started getting comfortable with each other.

June felt tears welling in her eyes. "It’s me, Papi. I’m your legally married wife, not Amie."

For a brief second, his look changed.

Hope fluttered in June’s heart. Maybe he finally believed her. He was finally going to give her a chance to prove herself.

But before she could utter more words, his gaze hardened again. "Who put you up to this?" His tone was hard. It was strange to her ears.

She had forgotten the time he was this hard on her. That was when they first got married.

But him speaking with her that way brought back the memories she didn’t want to remember.

"Was this your father’s work?" He continued when June didn’t say a word. "He must have hated the fact that I married his golden daughter and that she cared for me more than he cared to admit. So, he’s trying to sabotage my relationship with Amie."

June swallowed.

No.

She knew that Rauf had always had his eyes on Amie from the first day he stepped into their house to threaten her father, but she had no idea his infatuation with her was this much.

"Papi, please..."

But he raised his hand to silence her. "Don’t..." He said through clenched teeth. "Don’t you ever mention that name again."

Lost and confused, June stared around.

She had thought it would be easier to convince Rauf alone, but it was proving more difficult than when her family was present.

Her hand moved to the lower part of her stomach.

Even if he didn’t want her anymore, it didn’t change the fact that he was the father of her unborn child.

He deserved to know.

She lifted her gaze to watch him glaring at her.

Never could June have thought that once his eyes opened, it was going to send glares her way. She had imagined this scenario countless times, and never had she thought of this.

Summoning her courage, she thrust the report towards him. "Even if you wouldn’t listen to me, at least can you read this?"

Rauf’s eyes narrowed at the paper she thrust towards him.

What game was she playing now?

It wasn’t enough that she pretended to be his wife, but now she was trying to show him some false report that would deceive him.

He collected the report from her and saw her eyes widen.

She watched him carefully, and a smirk appeared on his lips as he tore the report right in front of her.

He tore it into tiny pieces that even placing it back together would prove difficult.

But as soon as he threw the paper on the floor, June fell to the floor and started picking up each piece.

She didn’t care about how small or insignificant it was. She picked them up one by one while swallowing the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.

That was the last straw.

It was proof that he wanted nothing to do with her.

Or their baby.

Their poor baby.

She was still picking up the pieces when the door opened.

Amie walked in looking as flawless as ever. She looked like she had spent hours in front of the mirror perfecting her makeup.

When her eyes fell on June, she froze.

"Baby, what’s she doing here?" She asked Rauf. "Did she come to stalk you again?" Her voice was cold, high-pitched, like she wanted people passing by the hall to hear every word.

"Don’t worry about her, dear. Once she is done packing her trash, she will be escorted out of the room."

Amie chuckled, moving closer to the bed.

June was picking up one of the pieces of paper close to the bed when Amie stepped on her.

She swallowed the scream that threatened to leave her mouth.

"I brought you breakfast, darling," Amie announced, her leg digging deeper into her hand.

When June finally picked up the last shred of her report, she stood up, ready to leave the room.

She looked at Rauf one last time as if telling him to come to his senses, but he couldn’t be bothered about her as his attention was fully on Amie and the breakfast she had brought.

To them, it was as if she wasn’t even in the room.

Just as she took a step out of the room, making up her mind to forget about Rauf. He didn’t want her.

Or her baby.

She was going to have to be enough for both of them.

She heard Rauf’s voice.

"Mami, why does this pasta taste different?"