Marrying my high school bully

Dexter

To say that I was angry was an understatement, I was really disappointed in Tori.

What hadn’t I given her?

She lived a life that was enviable by other ladies of her age, yet she wasn’t satisfied.

I made sure that she lived the best life even though she spent all the money I gave to her on frivolities. My eyes caught the sight of Lorraine who was talking to doctor Luca on my behalf.

She noticed how stunned I was to speak so she stepped in. Thank the lord for her.

“I’d still have to talk to him.” I overheard him say then he walked away while Lorraine returned to me.

She led me towards the rows of chairs that bordered outside the wards and made me sit. Concern flashed in her face as she held my hands. “Victoria needs her brother, not a man who resents her.”

“How did I fail her?” My voice cracked as my emotions surged through my throat. “She’s been addicted to drugs and I didn’t have the slightest idea.”

“As long as we’ve known, Victoria has always been secretive and withdrawn. Though we don’t get along, I can see dark secrets lurking behind those bright smiles. There’s more to the story than we know about, let’s just pray that she survives this.” She replied, caressing my arm.

I stared at her in awe. Lorraine had a kind heart that couldn’t be argued about. Victoria had always treated her badly and talked to her condescendingly but she still cared about her.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“What kind of woman are you?”

She stared at me with a puzzled expression, batting her lashes innocently. “I don’t get you.”

“You have a big heart that flows with kindness, unconditional love and sweetness… The list is endless, Lorraine. Victoria never liked you, yet you still care about her safety. You are trying to protect her from my wrath even when you should be happy that she’s under the weather.” Everything I said was from my heart.

Lorraine was a good woman, I just didn’t realise it on time.

She stared at me with those beautiful eyes of hers. Grey to brown. And I could see how much she cared about me.

“Victoria needs us now and this isn’t the appropriate time to pay her back in her own coin. I can always do that when she has the strength to fight me.” She replied in a modest way.

I didn’t say anything because I didn’t know what to say. My heart was swelling with the different emotions, none of which I could put a name to, but I was very sure that Tori and I had a lot of things to talk about once she woke up.

“You’ll have to see doctor Luca. He has a lot of things to tell you.” She urged me on firmly.

I shrugged, unwilling to see anyone that could tell me how deteriorated her situation was. “There’s no need for that. You can tell me what he told you.”

She shook her head, her jaw set stubbornly. “If I tell you what he said then my aim of pushing you to him would be defeated. Just go ahead, I’ll wait here for you.”

Knowing that arguing with her would be like pouring water on a rock, I got up and headed straight to Doctor Luca’s office, smiling at my childish behavior. Thankfully, only Lorraine got to see that part of me.

I knocked and checked if he was free. Fortunately he was, so I stalked in and exchanged pleasantries with him.

“How’s she?”

Funny how I was trying to act all macho, but deep down, I cared so much about Tori. I just needed to know the cause of her problem.

“She’ll be fine.” He said plainly. No hints of emotions on his face.

I gave off a sigh of relief and massaged my temples. “I’m still baffled at how I was unable to notice that my younger sister was addicted while staying under my roof.”

“You never know because they are usually good at hiding things. They never let you into their space, they behave like hermits. The symptoms are noticeable but we act nonchalant because we think it’s just a phase.” He explained and I nodded in understanding.

I tried to think of the times when Tori pushed me away, then I realised that I didn’t even have time for her. It was always work and all. Even when she came to live with us I still thought of pushing out of the house just because of so called ‘privacy’.

Her constant bickering with Lorraine was another reason, but I could have found a way around it. I almost lost my sister out of selfishness and I didn’t even know.

My eyes stung and the urge to cry became overwhelming but I held it in, not wanting to show anyone my vulnerability.

“What can I do to make her better?” I questioned, my heart hammering against my chest. “I can’t lose my sister like this.” I croaked, knowing that the control on my emotion was slipping away.

“Once she wakes up, you’ll have a hearty discussion with her. You need to make her see reasons why she should go to rehab because that’s the only viable way to save her right now. Drug addiction has a lot of disadvantages that we aren’t even ready to talk about. Except you want to lose your sister, you have to put in some work.” He encouraged me, just the same way he used to.

Sometimes I wondered if he was this way because of work or if he had no feelings at all. It didn’t really matter to me because he treated me well.

Anything for my sister. She had to be fine, because she was the only family I had.

Suddenly a beep sound got his attention. Well not just his attention, but mine too.

Without haste he got up and wore his white coat. “Your sister, I need to check on her.” He announced.

That spurred me to join him outside his office. “Is anything wrong?” I asked with a note of urgency.

This one of the things I hated about doctors, they never said anything until they had to. I was already going mad with worry and he was still being all professional. It was already getting me worried.

He got to the door and stopped, giving me a warning look. “Wait here until I ask you to come in.”

I wanted to protest but a light touch on my shoulder stopped me. “I know that patience has never been your strong forte, but just do whatever he asks of you.” Lorraine said carefully.

The door opened almost immediately, his head popping outside the door. “She’s asking for Lorraine.” Doctor Luca said as Lorraine and I exchanged astonished glances. “Are you coming?” He said to her and she gave me a look that told me to relax.

I wasn’t angry that my sister asked for Lorraine, probably she trusted her enough to tell her what she couldn’t tell me. That was a good sign.

My phone rang and I felt better, seeing who the caller was.

“Wyatt.” I said his name curtly as a name of greeting.

“I’ve got news.” He informed me as I went out to listen.