SWNOVELS Chapter 11
Chapter 11 – Half Truth and Half Lie
(Anj‘s POV)
Of all the emergency teams coming, Effie‘s team came to rescue their family, but right now, it was less of my millions of
concerns. I leaned my back on the seat‘s backrest as I glanced at Effie, still on the phone as she checked on the patient with us.
Looking at Sky, whose eyes were pinned on his father, I realized that this must be the first time it had happened in the family. His
father must be furious at him, at us, for doing such a stupid thing. I wonder how Sister Grace will react or Aunt Rose. Anya will
surely cry and blame herself because she is the one who insisted that I should come to the party. Dylan... Well, I don‘t know how
he would react.
Effie placed her phone back in her pocket and looked at me. “What were you doing there?” She asked curiously. Her forehead
knitted, probably wondering why I was there when I was supposed to be in the nursing home.
“Doing good deeds?” I forced a grin, sounding unsure of my answer. She chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief and raising her
eyebrows.
“What happened to your face? At first, I thought your face was the emergency when I entered the room. I thought your face was
bleeding,” she said, taking a clean cloth and giving it to me.
I chuckled softly, my heart pounding as I looked at something to look at my reflection. Olivia‘s color pen must be washable
because some of the dots smeared my face, making me look more hideous.
“Colored pens,” I explained briefly, carefully wiping the smeared ones. She leaned her head forward. “Still, I‘m glad you‘re there.
You saved his life. Good job, Angela!” she whispered, winked at me, and puckered her lips, pointing at Sky. “What‘s his story?” I
shrugged, letting Effie interpret my answer and giving Sky a quick look. He was holding his father‘s hand and looking at him like
he was crying inside but never showing it to us.
***
The emergency team brought the billionaire, Mr. Steve Mars, to the most expensive hospital nearby. I had heard of this place
and had seen it on my way to the university, but it was my first time coming inside. When the older Mars was being treated in the
Emergency Room, a nurse came in to ask for information, wanting any of the patient‘s company to fill out the form.
“He‘s the family,” I told her, pointing at Sky and sitting quietly beside me in the waiting area.
She nodded, flickering her eyes, admiring my husband. I took a deep breath, brushing off the silly thought and wanting to blame
myself that we were here in the first place because it was our fault. The nurse talked to him, and when he stood up, I took it as
my chance to look for a public phone if there was still one. I rose to my feet, hoping to walk in the lobby‘s direction, when I
realized I didn‘t have anything, not even a coin to put on the public phone if ever I found one.
“Here,” Sky sighed, handing me his phone.
I smiled sheepishly at him, taking his phone. “Thanks,” I said, thinking immediately about how to unlock it.
He took it from me, unlocked his phone, and gave it back to me. He turned his back to me to follow the nurse without saying
anything. I sat again, my eyes following him, looking at Sky from head to toe, only to realize he was still wearing a robe and
bedroom slippers. When I gazed at my feet, it was just now that I felt the cold floor of the hallway.
I heaved a deep sigh, pressing Sister Grace‘s number. My heart was thumping inside me, finally feeling the fear of what she
might say to me. This was worse than the life and death emergency I had experienced a while ago.
After three rings, I heard the familiar gentle voice on the line. “The Nursing Home of St. Mary. This is Sister Grace. Good
morning.” I almost laughed at her greetings, remembering how I teased her about it that she sounded like a receptionist, not the
head of the nursing home. Although today, my eyes brimmed with tears when I heard her voice.
“Sister Grace,” I uttered and then pressed my lips tighter because I was about to break down in tears.
“Oh, my! Good heavens. Is that you, Anj? Where are you? Are you okay?” Her voice was panicked, and I could imagine her
pacing around her small office.
“Is that Anj?” I heard Anya‘s voice. “Please let me talk to her.”
I forced a laugh. “I‘m fine, Sister Grace. There was some sort of misunderstanding last night, and I guess I was at the wrong
party.”
“What do you mean?” Anya asked, probably taking the phone from Sister Grace. “Where are you now? Dylan and I will come to
get you.”
“Relax, Anya. I’m okay,” I assured her, although deep within me, I could not even tell myself I was okay. “Please, let me talk to
Sister Grace.”
There were some noises, and I could hear Aunt Rose and Dylan‘s voices, but right now, I only needed to talk to one person.
“Angela, are you okay?” Sister Grace asked, now in her less panicky voice.
“Yes, I‘m fine. Something happened, but I will fix this, Sister Grace,” I promised her. I always believed that everything could be
fixed, but I needed time. I also wanted to say I needed my clothes and shoes.
“What exactly happened, Angela. Don‘t make me worry,” she sighed.
“I‘m sorry, Sister Grace. I went to the wrong party,” It was true. “I met some new friends, but I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I
had to help with the emergency at their home.” It was partly correct. “What kind of emergency?” She asked worriedly. “His,
uhm... her father collapsed. I think it was a heart attack or something, but I was just glad I was there because no one seemed to
know what to do,” I answered truthfully. “Good Lord!” she exclaimed. “Is her father okay? Where are you now?”
“I‘m still in the hospital, waiting for the result, but I think he will be confined here for a few days, Sister Grace, and I... Uhm...” I
breathed out, raising my head to gaze at Sky Mars, walking back in my direction.
I swallowed hard as I made a quick decision. “I... I want to stay for a while until he‘s okay,” I stammered, maybe because my
heart was also undecided about what to do.
“Sure.” She breathed in relief. “I was just glad you called. Dylan and Anya are going to the police station to look for you.” I
chuckled. “Tell them not to worry, Sister Grace. I have to go now. I‘ll call later and update
you.”
“Please do it. Take care, my child.” She said, touching my heart. I closed my eyes, imagining I was in the arms of the only mother
I knew, and wished I should have decided to go home.