Back In Your Arms (GM Series #4)

07

My resignation wasn't approved and I was told that if I push through my resignation, they will sue me for breach of contract; that would at least cost me thousands of pesos, which I cannot afford. And surely, Aydan has something to do about it-he was one of the shareholders of the hospital after all.

Hindi na ako magtataka pa.

Instead, they gave me punishment for coming late and leaving early from work; I got suspended for a week. The Head Nurse even told me to use those days to think thoroughly-as if I have to. My decisions are already final, it was just him who cannot accept and respect that.

"Kalvin told me about that," Joanne responded to my rants. I told her everything that I learned, not omitting anything.

"And?" I asked. Kahit naman alam ko naman na ang sagot.

"He said one of the biggest shareholders stopped your resignation."

I rolled my eyes after hearing that. "Surely, that shareholder is that asshole," I said.

That asshole really this far to have a hold on me. Hindi ko, kahit minsan, naisip na aabot kami sa ganitong sitwasyon. We were so good together before, we were almost perfect together. Hindi ko na isip na ang pagkakaroon pa ng anak ang magdadala sa amin sa ganitong punto.

"And that asshole happens to be your husband and the father of your daughter," she mocked.

I scoffed. "I wish he was not."

Kung may chance lang talaga na maibalik ang nakaraan, iiwasan ko na ang makilala siya. Nanghihinayang ako sa mga panahon na sana ay masaya ako kung hindi lang siya ang naging asawa ko.

"You can't do anything against that anymore, Amara. What I suggest to you is: either you two talk about it or do it legally. I mean, you can still file for annulment and you have all the grounds for it," she said.

I nodded. "I will do that. That's really my plan. I will not let him have a hold on me..."

"But..." she cut the last strike of enthusiasm that was left to me. "For sure he will fight you. It's either he fights you against the annulment or he fights you against Mari's custody."

She continued and that made my heart beat nervously. That never crossed my mind and knowing that Aydan could do that breaks my heart. I knew him. He will do everything he could by all means just so he could get what he wants, even if it takes things like this.

"Amara, hindi sa tinatakot kita. Pero kung pipiliin mong labanan siya, siguradong lalaruin ka na naman ni Aydan. He has all the means to win over you. Kaya mas mabuti siguro kung pag-uusapan niyo na lang ng maayos ang tungkol kay Mari. Kung hindi mo na kayang bumalik sa kanya, kahit yung kay Mari na lang. Besides, Mari needs her father and all that he could give to her," she said.

"I can raise Mari alone," I said.

Joanne held my hand and caressed it. "I know you can. I saw that in the past years. But, Amara Mari's growing already and her needs are growing too. I will never question your parenting but it would be a big help for you, especially to Mari, if her father is also present in her life. Don't take that away from her."

Those were Joanne's exact words and I hate how she makes sense. When Aydan decided to turn his back on me and Mari, I swore to myself that I will never forgive him for doing that to us; that even when he kneeled, he would never get us back.

But Joanne telling me that I could lose Mari if I become adamant from excluding him in our lives, scared me to death. I can't lose Mari. I will die if I lose her.

"What do you want?" I asked him. My suspension was already lifted and I just came back to work. I really went straight to him after arriving at the hospital.

He put his elbows on his table and leaned on them. "You and our daughter. That's what I want," he said straightforwardly.

I already have heard about his plans and Joanne is right when she says that Aydan might fight for Mari's custody. This asshole, he's so clever.

"You can't have us both," I said.

He surely knows that I will not let Mari be away from me; that will be wherever my daughter is.

"So, is it okay for you to be away from our daughter?" He asked, there was a ghost of a smile on his face.

"No," I answered immediately. "I will be wherever my daughter is."

He nodded. "I was thinking the same," he said. "I am not okay that you are away from me. I already endured five years without you. Now that you are here, I will make sure you will slip away again. I will be wherever you are."

"What sick game are you playing, Aydan?" I couldn't help but ask. Obviously, it was just me that he wanted; that he was just considering Mari because he knew I can't be away from her.

"I'm not playing anything, Amara. I just really want you back."

"Me? Just me, Aydan? How about Mari?" I asked him, disbelief was evident from my tone.

"Is that her name?" He asked instead, arching his brow, acting interested with my daughter all of a sudden.

I scoffed and shook my head. "I thought you had changed; that you already learned from your mistakes. But I guess I was wrong. You are still the same selfish Aydan I knew," I said. "You're just using my daughter to get what you want."

"What are you sayin-." I cut his words immediately.

"You know what? You are no different from your father. You loathe him for leaving you and your mother but look at you? You are doing the same thing your father did to your family. You also ruined your own family," I spat.

I knew that I'm already crossing the line, that that part was a sensitive part of his life but I don't think I could still stop. I have reached my limit.

"I'm not like him, Amara!" He said, clenching his jaws.

I laughed with humor. "Oh, right. You are not because you're worse than your father! Your father abandoned you, but you, you are using your own child to get what you want after doing the same thing your father did to you!" I said more.

I never thought that I was capable of being this mad. "I regret marrying you." I added.

"Enough, Amara."

"Sana hindi na lang kita nakilala. Sana hindi na lang kita pinakasalan. Sana hindi na lang ikaw ang ama ng anak ko!" I continued.

"I said, enough, Amara!" He shouted back, standing from his seat and grabbing me by my elbow. "I know you're mad at me, but I'm telling you, Amara, I am close to my limit. Don't wait until I do something you wouldn't like."

He warned me but I shook my head and slapped his hand away from me. "I'm not just mad, Aydan. I'm furious and I loathe you. Ikaw ang huwag maghintay na gumawa ako ng isang bagay na hindi mo ikatutuwa," I told him. "I am sad that my daughter has to have a father like you."

I turned my back after saying that. I was ready to leave him but he was fast to catch me. He stopped me from grabbing me by my waist.

"We are not done yet, wife. We need to settle this now while I still have the patience... if you don't want me to take our daughter away from you." He said to my ear.

"You're a fucking trash, Aydan Elliot. I really regret crossing paths with you," I said, glaring at him. I pushed him with all the strength left to me and walked out of his office.

I never thought that was the kind of man I married. We were together for more than a decade and I never once saw this side of him before. And seeing it right now scares me more. It scared me because I knew that he could take Mari away from me.