The Billionaire's Sleeping Beauty

Chapter 25 - Avery

I open my eyes slowly. I feel disoriented. What time is it now? Why the curtain is blackout?

I take my phone on the bedside table and check the time. What?? It's 2 in the morning?? How come I slept for the whole 12 hours?!

Brad is sleeping next to me. Damian is not in my bed, Bradley must be moved him to his own crib. I sigh, I really more tired than I thought.

I lay down and snuggle closer to Bradley, his clean soap smell envelopes me. I smile and close my eyes. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm sure I will feel better.

***

6 Months Later

I hold the pill Laila just gave to me  before she went out from my room. How long should I eat this medicine? It's been 6 months...

I kept sleeping day and night yet I don't feel fresh for these 6 months. And my breastmilk also gone.  It stressed me out and made me upset. I breastfed Clair for more than a year, yet Damian barely 3 months old he already got cow's milk.

Bradley informed me that the doctor wanted me to continue the medication if I still couldn't stay awake longer than 3 hours. But how my life turns like this. I go to the mirror and look at myself.

This is not me. I look like a fragile woman who has deathly disease. I spent more and more time in the room. I barely see my own kids these days. I inhale sharply. This is wrong.

My phone ping.

Madeline: Avery, I'm on the way to your place!

I swallow hard. Madeline Hall, Bradley cousin in law. We are close since Clair and her oldest child, Justin, go to the same school. She is one of my confidante. She is smart and kind, and she knows how to handle things. But most importantly, she never judge me for pregnant in a such young age. We both coming from middle class families, maybe that's why we are easily connected back then.

2 days ago she called me when I was taking a nap. I barely got what she said but later she texted me, that I think the things she said on the phone. It's like a wake up call for me.

Madeline: Avery, what happened to you? I heard from Bradley that you aren't feeling well. Are you okay? The last time I saw you at school was last semester. Is everything okay? If you still not feeling well, you should go to the doctor. Or maybe the prescription he gave you isn't right for you. This isn't right, Avery. Call me please.

I change my clothes. I put a little make up so I won't look like a fragile woman.

Laila knocks my room's door. "Ave," she comes in and stops on the door. "Where are you going?"

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere, Laila." I smile. She's been nothing but nice to me, but I cannot shake the feeling that she is not the person that she wants us to believe. "Madeline will come here, and she wants to meet me."

"Oh yeah, Brad told me that she will send Clair home."

I nod. "Oh, by the way are you looking for me?"

"Oh... yeah. Damian just fell asleep so I want to check on you."

"Oh, thank you. I'm fine." I caress her arm. "Let's go downstairs. Madeline will arrive soon."

She nods and follows me.

***

"Mads!" I hug her and she hugs me back. Madeline Hall is a pretty woman, but what makes her exquisite is her expression. Her sincerity when she smiles at you or when she talks to you. She is a no poker face person. I feel I don't have to guess anything with her. She says what she wants, she expresses what she feels. And she is a good friend of mine, besides her relationship with the Fox.