The One (41 page)

We
both needed her body to submit.

So,
on top of the medical regimen, we decided on a mental, spiritual and physical
one.

Vi
would be stress-free for the entire remainder of the pregnancy. Ethan had
promised to cater to her every need. Resting as much as she could was the word.
Scattering her energies was not recommended in her case. Money being no object,
she would have the best care available. A personal trainer would come to teach
her how to build muscle with gentle exercise but also how to meditate so her
body would be as calm as possible. A personal masseuse would also be available
and a nutritionist would put her on an all-organic diet, ensuring the best
medical outcome possible in light of her particular condition. A concierge
doctor was to be on call, so she wouldn
’
t have to make unnecessary and strenuous
visits to the hospital, and all tests that could be administered at home simply
would.

I
also advised consulting and involving a naturopath. An unorthodox step coming
from a classic surgeon, but I had seen tangible results with former patients,
and knew it would benefit her.  My main goal was to stabilize the tumor
for long enough at a respectable and safe size so I could eventually cut it out
at the first opportunity possible. According to my calculations, this would
have to happen before the 6
^th
month of the pregnancy, providing
nothing else went wrong until then.

Before
leaving, two weeks after my arrival, I was completely reassured that Vi was
following the protocol without any adverse effect to the injections, hormones,
medication and natural remedies. I told both Vi and Ethan that if her body kept
on cooperating as it had since starting ten days prior, our strategy would
dramatically improve the chances that the next time I would come to Australia,
it would be to deliver their baby and make her cancer free. In the meantime,
she was to live as best she could and be as peaceful as she could. Considering
the stress she had been under since the conception, her cortisol levels were
still very high which was worrisome. Vi needed to be as happy and as possible,
and I made it crystal clear to Ethan that I would personally hold him
responsible for any setbacks. I didn
’
t care what he had to do, but I wanted her
showered by endorphins. He promised to do as much.

“
We have a plan. I
’
ve got this. Just do your parts, and I
promise to give you your baby.
”
were my parting words to them. I believed every single word.

If
I had to fly in every month to check on her myself, so be it.

I
felt Vi needed for this child to be born. Her sanity depended on it. I simply
wouldn
’
t
allow anything or anyone to stand in the way. Cancer or not, Ethan or not, my
girl was getting her miracle.

She
deserved it.

CHAPTER 36

The abyss within. Part I

Julian

It was overwhelming. The anger, the pain,
the million questions and the memories.

It
was too much. He couldn
’
t
think. He only felt.

He
needed to speak to someone, or he would explode.

((~~!~~))

“
Is
this a joke or the rumor du jour?
”
I hear her shout. My phone is vibrating on the table, as if, it too, can feel
her disbelief.

“
You heard me. She is Ethan
’
s wife,
”
I reiterate, clearing my throat, trying
to control my anger.

It
was still hard to say it aloud.

Maybe
if I say it once more
…

Just
a name. Her words suckered punched me, at first. When I saw her leave the room,
I was unable to move, the horrible ramifications of her name drawing on me like
a vice; but now that the initial shock was wearing off, only anger remained.

Pure,
unbridled anger. Growing at each passing minute.

I
am so angry I can't stand still.

“
What the fuck do you mean? How is this
even possible Julian?!
”
I can picture her shaking her head, the thought bringing the first smile to my
lips since
she
has left.

“
It
’
s true. She told me herself. Victoryn
McGregor.
”
I state, my voice still laced with cold contempt at that thought.

“
Fuck. Let me get a drink and my
cigarettes, I need to sit down for this one.
”
Mel says in an unsteady tone.

I
can hear her shuffle, until she finally says,
“
Righto, so you were saying, the woman you
have followed across the globe is Ethan
’
s wife. The very same Ethan we
’
ve known for what? All our lives?! Is that
it, Julian?
”
I can hear the smoke blow from her nose.

“
Yes.
”
I whisper, sipping on my own drink as
well.

Hearing
her stating it so bluntly drove that truth home, if I needed it to sting even
more.

My
jaw tightens again, as I am frantically pacing.

“
Okay, explain this to me.
”
she demands.

I
don
’
t
know where to start.

I
begin with everything that happened from the moment James spoke to Vi in my
office, right before she and Charlie went back to London, and finish with Vi
walking out of the room an hour ago.

“
I just want to punch something, someone
…
Mel. I am awake, and this is a living
nightmare. I
’
ve
been running on adrenaline for two days straight now, and my mind hasn
’
t exploded yet, but I am fucking close
…
this is as bad as it gets. She
’
s Ethan
’
s wife.
”
I finish, while massaging my
temples, exhausted, my mind still reeling.

“
Our Ethan?
”
she repeats, not quite believing me.

“
Ethan McGregor, the one and the same Ethan
you grew up with and shared your bedroom with at the grammar school? The Ethan
you went to
Uni
with?
”

“
Yes, there
’
s only one Ethan, and that
’
s him. She is married to him!
”
I seethe, bitter.

“
Fuck Jul! What are you going to do?
”
she exhales loudly,
”
Because, this changes everything
…”

Silence
meets her last comment, so, she insists,
“
Well, doesn
’
t it?
”

“
I don
’
t know Mel, I am even more confused than
before! I just can
’
t
believe I didn
’
t
realize who she actually was
…”
I state, feeling sadness blanket my heart.

“
How could you? She never came out with her
true identity when you guys met. Don
’
t blame yourself
…
if anything, you should be blaming her! I
just can
’
t
believe this!
”
she utters, her voice rising,
”
Stringing
you along for weeks with sweets talks, when she is married to Ethan? Talk about
fucked up! I don
’
t
…
-
”

“
I am mad Mel, but please, don
’
t start...
”
I interrupt her tirade, as I feel a major
headache coming on.

“
I
’
m not even sure they are still married.
All I know is, this situation has become a bit more complex than I expected. I
had a hunch, she was married, remember? I told you the first day I met her. The
fact that it
’
s
Ethan makes it exponentially explosive.
”
I concede, thinking about how murky this
situation really is.

“
You know, you might have to walk away,
right?
”
Melissa seems to have reached the same conclusion.

“
I mean, growing up, you always had a
love-hate relationship with him, which we both know, mother had a lot to do
with
…
but
you two were two peas in a pod. Ethan was your best friend, and if I
’
m not mistaken
…”
her voice trails,
“
From what I
’
ve seen last we were home
…
You guys are still tight
…”

“
Have you spoken to him yet?
”
she ponders.

“
No, I haven
’
t. I just got hit with the news! I
’
m barely accepting it. I can
’
t speak to him just yet. I need to know
more about what exactly happened between them before I tell him I
’
m in love with his wife!
”
I retort, furious, still not quite
believing this is happening to me.

“
So, you really are, then?
”
she asks cautiously.

“
More than I care to admit Mel
…
You saw me a few weeks ago. If you think I
was bad then, now it
’
s
worse. You have no fucking idea
…”
I whisper, admitting it, in a barely audible voice.

“
Mel, it
’
s almost embarrassing
…”
my voice involuntarily cracking as the
words pass my lips.

I
add in a steadier voice,
“
And
now, this
…
I
just don
’
t
know how much more I can take
…”
I admit, in defeat,
feeling my chest tighten for the nth time this evening.

I
shut my eyes, trying to empty my mind and find some calmness within myself.

“
Enamorados tontos. Equivocados locos
…”
I hum in a low voice.

“
What?
”
Mel yelps.

“
That
’
s what she said to me once, about how
foolish people become when they fall in love, no matter how old we get
…
something her mother used to sing to her,
and it stayed
…
like
an inside joke between us
…”
my voice trailed, shaking at the recollection, in light of the recent revelation.

My
throat hurts.

Fuck!

“
Derision in Spanish! Jesus! She
’
s making you mushy
…
this woman is dangerous to your health!
”
Mel exclaims, unmistakably pissed off.

I
clear my throat, noticing my hand is trembling as I am holding the glass of
scotch to take a sip.

Fuck! 
My god, if this is what's it's like now...What is it going to be when I see her
again...

The
voice of my sister brings me out of my reverie.

“
Well, I have to hand it to her. I didn
’
t see this one coming! Not many people can
still surprise me
…”
Mel says, with awe in her voice, then asks bluntly,
”
So, where is she now?
”

“
I don
’
t know. She
’
s gone.
”
I whisper.

“
Again?
”
she says, exasperated.