Dear ex-husband, you must regret this

NADIN'S POV

I could feel my eyelids heavy as I tried to force them open.

When I finally woke up from what felt like an endless sleep, all I could discern was an unrelenting pain, as if someone had just plucked my brain out of my head.

Moreover, I cared less about it, as I was more curious to know what was happening around me and where I was in particular.

Even though I can't recall anything, I could feel the scars of pain all over.

"Oh, you are finally awake." That was the first thing I could hear; before then, it was all like muffles of irregular and unpleasant sound.

The lady in question said that with smiles stretching across her lips. I managed to return the smile in my own little way as I was still trying so hard to fix things right in my head.

Given what she said, I couldn't even pinpoint the exact duration of my sleep here.

She advanced closer, I think, to examine me and to think that I wasn't wrong after all.

She carefully removed the oxygen therapy mask that was loosely placed on my nose, down to my mouth, and held by an elastic around the back of my head.

Then she took out the stethoscope that was hanging from her neck and put it right in my chest. Thereafter, she tried to open my eyes wider using her first two fingers, then looked at them closely.

She also examined my pulse and temperature to ensure that they were in check.

"Now that you are in this phase, how do you feel? Any pain so far?" She asked, still looking excited to see me awake.

It made me wonder if it must have been a long time since I've been lying down there, maybe lifeless; who knows?

Because that was the only way I could explain the excitement on her face since I got awake until after the examination.

At first, I didn't know what to say to her, so I gave a subtle nod, as it was just a hazy memory I could feel.

From the nature of the room and the equipment I saw the lady use on me, I could guess I was in a hospital. Then the lady right in front of me should be a nurse, as she had a white uniform on.

I could still feel an excruciation in my head, but I didn't know exactly how to describe it to her.

Before I could even react to it,

"I will be right back." She whispered and left immediately.

As soon as she left, for no reason, I had hot tears rolling down my cheeks. I took a little moment to center myself and regain control before I wiped the tears from my cheeks with my fingers.

So it was as if the headache got subsidized a bit.

Then, I looked out the window and noticed the broad daylight.

I longed to see what it felt like outside and then decided to step out before the nurse got back because it was as if the room were closing in.

I guess it must be the effect of staying inside a particular room, unconscious for a long time.

When I got to the door, I decided to take the right without considering the left, and then it seemed like I could feel something in my left eye's peripheral vision. Then I abruptly swiveled my head in the opposite direction.

At that moment, my eyes met this man.

His eyebrows were thick and well groomed, and I noticed his gray eyelids and his red lips.

He has a sweet aura around him that complements his tall stature, which was obvious even while he sat down.

The most interesting part was his dark eyeballs, which were intimidating.

Unconsciously, my eyes glitched with his clothing, which was definitely a custom-made suit that blended well with his macho-looking body.

Although I couldn't explain the reason I was attracted to him, it was as if his handsome face had a powerful effect on me as I got stuck on the spot.

He was sitting on the extensive seat placed adjacent to the ward; it was just one of the waiting spaces where anyone could sit and wait for someone, and I guess that was what he was doing.

Even though my memory was blank, no one needed to tell me the truth that was already in my face.

'I could feel something for someone I barely know.'

But I had to retract myself from the love scene that was playing in my head.

His cologne was strong and familiar, but I couldn't connect the dots.

As our eyes met, it felt like forever as my heart beat several times, like it was familiar with his presence.

It feels like everything else fades away, as if nothing exists but the two of us.

He noticed my glue-like stare aimed at him, and I smiled broadly, at least for the first time after I woke.

Just when I thought he was having some concern look at me too.

"Has anyone ever told you it's awkward to stare at people the way you do? Besides, that's what makes you look nothing less than desperate."

He said with a tightened jaw, and his deep voice cut through the thoughts in my head.

I frowned and remained bewildered, not understanding what he was pointing at.

His now 'mocking' gray eyes pinned me to the very spot where I stood, and I couldn't move an inch as I felt something hold me there.

At the same time, his words and behavior had such a negative effect on my heart that it felt like it was being crammed.

The feelings were so intense that I felt like all my blood had been emptied.

I managed to shift my eyes away from him. I didn't know what exactly to say, as I felt any word was likely to piss him off. If only my innocent stare at him could, then my words would be worse.

I was just about to look at him again, so it wouldn't look like I was shy.

However, when my eyes turned back to his, they met a lady's gaze that seemed to have come out of the corridor just around where he was seated.

The woman was wearing a finely slit red dress and her echoing stilettos, which were up to 4 inches long. Her red lipstick matched her dress, and her ponytail was styled so high that it appeared like she was a model sample.

On arrival and realizing we were likely to be discussing, I noticed that her face turned stone-cold, and her lips formed a thin line.

She rushed in front of me while chewing gum and quickly raised her eyebrows with an impish grin, revealing her intention to taunt me. "Why are you staring at my man that way?"

I tried to fix the voices from them both, as they seemed somehow familiar, but it wasn't coming.

Maybe, I was assuming a lot.

Her eyes revealed a thickness of so much anger, even when I doubted if I knew her before now.

I guess because she thought I was talking to 'his man', like he had referred him the first time.

I returned the raised eyebrows and still couldn't say a thing.

But because she wasn't pretty sure that we were discussing, she couldn't vent her anger as she had no proof of the thoughts going on in her mind.

"Let's go inside, darling. The doctor said we can go to the lab to get the blood sample for the marriage tests."

Before he could stand up, she went and grabbed his right arm in a sensual manner.

The young man gave me one last glance as he turned back, entering one of the offices and were soon out of sight.

With that, I stifled a small chuckle but refused to say anything.

For one that just got out of a coma and the first encounter I am having is with such terrible beings, I wish I could just go back to rest but was still skeptical.

But then, I'm guessing they're a couple.

This is such a lovey-dovey show; well, that's their luck.

Just then, I let out a huff of frustration, then set my shoulders to go back so I could make a U-turn to face the direction of the room I had exited.

**Kpraaaaaah**

A loud noise was heard, and then it was so deafening that I had to use both my hands to cover my ears.

Within a split second, I noticed I was screaming out loud, and then I fell to the floor with closed eyes.

NADIN'S POV

Waking up after I passed out, my eyes were blurry. Again, it was as if I were beginning to recollect some memories.

The once-hazy memories that filled my mind with indistinguishable and unspoken words were not the case any longer because some thoughts were coming to my mind.

The thoughts of so many things that were too much for me to bear at once made tears well up in my eyes.

As I lay in bed, I felt the already-accumulated tears running down my face.

I barely wiped them off, but they kept falling uncontrollably.

It took me only one memory flash to remember the type of married life I had been exposed to.

And yes, I can now recall the faces and voices of the man and the lady I had seen in the corridor a few hours ago.

That was my ex-husband, Ethan Archer, the one who divorced to be with my step sister, Bella, the same lady I met with him outside.

Everything played in my head like a movie, but I knew they were all real.

The last thing I could remember before I got into coma was when my father was murdered right before me by my stepmother and my ex-husband's father.

Thereafter, they attacked me with undiluted acid, intending to kill me.

The more I try to recall more, the more it feels like I was having a deep headache that was as if my head wanted to fall off.

I was transfixed by everything until I was called out of it: "Thank God you are awake now."

I looked around and saw it was the same nurse who had attended to me the first time, entering my room.

"Please get me some medicine; I have a severe headache." I said to her.

She nodded. "Ok, Missus."

"Please, you can stop addressing me as Missus, nurse. My name is Nadin."

The nurse looked astonished.

"Oh, you have finally regained your senses." She said in joy and came close to my bedside.

She was gentle with me, probably mindful of my feelings.

"So, how are you, Missus? Sorry... Nadin."

"I am good, just the headache I complained to you about."

"Ok, that must be as a result of trying to think as one who just regained her consciousness.

It's normal. Let me quickly get drugs for you."

Not long enough, the nurse got the drug for me, and after I took it, I could feel better in a short time.

I was forced to ask the nurse, as had offered to keep me company.

"What was my condition when I got here, and how long have I been here?"

"Your condition was bad when you got here." Professionally, I think she wasn't meant to disclose certain things to me immediately, and I understood that.

"And then, ma, you have been in a coma for like a year now."

"Ok nurse." I couldn't resist the urge of curiosity, which took the better side of me. "So, when I was comatose, did no one visit me? Family or whatsoever?"

I noticed her uneasiness with the question, but she still went on to answer, "I wouldn't know about any family member, but the one who brought you here visits twice every single day to make sure you are improving. He has been here for this morning's visit, but we had to reach him the first time you woke up, as I observed you were in amnesia when you just woke.

We wanted any of your personal items that will likely help you regain your senses. But now, there is no need to inform him not to bother about that because he is likely to be here soon as he has called not long enough."

Some sense of relief washed over me with the thought that at least someone cares about my well-being.

"Hello," this handsome, good-looking young man said as he walked in, grinning from ear to ear.

"That is the young man who saved you. He brought you here and made sure your safety was guaranteed." The nurse explained, she gesturing at the young man who just got in.

She faces the man and says, "She is fine now, not in amnesia anymore."

Meanwhile, I was carried away with this young man's looks, as he looks indifferently good.

Brown hair and penetrating gray eyes.

"That's good news.

So fast, that's really impressive." He replied, looking all smiley.

"But I had brought the phone I picked next to her the moment I took her away from the spot that very day." The next thing, he made his way to my side and asked, "How are you, my dear?"

"I am good. Thank you for everything you have done just to save my life. I sincerely appreciate that a lot, sir." I responded.

Without hesitation, he replied, "It's nothing. Again, you can call me Luciano. That's my name."

"It's ok." I responded.

Then I noticed his slight surprise; perhaps he was indeed impressed with my sudden improvement in health.

He came closer to my bedside to sit just next to me as the nurse stood, to excuse us or maybe duty calls.

I asked for my phone, and he gave it to me.

I opened it with a swipe, and reading the last messages left me convinced that my thoughts weren't just mere imagination.

It all happened; my husband divorced me for real. Before I signed it that very day, he had sent to me the soft divorce papers.

A sharp pain in my chest caused me to clutch at my bedsheet.

The pain of not being able to receive the love I gave was a deep sense of failure.

The ludicrous things I did for this love thing are things I wouldn't do anymore.

Indeed, stupid love that isn't reciprocated is the worst thing that could happen to anyone.

It's like a blindfold that covers the eyes, and I refer to it as stupid because that's the only thing it makes you end up doing.

I gathered the last strength in me to ask, deviating a bit, "What was my condition when you brought me here? I had asked the nurse, but she had refused to answer me exactly what I need to hear."

"60 percent of your body was burned before we got to the hospital. I had instructed the doctor to keep you anonymous and proceed with plastic surgery. Because that was the only thing that was required to be done to save your dear life."

I was taken aback a bit. 'My life was indeed dear to him, but not to the ones I called stepmother and sister who happened to be family, let alone the one that used to be my husband.' I thought to myself.

Immediately, something struck my mind.

Wait! It just occurred to me that I hadn't seen my face after I got awake.

"Plastic surgery! Was my face affected too?" I asked hastily.

To save me the stress, he turned on the selfie camera, and I saw a face different from what it used to be.

That wasn't enough.

I rushed to my hospital room's bathroom for a better view, as I knew it should have one.

I didn't know exactly how I should feel, since it was all about saving my life.

Thereafter, I left the bathroom and went back to the room, thinking this was a chance given to me to begin a new life, and I wouldn't gamble with that for anything.

I don't wish to be the soft, fragile person I used to be, as I could feel a heart made of stone already.

Just when I was almost lost in thought, his words caught me off guard.

"There is something you need to understand.

In all you do, don't be too hard on yourself. I may not be in your shoes, but I know the feeling of it all. It's quite clear that some people out there wants you dead, judging with the condition I met you the time I saved you."

At first, I was short on words but then managed to say,

"It's fine. By the way, thank you so much for not leaving me. You are a lifesaver, and I can't thank you enough, Mister Luciano." I took his hand and gently squeezed it.

With haste, he grabbed his hands away and placed them upon mine instead, then spoke in appreciation: "The only 'thank you' I need from you is for you to let go of everything that has happened and then try to move on. All I can say is that you have a dark past, and the best way to heal quickly is to let the past be the past.

I really want to forget everything that has happened in my life and move on, but...

A part of me desperately wanted to take a piece of flesh from those who had me hurt.

NADIN'S POV

"Congratulations on your discharge, Miss! Since you will be leaving today, I decided to bring you lots of goodies." Luciano warmly greeted the moment he got and carefully kept the items beside me.

I couldn't help but smile at him and say, "Thank you so much." Admiring the flower bouquet, a basket full of chocolates, snakes, packaged food, a gift card, and a hand reflex ball.

"You are always welcome." He said it with a broader smile.

The flowers looked so familiar, like the one I had beside me when I first woke up from a coma.

I had asked the nurse, and I learned Luciano was the one who got it for me while I was in a coma.

I wouldn't even lie; I think the fragrance had activated my recovery out of coma, because tell me why its sweet fragrance is like it could wake the dead.

I took the flowers. I love everything about it.

I noticed they had the same fragrance as the last one they'd taken away, that I confirmed who had brought it from the nurse.

After that, I took some chocolates and a few handfuls of the food he got.

Subsequently, he graciously drove me back home as agreed.

When he arrived at his mansion, it was as big as a family house.

I was given the best grand reception of my life.

I also met his dad upon getting inside the mansion: "Young lady, welcome to our home." He greeted me, spreading his hands open for an embrace.

"Thank you, sir."

I did what was necessary as I went close to hug him.

It was obvious he was pleased to see me.

I was incredibly excited about the intentional love and care they showed me, but at the same time, nothing changed about the decision to take revenge on Ethan, my Ex-Husband.

After a few moments of celebration, Luciano and his dad introduced me to a specific room that would be mine.

Everything in the room was neat and organized, with items inside that had more of a feminine look.

But then, judging by the way they followed behind me to the room, I suspected they wanted to tell me something private.

"My dear, once again, congratulations on your new life and welcome to our humble home.

I have been making plans for this even before you got back and I hope it goes down well with you." Luciano's father spoke first.

I was listening with keen interest.

"I have made up my mind that you will be in charge of one of our company's subsidiaries, strictly handled by females. You will have to take care of it, and let's see what can come from it with our guidelines.

As a matter of fact, you are my adopted daughter, then again Luciano's adopted sister."

He continued, speaking in the most responsible manner I have known.

"You already have a new face, and no one would recognize who you are. So, it's best to make the most of it. We are ready to assist you in every slightest way you can think of, because I don't want to see you depressed someday."

I never imagined that it was possible to experience a mixture of nervousness, a spark of joy and pain at the same time.

But the truth is that this is not what I want for now.

Just then, the thoughts of my old life flashed through my memory.

No way!

There was no way-not even the slightest of it all-that I was going to forget the bitterness and betrayal so soon.

Ethan, Ethan's father, Bella and her mother- my stepmother, must have a taste of it.

Most especially Ethan. I need to go back and accomplish that.

Come to think of it, the moment I lost the memory, it seemed that my love for him had disappeared with it.

I was quite sure my love for him had already gone completely, and the fact that I felt empty made me desire a little vengeance.

On different occasions, I could remember how his outrageous sheds had caused my face to turn a deep shade of red.

It was obvious I was a loser in the marriage.

These were the thoughts that rambled through my heart.

With that decision, it was as if a thorn that had been embedded in my chest had been removed.

But then, I had to find an appealing way to express to Luciano's dad that I couldn't stay for now.

"I sincerely appreciate everything you have done for me. I don't think I would have been alive today without your son's intervention. But then, before I start the job, I need to at least learn management expertise. So if you would give me like a year to do that, it would be my pleasure."

I think a year is enough to achieve my revenge goal.

"You..."

Mr. Jack Jordan wanted to speak, but Luciano interrupted his father in-between lines, "Dad, her suggestion is cool. Let's allow her to do what she wants to do. I think it's in our best interest."

I think Luciano understands me better now because I explained to him some things about my life while I was at the hospital.

Down to where they killed my father, as the news had it earlier on that my father jumped off a building and died due to debt issues.

While I was unable to accept reality, I took a large amount of aspirin, but resuscitation was unsuccessful, and I died, like Luciano explained.

That was how heartless these people could be; they didn't just kill my dad and attempt to kill me, but still went on to make stories in our name.

I cleared up every one of those things he heard about my father's death, and I think that's more reason he could see from my own point of view.

So he understood where I was heading to and decided to persuade his dad to believe me, which worked out.

"It's ok, young lady. You can do as you please. Don't forget, here is your new family, so always feel free with us."

Mr. Jack Jordan assured.

"Ok, daddy." I replied without hesitation.

I really wish to stay, but again, I have to go and put things in place before coming back.