My ex-husband's nightmare - Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Lydia
“That's all. Thanks for your contributions. You can all leave now.” The five men in front of me all bowed slightly before leaving the meeting room.
Mia dropped onto the chair closest to me. She has been standing for the past two hours.
“That was long.” She said, reaching for the bottle of water in front of her. She uncapped it and placed it on her lips. Drops of water leaked from the side of her mouth.
I massaged my back. We had back-to-back meetings for the past six hours, and we had one more before wrapping up for the day.
“You did well.” Mia has played a big role in making all the meetings successful. She placed the bottle on the table. The content is now half.
She wiped her lips with the back of her hand, “I'm happy I could do it.” I nodded, bringing out my phone which just beeped.
“But you know the usual way you can pay me for other extra work.”
“You are now becoming more greedy by the day,” she laughed, exposing her upper teeth.
“I would never, God forbid, a girl just want to be paid for all the stress.”
“I wonder what Mr. Lora would say to that.
How about switching departments to ease your stress? Mr Lora would love your assistance. That sounds better, does it not?” I asked. She sat up straight, shaking her head.
“I'll go prepare for the next meeting.” She said, and with that, she left. Now seated alone in the meeting room, I inhaled a scent of breath. More of a relief.
My phone beeped again. I had ignored the first message from Mason. But I should have known he wouldn't give up so easily.
Opening the content of the message. He was asking about my day.
These days, we've been exchanging messages, and just as I wanted, he was getting more and more obsessed with me. No, that is not the right word. The right word would be attached.
I smiled at the thought of him being restless without receiving a reply from me. Before we started seeing each other, I had made it clear that I would not speak to him over the phone.
Aside from the fact that I didn't want to, I don't want him to call me in front of the twins, that would further complicate things.
Without replying to his message, I left the messaging app and placed my phone on silent. He will definitely text back after a few minutes, but I don't plan on replying anytime soon.
The door opened, and Mia stepped inside. She held an iPad in her hand as she walked closer.
“Ma'am, I think you need to see this.” She said.
“What is it?” I asked, noticing the look on her face. “This is the tenth message from this person. I refused to show it to you because I thought it wasn't important. But from their persistence, it may be something you'd want to see.” She said. “They keep asking to meet with you. There's no name or anything.”
I furrowed my brows.
I didn't have to think for long when I saw the message. I knew who the sender was.
“Hey, I know I don't deserve to see you. Whatever happened five years ago, I am to blame because I could have stopped things with just one word, but I didn't. We have so much to discuss, Lydia, please, let's meet.”
Zoe.
She was in the city, but I never thought she'd be trying to reach out to me all this time.
I scrolled up, reading her past messages.
They were all similar, same message but different wordings.
“Do you know the person?” Mia asked.
“Yes.” Returning the iPad to her, I stood, pushing my chair back, and it screeched loudly on the floor.
“It's Zoe.”
“Do you want to see her?” I began heading for the door.
“Yes. Arrange a meeting with her.”
I never thought of meeting Zoe, but whatever she has to say, I wanted to listen.
At this point, another idea hit me.
Maybe I've been searching for a kidney in the wrong places. Zoe and Melanie are related. What if she is a match? With all she holds me, she should be able to pay by giving a kidney to Melanie.
I fist my hand as I walk to my car, ready to head to the venue for the last meeting of the day.
Mia arranged for a meeting with Zoe. To avoid curious eyes, we agreed to meet in a hotel. I arrived thirty minutes late.
The room was warm and cozy. Zoe is seated on the bed, wearing a blue gown. Her hair was styled in her signature style, a bun and a few pins scattered around it.
She stood when she saw me.
“Lydia.” She called my name softly, as if scared that if she said it louder, I might disappear.
Her brows creased. Why was she being dramatic? Her eyes were already red.
I have nothing against Zoe. If given the chance to repeat what happened that day, I may do the same, take the blame in place of her.
I miss her sometimes, too.
However, that didn't mean there was no resentment towards her from me at all. I resented her a little. After all, that day ruined my life.
But then, it brought some blessings, like my twins, my mother, and the company.
While I was wrapped up in my thoughts, Zoe was already so close to me. She wrapped her hand around me.
“I thought I wouldn't see you again. I was scared you died. I'm so happy you survived. I'm so happy.” She broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
Her shoulders shook.
My hands remained by my side awkwardly. Mia stood by the side. With a little nod from me, she left.
I pulled Zoe away from me.
“Now that's enough crying,” I said. She didn't stop, but I stepped back, maintaining a distance between us.
“You didn't ask to see me so you could cry and rub your tears all over me, did you?” I asked straightforwardly.
She shook her head, wiping her tears away.
She didn't change much.
She isn't the young girl she once was anymore.
But her face didn't change much, nor did her style of dress or her love for the color blue.
But her demeanour has changed. There was something about the way she carried herself now.
“I'm sorry about that, I was just overwhelmed by excitement.” She said.
We walked to the couch and sat opposite each other.
“I'm so sorry it took this long for me to reach out to you. I found out you were still alive three months ago.” She began.
She exhales, “But I didn't know how to face you.” She lowered her head, staring at her finger.
“I was scared you'd not want to see me. When we heard the news that you were dead, I felt so guilty. I thought I had caused your death. After all, if I had been brave enough to tell the truth, then you would not have been divorced or arrested.” She choked on her words.
“I have so much to say to you, but first, Lydia, I-” she raised her head.
“Alissa.” I cut her off.
She raised her head. “My name is Alissa,” She swallowed.
“Only people close to me get to call me Lydia.”
“Thank you for staying alive.” She continued as if she hadn't just been interrupted.
I scoffed at her words, “You must be feeling grateful and thankful because now you don't have to be burdened with the guilt of killing someone.” I stated.
She waved her hand in front of me at the same time she shook her head.
“No, no, I'm more relieved. You mean a lot to me, and I owe you so much. I know you may not believe me, but I don't want to see you hurt or die.” She said, brushing one hand over her hair.
She sounded genuine. I believed her.
“You owe me a lot. What if I tell you that there's a way you can repay me,” I stated firmly. This was the reason I had come. She moved out of her chair, her eyes hopeful.
“I'll do anything.”
“I'll take you somewhere, but first, I need to carry out a test to see if you match.”
She didn't reply, “Are you in or out?”
“In.” She said without hesitation. “If this means winning you back and returning to how things were between us, then I'm in a million times over.”
The doctor we came with entered and drew her blood. She didn't ask questions.
After she left, I got a call from the twins reminding me to buy the new book from their favorite series.
I stopped at a bookshop. While searching for the book, I came across a couple I didn't think I would be meeting.
Julia had her hand linked with his, pushing herself to his side. She looked happy, her eyes brightened with excitement, while she was oblivious of the gloomy look on the face of the man beside her.