Divorce Anxiety
Chapter 9

Chapter 9 Emergency Contact

“That won't be necessary. Old Mrs. Macari is in poor health, so it would be better if you don't tellher, lest she worry for me,” Kathleen said."Have you been alone throughout the years?” Gemmahung her head low as she sat beside Kathleen.”l suppose,” Kathleen replied."You suppose? Whatdoes that mean?” Gemma was confused.Kathleen smiled ruefully.Ever since marrying Samuel, shewas mostly alone even though it seemed as if they lived together.”Kathleen, you're quite lucky. Youat least have Old Mrs. Macari.” Gemma sounded depressed. “My brother and I are different. Neitherof us was of legal age. Nobody wanted to adopt the both of us together, so we were forcefullyseparated when adopted by different families.”"So that was what happened.” Kathleen pulled herlips into a thin line.”Jeez, why am I even telling you this?” Gemma's expression reverted to its formerstate. “I need to go to a night shift at the hospital later on. You take care.” It's fine. I'll leave aftergetting some rest.” Kathleen knew she shouldn't have met up with Gemma, for both of them hadvarying degrees of post-traumatic stress disorder. Their parents’ passing had caused great hurt totheir young and fragile hearts.Because there were hurt that would never heal, these kinds of peoplehad come to a tacit agreement to not meet up with each other.Without meeting each other, theywould never be forced to recall those painful memories.”Kathleen!” Gemma sounded slightlyexasperated, causing Kathleen to pause for a moment.Realizing that she might have said that a littletoo loud, Gemma softened her tone. “It's fine. This place is your home too. I have clean clothes inmy room, so you can put them on after taking a shower. There's still some oatmeal that I made lastnight in the kitchen. Have some after heating it."Gemma went to get changed as she spoke and wasready to leave after putting on her coat.”Gemma, are you working in a hospital now?” askedKathleen.”l work as a nurse now.” Gemma didn't look back. “Kathleen, I've already moved on, so it'sfine. It's okay even if you have troubles that you can't talk about to me. Just stay without worryingabout anything else.”She left after saying that.Kathleen heaved a long sigh.She knew both Gemmaand her were dealt the heaviest blows during the incident because both of them had witnessedfirst-hand the horrible death of their parents.Kathleen's eyes reddened as she was on the verge oftears, but she managed to force them back when she lowered her head to check the blood onherself.She entered Gemma's room and took a change of clothes before going into the shower.Aftershowering, she checked on her belly in the mirror before reaching a fair hand out to caress it softly."Do not fear, my baby. I will protect you!"To her disappointment, tears still fell when she recalled thefact that it was Samuel who had put her in such danger.Samuel will never care about my state ofbeing. He must be all lovey-dovey with Nicolette in his arms while in the hospital.On the road,Samuel was leaning against his Maybach while puffing on a cigarette.He was chain-smoking, socigarette butts were littered all over the ground around him.It was almost the break of dawn, but hehad yet to uncover Kathleen's whereabouts.His fingers gripped her phone tightly as his hearttrembled nonstop.Will she die? Will she disappear from my life entirely? No! I won't allow this tohappen!“Mr. Macari!” Tyson ran over to him. “We've found the drunken man who abducted Mrs.Macari.”Bring him over,” Samuel ordered in an aloof tone. When two bodyguards brought thedrunken man over to him, the man was already battered and bruised all over his body andface."What have you done to that woman?” Samuel lifted his gaze, a distant look in his eyes.Thedrunken man was jostled awake and was aware that Samuel wasn't someone he could afford tocross, so he said, “I've done nothing.”"Chop his hand off.” Samuel didn't even blink.One of thebodyguards immediately unsheathed a dagger.Upon noticing that Samuel was being serious, thedrunken man fell to his knees before Samuel while begging for mercy, “Please don’t chop my handsoff! I'll tell you anything!"“Speak.” Samuel looked intimidating.”l was in a bad mood because I justhad a divorce. Lust overtook me when I saw a beautiful woman standing beside the road, but Ididn't do anything to her. A man saved her and brought her away as soon as I dragged her into analley.”"Which hand did you use to touch her?” questioned Samuel.The drunken man dared notanswer his question."Chop both his hands off since he doesn't have the guts to reply.” Samuel'sexquisite jawline was tensed up as he maintained a cool, refined look."No, please don't! It's thishand!” The drunken man raised his left hand.Still smoking, Samuel said, “How dare you lie? Youtouched her with both hands. Chop them both off."The drunken man nearly fainted from shock.whyask if you've already made up your mind?“Argh!” Just when the drunken man was spacing out, thebodyguard chopped one of his hands off with a clean swipe of his dagger, causing the man to howlin agony.The other bodyguard covered his mouth before his other hand was also choppedoff."Discard this scum to a deserted place,” ordered Samuel with a stern voice."Yes, Sir"The twobodyguards left, dragging the drunken man away with them, while the other bodyguards stayedbehind to clean up the scene.”Check the surveillance footage of the back alley and replace out whorescued Kathleen,” Samuel instructed in a detached manner.Just when Tyson was about to make acall, he got an unexpected call."Hello?" Tyson picked up. “Who are you?"“Are you Kathleen's family?”asked Benjamin distantly.”Is Kathleen with you?” Tyson frowned.Samuel narrowed his eyes as hesnatched the phone away from Tyson. “Where's Kathleen?"Benjamin was startled. “How are yourelated to Kathleen?"Samuel replied sternly, “I'm her brother.” All of her family members are dead.She doesn’t have any surviving relatives.” Benjamin didn't believe in that. “Who exactly areyou?"“How did you manage to track down Tyson?” Samuel was displeased. Why would he call Tysonwhen I should be the one who's closest to her?”I got his phone number from the emergencycontact list Kathleen has filled during the recent years.” Benjamin was unfazed. “Can you pass thephone back to Mr. Hackney?"It's not me but Tyson, who she listed as her emergency contact?Samuel didn't feel good about it at all. While passing the phone back to Tyson, he saidemotionlessly, “Ask him about Kathleen's whereabouts.”"Understood.” Tyson took the phone andasked Benjamin where Kathleen was.“She’s safe, but I need to confirm this with her before I can tellyou her whereabouts. I will contact you again.” Benjamin hung up after saying that.Tyson didn'tknow what to say as he looked at Samuel with a gloomy look. “Mr. Macari, he said he would have tocheck this with Mrs. Macari before he could tell us her whereabouts." Start an investigation aboutthe caller.” Samuel sounded impassive. “I want information about him before the sun is up."“Yes,Sir.” Tyson immediately sent someone for the investigation.All the while, Samuel puffed on hiscigarette, still feeling disturbed deep down.Although he had found Kathleen, he had no idea whather situation was.Why didn’t she contact me if she’s fine? Shouldn't she have come to me first andforemost after such a grave incident?