Some minutes later, Roman's car came to a halt in front of a grand and extravagant estate that took them both by surprise. They hadn't expected anything modest from the second richest CEO in the city, but Roman never struck them as someone who valued opulence. It was unexpected to see him living in such a vast estate.
Noticing that the car hadn't pulled into the compound yet, Zara saw an opportunity and turned to Patricia. "Oh, they are not entering the gate yet. This is your chance to follow him. Do you still have your hospital ID?" She asked.
"Yes," Patricia replied.
"Good. Now go put some of those skills to use," Zara said, raising her brows toward the door as a signal for Patricia to get out. But Patricia hesitated, fear creeping in. What if he fired her for following him home? Or worse… What if he hurt her? This was a remote estate, no one would be around to witness anything.
"I think we should reconsider this," she murmured, fidgeting with her fingers. Zara let out a disappointed sigh.
"I knew you would say that, so…" she trailed off, stepping out of the car. She opened the door on Patricia's side and, without warning, pulled her out before slamming it shut.
"I will be waiting for you. Make it quick," she said before climbing back into the car.
Taking a deep breath, Patricia fixed her gaze on Roman's vehicle and began murmuring words of encouragement to herself, though they barely helped. A part of her warned against this, insisting it would end badly. Yet another part echoed Zara's voice, urging her forward. If losing her job was the price, then maybe she could sacrifice her lifelong dream for love. Being a doctor at Westview Medical Hospital had been a dream she never thought she would give up…until now. Was Collin worth that?
She recalled her mother's warning not to trust men, rooted in the betrayal they suffered from her father. But Collin felt different. He didn't make promises, he acted.
Telling herself he was worth the risk, she gave a firm nod and began walking toward Roman's car. Glancing back to check if Zara was still there, her eyes widened when she saw her friend's car speeding off, fear gripping her.
"Liar," she muttered under her breath, tears threatening to rise. But she was already here and there was no turning back.
Steeling herself, she approached the car, and just as she was about to knock, the door swung open, making her gasp. Roman's leg stepped out first, followed by the rest of him. Her eyes widened the moment he fully emerged.
He began walking away, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Dr. Roman!" She called out.
He stopped and turned slowly, staring at her blankly, waiting for her to speak.
Exhaling deeply, she shifted uncomfortably and took a hesitant step forward, her fingers fidgeting at her sides. The silence between them stretched too long, making her painfully aware of every sound, her breath, the rustling of leaves, even the quiet hum of the wind. Finally, she forced herself to speak.
"I… I know you said I shouldn't come near you again," she began, her voice wavering slightly. "But I really need your help to get rid of the marriage certificate. If you don't believe me, we can go to the registry together and confirm it ourselves." Her eyes dropped to the ground, unable to meet his.
Roman stood still, his expression unreadable, hands tucked neatly into his pockets. When he finally responded, his voice was calm but cutting.
"I have a lover I will be marrying soon. And for the record, I don't remember registering a marriage with you. Your story's getting sloppy."
Her heart sank. He had a lover? Not that it was any of her business… but if her stepmother had known this, why had she still insisted on marrying her off to him? Then it clicked. Of course. Her stepmother must have chosen him precisely because he was unattainable, meant only to make Patricia a hidden mistress. The realization sent a bitter sting through her, but strangely, it gave her clarity.
Squaring her shoulders, she took another step forward and looked up, finally meeting his eyes.
"Then you need to explain this to my family and terminate the marriage officially. I have a fiancé I should have married by now, but this certificate is standing in the way," she said, hope flickering in her expression.
"Does your fiancé know about this?" He asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
Her gaze dropped again, shame crawling up her neck. She shook her head.
"No. He… wouldn't believe me."
"The same way I don't," Roman said flatly. "If you are…"
He didn't get to finish.
"Hmm," a soft, strangled whimper escaped Patricia as she suddenly bent forward slightly, clutching her stomach. Her face twisted in discomfort, eyes widening as a wave of realization hit her. So… it was her period?
Seriously? Now?
Of course it was. She had suspected it might be, but of all the times for it to arrive, it had to be now, dramatic and theatrical, just like her entire life lately. Heat surged to her cheeks in mortified embarrassment. She stood there, frozen, her arms clenched tight against her abdomen.
"I… I…" she stammered, not knowing what to say, but Roman, already piecing it together, cut her off.
"You can spend the night here. Leave by dawn." His voice was cool, matter-of-fact. Then, without waiting for a response, he turned to Kay and said, "Tend to her."
He walked away without another glance.
Kay gave a small nod and approached Patricia, holding out his suit jacket.
"For your waist," he said simply.
Reluctantly, she took it and muttered, "Thank you," biting down the bitter taste of humiliation. How could she have been so reckless? She was never one to track her cycle rigidly, but she usually had a sense of when it was due. This time, she had been too preoccupied with marriage papers to listen to her own body.
"This way, miss," Kay said gently, motioning for her to follow.
She hesitated, glancing over her shoulder, hoping Zara might somehow still be there. But she wasn't. With a quiet sigh, she gave up and trailed after Kay. If word of this ever reached her family, especially her stepmother, she would be crucified for spending the night in a man's house unmarried.
But the pain in her abdomen made it hard to care about anything else at that moment. Right now, she just needed to take care of herself, then figure out what came next.