CHAPTER 41: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

"An accident? What happened? Who..."

"No time for questions. Just get over here. We’re at home right now. The doctor is here, but we think she needs to go to the hospital. She keeps insisting she’s okay, but there’s so much blood."

Eliza sat up straight as she heard that, and in the background she could hear raised voices, and someone crying.

"Who? Mum? Why is she bleeding?" She asked frantically, but the call was disconnected.

"Hello! Dad? Why would he hang up without giving me a better explanation?" She sighed as she leaned back on the car seat.

"Do you think it’s a prank? Should we go? Or let them be?" Alrik asked calmly.

"If it’s not true then that’s beyond cruel. They’ve been trying to get my attention all day, but would they truly put someone else’s life on the line? I’m not sure, but..."

"But you won’t have peace until you check it out. You’re worried. I can see it all over you." He said with a sigh, then instructed the driver to change directions.

They arrived at her home after several minutes, and were immediately let in through the gate. She tried pretending to be calm, but as she walked towards the door, her heart was beating way too fast. Only Alrik’s hand holding onto her made her take a deep breath. She may not be on the best of terms with her family, but it didn’t mean she wished death or harm to any of them.

She walked in expecting to see some form of chaos, or disarray, judging by the ruckus she heard when her father had called her in the car. Instead, she was greeted with a big smile by her mother.

"Welcome home, darling."

Her mother came closer for a hug, but Eliza stepped away.

"What’s going on? I thought you were hurt. Dad said you were bleeding."

"Oh that? It wasn’t me. Your dad is so silly. I told him not to call you, but since you’re here, just join us for dinner. It’s a good thing I made more than enough food." Her mother chuckled, but Eliza squeezed her fists tight and didn’t move.

"A prank call? Seriously? Is that how low you’ve all sunk?" She snapped.

"You always jump to conclusions so fast. That’s a bad habit, dear. No need to make a big deal out of this. You just misunderstood. Marco’s wife just had a miscarriage after falling down the stairs. She bled a lot, but she’s fine now, resting upstairs. You can see her after we’re done with dinner. Everyone is already seated. Come, come."

"I find it hard to believe that your daughter in-law had a miscarriage and yet you’re more focused on having dinner with me and my husband. I already declined. I have no reason to share a table with any of you. But since I’m already here, I’ll go see Linda. She must be feeling dejected seeing you all prioritise your scheme to get close to me, instead of her situation." Eliza walked further into the house.

She could see the dining room as she passed by to make way to the staircase, and her cousin Natalia waved at her with a smile. Eliza scoffed and ignored that. Natalia hadn’t smiled at her in years, yet here she was, trying to be besties. How despicable. The last time she had seen the woman was during her grandfather’s birthday party, when he had issued his challenge.

She remembered everyone’s rooms since she was often in charge of cleaning them for a while. Linda and Marco’s bedroom was locked.

"Linda. It’s Eliza."

There was no response. She called out again, and tried knocking a few times, but there was still no response.

"It’s fine if you don’t want to talk to anyone, especially me, after all, we’re not exactly close. I’m probably supposed to resent you, maybe even be happy that you’re in pain now for being part of the people who hurt me. But I just want you to know that it’s okay. You’re allowed to grieve, but don’t let it pull you too low for too long. I’m not saying I forgive you, that would be a lie. But your pain doesn’t excite me, especially since an innocent life was involved. Sorry for your baby’s loss."

After she spoke, she tried knocking again, and even put her ear to the door, hoping to hear any sound at all. Maybe a sobbing sound, or Linda yelling for her to go away. It was weirdly silent. But she understood that everyone grieved differently. Maybe silence was Linda’s way.

"I’m leaving now. Take care."

She walked down the hallway towards the top of the staircase, where Alrik was waiting for her. But she saw Natalia trying to hug Alrik, while he took steps back to avoid her.

"Don’t make me push you down this staircase. Keep your hands off him." Eliza said calmly as she approached them.

Alrik smiled as he turned to face his wife. He loved the jealous look on her face. It wiped off his irritation at Natalia’s presence.

"Remember what I said, Alrik. You never know. It could come in handy." Natalia said to Alrik, ignoring Eliza’s presence and her words.

Alrik scoffed and rolled his eyes. "You must be delusional. I would say it runs in the family, but since my darling is still related by blood, I won’t say it. Only a fool would believe I would choose you over my wife."

"You seriously tried to proposition my husband while I was just a few feet away?"

"Just letting him know he has better options to choose from. I saw the way he looked at me when he walked in. He..."

"Keep my husband’s name out of your mouth, or I will really push you down those stairs. And I promise you, there will be no repercussions. You’re the one who will have to live through the pain of the tumble. Let’s go, Alrik."

He extended his arm, and she held on to him as they descended the staircase together.

"Hold on. You can’t just leave. I made a lot of food, and..."

"Devote that energy to your grieving daughter in-law. Make sure she eats. She refused to speak when I went up to her room."

"That’s because she..." Natalia began to speak, but was cut off by Eliza’s mother.

"How nice of you to care for her. I’lll make sure she’s alright. She just needs some time alone, and I’m trying to give her that. Will you come check on her again? She’s always felt guilty for being distant with you, so seeing you might make her feel better."

"I probably won’t come back here."

"Not even to see your sister in-law? You always pretend to be so nice outside, but you’re so cruel to your own family." Natalia scoffed, but Eliza pretended not to hear, and turned away with Alrik.

They got back to their car, and she closed her eyes.

"I don’t think a miscarriage happened there. The atmosphere is just too calm." Alrik said. And Eliza sighed.

"It’s probably true, but of course they care more about their agenda than the members of the family. It would have been more weird to me if they were fussing over her. Linda’s silence bothers me a bit though, but there’s nothing I can do about..."

Eliza cut off when Alrik yelped and grabbed his head.

"Alrik! What’s wrong?"