She's My Sleeping Pill

On the road, Stefan couldn’t calm down himself and was afraid that he would get into an accident. Left with no choice, he called Tristan and gave him his current location so that the man could drive for him.

He didn’t forget to send Cayenne a message of his whereabouts, too.

“Why is he going to City D? Didn’t he say he was going to get something from the villa? Did something happen?” Cayenne called him as she mumbled these words to herself but Stefan didn’t answer her call. She was starting to worry for him, then she thought there must be a reason why he can’t pick up his phone. For someone who spoils his wife, it was rather strange that he was keeping something from her. However, her trust in him was stronger than any piece of metal.

Staring at her phone, she replied, “Take care of yourself and come home as soon as you can. Our baby and I will be waiting for you.”

The trip to City D wasn’t pleasing for Stefan. His heart couldn’t calm down and whenever he sees the bathrobe and the baby blanket with the same embroidered design, he kept getting teary-eyed.

Tristan was observing him from the mirror and he couldn’t tell what was wrong with the boss. First, he found it surprising that he wasn’t answering Cayenne’s call. Second, he couldn’t fathom why he was being emotional while holding a bathrobe and a baby blanket. [I don’t want to jump to any conclusion but, whose baby blanket is he holding? Cayenne isn’t due for labor until next year.]

Tristan just kept his opinion to himself while driving. He didn’t want to pry into Stefan’s life at this time because the man seemed really emotional.

After four hours, as they grew closer to City D, Stefan’s heart trembled but he wasn’t sure whether it was from excitement or from fear that he might be wrong.

.....

There’s a chance that it was really just a mere coincidence and he was afraid that his situation right now might be the case.

There were so many questions in his mind – questions he didn’t know if he should ask or how to ask them to the two people he was planning to meet.

Still, after several hours of travel, he found himself standing in front of a log cabin situated in the countryside part of City D.

It was away from the noisy and polluted environment. A perfect place for the woman whom he claimed to be his wife and who needed peace in life. You could see trees everywhere and flowers on the field. Aside from this log cabin, there was no other house that you can find within one-kilometer radius.

Taking a deep breath and letting them out, he did this several times until he finally got the courage to knock on the door. The person who opened it was quite shocked to find him there. Nonetheless, he gestured for Stefan and Tristan to come in. Tristan felt that Stefan came for personal reasons, so he declined the offer and stayed outside. He wasn’t needed for something private.

Latticia’s eyes lit up when she saw Stefan standing in the living room. It was evident that she was happy and wanted to hold him yet the light in her eyes dimmed when she saw what he was holding. She didn’t expect her secret would be exposed like this. It’s been 29 years. Who would keep a baby blanket that long? And a little burnt and creased at that. It didn’t make any sense to her but when she looked into her son’s eyes, she felt guilty.

“May I know how I can help you this time?” Dr. Albert asked as he sat down on the couch next to Latticia and motioned for Stefan to take a seat as well.

Instead of taking his offer, Stefan stood up and pointed his finger at the woman in front of her. “I want to take a DNA test with her.”

“No!” Dr. Albert shouted immediately. His strong reaction proved to Stefan that there was another story to her mother’s case.

“I really want to punch you right now.” Stefan expressed helplessly as he sat down and rubbed his face while feeling a little complicated deep inside.

“How did you find out?” Dr. Albert asked in a tone that seemed he had lost all hope in life. “I never intended you to know. I wanted to keep this matter a secret for the rest of my life. Why must you uncover it?”

“Then what about me?!” Stefan retorted angrily. “I grew up without a mom! I grew up incomplete! How could you be so selfish?!”

“Then, should I stay silent and let Clara deal a finishing blow on her? If she was still alive after being hit by her car, would you believe me if I say that Clara won’t stop hunting her? She was out for murder! I had to do something to keep her alive!”

“So you decided to take her away. Away from me, away from dad, away from everyone who loves her.”

“Your dad can’t protect her.” Dr. Albert declared that Stefan has no words to refute. “He made her his mistress. If he loves her that much, he could have fought for it. He should have done that instead of believing Clara immediately. He should have thought it through. Then, what did he do? He was a selfish ass who didn’t want anyone to step on his ego. Tell me, if I told everyone the truth 29 years ago, would your father protect her? For Pete’s sake, you are his son born from the woman he loves the most! He didn’t even protect you. He let Clara trample your life!”

Stefan didn’t know what to say. What Dr. Albert said was the truth. His father wasn’t able to protect the woman he loves. He didn’t protect his son born from her. It was all the painful truth.

“I love her, Stefan.” Dr. Albert expressed which stunned Stefan in his seat. “I love her so much ever since we were in high school. I know I am being selfish but I couldn’t give her up when the opportunity was knocking on my door. Even if she couldn’t return my feelings, it’s fine with me. She’s not obligated to return them. I just want to spend my life taking care of her.”

He was speechless for a moment. He didn’t expect to hear a love confession coming from him after all the intense confrontations they had. It was so out of the blue that he couldn’t find a word to retort. “Have you...have you ever wondered that she might want to come back to me? To my family?” Stefan asked after a long moment of silence. He really wanted to get his mother back.

“Why don’t you ask your mother? No matter how I plead, if she chooses to go with you, I can’t do anything about it. At the same time, I want to let you know that she always decides for herself. Here.” Dr. Albert gave Stefan a book and a pen. “They’re your props for choices. I’ll go our first.”

Tristan heard some of the information because of their loud voices earlier but when Dr. Albert came out, he pretended to be playing a mobile game. It would be awkward if the man finds out he was eavesdropping.

Back inside the house, Stefan kneeled on the floor while gazing up at his mother. He finally had the chance to really look at her and he realized they have the same eye color. Her eyebrow was very much like his, too.

Can’t control his emotions anymore, Stefan burst out crying and buried his face in his mother’s pale hand. He sat on the ground and just cried. He knew. He knew that his mother didn’t intend to go back to him or her family. She could have done it a long time ago if she wanted to.

“Ma,” Stefan muttered with tears streaming down his face. “Ma.”

Latticia cried but no matter how much she wanted to speak, she couldn’t. She wanted to call his name, to roll it on her tongue again and again, and to listen to the sound it makes. Sadly, she didn’t have that opportunity right now.

“Ma,” Stefan called once again. “Are you happy with him?” Then, he realized she couldn’t talk which was the reason why Dr. Albert gave him a book and a pen. He raised the two items and gave her the options, Yes for the pen and No for the book. Not surprising to him, she looked at the pen. “Ma, I know that dad failed to protect you but, why didn’t you, at least, ask the doctor to tell me the truth? I could keep the secret for you, too.”

No answer.

Stefan continued pouring his complaints but at the end of the day, he was still happy to know he was right.

“Ma,” Stefan called and kissed the back of her hand. “I am so happy to see you. I have always thought about you ever since I realized I wasn’t Clara’s son. I always think of how you look, and what’s your favorite food or favorite flower. I have always imagined how it feels to have a mother. I am so glad you are here.”

“Are you going to tell Magnus?” Dr. Albert asked who came inside after staying outside for some time. He walked towards Latticia and wiped off the tears from her face. “I wish you wouldn’t.”