***
    "He is awake" I told Liam.
 Ever since the doctor had permitted us to go into the ward; after the surgery was done... I have been staring at my father..and he just opened his eyes.
    "Eve" My Dad tried to speak and I held his hand.
 "You can't sit yet sir" Liam said to him  when he tried to sit upright.
   "Eve, how is your husband?" My father asked.
  "Don't call him my husband" I frowned.
    
 "Mr Maya.." He wanted to say but I interrupted him.
    "This is Mr Maya's son; Liam" I introduced.
  "Do you feel okay?" Liam asked him and he nodded.
 "I'ld excuse you and your father now" Liam said and left the ward.
    
 "Dad" I fondle with his finger as I began to weep again secretly.
 "I have not seen Mr Maya around, and how have you been?" He asked me.
    I wiped my face and forced a smile..
   "I am fine Dad, as you can see" I lied; "Mr Maya..he told son to come here with me. Mr Maya has really been a good man"
    
   "I told you, you won't regret getting married to him" My Dad said touching my cheeks.
  "Are you really Okay Dad?"
    "Of course.. I just need a little rest. I have been here for a very long time and they have been taking good care of...the doctor said he is not gonna release anytime soon" My father said.
  "Why?" I questioned.
 " Mr Maya told him not until I have full recovered"
    
  "Oh so Mr Maya did that yet he won't foot your bills anymore" I mumbled.
  "What did you say?" He didn't hear me.
 "Nothing. Then how come the Doctor doesn't know who Mr Maya is?"
   "He never come here himself, he always sends someone"
    "Oh!" How cruel Mr Maya is.
 I sniffed, so that I would not cry again..
 "Mr Maya is such a good man. He gave me a job and I am doing fine at his place" I lied again, so that he will feel better.. it's really nice to see my father smiling.
    
    **
    After spending some time in the ward with Dad, I came out to meet Liam whom I left waiting outside.
    
  "Will you be able to go home ? Or should I wait here with you?" Liam asked me.
    "My father wants me to leave, he thinks I'm doing fine just because I told him that I have a job. I also lied to him so that it would trigger his ailment.."
 "Will you stay with him?"
    "I wish. I'll come back tomorrow to see him as early as possible"
    "I'll come with you" He said.
    I stopped walking and looked at him.
    "I'm really thankful for today Liam, I owe you alot"
    "You owe me nothing Eve" He said..
    "Right! Your father put me in this position" I retorted.
    "I am glad he never had you in his bed"
    
    **
    Liam drove into the gate; "I thought you just wanted to drop me off" 
    "No, I need to see my damn father" He said as he got of the car before me.
    "Liam, how have you been?" He asked. Liam smiled at him as went inside quickily.
   
    "Liam"  We met Helen and Mark  in the living room. They mentioned his name at the same time.
    "Is father at home?"
    "He didn't even go to work, he has been sleeping... He woke up only few minutes ago" Mark reported.
   "Oh good!" Liam remarked and moved to his father's room.
    "What are you doing Liam?" I walked faster to catch up with him.. 
    Mr Maya came out of his before Liam even got there.
    "Oh Liam. You are back to father's house" Mr Maya said.
    
    "What did you do Eve's father?" Liam confronted him.
    "What do you mean?" Mr Maya pretended not to understand 
 "You are wicked, and you know it!" Liam remarked.
    "Wicked how?"
    
    "Liam, what happened to Eve's father?"
"He is ill and this man here promised to take good care of him, that's one of the reasons why Eve agreed to be with him. But as soon as Audrey signed the marriage contract, he stopped footing the hospital bills"  Liam rushed his words..
    "What...?" Helen and Mark uttered at the same time.
    "So why are you making a fuss about it?" Mr Maya laughed, he didn't even show any sign of remose.
    
    "You are cruel and what did you do to her bank account?" Liam asked his father, he won't even calm down or let me talk.
    "My bank account?"
    "Father!" He screamed.
  "Oh My God Liam. I have missed you so much" Mr Maya said; "Now Listen, Eve is my wife. She has a job now, I mean she is working in my company, so she should be able to settle her problems and even Carter for her family. It's still an indirect help coming from me" 
    
    I couldn't believe my ears
    I stamped my feet against the floor as I ran upstair and Helen ran behind me to comfort me but I told that I wanted to be alone at that moment.
I knew I was already stucked in this marriage; I just wanna let go of everything and be single and free but no, I don't wanna go back to that poor background. I have had enough since he is not keeping his promising; the only thing that can help me going his the job and I haven't earned much; talk more of leaving the marriage... Once I'm good to go; I'll fly out of the country if it's possible.
 Or I might even need a better means of breaking the marriage contract I had with him because I know for sure that he won't just sign a devoice paper which can't be easy for me to get; I also know that he might treat me worst if I talk back at him. But somehow I was glad deep down that he didn't have his way on me and I hope that he is not gonna find out soon.
    
  I could still hear Liam even from my room, he was still yell at his father. Right! His father is at fault but I don't know why he keeps standing up for me...making he and his father quarrel whenever he is around. I think I'm a big burden upon this family and upon myself.
    
  "Are you okay now Eve?" Helen knocked on my door.
"Come in" I murmured, she did.
    "Are you Okay?" She asked me again.
 "He literally showed me an exact example of 'You can't eat your cake and have you'" I told her.
 "But you should be glad that he never had s*x with you in return" She said and I nodded slowly; "Liam just left, he said he'll come back to pick you up tomorrow morning" Helen said.
  "He followed me to the hospital. we are going backto check up on my father again. Thanks to Liam, he footed the bills" I explained to Helen.. and she was so surprised."I don't know what I would have done" I added.
    "I'm sorry about what's happening to you Eve. Trust me, you'll break over it very soon" She said, pulling me closer to give me a hug and I tried to put on a smile.
  "So Liam generous footed the bills. Is that all?" She asked me.
    "What do you mean?"
    "Uhm, nothing" Helen said, smiling at me.
Liam is so generous and..and..probably when my Dad has fully recovered, he'll occupy my mind again.. For now; I'm very much worried about my father that I'm now regretting why I didn't stay back with him at the hospital.
    
    *****
    ***