The moment she entered the ward, her younger brother, Brian, rushed to her, throwing himself into her arms. "Sister," his voice cracked, from holding back tears and pain.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern.
"It's like before," he said quietly, his voice breaking, "she fainted again."
Vera moved to the bed where her mother lay, weak and frail. Her once vibrant face now looked older, worn out by something no one could explain.
Vera's heart twisted at the sight. When would this stop? One moment her mother was fine with joy and energy. The next, she was frail and fainting, leaving them helpless.
Doctors had run countless tests, but they couldn't find the cause. In the past year, her mother had fainted three times, each time slipping into unconsciousness for days.
"Mom," Vera whispered, kneeling by her side, fighting the tears threatening to fall. "I'll make sure you're okay," she promised, standing up and wiping her eyes.
She turned to Brian, who stood next to Jason, both wearing somber expressions. "Have you eaten?" she asked gently.
"I'm not hungry," he replied softly.
"You need to eat," Vera insisted, her voice firm but kind. "I'll get something for you right away."
At just sixteen, Brian carried the weight of an adult's worries. Most days, Vera found herself wondering why their father had left them so soon, leaving them to shoulder so much at such a young age.
Brian was only three, and she was eleven when it all changed. Three years later, their mother remarried. He never liked their stepfather and doubted he ever would.
She left home because she couldn't stand living under the same roof as him. He had never hurt her or mistreated her mother, yet every time he was near, a deep sense of unease settled in her chest. Maybe it was resentment, knowing he had taken her father's place.
"I'll be back," she murmured before stepping out of the hospital ward.
When she returned, her body tensed at the sight before her. Sitting beside her mother's bed was the one person she didn't want to see, her stepfather. She swallowed hard, glancing at the food pack in her hand, then at her brother. Brian had caught the shift in her expression.
"Thank you, sis." Brian quickly walked over and took the food from her hands.
His movement drew their stepfather's attention. The man turned to her with a warm smile.
"Vera!" he called, his voice filled with excitement.
"She'll be fine," he assured her, but Vera's expression remained unreadable.
Jason, who had been watching, glanced between Vera, her stepfather, and Brian. He knew she kept her distance, refusing to accept the man despite all efforts.
"Good day, Mr. Mac," she muttered, her tone polite but cold. Then, taking Brian's hand, she led him to an empty seat.
"Sit and eat," she said softly, ignoring Mac entirely.
Mac hesitated for a moment before lowering his gaze. Silence filled the room, heavy and unspoken.
That night, Vera didn't go home. She stayed in the ward with Brian, keeping watch over their mother. With firm insistence, she made sure Mac left, allowing only her and Brian to remain.
Once they were alone, Vera pulled Brian aside. She lowered her voice and nudged toward the door. "Never leave Mom alone with him."
Brian frowned. "He isn't bad, sis. You're just worrying for nothing."
For ten years, Mac had been their stepfather, since Brian was six. He had stepped into the father role effortlessly, not just for Brian but also for their mother. He had been steady, reliable, and faithful. Yet, Vera refused to accept him, and Brian still didn't understand why.
"I know he's not bad, but still, be careful," she warned.
Brian sighed in frustration. "Sis, it's been ten years. Ten good years. He hasn't done anything wrong. He takes care of Mom, he's loyal to her, what exactly is your problem?" He kept his voice down, careful not to wake their mother.
Vera exhaled sharply. What was her problem? "He thinks he can replace Dad, playing the role perfectly," she spat, her voice laced with anger.
Brian stared at her in disbelief. She resented Mac not for anything he had done, but simply because he had married their mother.
"Sis, Dad is gone," he said gently, but the words hit her like a blow. Her face twisted in pain, and her eyes filled with unshed tears.
"He shouldn't have died, Brian. Dad shouldn't have left us. I miss him." A tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. She couldn't let Brian see her break.
Brian took a deep breath. "And God sent a good man to take care of us, but you won't even appreciate him." His voice was firm, yet filled with quiet frustration.
Vera shook her head. "But he isn't Dad. He will never be Dad."
Not again. Brian wasn't going to have this conversation again. He glanced at his exhausted sister and softened his tone. "Sis, get some rest. You have work tomorrow." He guided her toward the sofa.
"Sleep," he repeated.
Then, without another word, he grabbed a thick blanket, spread it on the floor, and lay down.
Vera watched him in silence. Would she ever accept Mac as her father? She wasn't sure. But as Brian's slow, steady breathing filled the room, she finally lay down on the sofa, lost in thoughts she couldn't escape.
Early the next morning, Vera left the hospital and headed home to prepare for work.
The moment she stepped into the living room, a deep voice startled her.
"Where have you been?"
She froze. Stan. His piercing gaze locked onto her, unreadable yet intense. Guilt stirred inside her, had she accused him wrongly? Maybe. Just maybe.
"Good morning," she said quickly. "I was at the hospital. My mom fainted again."
Stan remained silent for a moment before speaking. "And you didn't tell me? You didn't even call?"
"I'm sorry," she lied smoothly, forcing calm into her voice. "I was too emotional… I didn't think about my phone." Would he believe that?
"I guess Jason was there," he said, his voice sharp, eyes drilling into her.
She lowered her gaze, unsure how to respond. She had deliberately not called him. She didn't want him near her family, not while she was still uncertain about his involvement in the incident.
Besides, the last few times her mother fainted, he hadn't rushed to the hospital. He had simply called to check on her and covered the hospital bill. That was all. There had been no real presence, no genuine concern. So what was the point of calling him? She didn't trust him anymore. And this time, she wouldn't take his money. She would pay for it herself.
Stan studied her in silence, then turned and walked away. Her lack of response told him everything he needed to know. She had called Jason, but not him.
Since she was discharged from the hospital, he had noticed the shift, her distance, her coldness. Conversations were brief, forced. When he asked, she blamed it on work stress. Then, she moved into another room, claiming she didn't want to disturb him with late-night work.
He had hoped she would come around, that she would talk to him eventually. But while he waited, her mother collapsed, was rushed to the hospital, and she didn't think to tell him.
But she had told Jason.
Stan had called her several times. She ignored every single one. But Jason's calls? Those, she answered.
She had spent the entire night at the hospital and hadn't thought to inform him. Not once.
Back in his bedroom, he dressed up, grabbed his briefcase, and headed to the living room.
Vera was about to ascend the stairs when she saw him coming down, already dressed for work.
"Are you leaving?" she asked.
He didn't respond. He didn't even look at her. He walked past her, face unreadable, heading straight for the door.
She clenched her fists. How dare he act like he cared? Like he was hurt?
"Even if I had called you, it would've been the same!" she snapped.
Stan halted mid-step.
"It would've been the same excuse, Stan! The same story about how busy you are!" Her voice dripped with frustration.
He turned slowly, his eyes locking onto hers.
"Yes, Jason was there! My Jason! The only one who would drop everything and rush to the hospital! The only one who stayed with me!" Her voice trembled with anger.
"But you?" She scanned him with scorn. "You're always busy! Too busy to visit my mother in the hospital!"
Her voice echoed through the sitting room, swallowing the words Stan had been about to say.
"And now you stand there, shamelessly blaming me?" she seethed, her body vibrating with rage.
Stan's lips parted, but no words came out.
"You think I don't notice? You think I don't see how little you actually care?" she continued, her fury surging.
Stan finally found his voice. "You think I don't care?" he asked, disbelief evident in his tone.
"I make sure the hospital bills are always covered," he said quietly, as if that should count for something.
"Bills?" Vera let out a bitter laugh. "Bills, Stan George?"
The way she spat his full name sent a jolt through him.
Why was she overreacting? Why was she looking at him like he was the villain?
Vera stormed toward him, her blazing eyes locking onto his face. "It's not about money! It's… it's…" She faltered, the rest of her words refusing to come out.
Stan took a deep breath, his jaw tightening as he swallowed his disappointment.
"All these excuses won't change the fact that you didn't tell me," he said coldly. "And that, no matter what I do, you always put Jason above me."
His sharp gaze lingered on her for a moment before he turned abruptly and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Vera flinched at the sound, her heart hammering in her chest. She stood frozen, staring at the door in utter disbelief. He was supposed to apologize. He was supposed to explain himself. But instead… he was angry?
A moment later, she heard the roar of the car engine, then the sound of tires screeching as he drove away.
He left.
She stood there, stunned. Was he really mad? What right did he have to be angry when she was the one suffering?
Did she overreact? Maybe. But how could anyone blame her? Anyone in her shoes would have done the same. It wasn't her fault that every clue had pointed to him. And she still hadn't completely ruled him out.
Scoffing to herself, she turned and headed to her room. She quickly got ready for work, grabbed the car keys to the car he had bought for her, and drove off.
The next day, her mother finally regained consciousness, and by the following day, she was discharged. There were no further complications, and yet, the tension between Vera and Stan only grew thicker.
And Stan? He wasn't the type to just sit back and let it fester.