Chapter 3

Anderson helped Mayra to apply for a week off from school. He hadn't visited her since she was discharged from the hospital. One night, she decided to get some water to quench her thirst. While pouring herself a glass of water, she heard footsteps coming from outside the door. Before anyone even knocked, she peered out of the peephole and found that it was Anderson. He was drunk. Standing beside him was his assistant, Shane Gorman. Seeing that, she quickly opened the door for them. Shane immediately helped Anderson over to the couch. Then, he turned to speak to her. "Mr. Barlow had a bit too much to drink. Please take care of him." Mayra considered Shane an acquaintance as she had met him many times before. She nodded at him. "Thanks for your help, Mr. Gorman." After he left, she went over and removed Anderson's jacket and shoes. The only time Anderson would drop by her place was when he felt suffocated at the Barlows', or when he was overwhelmed by life's frustrations. The Barlows were a family who only cared about power. Anderson groggily opened his eyes, and he was immediately greeted by the sight of Mayra in a rather washed-out nightdress. Her slender and fair legs poked out from under the knee-length hem of the dress. He caught a glimpse of the shorts she was wearing underneath. Mayra heated up some hangover soup for Anderson. She felt his eyes on her as she moved, making her feel uneasy. She cautiously cared for him, a look of fear in her eyes. His eyes glazed over from the alcohol. "Has your injury healed?" She looked startled by his sudden question. "Uh… Yeah, it's almost healed. Thanks for your concern." "Why didn't you wear the new clothes I bought you?" He squinted at her, taking in the fear etched on her face. She seemed afraid of him ever since leaving the hospital. She explained, "It's drying on the balcony. I haven't collected the laundry." The apartment might have been old, but Anderson made sure to provide her with the best in other aspects of her life. She approached him and sat on a stool nearby. The thin dress wrapped around her underdeveloped body. She slowly fed him the soup but dared not stare at him. "Andy, stop drinking so much. It's bad for your health." He replied as he drank the soup. "Okay." The hangover soup was flavorful, thick, and warm. It was perfect for curing hangovers. As a company president, Anderson frequently attended social events to entertain his clients. It was normal for him to come home drunk. Mayra had been looking after him ever since she could remember. Noticing the wound on the back of his hand, she asked with concern, "Are you hurt? What happened?" Taking a deep breath, he covered his eyes with his hand and replied, "It's just a scratch. No big deal." After he allowed the Fisher Corporation to take the Southwater Bay development project, he had drawn his grandpa's, George Barlow, ire. In an outburst, George smashed a cup, and one of the shattered pieces scratched the back of Anderson's hand. It wasn't a severe wound. It didn't even bleed. By the looks of it, the injury had been left untreated for hours. Luckily, this was a rather minor injury compared to the ones he had sustained in the past. Since he was reluctant to tell her anything more, she pressed his lips and slowly rose. Then, she quietly grabbed the first-aid kit from her bedroom. When she returned, Anderson felt something soft touch his fingertip. His eyes fluttered open to find Mayra disinfecting his found with a cotton bud soaked in iodine solution. The affection in his eyes deepened. He watched as her dark and luscious curls fell around her shoulders. Her complexion was smooth and fair. Mayra's eyes had a naive sparkle in them, reflecting her childish youthfulness. She hadn't quite matured yet. Anderson was sure that she'd grow into a stunning beauty who'd captivate any man. After Mayra disinfected his wound, she proceeded to bandage it while nagging at him, "Andy, you should take better care of yourself. Don't get hurt again." He grunted. "Mm." When she moved her gaze from his wound, she found him staring at her. She flinched and looked away. Suddenly, she blurted out, "Andy, when are you marrying Ms. Fisher?" The look in his eyes hardened. "Did she meet with you?" She shook her head. "No. I saw you on TV a few days ago. Didn't you announce that you'll marry her? Will I be invited to your wedding?" She tied a bow with the gauze after bandaging his hand. Fixing his gaze on her, he seemed determined to read her mind. Alas, her eyes were a pool of calmness. Ever since Mayra returned from the hospital, she had undergone a complete change. Anderson told her, "Mayra, I won't show up here that often anymore." Pausing, she anticipated what he would say next, knowing that it would be related to his and Isabel's marriage. Only by marrying Isabel could he solidify his power within the Barlow family. In Mayra's past life, she had pestered Anderson and forced her way into living with the Barlows. However, her experience with the Barlows proved that they were a devious and manipulative family. She would have died at their hands had it not been for their fear of Anderson's authority. In this life, it was about time she parted ways with Anderson. At the end of the day, they weren't related by blood. All the while, she had been the one clinging to him. He had done more than he should've for her. Nodding, she replied, "Got it, Andy. I'll take good care of myself. See? I lived alone without a problem in the three months you were absent. "I'm 16 now. I can do the chores myself, and I've been saving the allowance you give me. I have enough to last me until I get into college. Andy, don't worry about me anymore. Just go and do whatever you want. I'll be fine." He reached out to caress her long locks. "You know you can always call me if anything happens." She nodded at him with a smile, having already given up on that option. Before he left, he gave her a bank card and told her that the date she left the orphanage was the PIN. The date also happened to be her birthday. … It didn't take long for Mayra to realize that Anderson had truly left her life. When she tried to call his number, she realized that it was out of service. It would be a lie to claim that she wasn't affected by the discovery. Anderson was her only family after she was orphaned. Now that he had left, she was truly alone, and there was nothing she could do about it. Without her interference, she believed that Anderson would get to marry Isabel sooner in this life.