The Billionaire's Fragile Bride

52. NOT NOW!

Chapter dedication goes to Oluwafeyiteniola and Wang_Dasu

It was still strange to Orla, that Sophia would invite her to her house, and even introduce her to Jackson, a friend of hers who was squatting with her pending the time he'd wrap up his medical primary assignment and go back to Bristol.

Within six minutes of meeting each other, Orla knew that Jackson was a humanitarian doctor who went from state to state to help the people who needed a Doctor but couldn't afford them.

Jackson had taken a liking to Orla and told her he'd like to have a word with her after she was done with her sister.

Orla's smile didn't reach her eyes. Sure the guy didn't know she was married.

Perturbation rose in her chest as she occupied the divan at the entrance of the living room, anticipating Sophia, who had gone to get some wine for them.

Not that she was interested in taking what Sophia offered anyway, she was just keen on finding out why she was invited over. Hoping what she wanted to talk about wasn't about her husband.

She wasn't mentally prepared to handle whatever her sister had to say, but she hoped it wouldn't break her more than she had already been broken.

Sophia soon emerged with two glasses in both hands. She smiled, handing a glass to Orla.

"Welcome to my home," sipping from her glass, she crouched next to Orla.

Jackson picked up his computer and sauntered into the room to avoid interrupting the sisters.

"You must have met Jackson," Sophia said.

Silence pervaded the atmosphere.

Sophia glanced at her sister in an attempt to read her mood before starting. She didn't want to hurt her, but she was afraid that couldn't be undone.

"Yes, I have," Orla muttered, dropping the glass on the table without taking a sip of it.

"And what's your impression of him?"

Stunned, Orla shrugged her shoulders. When did her opinion of her sister's friends start to count? And besides, she just met him and couldn't judge his whole personality with that five minutes of partial bonding.

"I don't know. What does my impression of him have to do with why I got an emergency invitation to rush where?"

"Hmm, we will discuss the reason shortly." Sophia placed her legs on top of each other, her eyes exploring Orla from her head to the golden boots she donned.

She looked very different, barely recognizable. Callan was doing a great job of taking care of her, she presumed.

"Can we get to it now?" Orla demanded, starting to get uncomfortable with Sophia's protracted stares. "The reason I was summoned here, Sophia."

"Orla, how have you been?" She asked like she had just seen her for the first time today.

"Oh, let's scrap that formality. What do you care about how I have been?"

"I do, if I didn't, I wouldn't have you here today." Guilt stung her, so hard she could feel the pain in her marrow. "Callan..." Carefully assessing Orla to be certain she could speak.

"What about Callan?"

Orla tried to keep the beating of her heart in check, but it palpitated erratically. It couldn't be stable, it couldn't, not when Sophia's first word was her husband's name.