Okay. I've been MIA because my laptop is broken...again… Maybe? Well, it's having the same problem it had back in Jan 2020, so I'm gonna send it to the Apple people to check it out on Monday. Updates will be slower while this happens. Sorry. I wanted to update a lot this weekend because I have a long weekend, but I didn't know my laptop was going to break. :P
Chapter 40
"Why are you here?" the 8 year old girl, Kaylee asks.
Drew raises a confused eyebrow at her. "I'm always here."
Besides for Betty and Benny, most children stay away from Drew. This is the first time Kaylee has approached him. Drew is currently sweeping the lobby while Betty is behind the counter. The older girl curiously watches the interaction. Kaylee is a newer child who arrived after May had left. Fortunately, the children who know about May and Drew haven't shared this news with the few newer orphans.
Kaylee shakes her head. "I know, but I heard you're rich. Rich people don't come here."
The man sets his broom down against the wall. Bending down to Kaylee's eye level, Drew shrugs. "I like it here."
Frowning slightly, Kaylee responds, "I like it here too, but I wanna be with my mommy." She cocks her head. "Do you have a mommy, Mr. Drew?"
Drew thinks about his own parents who have never seemed like parents to him. Fighting the sigh he's about to release, he nods. "Yes. I have a mom and dad."
"So why are you here?"
The seemingly innocent question causes all sorts of thoughts to run through Drew's mind. How would his parents react if they knew he was spending lots of time at the orphanage? Brianna is already furious. Drew has been staying in his condo, leaving Brianna at the mansion. However, why is Drew here? He has no ties to this place, yet he finds himself wanting to always be here. It's the highlight of his day, and that's not because of a certain brunette he can tease.
"Kaylee, go do your homework." Betty scolds the younger girl. Betty doesn't want Kaylee's prying to give Drew any ideas of his missing memories.
"But, Betty!"
"Kaylee." Betty sternly says, and the little girl reluctantly nods.
Waving at Drew, she mutters, "Bye, Mr. Drew."
Drew is snapped out of his thoughts as he watches the young girl walk past the double door behind Betty and the counter. Standing up, he curiously eyes the teenager who has resumed looking at her computer monitor. "Why'd you do that?"
"Do what?" Betty doesn't even look at him.
"Kick her out. We were talking."
The girl gives him an unamused glance. "I doubt the heir to Hayden Corporation would want to talk to an 8 year old orphan about parents."
Walking over to the counter, Drew leans over it. "I wanna learn about her. I wanna learn about all of you." He really does. It's not just May. Each of these people have stories to tell, but they need someone to listen. Everything he's learned so far makes him just want to spend more time at the orphanage.
Betty resumes her work, though she does answer him. "Kaylee's mom is in jail for substance abuse." Having a similar past, Betty feels for the young girl. Betty wants to make sure Kaylee always feels safe in the orphanage, and that means staying away from Drew. Drew hurt Betty when he left and broke his promise years ago. After gaining her trust, he crushed it. Betty can't let him do the same to the other children, especially Kaylee.
Drew uncomfortably frowns as he nods. While his parents were never present, they did provide him with a good quality of life. He never had to worry about going hungry or being separated from them for years. He always had everything he wanted, which is the reason he was such a spoiled reckless brat prior to his accident.
"Why are you here?" he asks the girl who now shoots him an annoyed glare.
"You're not supposed to ask people that."
The man shrugs with a small smirk on his lips. "Kaylee asked me though. Seems like I can ask it now."
Shaking her head, Betty leans back in her chair. May and Tyler are filling out grant applications inside the office, and May left Betty on Drew duty. Thus, Betty needs to keep Drew away from May. Although May enjoyed her night out with Drew last week, she's out of her vulnerable state now to understand that she and Drew cannot be spending time alone together. Drew has been trying to see her, but it seems like every time he's about to get May to himself, something comes up for one or both of them.
"I don't need to tell you." Betty finally speaks.
"I won't force you." Drew walks back to his broom. "But then I won't be telling you why I'm here."
Betty scoffs at his arrogance. "We all know you're here because you think you have a crush on May." She side-eyes him. "Even though you're married."
Sighing, Drew gives Betty a defeated look. "I don't have a crush on May. And while I may be married, I'm not happily married." For some reason, Drew has been trusting Betty a lot. It's like the moment he met her he knew he could tell her anything. Maybe that's why he's always so open with her.
Now, Betty's interest is piqued. When Betty heard about Drew choosing Brianna over May, Betty assumed Drew was satisfied with Brianna. Betty knew Drew didn't love Brianna, but the young girl figured the two would learn to get along. This meant May's heart would be broken. Nevertheless, Drew's choice of Brianna allowed Betty and the rest of the orphans to believe Drew made the choice bringing him happiness. He always talked about wanting to be happy rather than rich.
"Why'd you marry her then?"
Drew stops sweeping to think. Why did he marry Brianna? Shrugging, he resumes sweeping. "I don't know. It's one of the years I lost my memories."
"Don't you love her?"
Raising a curious eyebrow at the girl, Drew smirks. "Uh uh. I can't be telling all my secrets. I need something from you first." It's not fair. Drew already told Betty he isn't happily married. He's not going to go into depth without something from her too.
Sighing, Betty replies, "My mom left because my dad was abusive and a drunk. After my teachers saw my bruises, they reported my dad. He's been in jail, and I was sent here." The old Drew already knows all of this. Betty doesn't mind telling the new Drew. Well, she kind of does, but she wants information from him. This is a good tradeoff since she's retelling him information for new information.
Drew sets the broom down and takes a few steps towards the counter again. With his brows furrowed, the man inquires, "How old were you?"
"Huh?"
"How old were you when he started putting his hands on you?" the man calmly wonders.
Betty shrugs. "I don't know. He always did. He did it more after my mom left."
Letting out a long breath, Drew shuts his eyes and rests his head against the tall counter. Betty curiously watches him. She hopes he didn't regain his memories based on her reminding him about her father. Drew did fight him off once, sending her dad back to jail. Betty is glad her father is still behind bars. It means she is safe.
After a few seconds, Drew finally says, "I'm sorry, Betty." How is he so affected by hearing this. Normally, he'd feel bad for the child and then resume doing his task in awkward silence. However, he's furious. It makes him want to find Betty's father to beat him down.
Betty sighs as she fights back her own tears. Regardless of her abusive father, he is still her father. He still raised her. A part of her still has love for him, even though she knows she's better without him. "It's not your fault, Drew."
Drew raises his head so that Betty can see his glossy angry emerald orbs. "If anyone tries to hurt you again, just let me know." Drew won't let Betty go through that again. The orphanage must be a safe haven for her. It is for a lot of the children. Drew never expected this chipper helpful girl to have such a traumatic past.
Betty gives him a small grateful smile. "Thanks, Drew." The last person to hurt her was him. When he chose Brianna over the orphanage and May. When his actions resulted in May leaving. Drew is Betty's recent pain, and it upsets the girl to know that she's accepted him back into her life. She knows he'll always choose his wealthy lifestyle. It didn't stop him last time when he actually had relationships with the orphanage.
Nodding, the man grabs his broom and dustpan. He needs a break from cleaning. Learning about Betty's past only infuriates him. Despite not knowing how Brianna's father looks like, Drew can picture him vividly. Drew can picture himself pummeling Betty's father over and over again. Drew can visualize the man going for May too.
Dropping the broom and dustpan before he reaches the double doors leading from the lobby to the cafeteria, Drew leans against the wall to clutch his head tightly and groan. His eyes are shut as he slides down to the ground. This pain. He hasn't had a headache this intense in a while. Maybe his anger triggered it? Nonetheless, the man is in too much pain to think about what caused his headache.
Soon, Betty is beside Drew trying to reach him with her voice, but he can't hear her. Her shouting gets the attention of those in the cafeteria and office. May is the first one to Betty's side, and Tyler ushers the rest of the children back into the cafeteria. Drew manages to open his eyes slightly to see those worried sapphire orbs. With the ringing in his ears, he closes his eyes again to the blackness.
Hayden Corporation
"Where is he?" Nicholas Hayden asks Owen, Drew's secretary.
Wincing from the man's angry voice, Owen stammers, "I don't know, sir." Drew sneaks out too often. While Owen should know this by now, he can never catch Drew. Drew has also been good about disposing of all trackers that are put on his car.
Nicholas has noticed that Drew leaves work early. However, Hayden Corporation isn't rising in production. Just what has his son gotten himself into? "Find him."
"I know where he is." Both men look towards the door where they see a pinkette walking inside with her two secretaries following.
The Hayden Corporation owner eyes her. "Where is he?"
"Drew and I have been going on dinner dates. We do have a happy marriage, sir." Brianna lies. Her secretaries fight the urge to give each other confused looks. "He's currently out buying me flowers."
Nicholas sighs. This is something he can't be too upset at his son about. However, Nicholas has been starting to wonder if this partnership with Wakanna Enterprises is going to help his company. So far, Hayden Corporation has used some funds to help Wakanna Enterprises. It also seems like Brianna hasn't been trying to learn about her family's company to help it grow.
From what Nicholas knows, Brianna waits around for Drew to come home or she goes shopping. Maybe Nicholas doesn't want an heir with the Wakanna family anymore? He should've pushed Drew to date the Berlitz Beauties heir. Their company is going exceptionally well being led by the young woman.
Annoyed, Nicholas says, "Tell him I need to speak with him later. My wife and I will be joining you two on your dinner date this evening."
Brianna nods. "Yes, sir. I'll let him know." Nicholas leaves Drew's office in an angry fit. Once he's gone, Brianna glares at Owen. "How do you keep losing him?"
Owen lowers his head in fear. "I'm sorry, ma-"
She hits the back of his head. "You're making me look bad! Don't forget what my family has done for your father." Wakanna Enterprises once paid for Owen's father's cancer treatment years ago when Owen's father was an employee. Owen took over in his father's place and begged for financial assistance. Brianna and her secretaries make their departure, and Owen lets out a terrified breath.
He hates this world. Drew is kind to him, but it hurts Owen knowing he's betraying the only nice person he has. Drew is the only one who treats Owen like a normal person. Drew cares about Owen's opinions. Despite all the teasing, Owen knows Drew doesn't look down on him. Sighing, Owen places his head in his hands. He isn't sure he can do this for much longer, but his father still needs these treatments. According to rumors, Wakanna Enterprises is struggling. Maybe if it comes to the point where they can't fund his father's medical expenses anymore, Owen will finally be free. However, who will pay for his father's treatments?
Orphanage
After managing to put Drew down in May's bed, May, Betty, and Tyler are watching the man sleep. His brows are still furrowed slightly, and he's a little sweaty; however, he looks less pale. The reason they put Drew in May's bed rather than Tyler's is because Tyler doesn't like people in his room. The last time Drew fainted in the orphanage, May wasn't around, so this room was vacant.
May places a hand on Betty's shoulder who is currently putting a washcloth on Drew's forehead. "Can we talk outside, Betty?"
Betty shakes her head. "Drew-"
Tyler's hand on Betty's makes the girl's cheeks heat up. However, Tyler is just grabbing the washcloth from her. "I'll watch him." The young man speaks.
Before Betty can object, May says, "It'll only be for a bit." Nodding reluctantly, Betty stands to follow May out of the room. They stop a few feet away from the door. "What happened?"
"I don't know." Betty shrugs. "We were talking, and then he said he needed a break. But when he walked away…" Betty's nervous eyes meet May. "He keeps getting headaches, May. He never got them last time…"
May sighs. "He says he's fine, Betty."
"But what if he's sick? What if it's cancer?" Betty worriedly questions.
Putting a comforting hand on Betty's shoulder, May tells her, "I don't think that's it." While the woman is also concerned for Drew, she figures his headaches must be from his memory loss. If he had a disease, it should've been on the news by now. "What were you two talking about before he collapsed?"
"Don't be mad." Betty already feels terrible about Drew fainting. She shouldn't have been talking to him, but it's hard when she's so used to Drew's presence.
Unsure of what Betty is about to tell her, May doesn't want to make any false promises. However, May needs to know what Betty and Drew were talking about. Thus, the woman nods. "I won't be. I just want to make sure everyone's okay."
Betty nervously eyes May's bedroom door and sighs. "I was asking him about his marriage-" She flinches when she sees May frown. Nonetheless, true to May's words, the woman isn't saying or expressing any anger. "And then he started asking me about...my dad…"
May's gaze softens. She knows all too well about Betty's father as well as Drew's impact that one time. Despite Drew's lost memories, he still bears resemblance to behaviors the old Drew used to do. Pulling the girl into a hug, despite Betty not being a little girl anymore, May soothingly says, "I can never be mad at you, Betty."
Betty lets out a relieved breath. "Thank you, May." When the two pull away from the hug, Betty adds, "Drew isn't happy with Brianna."
"I know." May understands Drew's feelings. Even though this is a Drew Hayden without memories of them or the orphanage, May still sees some similarities between this Drew and the old Drew. She remembers all too well Drew's rejection at his wedding. He didn't marry for love. He said he was putting the orphanage's safety first, but May deems him a coward for not even fighting.
"You know nothing." snaps a voice as quick clicking can be heard from down the hall.
May and Betty turn their attention towards that end of the hall that leads towards the lobby. Betty opens her eyes in shock as May narrows hers angrily. This is troublesome. "Go inside, Betty. Have you or Tyler watch the other children."
"May-"
"Now." the brunette's gaze doesn't turn away from Brianna's.
Reluctantly nodding, Betty hurries into May's bedroom. By the time Tyler comes out to start on dinner, Brianna is in front of May. May tells the man that she will be okay. Wary of the situation, Tyler still leaves to tend to the rest of the orphanage. He already knew Brianna was here because Betty told him. With Betty nearby, Tyler knows Betty will help May if she needs it.
"What are you doing here?" May seethes.
"My family funds this dump." Brianna knowingly replies while crossing her arms over her chest. Her two secretaries are a couple of feet behind her.
"You don't fund it. Drew does." Even if Drew doesn't remember it, May knows Brianna and the Hayden parents do. Drew's sacrifice is the reason the orphanage remains unscathed.
"You don't deserve to say his name."
"You don't deserve to marry him." May quickly raises a hand to catch Brianna's; thus, stopping Brianna from slapping her. "Leave."
"You can't threaten me!" Brianna struggles to free her hand.
"This is my orphanage." May takes a step closer to Brianna. The brunette's glare doesn't leave Brianna's nor does May's grip loosen. "You have no right to come in here demanding things from us! You did that enough years ago!"
"I'm here for my husband! I don't care how you run your stupid little orphanage! You're supposed to stay away from my husband!" Brianna shouts. She pulls hard away from May, and May releases her in time for Brianna to fall on the ground from the momentum.
"I don't want him!" May calmly replies. "He made his choice back then."
Furious that she's on the ground, Brianna stands up to get in May's face. "Seems like you're not so stupid anymore." With her intense glare on her face, Brianna adds, "It will never be you. Don't make this a repeat of 3 years ago."
Before May can think about responding or letting Brianna have this one, like she usually does, they hear, "A repeat of what?"
The two women tear their attention away from each other to May's door where they see Drew leaning against the frame and Betty's hand worriedly on his arm. He had woken up from the shouting, and while Betty tried to keep him in bed, he recognized Brianna's voice. The man isn't going to let Brianna disrupt the orphanage. However, hearing Brianna speak to May so familiarly and about a time Drew has lost makes the man more suspicious.
With newfound energy, Drew makes his way over where he walks past May to stand inbetween her and his wife. Glaring down at Brianna, Drew once again inquires, "A repeat of what three years ago?"
Brianna holds her tongue. Although May has every right to give Brianna a smug look, she doesn't. May also doesn't want Drew to regain his memories. Not only will she be hurt once he remembers again, but he will be devastated. She still loves him immensely to let him hurt like her. Everyone is back in their own worlds now, which is how life is supposed to be. They don't need Drew regaining his memories to try and combine the two worlds again.
Fortunately for everyone but Drew, Brianna takes in a deep breath to regain ehr resolve. Shooting Drew a look of disgust, she says, "A scandal wouldn't look too good for you or the orphanage." She saw him come out of that bedroom with that girl. Did Drew have many women when he was at the orphanage? That girl must be 18 now.
"Nothing is going on." Drew informs her. "I don't need to explain my faithfulness and professionalism to you. I'm only here on business."
Not caring for his excuses, Brianna ignores his comments. "I just came by since you never answer your phone. Your father has noticed your absences. He invites us to dinner with your mother tonight." Turning around because she's tired of this two v. one battle, Brianna adds, "You owe me, hubby. I covered for you."
Once Brianna and her secretaries are out of sight down the hall, Drew leans against the wall in exhaustion. He just woke up after having an intense headache. Each headache drains his energy more and more. Each interaction with his wife does the same. The only place he feels relaxed is in this orphanage that occasionally triggers his headaches. He just can't catch a break.
May and Betty worriedly grab an arm of Drew's to lead him back to May's bedroom. "You should rest." Betty tells him.
Nevertheless, Drew rips his arm from May to give her an intense look. "What was Brianna talking about? How do you two know each other? Was she here 3 years ago?"
May avoids eye contact, and Drew knows it's because she can't lie. She can never lie when she looks him in the eyes. "Rest. And then leave and don't come back."
"May!" Betty exclaims, but the woman already made up her mind. Seeing Brianna again reminds May that Drew shouldn't be here. Drew doesn't belong here.
Shaking his head in disbelief, Drew pulls his other arm from Betty too. "I don't need to rest anymore. I'm sick of all the lies! I caught you and Brianna, and you both want to continue lying!"
May is furious he doesn't understand. He's upset and raising his voice at her, but she's the victim here! She's always been the victim, though she's been trying not to be. Glaring up at him, she seethes, "Why are you yelling at me? I've never done anything to you!"
"Yeah. You don't ever tell me the truth." Drew takes a few steps away. "I'll grant your wish. I'm gonna get my own answers."
These people here won't tell him anything. It doesn't matter how long it takes him to build their trust, they won't tell him anything. He thought he was getting somewhere with May after last week. He thought she was going to be more honest with him, but today just shows May will always hide the truth from him. She's no different than his family. Nevertheless, he still has one person left who he knows can't lie to his face. He'll have to skip this stupid dinner tonight to go see her.
Alright. See ya whenever. Preferably in under 2 weeks. Apple usually doesn't take too long to repair problems. Well, wish me luck! And my wallet. Gosh, Apple is expensive. :P See y'all whenever!
