Diary of Fragile Heart (Spin of Loving You Too Long)

One month has passed since Gladwin and Phoebe’s wedding, and ever since then, everyone at the hospital knows that Gladwin and Phoebe’s relationship isn’t doing well.

Gladwin now has a bad reputation in everyone’s eyes because he is believed to have betrayed Flavia. Some even say that from the start, Gladwin had a secret relationship with Phoebe and was tempted to marry Flavia because she was wealthier than Phoebe. And Gladwin doesn’t care at all about the gossip from those who dislike him, and he doesn’t try to set the record straight because he doesn’t want to bother changing his image just for the sake of reputation. Let people say what they think; his closest ones know why Gladwin married Phoebe.

It’s all for Flavia, the woman he loves. And until now, he hasn’t received any news from Flavia. While Abigail, Claire, and Antony never tell him anything. But Gladwin is sure, even though Flavia doesn’t contact him, she will definitely reach out to her parents. Because however, Flavia loves them both deeply. Gladwin chooses to spend his time keeping busy, whether it’s at the hospital, the office, or the furniture workshop.

He devotes his remaining time to pursue his hobbies. Yes, Gladwin chooses to delve into the furniture industry not only for the profits but also because he enjoys creating something. It’s like if Antony enjoys building a house, then Flavia would decorate it, and Gladwin would make the decorations. Initially, making furniture was just a hobby for him to pass the time. But after getting to know Antony, Altezza, and Gian Quirino, he seemed to gain support, deepening his hobby even further, and eventually, in the last eight years, his hobby has become profitable. Increasing his financial coffers, and of course, this success is inseparable from his collaboration with his in-laws’ family.

Gladwin wiped his sweaty forehead. Too focused on the noisy machinery filling the room, he didn’t even notice anyone else there. Straightening his back, the machine still buzzing, he saw Abigail standing, hands folded in front of her chest. Turning off the machine, Gladwin took off his safety glasses and moved to relieve the ache in his lower back from bending too much.

“What’s up?” he asked, his tone not pleased. Abigail’s presence meant there was a new problem for him. It’s not that Gladwin considered Abigail a troublemaker, but his niece was more like the harbinger of trouble, especially for Gladwin.

Abigail sighed. “Grandma asked us to have dinner at her place,” she replied curtly, as if confirming Gladwin’s thoughts from a few seconds ago.

“Hmm,” was Gladwin’s only response before he put his glasses back on and restarted his saw, finishing the wood pieces in front of him.

At four-thirty, Gladwin was on his way to Abigail’s parents’ house. Turns out, the girl had come to Gladwin’s workshop accompanied by her assistant, which was a plus for Gladwin because that way he could ask his niece to drive his car during rush hour while he could rest his eyes for a moment.

“What do you think will happen later?” he asked when the traffic light turned red. Gladwin, fully leaning back in his passenger seat, chose to remain silent. “There’s bound to be more drama,” he answered because Gladwin still didn’t speak up.

“How’s ‘her’ doing?” Gladwin asked softly. Abigail was now driving again.

“Huh? What?” Abigail asked back. She didn’t hear her uncle’s question clearly because a motorcycle with a loud exhaust overtook them.

“How’s Flavia? Is she okay?” he tried to sound indifferent even though his chest felt tight from longing.

Abigail grinned. “She’s fine. Why don’t you just ask me where she is right now?” Abigail teased, her eyes glancing playfully at Gladwin. Gladwin snorted. “If you ask, I’ll answer and claim that I said it accidentally.” Abigail replied with a mischievous grin on her face.

“Hmm. Accidentally on purpose,” mocked Gladwin. But the man shook his head slowly. For the time being, he wanted to let his wife be free out there. He wanted to let his wife rest from all the troubles that have been tormenting them. “For me, knowing that she’s alright is enough,” he answered honestly.

“Uncle, aren’t you angry?”

Gladwin turned. “Angry? Why would I be?”

Abigail shrugged. “Everything. I mean, aren’t you angry at Flavia for just leaving you like that?”

Gladwin shook his head. “No. I’m not angry. She’s the one who should be angry at me for trapping her into a marriage life she tried to avoid. I was too selfish, yet I received such kindness from her.” Gladwin replied. His eyes stared blankly at the street.

“What do you mean?” Abigail squinted. Confused.

A crooked smile formed on Gladwin’s handsome face. “Six years ago, I left her after hurting her. I decided to distance myself from her even though I knew exactly how she felt about me. I was too cowardly to even promise her anything. Meanwhile, she? She left me with a message that she would return. Isn’t that much better? She made sure that no matter what, she would come back to me.”

“So you’ve decided to wait?”

“Hmm..”

“You’re not going after her?”

Gladwin shook his head again. “I trust her. No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait for her. Right now, I imagine Flavia is vacationing in some remote place where there’s no communication device to connect us.” He answered, and that was the end of their conversation because they had arrived in front of Abigail’s parents’ house. Gladwin’s familiar car was already parked there.

Gladwin and Abigail walked side by side. As they entered the house, they saw Julie Hampton gently rubbing Phoebe’s back. Her gestures seemed to be comforting.

Gladwin and Abigail greeted, but neither of them cared to acknowledge or greet Phoebe. They didn’t bother hiding their dislike for her.

Abigail chose to approach her siblings, while Gladwin’s steps were halted by his mother’s call just as Abigail’s father returned from his office.

“Yes, Ma?” Gladwin responded, returning to his mother and choosing to sit in the farthest chair from his mother and her second wife.

“How long are you going to keep behaving like this?” His mother asked sharply. Gladwin raised an eyebrow as he looked at his mother.

“What do you mean by that? Behaving like what?” He asked, not understanding.

“How long are you going to keep ignoring Phoebe like this?” His mother sounded annoyed.

Gladwin smiled sarcastically. “Ignoring?” he asked cynically. Gladwin glanced between his mother and Phoebe. “Ignoring like how you mean, Mama? I just transferred the monthly allowance yesterday, isn’t that enough?” He said sarcastically.

His mother sighed. “You know that’s not what I’m asking, Gladwin,” she scolded him again.

“What else, Ma? Why do you have to keep meddling in their marital affairs?” Abigail’s father asked wearily. His wife came with a cold drink in her hand, which Abigail’s father accepted with a murmured thank you.

“It’s been a month, and Gladwin hasn’t even touched Phoebe,” his mother announced with a voice full of frustration. Gladwin, now the accused, chose to lean back, folding his arms across his chest, his right leg resting on his left thigh.

“And?” Gladwin asked flatly. Rafka and his wife looked at Gladwin with confusion.

“You haven’t even visited the house you rented for her,” his mother continued.

“And?” Gladwin asked with the same flat tone.

“Gladwin!” His mother exclaimed. Her anger was no longer containable.

Gladwin stared coldly at his mother. “Ma, let me clarify everything. What you want from me is to marry Phoebe and provide for her, right? And I’ve done that for you. I gave her a home, even if it’s just a rented one, and I’ve also fairly given her my salary because I still have to fulfill Flavia’s rights. So what else?”Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

“Touch her? I never promised you that I would touch her, and I never promised to give you grandchildren from her. Never at all. So stop forcing me to do something I don’t like because I’ve already sinned enough by entering into this marriage.”

“If that’s the case, lessen your sins. Be a full husband to Phoebe,” his mother pleaded.

“A full husband? Do you mean by sleeping with her?”