The cab slowed to a stop in front of her apartment.
Martha quickly stepped out, her heels clicking softly against the pavement.
Just as she turned toward her house, she froze...realizing she had forgotten to exchange contacts with the angelic-looking doctor who had saved her from Dave Benson.
Her heart sank at the thought.
But her mind shifted immediately when she saw Fred Thompson standing at her door.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Fred?
Come to think of it, why hadn't he checked on her earlier at the office before leaving?
She frowned slightly and began walking toward him.
He looked relieved yet anxious. "Martha!"
He rushed to meet her, his voice unsteady. "Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you! Even the church called me...they couldn't find you. What on earth happened?"
She tried to stay calm. "Gabriella gave me a workload just before closing hour. I had to finish it before leaving."
Fred stepped back, confusion clouding his face. "What are you talking about?"
"What's wrong?" she asked softly.
"Gabriella told me you left the office in a hurry...that a church member died in an accident. I was waiting for you in the parking lot when she came to tell me."
Martha gasped, disbelief washing over her. "Why would she go that far? Why did she do that? I understand she likes you but going that far?".
He reached out and touched her cheek gently. "I'm so sorry I was fooled."
She gave a faint smile. "It's fine. You can see I'm safe now, right?"
His eyes narrowed as he noticed the redness on her cheek. "Did someone hit you?"
She looked away. "I'm fine, Fred."
He didn't believe her. "When did you stop telling me everything?"
Tears welled up in her eyes. "Dave Benson attacked me while I was working. He tried to rape me...but a stranger came into the building and saved me."
Fred's jaw tightened. "If not for Gabriella's lies, you…"
She cut in gently. "Please, let it be. For my sake. I'll handle it."
He exhaled heavily. "Let's go inside. I'll stay here tonight."
She shook her head. "Fred, no. Have you forgotten our celibacy journey? This month makes it thirteen months. If we really want to keep honoring God, we must avoid temptation."
He frowned. "If anything happens between us tonight, does it erase those nights we had together?"
She met his eyes firmly. "It erases the tears we cried to God not to commit such sin again. Have you forgotten that Wednesday Bible study evening that we cried after the love the lord message pastor Timothy preached and we stood on it and told God from that moment, we will be honoring our bodies. Have you forgotten?".
He looked pained. "We dated for five years and never slept together. But after that wide breakup we had before your parents died, after I dated Gabriella...we came back together and decided to be open with our bodies because we missed each other."
She sighed deeply. "We didn't call it fornication because we planned to marry, but that was self-deception. Fornication is fornication...no matter how much love is involved.".
"I can't live without you, Martha. You're the air I breathe."
A small smile crossed her lips. "Jesus should be the air you breathe, not me."
They both laughed softly, the tension easing.
Fred pulled her into a warm embrace."Once you take that position from Gabriella," he murmured, "we'll get married immediately."
She chuckled quietly. "And what if I don't?"
"You will," he said, looking into her eyes. "As long as you love me."
***
Dave Benson drove to the nearest clinic and watched silently as the nurse treated his bruised jaw.
"His hand was too strong for his size," he muttered.
The nurse grinned. "I'm sorry about that, Mr. Benson."
"She's not even his girlfriend!" Dave hissed, leaning back on the bed. He looked around the spotless ward and exhaled. "I never knew we had such a big clinic here in Medas."
The nurse smiled proudly. "A lot of people don't. Our doctor was a well-known medical practitioner in the United Kingdom. He decided to build something this good here. We run drug administrations only after confirmation from two licensed practitioners. Our pharmacy doesn't release serious prescriptions without a doctor's approval. We have certified midwives, excellent ultrasound scans, and reliable lab services. Wellings Clinic is the best in Medas."
Dave nodded weakly.
When the nurse left the ward, his phone began to ring.
Frank Thompson.
His heart pounded in his throat.
If Martha had told him what happened, then Frank must be calling for revenge.
He quickly switched off his phone.
And just as he looked up...he entered.
Not Frank Thompson...
Someone he never expected to see.
Dave froze.
His heart slipped.
It was the same man who had hit him earlier...the one who'd saved Martha from him.
He trembled.
How did he find me here?
Dave pointed at him in fear. "Can someone help me here?!" he screamed.
Two nurses rushed in.
"Mr. Benson, what's wrong?" the nurse who treated him asked breathlessly.
Dave pointed at the calm man standing near the door. "That's him! He's the one who hit me. He's come back to finish what he started!"
The older nurse near the doorway gasped. "This man? Mr. Benson, this is Dr. Raymond Whitmore, the owner of Wellings Clinic!"
Raymond turned to them with a composed smile. "It's fine. You may all return to your duties."
"Yes, sir," they chorused and quickly left the ward.
Dave swallowed hard. "You run this place? The same clinic I came to treat the wound you gave me?"
Dr. Raymond Whitmore shrugged, a faint gleam of irony in his eyes. "That's the irony of life."
Dave grabbed his jacket. "I'll be leaving."
Raymond's calm voice followed him to the door. "I don't care about your father's reputation or how you tampered with the CCTV footage that could expose your abominable act... but hear this, Dave....you'll never harm another innocent woman again."
Dave shivered as he stumbled out of the ward.
His pulse raced.
If the man owned such a big clinic, he probably had strong connections.
He reached his car...but before he could start the engine, he heard footsteps behind him.
He turned...and froze again.
Fred Thompson.
Dave fell backward in shock.
Fred grabbed him by the collar, fury blazing in his eyes.
"You have one week," Fred growled, "to make sure the organization fires Gabriella before the next board meeting. If not, I'll make detectives dig into your past...and I'll ensure Martha tells the world what you did to her."
"I'll do it! I swear I'll do it!" Dave stammered.
Fred's fist landed on the same bruised jaw Raymond had hit earlier. "That's for the slap you gave my woman...and for the humiliation."
He released him, stormed back to his car, and drove off.
Dave trembled violently.
Warm urine trickled down his trousers.
He whispered in disbelief, "Who is this Martha Smith? She's not an ordinary woman…"