The Secret Island
Chapter 80: Aching Soul

Martin didn't pick up his phone...

Celine looked down at her phone. He just sent her a message saying that he wasn't feeling well, and he couldn't pick her up this evening and have dinner. He also could not make it tomorrow. When she called him back, she found that his phone had been turned off.

What happened to him?

She texted him and bit her lip. She couldn't sit still and wait for him to tell her what was happening anymore.

Why did he have to be this quiet about his life when he had already promised? Why didn't he tell her? Wasn't she trustworthy enough for him? What was going on? Why did he do that? Why didn't he tell her? Celine quickly turned off her laptop and closed it, gathered up her wallet and phone, and rushed off from her office.

The time was late, and she was dead tired from the day's work, but Celine knew that the only thing she had to do right now was to go see Martin. She had not been good at controlling her emotions and now was the same. She couldn't control her worries and anxiety for him. She was half mad, half self-blame on herself for not really asking him what was wrong. Why didn't she ask him sooner? Even when he was averting her questions, why didn't she persist? Why did she let him be and look more and more miserable each day?

Oh, how she was mad at herself.

There was something behind those sad eyes, and she needed to find out the truth.

As soon as she parked under the apartment where Martin was staying, Celine rushed to the elevator. Luckily, he gave her a spare key, and she could at least check on him if there was anything wrong.

She opened his room door only to find a dark living room.

"Martin... Martin! Are you home? Hello..." She called out in the dark. There was no reply. She only wished that he was around somewhere in his room. She really didn't know where else to look. Martin only frequented a few places in London; his place, her office, and a few restaurants that he took her to.

She walked into the room. Stupid her, she couldn't find a switch, but then when her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could see that his room was messier than usual; all his stuff was all over the place, his belongings within drawers were all out on the floor, his books and some documents were also all over the floor. She suspected that Martin was robbed... but by looking carefully, she could still see that all his valuables were there.

All this mess was all his doing. Something happened to him.

Her heart hurt from seeing all this disaster. Something happened that he didn't tell her. Celine clenched her fists and tried to suppress her anxiety. Celine kept walking deep inside the living room and headed towards Martin's bedroom. Her head thought of various possibilities. She fastened her pace and hoped to meet him. She hoped to comfort him. Whatever had happened to him was definitely what he hadn't told her about. Out of the corner of her eye, Celine could see a pill bottle...

sleeping pills...

An empty sleeping pill bottle and some pills are scattered on the table.

Her tears dropped upon seeing that. Her mind thought of the worst case that could happen. She felt numb all over.

Her throat was dry, and her hands were shaking uncontrollably. She was stunned to the point of having to stay still for a minute before mustering the courage to walk inside his room. No...No...This must not be...No! It must not be like this...No... Please...

She was pleading. Celine didn't know who she was and pleaded with; God, Heaven, the universe, and even Martin himself. She just wishes that things were not as she fears.

When Celine got the strength, she rushed inside the bedroom. She feared what she might face, but she had to find Martin. She needed to see that he was okay.

The first thing she could see was Martin sleeping soundly in his room.

Celine was standing still, but she forced herself to take a step forward slowly. One step after another. She slowly walked towards the man she loved. One step at a time. Once she could see that he was breathing, Celine let out a long sigh. She was glad he was just sleeping.

"Why do you have to do this? Why do you have to make me worried sick for you like this? Why didn't you say anything?" She murmured in a hushed voice. Her voice was shaking. And Celine did what she thought she had always done well-she bent down and hugged Martin. Even when we were so close to each other, even when she was hugging him so tight, he still didn't notice. When she realized he was so deep asleep because of the sleeping pills, she hugged him even tighter. "It's really worrying, you know...."

"What's going on, Martin... what's going on...." On the one hand, she wanted to wake him up to talk and tell him how worried she was. But on the other hand, she wanted him to rest, to take a break from all the bad experiences she didn't have the right to know.

Martin fell asleep in his suit; his blazer was still on. He didn't even change into his pyjamas first. And when she was observing carefully under dim light, she saw a tear stain on his cheek.

The feeling of guilt pierced her heart again. Even though she didn't understand much, Celine felt sorry for not noticing what had happened to him. Every day that we met, every day the bright light in his eyes began to dim-why didn't she notice that? She should have asked him. She should have urged him to tell her what exactly happened. She should have taken better care of him.

She should have known in her heart that Martin was stubborn. She should have known that he would never tell her anything easily. And what she should do was just pay attention... and she didn't do that.