Chapter 28

Ashley

I'm sure it was one of their men. I remember his face vividly. He was together with the other men who dragged Kristine away. "Um.. Nate can you take over. Something came up so I need to leave"

"Oka-" I didn't wait for him to say whatever he had to say. Thankfully, I decided to take a scarf with me. Wrapping the scarf around my face, I cover it up to my nose and made my way out careful not to get noticed by him.

As soon as I got outside, checked through the surrounding before embarking on my way to the clinic. The first person I meet up with is Mr. Micheal's staff.

"Good day sir" I began. I have no idea what his name is so I think the sir will be more appropriate.

"Good day Miss"

"Perhaps, is my husband around. Lucas" I tapped my foot continuously on the floor getting impatient already. It can't be, they found out about us.

"Ava" Neil's voice revamped to my ear from nowhere.

"We need to talk" I announced making my way out of the door and he followed my heed.

"Is everything okay?" He asked after a moment of silent was maintained.

"Rapheal men are here"

"What? How did you know?"

"I saw one of the men at the restaurant"

Neil didn't say anything but by the look on his face, he's also shock at the new information. Even I was feeling restless. If they finds us, I don't know what will happen.

"You know what? Go home now. You and Kristine shouldn't open the door for anyone. I will go and have a look" He was about to walk away when I held on to his arm.

"Becareful" I almost whispered to myself. Squeezing my hands, he let out a smile. "I will" And then he left.

**

I kept pacing around the room, checking the time from my wristwatch. It been over thirty minutes and Neil is not yet back. I'm beginning to feel uneasy. What if something happens to him? What if they took him away?

No

I know Neil won't let that happen. He's stronger than that.

"Can you at least take a break for a few minutes. You've been marching around the room for over how many minutes. Just keep calm. I know Neil will take care of the matter"

I heaved out a sigh before squatting beside her. "What if something bad happens to him?" I voiced out my worry.

"Don't you trust him?"

"I do. But-"

"Have faith in him and yourself. Let's hope everything will be well solved"

"I hope so too. It's just..." My words trailed off when a knock came through the door. I felt my heart did a flip. Kristine and I glanced at each other. "Who do you think that person might be?"

"How will I know" She passed me a glare as if what I asked wasn't supposed to be said.

Rising up to a standing position, I slowly made my way to the door. Kristine was quick to stop me. "Where are you going? Didn't Neil tell you not to open the door for anyone"

My foot came to an abrupt stop. However, the knock came through again, this time around, in a high pitch sound. "Who's that?" I yelled out.

Kristine and I held on to each other's hands waiting for the person to speak up. "It's me. Lucas" And that I heaved out a sigh of relief. Without a waste of time, I quickly unlocked the door. However, I don't know what came over me at the moment. I found myself wrapping my arms around his body. "Thankfully you're back"

Like I anticipated, he wrapped his hands around me. "Sorry I took a long time" he whispered to my ear. That was the only thing I needed at the moment. His embrace and warmth.

We stayed like that for however time I couldn't count until Kristine's voice revamped to our ears snapping us out of our comfort world. Pulling apart from him, I turned my face in her direction, passing her one of my knowing glare.

"What? I thought you guys were supposed to act in Mr. Samuel presence. I didn't know when you got this close" she emphasize pointing her index finger towards us.

As she said, I don't know when Neil and I got this closer. I know we were this carefree because we don't want Mr. Samuel to suspect anything, yet there's this feeling at the pit of my stomach that enjoy his company and every other time we spend together.

"Who cares?" was the word I caught Kristine saying her gaze on Neil intently. Neil's lips was obviously curved up in a smirk.

"Excuse me, what is going on here?" I interjected drawing closer to Kristine. She didn't answer only form her lips in a thin line.

"I think she was talking about something like us enjoying each other company while leaving her all alone. So I was trying to explain things to her" He initiated folding his arms across his chest.

"Well I think we need to stop talking about it. We have bigger thing in front of us. How did it go? Were you able to get some information" I'm definitely sure it was Rapheal men and I hope they're not here to get us.

Neil breathe out a sigh making his way to the couch, settling himself. I copied his action by taking the couch beside him focusing my attention all on him. "How did it go?" I asked again.

"You're right. He's one of Raphael men"

I knew it!

"Then what is he here for? Did they know about our whereabouts? We will be doomed if they finds us" To be honest, I'm feeling insecure. If they finds us, thing won't be pleasant. I can't imagine what will happen to us.

"I heard that he came to see his grandmother who leaves here so that shows he's not here for us but that doesn't mean seeing us won't alert Raphael. He might have other ulterior motives."

"What are we to do now?" Kristine asked. All the while my mind was off the zone. For some reason I felt restless about all the incident. How suspicious that my life took a drastic turn in a few days. I have no idea the life I'm living in at the moment. I feel like I'm living all alone.

"Ashley!" Kristine slightly raised voice snapped me out of my thought. Their gaze was solely focused on me. "Are you okay?" Neil commenced.

I managed to forced out a smile rising up towards the kitchen. I know I shouldn't worry but deep down some part of me couldn't stop thinking about the possibility that my family didn't care about me. Had it been Nikky was alive, and in my shoes, they would've found a way to get her out of the danger but it's me. Ashley, the ungrateful daughter. The second daughter. I won't be surprised if they decide to abandoned me.

"Are you really okay?" I almost flinch at Kristine sudden voice that was obviously close to my ear. Her eyes were cascaded down and I followed her gaze, immediately adjusting the jug. I purposely left the living room to take my mind off things, but here I am zoning off again.

I let out yet another forced smile. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine" All the while, I avoided her gaze because I knew if our eyes meet, she'll see right through me.

I didn't know how her hands were able to move fast, as she spurn me around, the way I was facing her. A deep sigh resonate out of her lips. "You know you cannot lie to my face right?" she commenced, placing both her palms on each of my shoulder.

I knew it! She can see right through me.

"What do you mean? Like I said, I'm totally fine. What would I be worried about?" Even with her interrogative gaze on me, I still choose to play pretence.

"You know I know it when something is bothering you. So better spill it out" Her voice was deemed visible of seriousness. This is Kristine we're talking about, who doesn't back out easily.

I let out an exasperated breath, moving her palms off my shoulder as I lean on the counter. "I don't know why, but I'm having bad feeling about all this. I mean-" I stopped to take in another sharp breath before commencing again. "This is taking a big toll on me. How my life took a drastic turn. I feel like my family doesn't care about me. I mean, they don't bother to know how I'm doing or if I'm fine. This is why sometimes I hate my life. I-" The words couldn't make themselves out of my mouth when a sob escaped me.

"I'm just the second choice nothing else. Nikki will always be their favourite. She'll always be their one and only daughter. I'm an ungrateful daughter to them" I didn't try to stop the tears that were threatening themselves out of my eyes. I needed them. Maybe it will ease the pain burning inside. No matter how hard I try, I found myself comparing Nikki with myself. She's no more but at times, it felt like she's still alive.

I felt Kristine's arms wrapped around me. "I won't stop you from crying. Let them out. Let it all out" She muttered running her palms on my back in a comforting way. And just like she said, I let it out. I cried my heart out. I cried all my sorrows out.

**

It was around past twelve in the night when I woke up from a nightmare. The room was consciously dark. The only light is the one coming from the small lamp situated on the nightstand. I felt my body went weak as if a brick has been placed on them followed by a sharp pain that passed through my head. The pain was so intense to the extent that I felt it cascade to my ears. A wince left my lips when the pain shot through again. The pain was unlike the ones I used to experience back then, this was so severe.

I felt a movement beside me which I don't have to be told who it is. Neil rose to a sitting position turning his focus towards me. "Are you okay?" Was the first word that came out of his mouth. I opened my mouth to speak but it feels like the pain affected my mouth too. No words were able to make themselves out.

Neil's hands went to my forehead. "Jesus! You're burning up!" He withdrew the blanket that was covered to the brim of my neck while getting off the bed. "Let me get Mr. Samuel" I only managed to nod before my eye lids flutter close because I don't think I will be able to keep them open.

I don't know the time he spent, I only felt a hand on my forehead followed by faraway voice of Mr. Samuel, Neil and lastly Kristine.

"She has a very high fever" Mr. Michael commenced. "We need to take care of her fever first, then I will take her blood sample for further test"

"Then do so. Please Mr. Micheal treat her. I don't want anything to happen to her" Came Kristine uncalm voice.

"Don't worry. She'll be fine. That's my job. Like I said, we need to take down her fever first. Kristine can you get a bowl of water. I bet you know how to take down fever with it"

"Yes" I heard the door closing and no later than maybe two minutes, the door made a sound again.

"Let me make a hot soup for her. She should eat then take some medication" Mr. Micheal announced.

"I will make it sir" Kristine interjected.

"Okay. Who will-"

"I will do that. You don't have to worry" No less that five second, the door made a sound. And the room went silent. The bed made a sound followed by the sound of water.

As Neil placed the wet towel on my forehead, I felt chillness down my spine. At first, the wet towel was sending shivers down my spine but as he goes on, I began feeling relaxed. My eyes were wide open as I stared at Neil. "How are you feeling now?" He asked.

"Much better. Sorry for keeping you up" I let out in a not so clear voice.

"You don't have to say that. What am I here for?"