Mrs. Chamberlin felt someone gently shake her. She moaned a little as she opened her eyes. The buzzing fluorescent light blinded her for a bit until she realized that there was someone standing next to her. Her eyes opened widely now. It was her son, Eugene.104Please respect copyright.PENANAzq5Kui3JVj
104Please respect copyright.PENANAOv3L461Stn
104Please respect copyright.PENANAsf3ttMfDRe
"Hey, mum, are you alright?" he asked. "Sorry for waking you."104Please respect copyright.PENANAtJoF8FXmOQ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAd48XKGZqMD
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZQqyxZTjtT
Mrs. Chamberlin sat upright; the big, heavy coat she had used as a blanket fell to her waist. She rubbed her eyes, trying to remove the sleep in them. She looked over at her son, who stood there looking at her.104Please respect copyright.PENANA6TDSp9WvVb
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5phwIDZHpc
104Please respect copyright.PENANA65nfBnORwN
"I didn't expect to see you here," she said, as she put up a tired smile. "What time is it?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAwigG0Sedjk
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdfyoaloGJx
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3xRE9LeeKo
"It's five in the morning," said Eugene as he went over to sit on the chair she had been sleeping on in the waiting room.104Please respect copyright.PENANAyoSYacaVBI
104Please respect copyright.PENANAVQimk8sSuB
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6deVkYTpki
"And what about your brother? Aren't you going to see him off to school?"104Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ul1GfjTTm
104Please respect copyright.PENANADyJ4vRg31A
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7v3e75Is4j
"I will. I came to check up on you first."104Please respect copyright.PENANAu5sNqxH4CD
104Please respect copyright.PENANAAWYKbsVRNr
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6H7ahjjz3T
"I thought you were going to ask how your father was doing."104Please respect copyright.PENANAs558svJ2QU
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1PsenaPSt8
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvlCFjfkTVH
Eugene didn't know how to respond to that as he looked up at the ceiling and then back at his mother in silence.104Please respect copyright.PENANArDXxtMvLiP
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUtvtnyVDi4
104Please respect copyright.PENANA41DwE78NhH
Mrs. Chamberlin sighed. She wasn't going to force her son to do so, even though she knew Eugene cared a lot more than he thought.104Please respect copyright.PENANA5rD6A5zIMC
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4kV03VJ2A2
104Please respect copyright.PENANA9yzorYCmlD
"He's stable now," she said. "They managed to pull the bullet out. But he lost a lot of blood. The doctor said it would take time for him to recover." 104Please respect copyright.PENANAzslJuI5d4z
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUYfsPoMa9B
104Please respect copyright.PENANAfQwmjeMJz9
"Did you go in to see him?" Eugene asked. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAxZ7dGeSXEL
104Please respect copyright.PENANAhXQQlxP0dq
104Please respect copyright.PENANAumzFnUpr8H
"I did. But he lay there unconscious. I'm hoping he wakes up soon."104Please respect copyright.PENANAoEQEdZf5aQ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJrKSFwJyFX
104Please respect copyright.PENANAAXEdYzmbm2
"When he wakes up, you know he'll have to face the police, right? In fact, what did they ask you when they came last night?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAM01THfbHjv
104Please respect copyright.PENANAougG9kvspQ
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6xDnI0uitX
Mrs. Chamberlin muttered to herself as she put both her feet down from the chair, trying to make herself comfortable. Eugene wondered if she would stall so as not to answer his question.104Please respect copyright.PENANALSVXk96WC1
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXzkXhK7Fic
104Please respect copyright.PENANAtAbcKgdLPO
"They asked if I knew about his whereabouts before he got shot," she answered. "If he had told me who had shot him, I would have told them, but I didn't know anything. He just showed up on my doorstep, and I had no choice but to call the hospital."104Please respect copyright.PENANAazWXh2aLS7
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvbZk9toIcy
104Please respect copyright.PENANArG1EksmdLh
"Do they think he was involved in some shady deal?" Eugene asked. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAsJ9phWtTHi
104Please respect copyright.PENANASM4GsSGG8H
104Please respect copyright.PENANADguEoXefeO
"They do." Mrs. Chamberlin sighed, shaking her head. "I wonder what he got himself into."104Please respect copyright.PENANAn60Y5REdSH
104Please respect copyright.PENANA9XuPSQcz4E
104Please respect copyright.PENANAGTHoTLo2HP
"Something dangerous, that's for sure. Maybe this time when the police investigate, they'll find out the truth about whatever he's been keeping from us for so long."104Please respect copyright.PENANAYaUfOOkyg1
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7CR0See4ks
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6xt7irQSMb
"You already know that he is involved with dangerous people. Do you really want to dig deeper and find out who he is working for?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAbK09hq8fvf
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4dYrfwR7At
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcOewP60jJ9
Eugene continued to look at his mother, and he had a feeling she wasn't going to like what he was going to say. He averted his eyes to the ceiling and stayed silent.104Please respect copyright.PENANAKnGG9Qknsr
104Please respect copyright.PENANAzJ9unfsdck
104Please respect copyright.PENANAnGJyVfTQRf
Mrs. Chamberlin looked on at her son. After what seemed to be a long while, she slowly stood up from her seat. She needed to stretch her legs. Likewise, she also raised her hands in the air to stretch her entire body.104Please respect copyright.PENANAHPze6dZKZp
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUvSrJDVR9K
104Please respect copyright.PENANALV6IEfnZ2G
Eugene now looked at his mother and asked, "Won't you be going back home to freshen up?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAWPkG2ofYIf
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQHA4ZfiCoN
104Please respect copyright.PENANAgGJlKPULwb
"I will," she answered after dropping her arms. "I'll do so when your father wakes up."104Please respect copyright.PENANABz0OcjOaqs
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3yzj9IfPkH
104Please respect copyright.PENANAVF1jv3lcun
Her answer made Eugene scoff. "He was at your doorstep when he came asking for help," he said. "You don't have to show that you've been with him this whole time. A big part of me knows he will figure that out when he wakes up."104Please respect copyright.PENANAv8T3UnNDNQ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAPT974nI4TN
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0mBZ2aluRG
"So, how is your brother doing?" Mrs. Chamberlin asked, ignoring Eugene's statement. "It must have been confusing for him when you told him he couldn't enter his own home."104Please respect copyright.PENANAc5hUrW3Qz8
104Please respect copyright.PENANABhR8jwpwBJ
104Please respect copyright.PENANA8Nvd3hNnzL
"He won't take it lightly after he hears this news at school. I wanted to tell him, but when I got back to Mrs. York's, I found that he was already asleep."104Please respect copyright.PENANAx4Q3Nm2yu0
104Please respect copyright.PENANAiMdBHGtHze
104Please respect copyright.PENANAU3HrKwADpW
"The disadvantage of living in such a town is that news travels so fast. I strongly advise that you tell him when you go and get him ready for school."104Please respect copyright.PENANAO6liM7JIeB
104Please respect copyright.PENANAbDzdr0d5aw
104Please respect copyright.PENANAHC1bChJr6W
"That will affect him, mum. He won't be able to go if it comes to it."104Please respect copyright.PENANAIXZnxE3MY5
104Please respect copyright.PENANANji6Zv6IkG
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3irhN4aawj
"That decision will be up to him. If he doesn't go, the better. Make sure to call the school if it comes to it."104Please respect copyright.PENANA3cpimztnTy
104Please respect copyright.PENANAM6gTGTiSeq
104Please respect copyright.PENANApW0UCPvn6Y
Eugene gave a nod of the head. "Will do."104Please respect copyright.PENANAxIgKYJULU5
104Please respect copyright.PENANAwDQOWxL9TQ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAt35UXPvLRy
Mrs. Chamberlin looked down at her son and came up to him. She bent over a little and held his chin to lift his face and look straight into his eyes.104Please respect copyright.PENANAAAtmquGX1M
104Please respect copyright.PENANAgRZKH1v4fx
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6XzIawZLxt
"Did you get any sleep?" she asked. "You look like you've been up all night."104Please respect copyright.PENANAjHptiiMUQN
104Please respect copyright.PENANAB5bwoEsHIb
104Please respect copyright.PENANAm1KiUBaucK
"Yeah, I didn't," said Eugene as he put up a tired smile. "Not that I was worried about him. I'm more worried about you."104Please respect copyright.PENANAvLQCuHUs1z
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5VJBFw70Zm
104Please respect copyright.PENANAsB6KIMGSes
"I'll be okay. Your father needs to recover first."104Please respect copyright.PENANAFaleAhmM4I
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6rzxutIEHm
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUOdF0Tz68Y
"If he does, will you consider leaving him for good?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAlIUorEexOi
104Please respect copyright.PENANAD7pZ4eNDbm
104Please respect copyright.PENANAn97dBfKcD3
Mrs. Chamberlin let go of his chin as she stood upright. She didn't expect him to start talking about this subject at such a critical time.104Please respect copyright.PENANA1GGlal7wWB
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJbl6fw5D60
104Please respect copyright.PENANAGqYtsxSbo7
"You should go and check up on your brother," she answered as she slowly turned away. "He will need you around when he wakes up."104Please respect copyright.PENANADy2qQNbIab
104Please respect copyright.PENANAqffWRbmiaA
104Please respect copyright.PENANADLgeJzVQMC
Eugene continued to look up at his mother and, likewise, stood up from his seat. "I know you don't like to talk about this, but for once, think about Albert and me. What if that man brings danger to our own doorstep one day?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAj8cdTfo0jd
104Please respect copyright.PENANAmnamVZsBT4
104Please respect copyright.PENANANsUhFWDQ6k
"He can never do that. He promised me that whatever he's involved in will never affect us."104Please respect copyright.PENANAndMsrou6er
104Please respect copyright.PENANAOTd3xA1vfG
104Please respect copyright.PENANAaHHqLIJ5hP
"I'm sorry, mum. But him coming to our doorstep with a gunshot wound is proof that he already did. When are you going to wake up and realize that?"104Please respect copyright.PENANA6z13LPaGWT
104Please respect copyright.PENANAIDIKhWhdyh
104Please respect copyright.PENANAprOh06Qg6l
His mother still didn't look at Eugene. And he took it as his cue to leave. Before he could turn around and head for the door behind him, he turned back to her to say:104Please respect copyright.PENANAIaXIkX1nLp
104Please respect copyright.PENANAd9zVwplcy2
104Please respect copyright.PENANALskDJy96xt
"Mrs. York will be coming over to bring you breakfast. And she thinks it will be a good time for the two of you to switch so that you can go to the house to rest."104Please respect copyright.PENANAxxkxiXso9R
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvtnyPL8wwO
104Please respect copyright.PENANAichKT2uU9Q
Mrs. Chamberlin turned to Eugene. "And what if he wakes up and finds that I'm not here? I need to be here when he does."104Please respect copyright.PENANAQYNOwkEwa0
104Please respect copyright.PENANA9PXBKWhWif
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJl8MzqIuQK
"Seriously, mum, I don't know if you care about yourself at all."104Please respect copyright.PENANA7xCI4ViJps
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6WTFMByxbk
104Please respect copyright.PENANAFxgoe818KJ
Mrs. Chamberlin couldn't help but swallow. She noticed the look in his eyes. It might be him being tired from being up all night, but there is a sense of darkness in them that she has never seen before. She wondered where it came from. Could it be after having a talk about his father? She couldn't tell, but seeing him like he is now made her realize that there's something different about him.104Please respect copyright.PENANA63mRRXyesI
104Please respect copyright.PENANAtz0xX5tfqP
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5Bu26mr0G4
He said his goodbye, and without a second glance, turned and walked away, not realizing that he left a cold trail in his wake. Mrs. Chamberlin, at that point in time, didn't know if this was her son or some stranger.104Please respect copyright.PENANAH3FjBKorJu
104Please respect copyright.PENANAbgwro8HRs4
104Please respect copyright.PENANAT4wbZjGsHV
Eugene had every right to be in the mood he was currently in. His mother still stuck to her marriage like a lifeline. He wished she would one day realize how much of a baggage his father was. Secondly, so many things happened last night that he didn't know what to think of his best friend anymore.104Please respect copyright.PENANACPRKkoweFU
104Please respect copyright.PENANAD0Jo7mBzjj
104Please respect copyright.PENANATtzZ0u5dUk
After surprising Miguel with his presence last night, Eugene asked him where he was. Miguel lied to his face, saying he went out for some fresh air and didn't expect it to take so long. Eugene went on to ask him why he looked in such a mess, like he had just been beaten up in a fight. As usual, Miguel laughed it off and lied that he tripped and fell somewhere down the street. Eugene expected to be lied to, and he couldn't tell Miguel that he knew where he had been, for that might expose Miss Marie. So he pretended to buy the lie and told Miguel that he only passed by to have a chat. He left the place, saying that it was already late and he needed to be by Albert's side.104Please respect copyright.PENANADBHwNPFJrj
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdsM333wn7P
104Please respect copyright.PENANAg2KJmukt9r
Eugene had already found himself outside the hospital's premises, heading for the bus stop. His body was in flight mode, moving on its own while he continued to get lost in his own mind.104Please respect copyright.PENANA4aqi00GjV7
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3QlKsO9bTx
104Please respect copyright.PENANAg6BBbwddKX
As soon as he reached the bus stop, he sent a message to Mr. Sinclair, telling him that he would be coming to work a little late. For any ordinary person, they would've accepted a day off with a loved one in the hospital. But in his case, he needed a distraction. And the idea of staying in the hospital didn't sit well with him. Not when his father is the reason why his mother and brother are suffering.104Please respect copyright.PENANA6Vo7Ewu4Wa
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7J4SUmFU3l
104Please respect copyright.PENANAI2jJyIodQj
A bus was coming from a distance, and Eugene felt his heart beat so fast as he realized that he was going back to wake his brother up and tell him the awful news. It was best he heard the news from him. Albert is emotional, so he needed to be there just in case he had a breakdown.104Please respect copyright.PENANATOanoSTpE2
104Please respect copyright.PENANArG3SP9HhtW
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQvYdRbuBo3
As soon as the bus stopped right in front of him and the doors flew open, Eugene took deep breaths. He entered the bus feeling like he was going to a funeral. For whom, he wondered.104Please respect copyright.PENANAHw2aeHnAfF
104Please respect copyright.PENANAmL7H3PVybG
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7VrX8D0JgK
***104Please respect copyright.PENANAuzABaRHFzP
104Please respect copyright.PENANAa5xi6JSHjk
104Please respect copyright.PENANAi1m9ACuESa
Rhénee turned in her bed, facing the window, this time around. She could tell the sun was now rising even when the curtain was drawn shut. She hadn't been able to sleep well the whole night as images of what happpened kept replaying in her mind, and she had just slept in intervals, only to be woken again by her dreams.104Please respect copyright.PENANA0ReNSjAt1v
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0prv2fXcGg
104Please respect copyright.PENANAuWidzV1Nhe
She suddenly sat up and decided to take a walk around the house. Her body ached with tiredness, and she decided that a cup of coffee would do her good.104Please respect copyright.PENANA6UOtBxQv9m
104Please respect copyright.PENANA059fC4X00y
104Please respect copyright.PENANAHW4MktA7IL
After getting out of bed and wearing her purple bed slippers, she started to make her way out of the room when she heard her phone on the bedside table vibrate. She wondered who could be texting her this early in the morning. Perhaps her mother? Rhénee could only wonder what her mother would say if she were ever to tell her about the events of yesterday. She would drive here with her brother, Rhénee thought, and force her to go back home.104Please respect copyright.PENANA2M6BE6YuV5
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcaIBpk5AxE
104Please respect copyright.PENANA2SHBjaEjWI
She went back to her bed to get her phone, and she found herself sitting back down on the bed. As she checked her phone, she found she had a message from Mr. Sinclair telling her to meet him at his office at 11:30 AM so that they could go and have lunch together. Rhénee raised an eyebrow. He was taking her somewhere more public. It didn't seem convenient, but it must be because he knows I won't overreact in a public place, she thought.104Please respect copyright.PENANAxfZWcuVLUj
104Please respect copyright.PENANAHleUK1u3Tj
104Please respect copyright.PENANA67tY1vCnxJ
She texted him back, saying that she would be there, and stood up from her bed, making sure to carry her phone with her.104Please respect copyright.PENANAqJhsY7RitJ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAYXpUBPO9v8
104Please respect copyright.PENANAWd1euqJMab
After walking out of her room and closing the door behind her, the silence of the house greeted her. She stood in the hall for a while, taking it in. She thought if she moved or made a sound, it would disturb the calm of the place. But the sweet sounds of the birds singing outside her bedroom window did the trick, though not in a harmful way.104Please respect copyright.PENANAxzaXqZDVnw
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXE2CIkmKum
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUeq8getBaq
She walked down the hall, bypassing her late grandmother's room. Stopping to look at the door, she thought of going in. But the events of yesterday came to her mind in a flash, making her think twice. She realized that all that's been going on right now since she came here is because of her grandmother, which stirred up a lot of mixed feelings.104Please respect copyright.PENANAqTi2KIt9kd
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvlQT0DHNIS
104Please respect copyright.PENANA2hSAS2Dh8G
She scoffed and turned away, heading to the stairs and to the kitchen.104Please respect copyright.PENANAUOsklsaDIH
104Please respect copyright.PENANAqp4sMJtNA9
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQWWO8feP57
Upon entering the kitchen, she was greeted by the warm sun's rays that penetrated through the white kitchen curtain. The feeling was comforting, and it made Rhénee smile a little. She went on ahead to the coffee maker and started to bring out the coffee beans and sugar from the cupboard straight above her. Likewise, she made sure to pour some water into the coffee maker as well as putting in the coffee in the filter and switching on the appliance. She sat down on the kitchen stool near the island, waiting for the coffee to brew.104Please respect copyright.PENANAEPnzAWfxNF
104Please respect copyright.PENANAGn0Aq56zu5
104Please respect copyright.PENANAYzjOSm9FkW
Nevertheless, she decided to look through her phone, checking things out on social media. She found herself looking at a post by one of her friends, whom she hadn't talked to since she came here. Seeing this made her realize that she hadn't talked to any of her friends in what felt like forever, when she had only been here for a few days. With so much going on, time seems to have moved so fast when it barely has at all.104Please respect copyright.PENANAhEBiIXEgdR
104Please respect copyright.PENANAr9jAh0JunY
104Please respect copyright.PENANAG68TRnCVRJ
Her coffee was still brewing, so she left the social media page and decided to call the one friend who wouldn't mind being bothered so early in the morning.104Please respect copyright.PENANAdWmRNUUvwI
104Please respect copyright.PENANAS22oymnLKu
104Please respect copyright.PENANA8VztNabqiV
After finding their number in her contacts, she called it and put the phone to her ear. She heard the dialling tone and waited. It didn't take long before the person on the other end picked up.104Please respect copyright.PENANA8UV9xLArFP
104Please respect copyright.PENANACvM6tXFjJ5
104Please respect copyright.PENANAj5K0wxrQ6n
"Rhénee?" There was a sleepy male voice on the other end. "Hey, it's been a long time. How are you?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAfHt0jfVQP6
104Please respect copyright.PENANAskK6DhjWhi
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUOtN4zx34l
"I'm good, thanks; how are you, Alex?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAOhFCvfUGl6
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2q0LLkrzp
104Please respect copyright.PENANADfLd0vKCDZ
"Never better, now that you've called. I thought you forgot about me."104Please respect copyright.PENANAhkveAKVkiJ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAgScJqwYEjk
104Please respect copyright.PENANASvE9cJgYgb
Rhénee looked up at the ceiling. "Yeah, I think I must have."104Please respect copyright.PENANAQUlz6iCXDO
104Please respect copyright.PENANAzo640D8fK7
104Please respect copyright.PENANAScKSb43Fs3
"Don't tell me you've made a tonne of friends over there and that you forgot about me. Or did your late grandmother's fortune get to your head?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAka2D4qWekj
104Please respect copyright.PENANAlTqrcVsji8
104Please respect copyright.PENANAxbRgLo8tsg
The last thing Rhénee needed was to talk about her grandmother, but she had to act like nothing was bothering her for the time being.104Please respect copyright.PENANAkeNy0oMvwB
104Please respect copyright.PENANAn3ZycadijV
104Please respect copyright.PENANArHNAsxZLFm
"You're just as funny as usual," said Rhénee with a smile on her face. "I've just been busy."104Please respect copyright.PENANA5AA37IIfJH
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0bsigfyFqy
104Please respect copyright.PENANAYGajwYowWk
"Yeah, a new house and a new life must be a lot of work."104Please respect copyright.PENANAfEpz1FvzFy
104Please respect copyright.PENANAmsuQio7UVd
104Please respect copyright.PENANAkYajCMkNw9
"You've no idea. But I'm getting by just fine. I know it's been forever since I last came here, but a number of people still recognize me. So I don't feel entirely alone."104Please respect copyright.PENANALRg2XtyDxp
104Please respect copyright.PENANAC12Ih0KWaP
104Please respect copyright.PENANAtGvBezjDoF
"Please, it's impossible to forget a person like you. And you were adorable when you were younger, so there is that."104Please respect copyright.PENANA9xQYMEDGaf
104Please respect copyright.PENANAigAdlUwztw
104Please respect copyright.PENANAicFla0HJIh
"I wasn't adorable when I was younger."104Please respect copyright.PENANAbUwerrOAIy
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvwGSy62FIc
104Please respect copyright.PENANAEMruNYyXDE
"I've seen your baby pictures, Rhénee. You were just the cutest."104Please respect copyright.PENANAa9ZJydr9ts
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3KWlteL64x
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5CXTd3W2sw
"Who showed you my baby photos?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAaw0FRFJtbe
104Please respect copyright.PENANAU3TSQQJveP
104Please respect copyright.PENANAd1M4pthtX9
"Zoey, of course."104Please respect copyright.PENANAIA8uQsYlwD
104Please respect copyright.PENANAVPT69acgE7
104Please respect copyright.PENANApYU5w4hXcB
The two continued to chat, even about the old times. To Rhénee, it felt good to have her mind off of things, even when she knew it wasn't going to last long. As she poured herself a cup of coffee, she laughed at Alex's jokes and what he had to say about other people, especially their close friends.104Please respect copyright.PENANApxurDREImH
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0BOJo1fJHD
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQdiKx73Lzu
"Goodness, I wish you were still with us, Rhénee," he said. "Everyone misses you here."104Please respect copyright.PENANACnnBod57L6
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZypjZtfjTB
104Please respect copyright.PENANATooweFHZpY
"Yeah, I miss the place too," she said as she looked out of the window. "Don't worry though. When the holidays arrive, I'll make sure to be there. My mum will kill me if I don't."104Please respect copyright.PENANA438yDQCPFv
104Please respect copyright.PENANAhwFf3qJIZz
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1EnE6mcagw
"Knowing your mother, I won't be surprised. How come she hasn't even thought of coming to get you back? I'll make sure to tag along if the thought ever crosses her mind."104Please respect copyright.PENANA3auhbtsNGB
104Please respect copyright.PENANAT7fQ6wC8XB
104Please respect copyright.PENANArsyYyZZDId
"Because I told her not to. I know she cares about me, but she never treats Ryan that way, and they stay in the same city."104Please respect copyright.PENANAA511Xw7E1A
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJsnmrW3xFl
104Please respect copyright.PENANA2ikcaCICMv
"Sorry, Rhénee, but you should know that you're her baby girl. Of course she would worry."104Please respect copyright.PENANAQJ26FpkuKj
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKwocEvJUHn
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjcyojMisBx
"I wonder when she will ever get over me. I can look after myself, for goodness sake."104Please respect copyright.PENANAVEsIcR2Foo
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdIhuh5I7wk
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyR0ggAyZEm
"She'll get over it when she feels like it. Give her a break."104Please respect copyright.PENANA99JIqoziiD
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUWFsXHeNTu
104Please respect copyright.PENANAlTl57D6Of2
Rhénee thought she heard footsteps in the other room. Miss Griselda must be awake.104Please respect copyright.PENANAVVLKMbxswe
104Please respect copyright.PENANAeUYRz4gl2H
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2OW2wTeni
"Anyway, I better get myself ready for the day. It was nice talking to you, Alex."104Please respect copyright.PENANAoWCwt0Hhh3
104Please respect copyright.PENANAzhJJLRePoM
104Please respect copyright.PENANAgdl9sP9MY1
"You should call every day. It will be nice to hear your voice every morning."104Please respect copyright.PENANA747vIiLTYs
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUce0gRIiM5
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcoqWeheE2k
Rhénee chuckled. "Why don't you get out of bed and go flirt with other girls?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAEkAqdQ4kUD
104Please respect copyright.PENANAbZA5yndXxh
104Please respect copyright.PENANAxnzdVfkrbM
Alex, on the other end, laughed. "Oh, Rhénee, you're the only girl for me; don't you know that?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAuZRXp8Wsd7
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvLsYgppBPZ
104Please respect copyright.PENANApXbsOo3Cvf
"Bye, Alex," said Rhénee, not ready for Alex's proposals, which he always made. This time she wasn't going to hear it. Even when she misses him for doing it.104Please respect copyright.PENANAHAOhgFS1lr
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyVzWnE7bFM
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXUEwGEK4kx
After he said his goodbye, she cut the call and placed her phone on the table as she went to the sink to wash her cup. The door to the kitchen flew open, and Rhénee turned to see Miss Griselda walk in.104Please respect copyright.PENANAivJLnbGMVE
104Please respect copyright.PENANABnT5VV0WTS
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7YAUe265Bw
"Morning, Rhénee," Miss Griselda greeted her. "Did you have a good night's sleep?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAEIaATdjk1O
104Please respect copyright.PENANAY4onCuJctY
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcR8sBIOGd0
"Not really," Rhénee answered. "I'm guessing that you didn't sleep well, either." She had finished washing her cup and had put it to dry on the plate rack.104Please respect copyright.PENANAzeh94L2VxL
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdPiddUO00j
104Please respect copyright.PENANAlmZgV8PmmQ
"No. I barely slept a wink."104Please respect copyright.PENANA7Gl7p5LEBA
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJqArrmjbgn
104Please respect copyright.PENANAou0Pn32Pt5
"There's still some hot coffee if you need it." Rhénee pointed to the coffee maker.104Please respect copyright.PENANAnlPI9duIbD
104Please respect copyright.PENANA8GHGxpaIzS
104Please respect copyright.PENANAo3fOJdMO9A
"I heard you talking to someone just now over the phone." Miss Griselda went over to the cupboards to get herself a cup. "Who was it?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAs5k6JQAIWV
104Please respect copyright.PENANAlvLP0Ds2xW
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0QE0pmokbK
"A friend of mine. I hadn't talked to him in what felt like forever."104Please respect copyright.PENANAOFTMithkaN
104Please respect copyright.PENANAL5P4thts4Q
104Please respect copyright.PENANAFETxa8vyv5
"That's nice. You sounded like you were having a nice chat." Miss Griselda took a cup and poured herself some coffee.104Please respect copyright.PENANAqV028qo1l5
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUYDkTAsaG0
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXXGxdmO4Cp
"I did. If only people like him knew what's really happening in my life right now. But the last thing I need is for him to get involved in something as dangerous as this."104Please respect copyright.PENANAx1xjNl4lr1
104Please respect copyright.PENANAC3QlZwJTVb
104Please respect copyright.PENANAGrLd10lpNP
"A wise and sensible decision." Miss Griselda took a sip of the coffee, and her eyes brightened up a bit. "This coffee tastes great."104Please respect copyright.PENANA3WUAGgiu7A
104Please respect copyright.PENANAAsdpvDmLdK
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcZ5QOtOnvn
"I'm just fortunate. I didn't do anything to make it as nice as you make it." Rhénee chuckled.104Please respect copyright.PENANA5eOfWPTKvi
104Please respect copyright.PENANAzpUSUaUu0j
104Please respect copyright.PENANAAcQ3QKmqFl
"So what do you have planned for the day?" Miss Griselda asked as she sat on one of the stools. "I hope you haven't forgotten that you've to meet Mr. Sinclair."104Please respect copyright.PENANAwIyc0ONAei
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5WJZf1DnNd
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdbCSRL2dC9
"No, I haven't," Rhénee replied as she walked away from the sink towards Miss Girselda. "He texted me this morning what time to meet and where."104Please respect copyright.PENANA7tgCeTnYi8
104Please respect copyright.PENANAVw1Q9nmVOD
104Please respect copyright.PENANAuOJxdYeJUA
"Wherever you will be, don't try and give him a hard time, dear. You're quite stubborn, you know."104Please respect copyright.PENANA1SPB5YLDqi
104Please respect copyright.PENANAycRU55Exr7
104Please respect copyright.PENANAS8QjLtTAhE
"Oh, I think he already knows that. The message clearly states he'll be taking me out for lunch. So you don't have to worry."104Please respect copyright.PENANAet8Bsb7mAz
104Please respect copyright.PENANAVz63Q5xAyh
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5dSHjRH28
"Well, something tells me you'll still put him on edge with your questions."104Please respect copyright.PENANA6jzzsaviXE
104Please respect copyright.PENANAs4Cfq2n0R3
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5MiyxvKBK5
Rhénee raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? The way I see it, the man seems as cool as a cucumber. You saw how he was yesterday when we came back from the forest."104Please respect copyright.PENANA6rvjOUUquM
104Please respect copyright.PENANASklp4MR0dU
104Please respect copyright.PENANApoXqsnZGwQ
"I know. But just be careful of what you want to say to him, okay?"104Please respect copyright.PENANA45Fb5HI4xC
104Please respect copyright.PENANAajgaQ0RHxf
104Please respect copyright.PENANAgllROzD3TA
"As you wish." Rhénee didn't like the feeling of being defeated so easily, especially from Miss Griselda.104Please respect copyright.PENANAE0taeFyOan
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcGAG6WpRVC
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4PzITiMoCt
"I plan on making pancakes today. Would you want some? I figured that we had a tough day yesterday it would brighten our day at least."104Please respect copyright.PENANAWA4bmF3wsI
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjrBdyN9RLU
104Please respect copyright.PENANAPHpZtbkq0t
That put up a smile on Rhénee's face. "That sounds great. Let me go freshen up first."104Please respect copyright.PENANATPLfvMhr1w
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUJ6L1HK4nv
104Please respect copyright.PENANAFLUTlix23q
Rhénee made her way to the door while Miss Griselda continued sipping on her coffee. Rhénee stopped for a bit as she wanted to turn around and ask Miss Griselda something concerning last night. But she stopped herself knowing fully well that Miss Griselda might not want to talk about it right now. She opened the kitchen door and walked out.104Please respect copyright.PENANAMFLut3nfUV
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0yc6zI2kSx
104Please respect copyright.PENANALqxq9z4V0O
***104Please respect copyright.PENANAaX88vN9pYk
104Please respect copyright.PENANAHYHrasEHbG
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcYXSgZP3b3
Eugene walked out of the room he and his brother had slept in. He had just told the news of his father's accident to Albert, and as Eugene expected. He didn't take it so lightly, but mention that their father was now out of danger.104Please respect copyright.PENANAf5ccHgIV8e
104Please respect copyright.PENANAVYmMgz1d7x
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcqiYESxr66
Albert had also asked if that's the reason why they couldn't go back to the house. Eugene replied accordingly, stating that their father had come home badly injured. Albert understood, but there was no denying that that he was disturbed. Eugene suggested that Albert should not go to school until he felt like it. Albert thought so too and he told Eugene that he wanted to be left alone. Respecting his brother's wishes, Eugene left the room and headed down stairs where the smell of food from the kitchen was calling to him. Eugene now realized just how hungry he was.104Please respect copyright.PENANABeBIK2WHIZ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyd8OODQiDa
104Please respect copyright.PENANAxcAUqQQh5F
As he entered the kitchen, he found Mrs. York by the stove making scrambled eggs. He also noticed that there was toasted bread, a jug of juice and a pot of hot coffee on the kitchen table. Mrs. York turned to look at him as she heard him enter the kitchen with a smile.104Please respect copyright.PENANALIQkbcFz1r
104Please respect copyright.PENANAEivYqVpmVS
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvDxcMakw2I
"Please, Eugene, sit," she told him.104Please respect copyright.PENANAhtjGwDW0Su
104Please respect copyright.PENANAAS6bM2NUvE
104Please respect copyright.PENANANL1Qzkxxlf
Eugene did just that. "How is Mr. York this morning?" he asked.104Please respect copyright.PENANArEQE8obdmB
104Please respect copyright.PENANAP8FJ3dLul3
104Please respect copyright.PENANAOCtJ83q8T3
"Oh, he's still fast asleep," she answered as she turned back to the eggs on the stove. "With the meds he is on, he sleeps like a rock. How did Albert take the news?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAuat03Pry3s
104Please respect copyright.PENANAhM27d3ti2H
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZYfOqfm01
Eugene clenched his hand into a fist. "Not too well, I'm afraid. He looked like he was about throw up or something. He wanted to be left alone for a bit."104Please respect copyright.PENANAkx9ZxEKuuv
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjcQJxJf6tq
104Please respect copyright.PENANA2UGvM9gYek
"Will he be going to school?" Mrs. York removed the pan on the stove and put the eggs on a plate.104Please respect copyright.PENANAhZjkzFJ88l
104Please respect copyright.PENANAg9t6CmyWGq
104Please respect copyright.PENANAv8guYLftWF
"No. He won't be able to concentrate. Plus, people might be talking about it a lot."104Please respect copyright.PENANAlcM5AuCSyY
104Please respect copyright.PENANAuSfrh37SU0
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6JsnJkQRht
Mrs. York approached the table with the plate and laid it in the table. "People will always talk, and you know that better than him."104Please respect copyright.PENANApyTcHQnlzY
104Please respect copyright.PENANAj6w9e5Ro6N
104Please respect copyright.PENANAN44U8JIOmh
She pulled a chair to take a seat. "And what about you?" she asked. "Are you going for work?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAAZvnl0YDM7
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3UgvAeV2ur
104Please respect copyright.PENANAA0ouoISf7l
Eugene gave a nod of his head. "I need to get my mind distracted from all this," he answered.104Please respect copyright.PENANANQ9nnewAGs
104Please respect copyright.PENANAocYxgQBPi2
104Please respect copyright.PENANAT1mPF7LMIi
"I see." Mrs. York took one of the cups on the table and poured herself a cup of coffee from the coffeemaker. "I'm guessing your meeting with your mother didn't go well?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAT8UDtB0fXR
104Please respect copyright.PENANAYQbASN85xl
104Please respect copyright.PENANA986PNjpLmw
Eugene looked at Mrs. York and gave a nod of his head. "No matter, she didn't want to hear anything regarding her leaving him."104Please respect copyright.PENANAPzCVta0PCM
104Please respect copyright.PENANAPut4Z9pkxg
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1eiSwFP0yc
"Well, that wasn't the most appropriate time for that," said Mrs. York as she took a plate and placed two slices of toast from the main plate. "You know how your mother still loves your father. You better eat up while the eggs are still hot."104Please respect copyright.PENANAuPKjM61g9j
104Please respect copyright.PENANAVQvNkF6wHb
104Please respect copyright.PENANASEC1Kgkp3V
Eugene served himself a glass of juice and toast and eggs. "There's no denying that she still loves him," he said. "I'm afraid him coming to our house to ask for help spells danger for all of us. I don't trust him."104Please respect copyright.PENANATIPbc5gDB6
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7o2eRRUkZL
104Please respect copyright.PENANAqHs1cjrTet
"Same here. It's going to take a lot to convince that stubborn mother of yours. But lets not think about it right now. Focus on taking of her and your brother."104Please respect copyright.PENANAjvNQlYYbmW
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0C147jciB2
104Please respect copyright.PENANAmuN99LOfn7
"I can't do that when she sticks to my father like it's all she knows how to do."104Please respect copyright.PENANArsMsiiY7zO
104Please respect copyright.PENANATjZTnHcbr6
104Please respect copyright.PENANAolz4VFdJOw
Mrs. York sighed and she took a bite out of her toast. "It will take some sort of a miracle to tear those two apart."104Please respect copyright.PENANABhmDGZHWuz
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXx91tOXNiy
104Please respect copyright.PENANAYQjXqCEwyX
"You're right. Now that I think about it, I might as well just leave it be."104Please respect copyright.PENANA9ecIxwGBgR
104Please respect copyright.PENANAsVdWgwFQEZ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQEfqv8escK
The two continued to eat their breakfast and as soon as they were done, Eugene went to prepare himself to go to work. Mrs. York had fortunately taken the liberty of taking some of his and Albert's clothes from the house when the police were around. Their house was still a crime scene, but knowing that his father had been injured else where, they might bring down the yellow tape sooner than expected.104Please respect copyright.PENANAw0h344qTUH
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1owMZYdiYb
104Please respect copyright.PENANARAbYFhHE8q
Before leaving for work, Eugene went to check up on Albert. Lucky enough, he found Mrs. York encouraging him to go to the kitchen and have something to eat. He also made sure to call Eugene's home room teacher to tell her that he wasn't going to be in today.104Please respect copyright.PENANAIh4oWMLBEH
104Please respect copyright.PENANASYjw0vFnyg
104Please respect copyright.PENANAc20eO3sNBo
After saying his goodbyes, he made his way out of the house, heading for the bus station. There was no need for him to call Miguel to pick him up for work like always. Eugene thought he wouldn't even go in his car, if Miguel was to appear at the moment.104Please respect copyright.PENANA9v7zwcXtzW
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3L8W74j1GT
104Please respect copyright.PENANAEhtF8rnVCg
Knowing fully well, that he already told his boss that he won't be coming in early, Eugene took his time walking. While he did so, he wondered what he would tell his workmates at the office when he gets there.104Please respect copyright.PENANAFqsS5vKcf5
104Please respect copyright.PENANAW4sW9RrMdj
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZWJPbRt4gE
***104Please respect copyright.PENANANf2ox4H7wS
104Please respect copyright.PENANAB3nR6GEbUo
104Please respect copyright.PENANAg2PR8AdoHN
Rhénee looked at the time and figured it was now time to leave and head to Mr. Sinclair's office. She had been seated outside the patio, overlooking the garden with Miss Griselda and Sofie at her feet.104Please respect copyright.PENANA0Y10Ci8UPy
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJvzQgRiA16
104Please respect copyright.PENANAm20TLV0frq
"I better get going now," Rhénee announced as she stood up from her seat. "I don't want to be late."104Please respect copyright.PENANAjwqlhgbx54
104Please respect copyright.PENANAhY2b7RikA3
104Please respect copyright.PENANAtk4VZD5SA4
"Alright," said Miss Griselda, sewing her red dress on the collar. "Remember what I told you about Mr. Sinclair and your questions."104Please respect copyright.PENANAkpLkpQ6oMo
104Please respect copyright.PENANAs4IeKcPW1j
104Please respect copyright.PENANAxZAMrb95qQ
Rhénee gave Miss Griselda a smirk. "I'll do my best. I'm not going to promise anything."104Please respect copyright.PENANA0UC9RsTcb3
104Please respect copyright.PENANApOmvTDXZGd
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyEPh12ep5Y
Miss Grisleda looked up at Rhénee, regardless. "Take care," she said. "Make sure you don't wander off on your own like you did yesterday."104Please respect copyright.PENANA4DqDCZzlAX
104Please respect copyright.PENANAEyvbdCINw1
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6sTK5Rbfxk
Rhénee gave a nod of her head and started to make her way to the back of the house to the garage. She had left the door open leading to it an hour ago as she had come into the garage to check on the car for oil and gas. She also took the extra precaution of looking around the car for anything suspicious. You can never know with what's been going on around her lately. She had to be extra careful from now on, and that meant checking her car once in a while.104Please respect copyright.PENANAqNbeSdSx7t
104Please respect copyright.PENANAeH4a17oihy
104Please respect copyright.PENANA2jAwE3TmVo
She unlocked the car, opened the door and we went in. She started the engine and soon enough, she drove the car out of the garage and onto the front drive way. As she passed the front lawns of the house, she noticed Kevin at a distance mowing the lawn. He didn't have to come in for work today and Rhénee told him that this morning when he came to her door. But he insisted that he stick around just in case trouble came by. Besides, he also had to keep up appearances for people to see, or else they would figure out that something is wrong.104Please respect copyright.PENANAqGv28WIcTD
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUSyKPaiFgR
104Please respect copyright.PENANAiDkd46kZSN
Kevin stopped mowing as he saw her drive by and waved. Rhénee slowed the car and waved back. She reached the open front gates and drove off towards the town.104Please respect copyright.PENANAAnBmOnZ8cf
104Please respect copyright.PENANA18dLRNWmRX
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7bZfFjEW1R
It took Rhénee less than ten minutes to find herself at the town centre. It's good she arrived on time. Even if Madison was a small town, slight traffic was starting to build up. The place isn't like New York where traffic could sometimes get you late, but Rhénee always liked to be where she had to be on time.104Please respect copyright.PENANA6c0AgK90xq
104Please respect copyright.PENANAorGnklAHgq
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdEVqooDPUv
She reached the law firm and packed right outside in the car park. She checked the time. It's only ten minutes till 11:30. Better early than late, she told herslef as she took her small white handbag and got out of the car.104Please respect copyright.PENANAK8Z6Im0OcQ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAX6ZfzJOT9w
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1HPYzo8A6M
After locking the door, she started to make her way to the building. She bypassed a guard making his rounds through the car park and she acknowledged her with a greeting by touching the brim of his cap. Rhénee in response smiled at him.104Please respect copyright.PENANAWbTU37E1tT
104Please respect copyright.PENANAirCqYBvEia
104Please respect copyright.PENANAj2G3DmFNa5
Before entering the building, two women in grey suits who she pointed out as lawyers, walked out through the front door. A chill ran down her spine all of a sudden as she had a strange feeling that she was being watched.104Please respect copyright.PENANAnUQx4UrFJY
104Please respect copyright.PENANAL1VVNiBS11
104Please respect copyright.PENANAq2jkK0XtsE
She looked behind her at the car park. Nothing seemed suspicious or was she just thinking too much? If there was one thing her father taught her over the years, is not to ignore your instincts, especially in such a situation she now found herself in.104Please respect copyright.PENANALqOBfmJk9v
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4xV6ohZ31l
104Please respect copyright.PENANAPHz33NzPIO
With one last look around the car park, Rhénee turned around and started to make her way into the building. It wasn't her first time there so she made her way to the front desk and told the receptionist that she had an appointment with Mr. Sinclair. The receptionist told her to go right ahead. Rhénee thanked her and made her way to the elevator.104Please respect copyright.PENANA1wFPZ0oSzh
104Please respect copyright.PENANAWaAKkLeMAn
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyL2y4y8itQ
Eugene continued to stare blankly at his computer in his work station. He hadn't managed to get much work done as his mind wandered off every now and then, thinking of his mother and brother. Maybe he shouldn't have come to work after all. When his workmates first saw him, they were actually surprised. They didn't bother to ask him why he had come, but they did ask how his father was doing. Eugene knew they were only trying to be sympathetic, but he could tell that they found him pretty weird to be coming in for work, especially with what happened.104Please respect copyright.PENANAMpno69hSUo
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvKTm8a55o0
104Please respect copyright.PENANAMGw0nYAKxf
He could feel people's eyes on him every now and then. That bothered him. At a time when he had to go get a piece of paper by the printer, he thought he heard two of his colleagues whispering. He thought he heard his name and when he turned to look at them, they stopped talking and went about their business. It's either they were talking about him or now he's mind was just playing tricks on him. With his mind so preoccupied, he couldn't tell which was which.104Please respect copyright.PENANA4b0J6RoLDo
104Please respect copyright.PENANAWa0B1P7pu7
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJD4kgz2rFZ
He groaned and finally stood up from his desk. Looking at the screen wasn't going to do him any good, not when he couldn't concentrate. Even when Theodore and Mr. Sinclair had given him less work to do to, he still couldn't get anything done.104Please respect copyright.PENANACgrpUQUJ1w
104Please respect copyright.PENANAAqqan0cvUa
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZWmQFhrD44
Eugene gave a good stretch with his arms wide, that he almost hit someone who was walking round his cubicle. He stopped himself just in time and when he turned to see who it was, he found Preeta with a stack of files standing there.104Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ91zldwRy
104Please respect copyright.PENANArOckTDnYO1
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3EjnrnEVgr
"Oh, sorry, Preeta," he said, dropping his hands. "I didn't see you there."104Please respect copyright.PENANARSIG46jpUB
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjq2cEJi7AO
104Please respect copyright.PENANAw7gQ1wdvze
"Oh, no, it's fine," she said. "I stopped just in time."104Please respect copyright.PENANAEkfgQqFIfB
104Please respect copyright.PENANABVY6yS70Gt
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6GJupliV79
Eugene tried to smile at Preeta, but his facial muscles seemed too tired to do so. He noticed the worried look on Preeta's face, and knew she what she was going to ask.104Please respect copyright.PENANAgiolKblJNM
104Please respect copyright.PENANAiE9JWNQUVz
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXqZIHfon5H
"Eugene, are you okay?" she asked. "Maybe you shouldn't have come in today."104Please respect copyright.PENANAoku2iOQPog
104Please respect copyright.PENANAisjhIxAPZj
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjJcaITP9ji
"I'm fine, Preeta," he answered. "I just need to keep my mind busy to forget all that's happening."104Please respect copyright.PENANAFMuzCm8nMW
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUuqDFDfpqg
104Please respect copyright.PENANAxHzwVvebFU
"But you can't, can you?" Preeta raised an eyebrow. "I can tell you're only stressing yourself out by being here."104Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ax8cmaItm
104Please respect copyright.PENANAxJH7TV3LNx
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6s7HlXExZ9
"I know you're concerned, but I can take care of myself."104Please respect copyright.PENANA4idU4Hm9tD
104Please respect copyright.PENANASimANQJghU
104Please respect copyright.PENANAfsrizOLN7L
"I know you can, but if you ask me, you need to be with your brother and your mother right now. Isn't that's what most important?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAFnTeasV8W2
104Please respect copyright.PENANAByB9VhJshs
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyGdXtkBVJ8
Eugene sat back down on his chair, with a sigh. His hand fell upon the side of his face as he asked, "how can I ever go to my mother's side when she doesn't even listen to me at all?"104Please respect copyright.PENANA4bd6pSZnSt
104Please respect copyright.PENANAuNG2NiO5Om
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1RNzteg8Fd
Preeta stood there silently, wondering whether to ask the question. She knew why he had asked this. His parents' affairs were well known to everyone in the town of Madison. And Preeta now found herself in some sort of bear trap.104Please respect copyright.PENANAmKiXkpUubZ
104Please respect copyright.PENANASZYirEv5uY
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6pArk8Wx2F
"I wish I could answer that, Eugene," she found the voice to say. "Doesn't that have to be her decision?"104Please respect copyright.PENANANXfGc84aQw
104Please respect copyright.PENANARMcPI751DG
104Please respect copyright.PENANAv8xMzaAjkB
Eugene looked up at the ceiling. "Her decision, huh?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAMtNfHRh6eA
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4vFD6o1Tcd
104Please respect copyright.PENANABecI3AyWed
Preeta looked at him, and she wished she could try and get Eugene out of the hole he was in. But he seems so lost in his own world. There was a sort of brokeness in his eyes and Preeta wondered if it's only his father's accident that might have caused it.104Please respect copyright.PENANA49cbruM56w
104Please respect copyright.PENANAO9Qc3xDVy5
104Please respect copyright.PENANAwUTRXNBjXX
The land-line on Eugene's desk rang and before he could pick it, he continued to look up at the ceiling. Preeta looked at his landline that kept ringing, and then back at him. Should she pick the line instead, she thought. It could be important.104Please respect copyright.PENANAh9Ut4zNIR5
104Please respect copyright.PENANAqBJuMoBpLl
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZr2I0TPX9p
Before Preeta could even stretch her hand to reach the phone, Eugene quickly took it and put it to his ear. "Hello?" he answered.104Please respect copyright.PENANAmeLxK52GGt
104Please respect copyright.PENANAtWmhhJGtB9
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7uX7qPwKQ6
He listened to whoever was talking on the other end, and afterwards, he replied with a low grunt and put the receiver back in it's place.104Please respect copyright.PENANAERvD27xasn
104Please respect copyright.PENANAYyA9VhSaLU
104Please respect copyright.PENANAoFFsdJcggb
"Was that Mr. Sinclair?" Preeta asked.104Please respect copyright.PENANAi51DHkbYc5
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcwYANy05xc
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjStat4gC23
"No, his secretary called to go get some work files at her desk," he replied. "I better go. Those files won't fly here themselves."104Please respect copyright.PENANA24jxUVLUmt
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4FZzxns2s8
104Please respect copyright.PENANAFGcsKRXlTK
Eugene stood up from his seat and before he could make his way to Mr. Sinclair's office, Preeta took hold of his shoulder to stop him.104Please respect copyright.PENANAIwwrGnQ67e
104Please respect copyright.PENANAn8iGKslPYu
104Please respect copyright.PENANANj8inFSguN
"Hey, it will be lunch soon. Do you mind if we can go out?" Preeta asked. "We can get to talk if you want."104Please respect copyright.PENANAFmWECi50F1
104Please respect copyright.PENANAb3XcnC3nKJ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAaYHC3wbmiN
Eugene looked at her and the corner of his lip was raised to a smile. "Yes, that will be very nice, thanks," he said.104Please respect copyright.PENANALhKuIwcSBn
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjpu1IetLAY
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1PDxuFm1gm
"As soon as you're back, I'll meet you here at your station. Sounds good?"104Please respect copyright.PENANA5Kojh7hKnD
104Please respect copyright.PENANAH8LsoVpKZt
104Please respect copyright.PENANAuBzK6SLv3u
Eugene gave a nod of his head and without any hesitation, made his way to Sinclair's office.104Please respect copyright.PENANAuNJ9gtcktZ
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2p4FDoHZt
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3Abi1cYWAg
Rhénee stepped out of the elevator and started to make her way to Sinclair's office just down the hall. She had a clear view of the secretary's desk. The secretary looked away from her computer to see Rhénee approaching.104Please respect copyright.PENANAGWxX6j56yn
104Please respect copyright.PENANAYxiui7I32g
104Please respect copyright.PENANAq2dKsvaaTZ
Before Rhénee could reach the secretary, there came the sound of footsteps coming from the other end of the hall, and a young man appeared in front of Rhénee entering the hall she was in and also approaching the secretary's desk.104Please respect copyright.PENANASj7IYCkSr1
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZYRRQKZBtO
104Please respect copyright.PENANAmM7bieUmEL
"Ah, Eugene," said the secretary looking at him as he reached the desk first. "I thought I wasn't going to get the chance to see you. How is your father doing?"104Please respect copyright.PENANACKc8irDBOM
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0sSJ02WSMn
104Please respect copyright.PENANAa1FCZvIfr8
"He's out of danger at least," Eugene answered, not realizing that there was someone coming behind him.104Please respect copyright.PENANAaHO1TKw58s
104Please respect copyright.PENANAau5VoyZv1b
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdmFaQaK6sG
"Good morning," said Rhénee as she came to stand beside Eugene.104Please respect copyright.PENANA5DBpTrSii4
104Please respect copyright.PENANAnSPSc3Fek8
104Please respect copyright.PENANAFH8AiY9Buo
Her presence startled Eugene that he almost jumped in fright. He responded to her greeting bleakly.104Please respect copyright.PENANAZmgxAPnVqW
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXKuuzfhOI6
104Please respect copyright.PENANAmQBfRGJ8fD
"Good morning, Rhénee," said Mrs. Clarks with so much enthusiasm, like she hadn't sounded sympathetic with Eugene minutes ago. "Mr. Sinclair just stepped out, but you can go in his office and wait for him there."104Please respect copyright.PENANA2Vn6HbEBdL
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3BPWBucAe7
104Please respect copyright.PENANAqTpvlYh88J
"He trusts me to be in his office?" Rhénee asked, sounding surprised. "Won't it be better to wait for him out here?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAhTosrXwzdU
104Please respect copyright.PENANAqDN16BgHa4
104Please respect copyright.PENANAK8dkADWcCq
"No, he wouldn't mind. Please, you can walk right in."104Please respect copyright.PENANAO7LTs23shv
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKCSd5iPbYo
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZDhv9tQH4H
Rhénee thought twice about it and quickly made up her mind and started to make her way to Sinclair's office.104Please respect copyright.PENANAC8Jeh3esnl
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUxxzkRxME4
104Please respect copyright.PENANAno1YLjHRcX
Eugene had been staring at Rhénee the whole time and it was only Mrs. Clarks placing the files so loudly on her desk, that brought him back to earth.104Please respect copyright.PENANAgAaEq4QQ9f
104Please respect copyright.PENANAulLnE5LMFi
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7GXv399ehb
"How is your father doing?" Mrs. Clarks asked as she looked on worringly at Eugene.104Please respect copyright.PENANAR9ViJwvaTa
104Please respect copyright.PENANAhefy640ooH
104Please respect copyright.PENANAmleIwzpiAQ
Eugene quickly shook his head, trying his best to gather his thoughts. "Well, he's out of danger for now," he answered.104Please respect copyright.PENANA3BR24X8PyU
104Please respect copyright.PENANA68zbESwleU
104Please respect copyright.PENANA9oiPVvW66f
"Just know that I have you and your family in my prayers. As soon as I heard the news, I got terrified. I still am. Do you know how he ended up like that?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAdStg26oYoo
104Please respect copyright.PENANA72UxfuILtY
104Please respect copyright.PENANABQQvK0FlJz
Eugene shook his head. "No clue. He didn’t tell my mum anything, either. He passed out when he got to the house."104Please respect copyright.PENANAVtk0JooBok
104Please respect copyright.PENANAFvSHGrxnMQ
104Please respect copyright.PENANALSwcWoYead
"It’s good that he’s okay. But isn’t it bad for him, though? I hear it was a gunshot wound, and the police are now investigating the matter. Did he say who shot him or what had happened?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAcLdoWM4jF7
104Please respect copyright.PENANAT9e8jw9gBH
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXAAwp3AZkR
Eugene shook his head. "No, he didn’t say anything to mum before he passed out."104Please respect copyright.PENANAQxcaFxffLj
104Please respect copyright.PENANAWlSOEgyya9
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4WSXCYr5ZX
"Well, I hope it isn’t serious. No one reported any shootings, though, so hopefully it was just an explainable accident. It would be pretty bad if it turns out that he was involved in something shady."104Please respect copyright.PENANAYBvNT5blG0
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5HvM0tLTSY
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjEXCjLqoSV
Eugene had had enough of Mrs. Clarks' talk as he picks up the files on the desk. "I better be going now. I’ll see you later."104Please respect copyright.PENANAhek0YiYbm6
104Please respect copyright.PENANAHWegVh8alY
104Please respect copyright.PENANAn8YrBt7IpH
"You take care of yourself, dear. And tell your mother that I’m praying for her."104Please respect copyright.PENANA0gNzPPnsRc
104Please respect copyright.PENANAozUDT33kVY
104Please respect copyright.PENANAhMfgkQoW2N
Eugene gave a nod of his head and turned around to make his way back to his workstation. He completely forgot about Rhénee, who stood in Sinclair’s office and had heard the entire conversation.
arrow_back
Rhénee Johnson: Emelda's Sapphire (Book One)
more_vert
-
info_outline 資料
-
toc 目錄
-
share 分享
-
format_color_text 介面設置
-
exposure_plus_1 推薦
-
打賞
-
report_problem 檢舉
-
account_circle 登入
X
Rhénee Johnson: Emelda's Sapphire (Book One)
作者:
Namwezi
篇 #26
Chapter 25
喜歡 0
閱讀 100
書籤 0
campaign
催更 0
打賞
提出編輯建議
以 Facebook 帳號登入
或 註册/登入 以留言或加上書籤
按此加載下一章
X
每次催更後,作者都會收到通知!
smartphone100 → 催更
×
寫下你喜歡這個故事的地方
×
對此喜歡的人