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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5DnviskgR
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vx8jrqrMe
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSpKzFLh9G
"Hey, mum, are you alright?" he asked. "Sorry for waking you."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMeKqnN43E
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WQOoZYCkq
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxIqHRyXhG
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxYssA2fuk
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoJt39N5KK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxNZFaqqyg
"I didn't expect to see you here," she said, as she put up a tired smile. "What time is it?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6lwBIPyCf
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsFIeuSjRz
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TFQy8qfrG
"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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp9O9Vx4Ip
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2pBtsG4GI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJkpVwb3Hy
"And what about your brother? Aren't you going to see him off to school?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXUSNF6KLh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQLAIsphJX
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpqrlJYNS0
"I will. I came to check up on you first."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSP5UAL4vl
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Jd4FG3zxn
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuatxNUBH93
"I thought you were going to ask how your father was doing."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE6dbpOWSd
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60wtmeT5bn
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwMppdBh1B
Eugene didn't know how to respond to that as he looked up at the ceiling and then back at his mother in silence.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiCQRn9HDJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyWrlLcOL4
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3jp9yxQHX
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1T1nFAav0
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wVsG2NWhd
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK8tzyyhRR
"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." 463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Uf5Srz1TI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgYltvoCgH
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vJ9U7A3Fz
"Did you go in to see him?" Eugene asked. 463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3xnYkm1Eu
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wqZbOLPpD
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PDJSL9XOY
"I did. But he lay there unconscious. I'm hoping he wakes up soon."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiEcVPfpHt
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKP9KisXOJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPo7kyTeYjQ
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvXWRH0cKc
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx23mwIQjEG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaPC5OhgQT
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvbsCk7P5p
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFZN6523Sw
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUHBCxCzzy
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuxMxj9Fxf
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWcqQNYG7Y
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuO4JzIZKz
"Do they think he was involved in some shady deal?" Eugene asked. 463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9TW0rMy3I
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4SuJXLF5p
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rwu5rqgQM
"They do." Mrs. Chamberlin sighed, shaking her head. "I wonder what he got himself into."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDMNLXGohJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7CTJkWTFT
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XYhYZ3aGV
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMQQvuy2UR
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN23uToCzm
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzPm4uKZfK
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c2PrCOtY9
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVTcSJnCxk
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXsp3yW8wZ
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3uvg28XXx
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCoB9a41Hg
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84itQrtTC3
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvoEhJLzFY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV8bnc3FST
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBMUGG5a9t
Eugene now looked at his mother and asked, "Won't you be going back home to freshen up?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlHi0yxPm5
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83Z0IXWiHf
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQQyaMbmdi
"I will," she answered after dropping her arms. "I'll do so when your father wakes up."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfRGvQ5srW
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHElxJgAgK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsgeQYTvOL
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LTyzEArX0
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyTBZQ5ZRd
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCU0p0DUTx
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIAqr51jRs
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEalGR4vwh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5kKTfu1dO
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCBrI5BshX
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5nnuG0Yzw
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7TC2wspDT
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEsnUYAZht
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCuCZ7rBSM
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AggC2u1ZG
"That will affect him, mum. He won't be able to go if it comes to it."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZteTKo3J2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM65GhcKRu
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKg6oOJ4bZ
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurfTYL0RcH
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWUuT5vZBQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvU5NeL4ej
Eugene gave a nod of the head. "Will do."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KSTBjB6md
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBb0cCswE2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPJS0nkGkM
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0saXdkGNj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AxV2xt2aE
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNzoHshAKC
"Did you get any sleep?" she asked. "You look like you've been up all night."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yZNdNUoba
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxDGTuZMIa
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCswm2fneO
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWnm0OjnOm
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJVxfO405B
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwNEBKdmzl
"I'll be okay. Your father needs to recover first."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiz64pfPco
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhagkxMicaq
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qCi0vcaHj
"If he does, will you consider leaving him for good?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLVCFWY8kT
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztv66YO5Qd
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBBI0MuThq
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVslwNydMqF
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9jFMYTb5a
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh3QtJ7891
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSAWQaUDzv
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMQZZkkSYG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVmZ3q6xNX
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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrNYhhrhO9
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GbMKXYXAm
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnNfdMDSoB
"He can never do that. He promised me that whatever he's involved in will never affect us."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVgYt0Segk
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5q1FHF575J
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyA6UgW4xY
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS6Nky4Wns
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP9MBLrGqw
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC6f5O5wIz
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:463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TkhSiUR7m
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQT6csRkOP
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR65Uzg6rTY
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzu1wi92Ra
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWEJQq1zz0
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODlgh657oZ
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpI2LFRpqQM
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW5Vlgpnkb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mBSwBIeZh
"Seriously, mum, I don't know if you care about yourself at all."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqZq4YL2si
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47HNyvECK0
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S4LKRkRbX
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEnztaHgUl
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfegk2AetCr
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kWtFuq9zP
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgadrqMTlzd
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuRlvs4nXw
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDtQBZXgHT
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7QqVtCOe3
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpMPP4TS2b
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhbRqUnVXl
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKG15Cc1WI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMfzObWnDS
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSCWkLgrbG
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIdtdseLFB
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt29UFm1XO0
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYfWu3CDSI
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLnC5DphmH
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gkVN99QHd
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9QY3AQ5x9
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf68CmgxGLZ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1s3QPA7Hg
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0LsoADGHs
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPRBEBoBAM
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd6QC12pyl
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PEW76oRaH
***463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IIwfLkd7L
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MueIjjBhG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx8jKw8RQP
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP1Ydnm8rC
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPqQzhJn1K
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYasGciPzW9
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhejRWfeEy
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjbSiym7Xb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9DvHe7mJY
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7lHyPBrxo
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUEr13jKq5
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIuz1lKzjg
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8nQ7nk70G
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHbCAjpf0n
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OUpSxQE7d
She texted him back, saying that she would be there, and stood up from her bed, making sure to carry her phone with her.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mBmXhyqp1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MrOHQQR4S
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJDNdwIwsd
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHCPuXMx7I
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWCGnHxLLj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSRF6zuM78
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4w8j4DGGJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEASMsOqK9q
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGMnRSpmVk
She scoffed and turned away, heading to the stairs and to the kitchen.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5bbUGbWAj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m0JnvLJub
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6N5eJvXF1
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI6776XAi1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmca98jDpg3
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOUx0HYtjj
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYXirys73i
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ6nwSS5YW
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYaC59kq0m
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZe95sw4Zx
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2d2SPwukQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHXSYNkpwC
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdDrwXg6yq
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWNnolu5xX
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUyXbMWV2Q
"Rhénee?" There was a sleepy male voice on the other end. "Hey, it's been a long time. How are you?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbXbcecgDX
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIosIiAwnmy
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9mGrjj9rm
"I'm good, thanks; how are you, Alex?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64YHdZNwUI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8ZIaiKi7p
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ6yCEwNdP
"Never better, now that you've called. I thought you forgot about me."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FXzISji1w
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Fd366Z7kr
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvGOMQAQYi
Rhénee looked up at the ceiling. "Yeah, I think I must have."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQDAOCesiK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxuenUUydX
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfYLw1oaJ4
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZEfMVgCko
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡze9sVYkB6d
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDqzxIICzh
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwvUt5Vkoi
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrHGUM7w0m
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnFqwex4Ju
"You're just as funny as usual," said Rhénee with a smile on her face. "I've just been busy."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeibXD1s8Q2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QtwOcrJAj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3nIaDJiNZ
"Yeah, a new house and a new life must be a lot of work."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm7TrXvnyc
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdwYE9aPkR
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y91rZm5Pl
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8lrjKBKDY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA9YeX115M
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CzAcqvA95
"Please, it's impossible to forget a person like you. And you were adorable when you were younger, so there is that."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kv7JYsCoC
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJQAPB4MNz
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05jWUprnKt
"I wasn't adorable when I was younger."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8U61HzAQh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VSB2erRkT
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkh0kH5xix
"I've seen your baby pictures, Rhénee. You were just the cutest."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW803j6j9NU
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonKtXJ0nPL
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO22B0SmBlA
"Who showed you my baby photos?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0exfjWBi1E
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvJiLbHrXx
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Cr8ncd9Zx
"Zoey, of course."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35VWi1kpsN
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw8oS7t3Bm
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvWUzPqbK4
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6zhw6svHG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7o1jkarDc
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1jm5457eA
"Goodness, I wish you were still with us, Rhénee," he said. "Everyone misses you here."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NfQUXzGp3
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAnNIva7tm
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zc1EdTMd1
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYlcn0tCKt
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgxLTlvigb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaC1EyPIAsw
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhkl7mrHAv
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71LoR7zmYc
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2WsndgFHW
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDttGGfILu
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sE3sZ6XFY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyM37CpQAZ
"Sorry, Rhénee, but you should know that you're her baby girl. Of course she would worry."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoEeyoU8g4
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM5zh6moQz
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ampRB9rja
"I wonder when she will ever get over me. I can look after myself, for goodness sake."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44NFltqD5U
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyuCxDKjSJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BzNQbZEVg
"She'll get over it when she feels like it. Give her a break."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGXcGlprb3
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucwrFPVM5u
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBl1vqOE6p
Rhénee thought she heard footsteps in the other room. Miss Griselda must be awake.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufrMwX8UPn
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHohFuUn2q
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg5p5RrjPm
"Anyway, I better get myself ready for the day. It was nice talking to you, Alex."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8MCgGPHsC
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAygYtK8MZB
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYMv8q9auh
"You should call every day. It will be nice to hear your voice every morning."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJmpN8ZvNg
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks7bG2SHc5
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8yZImqe7I
Rhénee chuckled. "Why don't you get out of bed and go flirt with other girls?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBziR1bvI1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD8ERUUo8t
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQDroGp8i9
Alex, on the other end, laughed. "Oh, Rhénee, you're the only girl for me; don't you know that?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S7TKUZIZs
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM3vXaji2q
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyd6oa7zaV
"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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqnBanQMmt
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXhGzVEL0I
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUzZu8y55b
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTIVYjSEq7
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbfAyFznVn
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkdZZ6rfcg
"Morning, Rhénee," Miss Griselda greeted her. "Did you have a good night's sleep?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQMKmATwGU
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHjKAYQ2jl
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTa4Xkskzr
"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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bsJtj1RzT
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4S30iwQoi
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2nAPxYgSb
"No. I barely slept a wink."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpoXOLXcDW
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCxP1mz6Ci
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0cxQ9J5Iu
"There's still some hot coffee if you need it." Rhénee pointed to the coffee maker.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dUpxyrWDi
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprR2IYnr0D
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5Dc610HU8
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iooDC9nXF
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumrhLwErHE
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRNis273HK
"A friend of mine. I hadn't talked to him in what felt like forever."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXI7mINsla
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrlCAxEfBh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnvQkf22tL
"That's nice. You sounded like you were having a nice chat." Miss Griselda took a cup and poured herself some coffee.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIQkz7sOGE
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5PKe6qrFP
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpTLN8fRuz
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob08h7AxF8
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqYNoZjVlK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzLYJsS5xY
"A wise and sensible decision." Miss Griselda took a sip of the coffee, and her eyes brightened up a bit. "This coffee tastes great."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvQ7n5fsRx
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRjBuHIYk2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEY2wLMnyT
"I'm just fortunate. I didn't do anything to make it as nice as you make it." Rhénee chuckled.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt1B8lK6xa
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJ6ne9yVt1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpT275KXbr
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrsW6YEVEj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCqHwfLrck
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1nAAwMccQ
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoaR1lTmkX
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggqlf8dQ0F
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUFveme2Ws
"Wherever you will be, don't try and give him a hard time, dear. You're quite stubborn, you know."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSnEoHDSDw
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYswDDj2b1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8SHLTg3iK
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N2CgsOIjb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD6QUctDGN
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYSEgwkpIm
"Well, something tells me you'll still put him on edge with your questions."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFzmXbRKoN
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByB11PrdBI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5SCbqdHti
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GUqLHT8S1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpH487m5xCo
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCLk7huEJQ
"I know. But just be careful of what you want to say to him, okay?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uXB7aD4IO
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUX1m53F3P
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuD5sB301j
"As you wish." Rhénee didn't like the feeling of being defeated so easily, especially from Miss Griselda.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdc82bJaF0T
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sq2Au6y48
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x5ha1Hr3x
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlVkSEJorZ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqw4byrYEjr
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0EOk3b2fU
That put up a smile on Rhénee's face. "That sounds great. Let me go freshen up first."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhMFg1hoNc
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Uo7caJAkM
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTwSpXkPNx
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9wdyKjNIf
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvXIpEPXm5
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZPktbHCV8
***463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5asGphq0l
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9nhNhg0HT
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6hhIh3L4m
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxV9PgOOPB
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieCVMtZxkC
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulVDI7JhsL
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo1YWRDncA
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlutjzpC4nZ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxIYggO6mE
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglVZXxKZO1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5lrawcFhx
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffvufnIP7h
"Please, Eugene, sit," she told him.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpfGlNuBnJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZofWNE5Hpv
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtejHZzcEY
Eugene did just that. "How is Mr. York this morning?" he asked.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTa4TD8cRK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYJcs3m2uh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdEhhHNzZT
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlO6ufZizP
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIGBNr8XUD
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o8p1TGYwN
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv0uZRBCgt
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOIHWlcWnE
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgm5IAqrbb
"Will he be going to school?" Mrs. York removed the pan on the stove and put the eggs on a plate.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQh0ni0FOX
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5Rv82MiAQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jy4bOxWqx
"No. He won't be able to concentrate. Plus, people might be talking about it a lot."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwOZXsrRxD
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXNA4L1eV4
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOCdO1mwzd
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwRCzVH6LQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9oaNMTCyY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDqaOGaciu
She pulled a chair to take a seat. "And what about you?" she asked. "Are you going for work?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1oj89Cptl
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP7WRS0WsP
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscYlHNwDcD
Eugene gave a nod of his head. "I need to get my mind distracted from all this," he answered.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxcLl7pJwl
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vz3tIBHTf
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF8KT9MfJJ
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ2XuBGscQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozFQPLpERH
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vRT5c7yXs
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ0b4fe0Qc
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmdFfDLQhT
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiIfSH6iXo
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIExBQnn06
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKkiryoSgx
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZSgAcIkWd
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbf00tZAUe6
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRI9tNNNFL
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS66sxJ4sz
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kcz07jV7x
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdAIvXDX5o
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvqadpna1M
"I can't do that when she sticks to my father like it's all she knows how to do."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudWuNil8xo
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQLxd4crCM
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem0A3PgWQm
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vTMdTi7Qp
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPqr8Jv8Ms
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyogJ0qASYQ
"You're right. Now that I think about it, I might as well just leave it be."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY0jQM0igF
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7p45sWdv6
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIA40aKJUA
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkPnmhsewy
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbKlVO9G3L
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35ueV8P7GX
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkVVqQXmBG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUZpnu5ACV
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpSY2pPOs2
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEMfPH4Ccf
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1csusZIeA
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI28dpM8pY
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu3VFB08B9
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXSQWNHlIb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ksgau2D4S
***463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AMT2ybYNG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJD49KN5nK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTawgWVeNTx
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGiQ4byAfY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP8BfS1lAY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH52A4ju5po
"I better get going now," Rhénee announced as she stood up from her seat. "I don't want to be late."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbLvZ3C1iD
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9CWGzs8SI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiLP14607U
"Alright," said Miss Griselda, sewing her red dress on the collar. "Remember what I told you about Mr. Sinclair and your questions."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTQ9XuKknJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbUPIz0nxb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsRfTP50Ag
Rhénee gave Miss Griselda a smirk. "I'll do my best. I'm not going to promise anything."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEcedQVV77
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XNaEwGR7z
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKekNAplhp
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMfYgViBY3
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZlJLJPUMq
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjboilnRmu
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ2m360WDQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlY6UCzvCf
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBia2u6rm7
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bOodvvpAi
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GUib3eT2c
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdYPFciKUw
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztYPknfjoU
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gc8DM4tpo
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5DcNSrhwF
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YDVbKZNwU
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJxdt0IQ5G
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALeOpDitih
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMYzNC2Y4K
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5nalfZPGJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHefiGG1UfI
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRlQENa46v
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VtAqUNOte
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFicQuKfqMV
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e94SI8kYA
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GhlTYcJp2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gw1skAZx2
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblvt5i4Hyw
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPykY9kxZy
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo41MeUzgxz
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RcwROQmAQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwIk9xhIki
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdbPo3woE0
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36bYq8PpgI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldteZLCI7r
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3dn9pxlYs
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ0tG4lmnd
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtUN5ShcuQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbObowypmn
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoSHhOSQth
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42LLEW1TwD
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0M2ZUhoSN
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QjO0vpH2d
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oY02Fj2nX
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zg3L8Ews2
"Oh, sorry, Preeta," he said, dropping his hands. "I didn't see you there."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGR8ffGWB6
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWkkrgXozg
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNwKr0dih2
"Oh, no, it's fine," she said. "I stopped just in time."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhxS0uKsia
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSFF1JTNaU
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwzFnZNlp0
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXaY1RcM5G
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevdzHfDxPJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOgytBpuK0
"Eugene, are you okay?" she asked. "Maybe you shouldn't have come in today."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfeEZBFuDJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY2vCORIDe
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr2Rc1DhsO
"I'm fine, Preeta," he answered. "I just need to keep my mind busy to forget all that's happening."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xbFt1q8lS
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmbiXtsB0k
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwhppZnIzs
"But you can't, can you?" Preeta raised an eyebrow. "I can tell you're only stressing yourself out by being here."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONRHa7H1Xq
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HdjoF45yE
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43jpifOY1c
"I know you're concerned, but I can take care of myself."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9miGizdVjG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoGGoQFLs0
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R6cDjcrYt
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIls3RiolE
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLc2gBDAEA
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWt2HfEx3T
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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf6l7lmm76
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbC1o6yqZqj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvjSpfsG9m
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2aNoc6gkh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOaXqnMHB8
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqvBuNlaNK
"I wish I could answer that, Eugene," she found the voice to say. "Doesn't that have to be her decision?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL8CYsjqqD
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv8UEuTHQj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnmq70NU2x
Eugene looked up at the ceiling. "Her decision, huh?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQ9o8AQQeI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVMKBIMGh5
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm29wCWBLIF
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI1RAbWKNj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPyu4MbcGP
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjno0RxD4gA
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ibrhgH9wC
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH02tPET3t
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiEysBMzny
Before Preeta could even stretch her hand to reach the phone, Eugene quickly took it and put it to his ear. "Hello?" he answered.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZIIT3Ty6U
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OzYfXg80L
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP7hTUCtau
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp1HRYxuiS
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqygzcVIKBx
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHay9aFtVtQ
"Was that Mr. Sinclair?" Preeta asked.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNBXRwNYuR
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3yOO60yPI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rB93ksiCj
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvp4368FiN
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2zH8LLpjP
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZuzswsCRn
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nFuCEZG3U
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GB3XzMnD8
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8HRZQAT2Z
"Hey, it will be lunch soon. Do you mind if we can go out?" Preeta asked. "We can get to talk if you want."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHJk6LvMSy
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0gaLxqyhm
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JTt4e79Eb
Eugene looked at her and the corner of his lip was raised to a smile. "Yes, that will be very nice, thanks," he said.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXRdbUlNeI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXvJw7XIDR
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD6uruu4n1
"As soon as you're back, I'll meet you here at your station. Sounds good?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8aDiFyujJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vk9JACsx8
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡov5MINlJam
Eugene gave a nod of his head and without any hesitation, made his way to Sinclair's office.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zHfJQdZkY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFvpDvGLeF
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbryb2GOH9
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nlWZgLtn2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fwGCqLzNv
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Tjfvb02Fr
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PmdF0Yx9w
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYs9jLnTAr8
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1jaYIvWfa
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni88Kknnzy
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoSXVgyzXi
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptrwXzAjx7
"He's out of danger at least," Eugene answered, not realizing that there was someone coming behind him.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaJtDVQM2D
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SY2KcRsMo
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zNOMmHaou
"Good morning," said Rhénee as she came to stand beside Eugene.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWVyZHGa5J
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYFqCG4rR3
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrGl5FdFqo
Her presence startled Eugene that he almost jumped in fright. He responded to her greeting bleakly.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScUrJuNqxB
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2tsPhger1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnqn3EPH3c
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiFK7Rtwzb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PWwixch7V
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXNXLrvQ9o
"He trusts me to be in his office?" Rhénee asked, sounding surprised. "Won't it be better to wait for him out here?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1b27bmsJ9
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIVKQUTZnq
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJOtC3ugLK
"No, he wouldn't mind. Please, you can walk right in."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcrGdfLGs3
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUnjIZWpMI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9uqD8W3QY
Rhénee thought twice about it and quickly made up her mind and started to make her way to Sinclair's office.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUL4nt6YNt
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3OuCUpluk
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTew5gGOVy
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnTvz0tS4s
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSwkkmImuS
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuR4oQBHjm
"How is your father doing?" Mrs. Clarks asked as she looked on worringly at Eugene.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf9m03s63g
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlv2iQmGGN
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAylLA54rjl
Eugene quickly shook his head, trying his best to gather his thoughts. "Well, he's out of danger for now," he answered.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWAvljTUh7
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcZn8KtLxf
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMcNMUcY9U
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy1P4wsnN7
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY5cr6yACa
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLkFkK5KOX
Eugene shook his head. "No clue. He didn’t tell my mum anything, either. He passed out when he got to the house."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURSdpVZbhZ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzu788mvO2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEnCw50N92
"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?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hvk5ps1ds
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezNUO4A2tZ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtUxlC13MR
Eugene shook his head. "No, he didn’t say anything to mum before he passed out."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFPhuQARG9
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjysmYuWsh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHENxKo8geF
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH3wswg6jM
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8vQRXFsCZ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzl88LtjwA
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIPiEu1df2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxnxmDyAHK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrssgAqGZvF
"You take care of yourself, dear. And tell your mother that I’m praying for her."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mS5TC9Nj2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI8YCHZ8kr
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInjSeCndy6
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.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6gO8R7NYN 維尼

216.73.216.206