Chapter 43: Chapter 43

"I know you're shocked, I was too," Fathia said calmly. But when Jess's touch grazed her cheek, which had been burned and left a scar that made her unrecognizable to whoever was in front of her, Jess winced. "Does it hurt a lot?"

Fathia just chuckled softly. "It hurt more to see my own funeral on TV."

Jess wanted to laugh, but instead, she started crying again. Fathia immediately embraced her. "I'm so lucky to still be able to meet you, Jess, seriously," Fathia whispered, also succumbing to tears. Many stories were exchanged during their three-month separation.

"But... I was asked to stay away from Sebastian's life," Fathia said softly. "That Fox woman said I'm dangerous for Sebastian. Well, I guess... as far as I remember, I've been the troublemaker."

"But in the news, you... you're the sole heir of Group Azure? Is that true or a lie?"

"That's true, actually. When I turn twenty-three, Group Azure currently held by Sebastian will be handed over to me. It's heavy, right, being me?" For the first time, Fathia opened up with a sense of relief in front of Jess. She didn't want to hide anymore because she felt that she would need Jess's help in the future.

"And?"

"I was told to stay away from Sebastian's life. Especially now that he knows I'm supposedly dead, right?"

"Are you agreeing?"

Fathia nodded without hesitation. The images of the two incidents that nearly cost them their lives resurfaced vividly. She didn't want to take that risk again.

"If Clara says we should step back and you agree, I agree with your thinking."

The girl blinked slowly at Jess's seemingly spontaneous words. However, her doubt vanished as Jess continued speaking.

"I don't have anyone besides the cafe near campus, and our friendship."

"What if we're told to stay away? Your cafe? We can't just be in New York City, right? Your studies?"

Jess smiled meaningfully. "That's easy."

Fathia grew more suspicious, but Jess just winked. She hoped intensely that later on, she wouldn't forget to ask what this behavior meant. Which she later found out, was Jess's surprise just before leaving. The cafe on her campus was quickly sold with Clara's assistance. That woman was really helpful in getting them to leave. Moreover, Jess's words hit Clara hard.

"Aunt, consider this. I know Fathia is still alive. I can go to Sebastian's office. I just asked for the cafe to be sold quickly as our means to survive. Aunt, don't worry, we won't bother you anymore. Deal, right?" Jess said in front of Fathia before she left. A clear frustration was written all over Clara's pretty face.

"Okay. Deal."

Jess's smile widened greatly at that moment. Fathia didn't know Jess's true plan yet.

And it was true. When they first arrived in Beverly Hills, after three days of exhausting searching for a new cafe that Jess would manage, her friend shared her thoughts.

"I don't know how long you can resist your curiosity to find out what really happened. My suggestion is, now we disappear for a while. Not really disappear."

"What do you mean?"

"Fathia, don't be naive. How did you live for the past four months? From Group Azure. Your life came from there, right?" Jess turned, giving her a pointed look. "All your needs, even if Mr. Sebastian provided them, they're still your part, your rights. And now? You're told to step back just because of such a ridiculous reason? No. I don't believe it."

"So?"

"I support you when you decide to come back. No matter how crazy the risks are, Group Azure is yours. Your dad raised it, right? Don't you care?"

"I don't like Dad's business, Jess," Fathia whispered softly.

"It's okay, Fathia. It's okay. But you know, yesterday's incident had a lot of consequences, right? Including the death of our friend? Paulina? Or whoever that was buried under your name? That's what you need to uncover."

Fathia blinked slowly, processing each word that came from Jess's lips.

"We're taking a pause, not disappearing. Whenever you're ready to come back, I'll always be there to support you."

Recalling that made Fathia's drowsiness completely disappear. If Sebastian's and Uncle Ronald's suspicions about the accident involving her parents and Felice were true, was it possible that the same person who orchestrated that was also targeting the two of them?

And now... did that objective succeed?

Fathia had died. Sebastian was about to... well, she didn't know about that part. She had been avoiding news about Clara for a long time. She was sure there would be many stories involving Sebastian in them. She needed to know if Sebastian was still in Group Azure. But considering the phone call where Vino's name was mentioned, there was a high chance that Sebastian was still with Group Azure.

However... there could be another possibility, right? Sebastian's assistant could follow his boss to work wherever he went. Yes, that was possible, right?

Shaking her head slightly, she felt like she needed to start finding out about Sebastian.

Jess was right. Even if she sought justice, it wasn't for Group Azure that she wanted to regain. Her heart wasn't there. She would rather wrestle with the scorching sun, the dirt from the soil, and the smell of fertilizer for her plants than sit in an office and hold the reins of power. She wasn't a clueless child anymore; she knew what she wanted for her future.

If the words she heard from the mysterious man could be traced, it means Sebastian's suspicions along with Uncle Ronald were indeed true. She just needed to find evidence where Sebastian and Uncle Ronald couldn't reach it. But where?

Suddenly, she felt nauseous. Her head was spinning uncontrollably. There was something wrong. Throbbing quite strongly that made her wince. Quickly, she got up and headed towards the nightstand. Staggering, but eventually managing to make it even though she had to collapse before reaching the edge of the nightstand. The throbbing was getting stronger and stronger. She quickly opened the neatly kept medicine box there.

She hadn't experienced this in a long time. Was it because since earlier, her head had been filled with all these questions about the thing she always kept hidden? Trembling, she grabbed a glass of water that she always had prepared near the nightstand. Swiftly swallowing the pill and chasing it down with the available water.

She closed her eyes briefly, hoping this dizziness would subside soon but... suddenly everything went dark.