Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Kathleen was sitting next to Michael Deloux, her head resting on the bed when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she raised her head to see Marcella staring at her angrily, "leave, I'll stay with him" she commanded but Kathleen shook her head,

"I see you're seeking for every opportunity to finish what you've started"

Marcella's eyes were cold as she regarded Kathleen, "I don't understand what you're talking about"

Kathleen hissed at her words, "are you certain you do not understand?"

"What are you trying to say, Kathleen, spill it out"

"What I'm trying to say is that you want to get rid of him, you were the one who stopped his oxygen flow right? Now you want me to leave so that you can finish him off".

Marcella gasped in anger, "why would I kill my husband? You're sick"

"Am I? Then explain this"

Kathleen said bringing out the drugs

"What's going on here?" Derek asked from the doorway and they both whirled around at the sound of his voice, Kathleen walked towards him, showing him the drugs, ", look at this, this is the reason for the state your father is now and Marcella has been feeding this to him"

"Why do you want to always come between me and Derek, you want him to hate me so much that you would go to the extent of accusing me of hurting my own husband?" Marcella asked in a teary voice, "why do you hate me so much? What crime have I committed? I've never seen those drugs you're holding and don't know what it's used for"

"Stop lying Marcella, I took this from your bag at home and I saw you mixed it in his drink the day his condition suddenly got worst"

"This was what I put in his tea" Marcella brought out a drug very similar to the one in Kathleen's possession but whiter in color, "you can ask the doctor about it, Derek, you'll see it's not harmful"

Kathleen frowned at Marcella's quick wit, she must have guessed Kathleen's intention and did some switch, Marcella was sly indeed but she would not stop until she exposes Marcella.

"How could you accuse me of such? To the extent of you bringing harmful drugs from wherever you brought it from, just to accuse me, I feel so pained" Marcella cried, tears brimming and running down her cheek. "It's okay, Kathleen didn't mean to accuse you" Derek finally spoke

"You're always siding with her, what do you mean she doesn't mean to accuse me, she just did"

"It was a mistake and I don't want this to go out, she'll apologize to you for accusing you wrongly"

Kathleen opened her mouth but no words came out, Marcella cast her a sly smile, a triumphant look on her face and Kathleen felt chagrin

"You liar" she hissed but Derek cuts her short by calling her name, she would never apologize to this woman, she has obviously changed the drugs, she felt offended as she glanced from Derek to Marcella before stomping off the room.

Weeks later, Michael Deloux finally opened his eyes, Kathleen played his guardian angel, never leaving his side and sharp as a hawk, she was elated, he stared at her and tried to talk but he couldn't speak, for now, the doctor said his prolonged illness has affected his speech and movement and consequently wouldn't be able to speak for the moment but as he keeps improving, he would be able to speak. So Kathleen spent her time reading him stories and soon the doctor said he was ready to be discharged

Derek was exhausted as he walked into the house, the day's activities has proved hectic, all he needed right this moment was a good cold shower before hitting the bed, the house was quiet as he entered the room, he found Kathleen sleeping, she must be exhausted from taking care of his Dad, he watched her sleep for a while, the creases beside her eyes were now faded in her sleep, it's been a week since his father has been discharged from the hospital and she had never left his side, he decided to go check on his father before he turns in for the day. Quietly, he walked out of the room and closed the door carefully behind him in order not to disturb her sleep, he walked to his father's room, he opened the door and frowned as Marcella jumped, spilling the content in her hands, his eyes followed what had fallen and narrowed at how nervous she seems, he walked in fully and bent to pick the drugs that had fallen just as she bent to do same, it must be his father's medication. His eyes caught a slightly whitish substance among the drugs, it was the exact drug Kathleen had shown him in the hospital, he carried it and carefully observed it, although he hadn't said anything at the hospital but he had to admit that Kathleen's accusation had made him suspicious, he eyed Marcella suspiciously, "what do you have to say concerning this?"

"I....I...." She stammered

"I see you have nothing to say, how cruel are you to want to kill your own husband, isn't it enough that you married your best friend's husband?"

"I wasn't going to give him" Marcella answered

"Oh yeah, what is it doing in your possession then? Stop lying through your teeth"

Marcella's eyes grew furious, "oh yes, the drug is harmful, it kills after taking it for a long period of time but it's too late now to save him because he can't do without it, he's already addicted to it and there's nothing you can do" she suddenly laughed maliciously, "that witch, always ruining my plans, but it's too late, you can't save him, you wanna play the savior now, where were you all these while, I've been the one taking care of him because your pride wouldn't let you forgive him, now you wanna play saint with me, go to hell"

Kathleen woke up in all the commotion and came out to see what was going on, it took her just a second to process everything

Derek was furious as he took out his phone and dialed the cops' number, soon they arrived and whisked Marcella away, Marcella stared at Kathleen with undiluted hatred, "you're the cause of everything, I promise you, you'll pay for this"

She stared at Derek smugly, "you can't keep me in jail, I'll be back darling, sooner than you expected"

Soon she was put into the police van as the siren of the car blared and she was whisked away.