Chapter 76: Chapter 76

CHAPTER 33

I barge into Laurel's room as soon as the nurse opens it. She turns around, looking at me, as I approach her. I slap her.

"Natalie! Have you gone mad?" She yells. I grab her dress.

"Yes! Yes, I've gone mad! I've gone mad with rage, Laurel! I am mad. How dare you?!" I yell, shaking. I was fighting back the urge to cry my eyes out.

"What the hell are you going on about, you locked me up in here like some sick patient! How dare you? I should be asking you th—

"Keep shut! You. How could you do something so crazy? You turned your petty jealousy and obsession into something so depraved. You are sick in the head, you bitch! And you've made me become just as sick as you are!" I say, as I hit her again. I grab her hair.

"Let me go!" She yells. "What are you doing? I'm pregnant, Natalie!"

"I don't care! I have no sympathy for you, you brought this on yourself, Laurel, and you will pay for trying to kill me and my son!" I yell as I push her on the floor. She looks at me, eyeing me.

I bend down. "You are lucky that no harm came to my son. Otherwise, I swear, I would've killed that thing inside of you." I tell her.

"Luke will find me. He's probably already looking for me and he won't leave you alone when I tell him you did this. I'm not pregnant, but when Luke finds me, I'll tell him you had my baby killed. Imagine what he'll do to you after finding out you killed his child."

I chuckle. "Lydia was right. You are truly the devil, and I, will be the one who punishes you for all your evil deeds, Laurel. You will rot and die in here. I'll make sure of that. I promise you." I say. My phone rings. I get up. It's Jennifer. I pick up the call.

"Jennifer. Where the hell have you been?" I ask, as I leave the room.

***

Jennifer had asked to meet. Like I'd guessed, she was in some sort of trouble. She wanted to meet at Rocky's hotel.

I come out of the hospital. "Bloody hell! Alex." I gasp, startled. "You startled me."

"I'm sorry, I followed you here. Is everything okay? You looked really weird leaving the mobile shop. I had to make sure you were okay."

I heave a sigh of relief. "Did you go in?" I ask, eyeing him carefully.

"No, I didn't. Are you okay? You look pale."

"I'm not okay. I can't drive. Please, can you take me back to Shoreditch?"

I reach the hotel, Rocky's hotel. Jennifer's text comes in.

"Meet me at the lobby." The text reads. I scrunch my brows. Was she giving me commands now? I was really going to deduct her salary.

"I'll accompany you— if you don't mind." Alex says as he parks his car.

I nod. "I don't." We get down. "I need to send my chauffeur down to the hospital to get my car."

"I can send someone to go pick it up for you before it gets completely dark."

"Oh." I say, looking at my watch. I was still perplexed and bitter at what I'd just found out. Louis  would have died. It was divine intervention. My son was saved by grace and as for my life, it was a second chance.

"Who are you meeting? If you don't mind me asking."

"My secretary." I respond. We enter the lounge. I scan the lounge. I spot Jennifer. Why was she dressed so shabbily? I make my way towards her. She looks up, adjusting her face cap.

"You. You're so unprofessional." I say. Alex takes out a chair for me. "Thank you." I sit.

Jennifer coughs. "I know something you need to know but I must tell you alone." I look at her, relaxed. If she had betrayed me, she definitely wouldn't be trying to tell me something. I could tell, whatever she was going to tell me was extremely important. I look at Alex. He nods, understanding, although, he looks sad leaving.

"So?" I ask after Alex leaves. "From how you're dressed, it's obvious you're hiding. Did you steal something? Did you take a loan?"

Her demeanor changes. She looks like she's about to cry. "My life's in danger, Ms. Richardson."

I look at her, stunned. "Come again?"

She gasps, holding her face. "There's a flash drive. It has voice notes and I think some documents, I don't really know."

"What flash? Documents? Jennifer, come on, let me understand you. Go slowly."

"There's no time. I'm leaving London, I can't tell you where, but I must go far away from here."

"Is it Luke? Is it Caleb? Is it someone I know? Jennifer, calm down. What is going on?"

"I'm being watched, I can't stay too long but find that document. Mr. Carrington is the only you can trust. You can have only one ally." She says, confusing me. I'm about to speak when I notice her eyes bulge in surprise. Her jaw drops. Clearly, I can tell she's scared.

"Wh— She gets up and takes off, running like a mad dog. I get up, startled. Alex gets up. I look at the lounge entrance. I see the door swing close. I rush towards it, but I'm unable to see anybody. I turn to enter inside when something catches my attention. There's mud on the floor.

"Is it just me or have crazy things been happening today?" I hear Alex ask. I turn.

"It's not you. Really." I respond.

"Are your days always like this?"

I nod. "Perhaps." I say, as I enter the lounge. I follow the hallway Jennifer followed. Alex is behind me. Thankfully, he doesn't speak. I dial Jennifer's number. It's ringing but she doesn't pick. We climb about five stairs. The lights go off.

"Shit!" Alex yells.

"Are you scared of the dark?" I ask, as I turn on my flashlight.

"I'm not ashamed to say I am." He says.

I step on something. "Ow." I say.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Alex queries me.

"Yes, I'm fine." I respond as I bend to adjust my heels. I see a phone. I pick it up. I press the button on the side. One missed call from Ms. Carrington. It was Jennifer's phone.

"It's her's. This is Jennifer's phone." I say.

"This really feels like a scene from a movie. Are you sure we should go out there?" Alex asks.

"There's nothing happening, Alex. Relax, or you could go to the car."

The staircase leads us to the rooftop. It's chilly. I rub my palms together as we enter the rooftop. I turn around as I feel Alex put something on my shoulders. It's his coat. I smile. "Thank you."

"Jennifer?" I call out. She's bending close to the railings. I can see her shaking.

"I think we should call the cops, Natalie. I've got this weird feeling." Alex warns.

"No, no. I don't want her in any trouble. I can help her. We can help her."

"I'm not safe! He's out to get me. He came." She says, sobbing.

Approaching her slowly, I ask, "Who's out to get you, Jennifer? You can tell me. I'll protect you, you can come stay with me, my house is safe. Come on." I say, stretching out my hand to her.

"Really?" She asks. At this point, I couldn't tell if what was going on before me was real or fake. Was this a prank? Was it a dream? Was she bipolar? She gets up.

"Woah. Easy. You're too close to the— I freeze as soon as I hear a loud bang. It's a gunshot. It's as though my legs are dead. I stand there, gasping. I can't hear a word. I'm zoned out from the rest of the world.