Chapter 28: Chapter 28

TWO DAYS AFTER

AUSTRALIA

Mrs Henrietta was busy getting things ready in the Kitchen but then her daughter's restlessness kept bothering her. She had kept pacing and scanning through her phone in frustration for the past two hours she joined her and this made her worried.

Something seems to be up with her which she can't wrap her mind around. This got her worried.

“ Is anything the matter, Li?” She finally raised a question as she gently placed the tray on the cabinet. “ You seem off, is something bothering you?~ or you're expecting something? ”

Lilia flickered at her mother's voice which caught her off guard.

“Huh?” She stammered. “ Oh, no... Nothing, mum. I was just trying to get information for my assignment.” Her lips instinctively coiled with a forced smile.

“ Can you do that later?~ I need your help here” Henrietta said, turning back to the chores.

“ But mum...?”, reluctantly, she scampered over to her mother's side and hugged her. “I need to get this very urgent~ I'll help out afterward. I've got to go now" She said, rushing off to the room.

“But Lilia...?”

Before she could continue or finish her sentence, her back diminished.

“ Oh, goodness... I don't even know what she's up to lately.” She lamented. “ Such a spoilt child she is~ wish I could understand her sometimes. Never ready to help out with anything; always feigning excuses here and there.” She scoffed.

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In a daze, she slammed the door shut as she stepped in. Her mind seems to be at a loss on what to do next.

“ Why ain't they calling or anything?... I can't even get through to them either.” She lamented, registering her frustration. “ Gosh!! , this is so annoying ~ It's driving me crazy.”

Lilia shrieked, tossing the phone over as she hit the bed, burying herself among the blankets. Her eyes nervously lingered around as she tossed over, her eyes gazed at the ceiling; lost on what to do next.

“ Great!!” She was suddenly struck with joy. “ I'm so brilliant .” Her lips licensed a sinister smile. “ I'm sure Mart will be of great help~ Let's just call him.”

Reaching for her cell, she instinctively fished out Mart's contact and without hesitation, a call was launched. Within a few rings, a voice invaded.

“ Hey~this is new... Wasn't expecting a call from you in the early hours of the day. Hope all is well”

“ Ah...yeah, you're right~” She chortled. “ Well...nothing much, just a normal check.” She briefly added in a sheepish giggle. But then, his quite exhausted tone got a hunch on her.

“ Umm, is all well with you?~ you don't sound yourself.”

Lilia asked but his reply was that of a normal one; nothing pristine nor anything to satisfy her curiosity. She needed a footpath to get him dishing but what, she pondered~anything goes.

“ Well, the thing is, I've been trying to get through to Aims but to no avail not her mother's either~ you've heard from her. I'm asking because you're close to her ?” She seemed concerned.

“ Umm, yeah~,” He thought twice but Lilia instinctively cut in.

“ What's it, Mart~ talk to me, please.”

“ Well... She was kidnapped by Vicky and her friends who tried to harm her. Fortunately, we were able to intervene but ...” He paused, a sigh intuitively eluded. “ ... unfortunately, we lost Mrs. Solidad in the process.”

“ What?” She exclaimed. “ No...no... this can't be~ tell me this is not happening.” She sobbed in a camouflage.

“ Hey...hey... Calm down, dear. I know how you feel but you got to try to hang in there. Aims is gonna need us in these times.” He consoled. “ She's in good condition now and might be discharged in no time.”

“ And the culprits...?” She briefly asked.

“ In police custody ~ they will be facing court proceedings in no time” He explained.

A sense of disappointment washed through her face which switched her into a sudden silence. That wasn't what she had wished to hear in the end~ it was practically bad news rather than good news for her.

“ Li..? ~ Lilia?– are you there?... Can you hear me?” The voice caught her off guard which made her flinch. “ Huh...yeah...” She stammered.

“ I've got to go now; need to rush over to the hospital to get her a few things. Let's talk later~ I'll call you.”

With this, the line went dead. Lilia couldn't acknowledge. Her eyes just remained fixed on the screen in complete shock and displeasure.

“ How can this be?” She angrily roared. “ Such a reckless act~ I shouldn't have trusted them with this. I should do this on my own.” She burned with rage. “ I'll surely get to you, Aims... Just wait.”

HOSPITAL

With her back relaxed on the head of the bed, Aimscious just scanned and surfed through her phone. One gallery after another~ it was their family portrait which finally popped up. Subtle tears effortlessly invaded and her lips briefly curved in a smile.

“ I miss you guys so much...” She sobbed but suddenly giggled and she dried off the tears. “ I promise to live well for all of us. I'll make sure to keep our promises, holding on to these beautiful moments we shared.”

As she continued, she came across Lilia's and this got her worried. It's been a while since she heard from her. Both of her lines she knew were all not going through ever since she left for Australia. What could be the problem, she had kept wondering.

“ Maybe if only you were here, things wouldn't be this tough~ why haven't you called?.” She lamented in thought but then a hand shot a rose in front of her.

“ You're already awake~ roses for you .” A voice followed which drew her attention. “ This basket of fruits too.” He smiled and she softly mumbled a thanks.

“ You've been so good to me, Mart, and I don't how to thank you. I appreciate all your efforts~ I'm not sure what I could do without you. ” She said, wrapping him in a hug and he patted her head in the process.

“ No need to, dear~ I promise to always be here for you, huh?” She tilted a head with a faint smile and Mart gently caressed her cheeks with a soft, comforting smile.