Third Person’s POV
Two weeks have passed.
The accident that happened in the CUR8 mall has never leaked through the media. But Nocturne, who was keeping a close eye on the Crimson Meadow’s CEO has heard the accident. He planned to take his revenge, but he thinks it won’t be good to fight against Adira anymore since she has more card to use. And so, he stopped pursuing the unbeatable leader.
Many days passed by and finally, it was time for Adira to go out of the hospital. Oddly, she recovered so fast unlike other patients who underwent the same head injury. Her doctor even joked that she might be from a tiger clan since she healed so quickly.
As this will be the day of her discharge, two men waited for her outside her room.
Who are these two men?
Basically, they are the two guys who keep going back and forth in this place for long two weeks. Hansel said that Adira would recover if they were here, since all they do is fight in front of Adira. To solve that, the guys decided to come on separate days.
Now, the hectic visits will end.
When Hansel opened the door of the room, she and Adira saw Geoffrey and Chadwick waiting outside.
It seems that even on the last day, they won’t stop bothering Adira.
“Hansel,” Adira called while staring at the two men smiling at her. “I clearly told you to discreet the day of my discharge.”
Her secretary nodded her head. “I did my best to keep it a secret ma’am.” Then she ogled back to her boss. “But it seems their Intel to get information is strong.”
Well, if it is the CEO of Wine&Vibe and the soon-to-be chairman of CUR8 corporation, then it is possible for them to buy information at ease.
“I know you two are both excited to see me,” Adira said, flipping her red hair like someone who knows she’s pretty.
Hansel would agree to that. Her boss is indeed pretty. And in fact, it was Hansel who suggested to Adira that there’s no wrong in trying to know who’s better between Chadwick and Geoffrey. Still, seeing her act like a queen kinda embarrassed her a bit. And so, she titled her head on the other side and swallowed the embarrassment.
“But why do you have to come at the day of my discharge?”
“I came here so I can help you with your luggage,” Chadwick said.
“Or if you are still feeling weak, you can lean on me while walking,” Geoffrey offered.
Like a real queen, Adira lifted her chin and looked downward to the two men who seems ready to lick her feet if she wants. Well, she can’t blame them for acting so overprotective after the incident. Until now, the two must be still in shock after seeing her collapse in front of them.
However, even if Adira enjoys getting this special treatment from two handsome men, she does not want to appear dependent. After all, Adira is Adira. That did not change even after the accident.
Raising her brow, Adira opened her lips and said with a grin, “I think you forgot who I am.”
At the words, multiple guards wearing black suits and earpieces came marching. There was no one in the empty hallway of the VIP wards but the aura they have was overwhelming, as if there is a great shock wave flowing in the air as they marched forward.
Soon, these strong looking men with bulky bodies perfect for their role as bodyguards, stood in front of them. Then, they bowed their heads.
“Greetings to the lady of Hale!” They greeted with utmost respect.
Geoffrey and Chadwick looked alternately at Adira and the guards. Just now, she really seems the daughter of a billionaire, but the look on her face has the expression of a gang leader instead.
‘I think she can play the role of being a mafia queen,’ thoughts played on the two men’s heads. When they looked at each other, they somehow read each other’s thoughts and were convinced that they shared the same idea.
“I am thankful for your willingness to take care of me,” Adira said to the two.
Geoffrey and Chadwick diverted their eyes to her.
“But I apologized that I don’t need any of it. My father sent enough men to bring my things.”
She swayed her red hair and walked confidently at the center, along with the men in black who walks on each of her sides. Hansel followed right after.
Seeing Adira walked away, the two men just realized that they gained another competitor to get her attention. And this competitor is the strongest above all.
“If it is her father then we don’t have a chance to win,” Geoffrey said with a chuckle.
Chadwick nodded his head and agreed, “Right. He’s a very strong opponent.”
Even so, they are happy that Adira and her father grew closer after this incident. Adira seems to smile genuinely and happy whenever she’s with her father. Although it is still hard to be comfortable around the old man, she’s noticeably trying her boss, as much as Falcon does.
As Adira’s back faded when she turned into the right side, the two men tilted their heads to look at each other.
“It’s been a long time since I saw you,” Geoffrey said to Chadwick.
“What long? We just saw each other yesterday,” Chadwick rebuked.
Geoffrey chuckled while nodding his head. “Yeah. And we’re always fighting over Adira.”
“Hey, you look like you are having fun.”
“Sort of. Anyway, what I mean is… it’s been a long time since we talk.”
At his words, Chadwick’s beams faded. They fought a lot over Adira and bickered. But until now, they haven’t talked about their misunderstanding in the past.
“Will there be a time when we can talk?” Geoffrey asked.
For a very long time, Chadwick was the one who wished for it to happen. Seeing that Geoffrey is offering, that means he’s really ready to fix their past. And although Geoffrey is a competitor in love, Chadwick has no plan of declining the offer. Because above all, he was a real friend of the past.
“Sure. I’ll be glad,” Chadwick replied.
---- --- ---- --- - -- -- - - - - -- - -
Isa did not skip visiting the orphanage to volunteer taking care of the kids. Ever since Adira gave her support to the orphanage, everyday became easier in the place. Many are available to take care of the kids as they get monthly income for the jobs.
Still, Isa kept coming as she got closer to the children. Withal, the head of the orphanage, Marie noticed the unusual behavior of the lady.
Isa is usually bright and cheerful. Even after helping with the laundry and cleaning around, she has time to play with the kids or read them books. But nowadays, she looks weaker and gloomier. Her eyes are lifeless and she’s getting thinner.
Marie told her to skip volunteering and look over herself first.
Yet, Isa only answered, “No. I wanted to stay here for the last. At least, let me see the kids for the last time.”
Last time?
Marie thought that the meaning of that word is that Isa won’t come to volunteer anymore. She has no complaints about this since Isa helped enough and she needs rest. Yet, she doesn’t know the real meaning behind those.
As days passed by, Isa drowns in deep depression. She finds no purpose in life as she’s a failure; in love, family, friends and even at her father’s business.
She blamed herself for being greedy and for causing only trouble to the people around her. As a result, she lost everyone.
Chadwick does not want to be her friends anymore.
And Geoffrey? She thinks that her stepbrother despises her to the point that he can’t even look directly into her eyes.
She stopped eating as she has no appetite. And every night, she has struggle of sleeping as she kept on remembering the words she told to her stepbrother before their parents died.
[“I hope they’re gone.”]
It was her silly wish blinded by possessive love for her brother. She really did not mean to pray for their parents to leave them behind, but somehow, as if the evil angel heard her prayers, it came true.
After their parents died, Isa regretted saying those words every night. Still, she clings to the one last hope that Geoffrey will stay by her side.
Yet, the regrets came again.
She’s mad at herself for being pathetic and useless.
‘Perhaps, it is because I hated Adira.’
She knew it. The jealousy became a poison to her heart, that’s why she did things that pushed her farther from the special people around her.
‘Then, if life have no meaning, why should I keep off on living?’
As her heart turned dark, only one solution came to her mind.
Isa looked at the sleeping pills on the table. Clearly, on the instruction in the bottle, it says that she can only take one table per night.
Carefully, a grin appeared on her lips. With unfocused eyes, as if in daze, she grabbed the bottle and opened the lid.
‘I usually don’t follow instructions. That’s why many people hated me,’ Isa told herself before tears fell down from her eyes.
Geoffrey entered the mansion after working so hard. He will be the next chairman of the CUR8 corporation as he decided to take over the inheritance of his father. He has talent in business and is easy to adapt, but the reason why he’s so tired is because he must teach his friend, Vernon, about his new job in the company.
Vernon is still clumsy, but Geoffrey decided to let it pass.
That friend of his helped him a lot when he had nothing.
‘Giving him a stable job will help him a lot,’ Geoffrey thought before he received a call.
[“Sir, Vernon made a mistake in the inventory again. He put $1, 000, 000 instead of $1, 000.”]
Geoffrey felt the throbbing pain inside his temples.
‘Who says I can let his mistake pass?’
“I will deal with it tomorrow.”
[“Alright, sir.”]
As he put down his phone, he heaved a sigh. “Damn it,” he cursed chuckling.
Even though nothing seems to be going right, Geoffrey is still happy. He can’t wait for another day so that he can see his vitamins, Adira.
Until now, he’s competing against Chadwick to win Adira’s heart. It is an exhausting battle as Chadwick has no plan of backing out. Still, he likes it. The love triangle is tiring but he found himself looking forward to the path with no regrets.
Speaking of love triangles, Geoffrey remembered that his stepsister is miraculously being quiet right now.
Geoffrey looked up to the second floor of the mansion, wondering what his stepsister is up too.
‘Is it because I was so harsh to her that night?’ he asked.
He remembered how harsh his words were and regretted it a bit. Although he hates her, Isa is still his stepsister. For his kind stepfather, Geoffrey is willing to lead Isa on the right path and that is to make her realize her mistakes, so she can change.
“Where is Isa?” Geoffrey asked the maid.
“She is inside her room.”
“Did she eat?”
“Actually…” The head maid bit her lower lip before continuing. “Nowadays, the lady has no appetite to eat. She’s getting thinner.”
Geoffrey worried for her. It is possible for him to have romantic feelings for Isa, but at least, she became a good friend to him in the past.
“I think if young master would talk to her, then she might eat,” the maid commented.
“Alright,” Geoffrey said. “I will go right…”
“Ahhhhh!”
A piercing shout came from the second floor.
Geoffrey and the head maid looked at each other before they both dashed where the loud voice came from.
It came from Isa’s room.
Knowing that, Geoffrey felt the blood rushing backward as he ran. The first thing that came into his mind is regrets.
‘Maybe, I went too far. I should have taken it slow,’ he said to himself until he arrived at the entrance of the door.
What welcomed him is the trembling maid sitting on the ground, the capsules on the carpet and his stepsister laying down on the floor.
“Ahhh!” the head maid gasped.
“The young lady…. the young lady is…” the maid, who saw Isa first, reported while quivering.
Geoffrey’s face lost its colors as he walked inside and gaped at his stepsister. When he tilted his head, he saw a letter above the bed. Probably, Isa’s last will.
“No,” Geoffrey murmured, shaking his head. “No! No! Call an ambulance! Right now!”
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