Chapter 274: Taking help

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Seeing the little girl, Valarie's mood brightened up significantly. She was waiting for her friends to kill them mercilessly when they brought someone as a shield. So, the plan to kill them was postponed for now. She smiled at the girl who was looking at her curiously. "Who is this sweetie?"

"This is Violet. We met her outside the ward just now." Preston answered.

"Is it? Hello darling. How cute are you!" She exclaimed as she pinched Violet's cheeks making her blush.

"You too." The girl replied shyly and Valarie smiled in satisfaction.

"See, she finds me cute," Valarie said, her words directed towards her friends. She then saw the two men behind them and she looked at them in confusion. "These are?"

"This is Violet's grandfather and this gentleman here is his assistant," Ruder answered and Valarie greeted them with a small smile.

"How old are you sweetie?"

"I am five years old."

"Aww. So cute."

"Miss, are you married?" Violet asked all of a sudden shocking everyone in the room. Valarie gave a confused look at Preston and Ryder before she went back to answering the little girl.

"No dear. Why do you ask?" Valarie asked softly and Violet's eyes brightened up after listening to her answer.

"Will you be my aunt then?"

"Aunt?"

"Yes. I have my favorite uncle and you both make a cute couple." Violet's answer shocked Valarie while Preston and Ryder were so amused that they started laughing out loud.

"I-I-I," Valarie stammered, not knowing how to tackle the situation. Before she could come up with a satisfactory answer that would not hurt the little girl's feelings, Preston interrupted her.

"Sure Violet. Valarie will marry your uncle. By the way who is he?"

Valarie giggled after getting the answer she wanted while Valarie sent one hard glare towards her friends. Even Norman and John were smiling as they silently looked on. This was pure amusement for them except for Valarie and Violet.

"My uncle is Ian. He is a doctor here." Violet pointed towards the ground indicating that Ian worked here and immediately Preston and Ryder's eyebrow shot to the sky. They knew who Ian was. He was the one who had helped them get the recording they wanted. As far as they knew about him, he seemed to be a good man and for a second, they felt Violet's suggestion was not bad. He was a doctor and they were sure if Valarie and Ian were to get together, he would definitely put her in her place. With a doctor around, Valarie would never dare to ignore her health again.

"Sweetheart, that's a good idea. We would love it if your uncle and our friend could get together. That would make us happy too." Ryder said happily ignoring the daggers that were being thrown at him silently. "Where is he? We would like to meet him?"

At this question, Violet's face became gloomy at once, and seeing the change in her the three people looked perplexed. "I don't know where he is. I haven't seen him, I think he is avoiding me." Violet's dejected expression made everybody sad too and John chuckled in helplessness.

"Violet, your Uncle Ian is not ignoring you. He is not in the hospital right now. So, he is unable to meet you." John was the only one who knew where Ian had gone as he had the nurses speak about him in the corridor while he was filling up the discharge papers.

"Then, why is he not meeting me? Is he angry at me?" Violet was close to tears as she spoke these words and this made all the five people's hearts to shatter even more. She looked so sad and devested that John couldn't control himself and spilled the beans.

"No dear. Nobody is angry at you. Your uncle has gone to another city on work and it will take some time for him to come back. He promised me before leaving that once he comes back, he will come and visit you first."

John's answer brought a huge smile on Violet's face and she bounced in Preston's arms happily. "Really?"

"Really."

"Promise?"

"I promise," John answered and mentally made a note to talk to Ian once he came back. They would be visiting the hospital for Norman's follow-ups and he was sure he would find him one day. The girl had taken a liking towards the man and for the first time, he felt that there was somebody else who genuinely cared for too other than her grandfather and him. He had seen the way Ian behaved with Violet and the fatherly love Ian showed was not hidden to his eyes. The man adored her just like how a father did to a daughter.

"So, Violet. Tell me, what do you like?" Valarie asked trying to change the topic. She was getting vexed with the way her name was being associated with a doctor she had not even met and with the way her friends were behaving, she was sure they would end up getting her married to him by hook or crook.

"I like chocolates and ice creams. Also, cakes and pizza."

"That's cool. I like pizza too." Valarie said and took a small glance at her friends who were smiling at her mysteriously. She ignored them and went back to talking to Violet, not knowing that her behavior with the girl was exactly that of a mother's.

Norman was observing everything that was happening and he was seeing his granddaughter joyously chatting with the woman on the bed. He scrutinizing the three people who he did not know. Though they were behaving normally, there was something in them that made him feel weird. It was as though they were a different people in secret. His gaze then fell on Ryder who was standing closer to him and noticed the outline of a holster through his coat. The man here was carrying a gun. Norman's eyes widened in shock and fear. He did not know if the man was a criminal of he was the police. So, he did not jump to conclusions immediately. He decided to give him a benefit of doubt as he continued observing.

His eyes wandered around the room and they fell on a bunch of papers that were lying on the table. He could vaguely see the words written on some of them as the table they were lying on was right beside him. He could make out the word Intelligence and then it struck him. These people belonged to the Intelligence. The realization was beyond shocking but it was not abnormal to find them here as they too were humans who occasionally fell sick.

Valarie noticed Norman's absent-mindedness. But she did not give it a second. What surprised her more was that she found him to be familiar, very familiar. However, she could not tell where she had seen him. 

Seeing the people before him, Norman suddenly had a thought and he hoped that this time he could be successful. It was a foolish thought of a father who desperately wanted to find his son. Though the probability was very less, there was no harsh in trying. At least he would not have the guilt of not trying. So, he made up his decision.

"John, take Violet outside. I have something to talk to these people." Norman said loudly gaining everybody's attention. The three friends looked at him confusion, wondering what he wanted to tell them. It was the first time they were meeting him So, his words were a little surprising. John gave Norman one knowing look before he took Violet with him.

The room became silent at once with the three friends staring at him with questionable gazes.

"You must be wondering what I wanted to speak to you about. Let me introduce myself before we talk about it. I am Norman Litner." He smiled at them and this Valarie's eyes widened. She finally found out who he was. He was Norman Litner, the man who had won the Nobel prize. She had read one of his books on psychiatry and she had learned a lot of things from it. Though she wanted to say something, she stopped herself allowing the man to speak.

"I want help from you guys," Norman said, confusing them all the more.

"How do you expect us to help, sir?" Preston asked furrowing his eyebrows.

"I know you guys work for the Intelligence." Norman's words turned the trio's confusion into shock. 'How did he find out about it?' Though they did not hide the fact, they did not openly declare about it too. Their minds started to think of all possible reasons, but they could find none.

Seeing the gears in their heads turning, Norman could guess what they were thinking. "I am a psychiatrist. My observational skills are better than normal people. Not everybody is allowed to carry a gun, like this gentleman here." He pointed to Ryder who was still standing beside him, before his eyes went to the stack of papers on the table. "And, not everybody can get documents from the Intelligence. Am I right?"

"I admire your ability, Sir. I have read about you and your achievements. It is my honor to meet someone like you. What would you want from us?" Valarie questioned him calmly, not masking her appreciation for the old man. He was truly a genius in his field and it was not every day that they got to meet someone like him.

Preston and Ryder wanted to ask her how she knew that man. But they kept quiet, they could ask about it once he left. There were other matters to give importance now.

"I want you to find my son."