“William?” Dr. Zimmer was surprised to see her only grandson's sudden appearance in the Zimmer family's manor.
William Zimmer didn’t reply instead he smiled as he strode forward and hugged his grandma.
“Oh. You didn’t know how happy I am to see you, my William.” Dr. Zimmer uttered with full of love and longingness in her tone.
“Me too grandma. Me too.” William replied while hugging her.
“Wait. Are you staying here for good? How’s everything?” Dr. Zimmer was curious but sparks in her eyes were visible as she was expecting to hear good news from William.
“Yes. I will stay here for good and don’t worry, everything’s fine.” William smiled reassuring Dr. Zimmer.
“Did you take all the medicines I gave you? And follow all my advice well?” She asked wanting to assure that her grandson was already doing well.
“Don’t worry Dr. Zimmer. I’m always good at following orders and advice especially yours because you’re the best doctor in the world.” William held his grandma’s shoulders and smiled at her with a wink.
“Come on, I will ask everyone to prepare a feast to celebrate your coming.” Dr. Zimmer excitedly announced.
Seeing her playful handsome grandson, William was finally back!
While Bill was having a lunch meeting in a grand restaurant, he received a call.
“Yes.” He answered with a stern voice.
“Sir, the patient escaped.” One of his bodyguards who was guarding Arabella in the hospital reported.
“Okay.” Bill’s word was calm inside the VIP room. His business partners and clients’ ears were all on him but never dared to look at him and showed curiosities. Bill was always calm and had total control of himself whenever in a meeting. He always stood out with elegance and a calm demeanor but intimidating to many.
“Someone helped her. The patient gave us coffee then the next thing happened, we all woke up in her room. We already searched the whole hospital but there’s no trace inside her. She had left.” The bodyguard explained with his hand uncontrollably shaking while holding his phone. He served his Boss for so many years, this the only time he disappointed him but he was also shocked by his boss' tone. He wasn't angry.
‘Such stubborn!’ Bill remarked silently as he hung up the phone.
The bodyguard felt relieved that his boss didn’t scold them and fire them. He still couldn’t believe that a girl had escaped from their watch.
Inside the car,
“Damien, thank you very much for helping me.” From the bottom of her heart, Arabella was very thankful for him despite every pain he got from her. She was still feeling guilty about it but she could only rely on Damien to help her get out of the hospital.
“Do not mention it. You know I am always here voluntarily to be always your beck and call.” Damien replied looking her eyes sincerely.
“I am just really thankful to have a good friend like you.” Arabella gave him her sweetest smile.
“Hmmm… A friend…” Damien’s smile diminished in an instant. Arabella became a bit worried. Her smile became stiff.
“A friend… A good friend indeed.” Damien continued his words and gave her a smile to lighten up the atmosphere that was almost getting awkward.
Arabella then chuckled hearing Damien. He also laughed with her.
They reached the apartment but her thoughts were still in mess.
Surprisingly, she found her mobile phone inside her bedside drawer before they escaped from the hospital.
She knew that Bill would not stop pestering her. So, she had to make a plan quickly.
“Mommy!” Adam was so surprised and happy seeing his mom again as she entered the house in a wheelchair.
“Adam,” Arabella muttered as he hugged him so tight.
“What happened to you mom?” Adam asked worriedly.
“No worries. I just tripped.” She released a sweet smile to appease Adam.
“Dinner is ready,” Lira announced from the kitchen.
“Lira?” Happy to see her, Arabella called her name with a wide smile.
Lira was speechless seeing Arabella again. She strode forward and hugged her previous boss.
“It’s so nice to see you again and thank you for taking care of Adam.” Arabella hugged Lira showing her utmost gratitude to her.
“Ms. J, that’s nothing. You know I love this family.” Lira replied kindly.
For the first time again, they eat their dinner together just like before when they were in city Y until they heard a loud knock on the door.
Arabella was suddenly alerted as they were not expecting any guests at this hour.
Could it be him?
Arabella became alerted.
“Lira, take Adam to his room first,” Damien ordered quickly.
“What happened, mom?” Adam felt the intensity of the situation. He knew something wasn’t right.
“Adam, please follow Uncle Adam. I will explain it to you later.” Arabella said while feeling her heart was beating so fast as she looked at Adam straight his eyes begging.
“Okay, mom.” Without any hesitation, Adam replied obediently. Lira was also puzzled but still accompanied Adam to his room.
Damien looked at the door and Arabella while the latter was also looking at him.
“Stay here,” Damien ordered as he quickly strode in the direction of the door. He looked at the peephole first and heaved a sigh of relief seeing a familiar face outside.
“Who is it?” Arabella asked almost whispering.
“Your friend,” Damien answered as he quickly opened the door.
Arabella frowned.
Her friend?
She was puzzled.
When Damien fully opened the door, Arabella was surprised to see Farrah entered with a gloomy face and she seemed to have cried so much that her eyes were swollen.
“Farrah?” She couldn’t believe to see Farrah in her apartment as she knew she was supposed to be on her honeymoon.
Farrah seemed didn’t hear Arabella as she strode towards her and her tears came out flowing. Farrah hugged Arabella tight and cried a lot.
“Shhhh…” Without bombarding Farrah with so many questions, Arabella whispered just allowing Farrah to cry on her shoulder.
After a while, she led Farrah to sit on the couch.
Still dispirited, Farrah followed.
“What happened?” Finally, Arabella asked with all her sympathy to her best friend.
“Gab…” Farrah’s tears came out again upon mentioning Gab’s name.
“He… he was captured when we docked in city S.” Farrah was hurting so much as she clenched her fists on her lap.
“What?” Arabella was shocked. She didn’t know what to say or do to give relief to Farrah. Instead, she hugged her again as she knew how difficult and painful Farrah was into right now.
Farrah hugged her too seeking great comfort from her friend but sooner Farrah suddenly stood up.
“I’m going. I need to save him.” With full of determination in her eyes, Farrah declared.
“Farrah, calm down first. It’s very dangerous.” Arabella held her hands hoping for her to think it carefully.
“No. He needs me. I know he was waiting for me.” Farrah felt the rush to leave right away and go to Gab’s house.
“Farrah.” Arabella was very worried as she didn’t want Farrah to be in danger but seeing her, she had no sign of changing her mind.
“Okay! I will go with you.” Arabella decided.
“Arabella, you can’t.” Damien butted in with full of concern about her as she still couldn’t walk properly.
“Damien. Farrah’s matter is also my matter. I’m going with her.” Arabella was very eager to share danger with her best friend.
“Then I will go with you.” Damien firmly declared.
Damien drove Farrah’s car as she was still absent-minded while Arabella kept on holding her hand to stay calm.
When they reached Gab’s family’s mansion, they were surprised as no men were guarding the entrance as they imagined. Suddenly Farrah's hopes lit in her eyes. They reached the gate and saw only one man guarding the entrance of the mansion.
“Sir, I’m here to see Gab. I’m… I’m his…” Farrah introduced herself but it seemed her remaining words were stuck in her throat.
Arabella noticed Farrah as she held her hand and pressed it a bit to show her support.
“I’m his friend.” Farrah continued with a heavy heart as she could not admit to the person her true position in Gab’s life otherwise, he would not believe her.
“Are you Ms. Farrah Lin?” The person asked that made them all shocked. They seemed to be expecting Farrah’s present in their place.
Farrah looked at Arabella and she nodded.
“Yes,” Farrah answered trying hard to compose herself.
“You can enter the Manor now. Mrs. Kenley is waiting for you.” The person informed them that made them more startled.
“But you have to go alone as ordered by the madame.” He added.
Farrah looked at Arabella again trying to get her permission. She looked very dispirited but was very eager to save Gab. Arabella nodded as her indication to go.
“Call us if you need help. Okay? If you’re not back within 15 minutes will call the police. Please be safe.” Arabella whispered with a worried tone.
Instead of replying, Farrah nodded with cold sweats in her hands as she strode to the family’s mansion.
An old butler opened the door for Farrah and she went inside directly.
Farrah killed all the nervousness in her body as her main goal was to see her husband again.
“So, you are Farrah Lin.” A woman in her 50s sounded in front of her. She was elegant in her white gown. She seemed to be attending a party as she was fully made. Farrah saw her as a bossy strict manipulative mother but Gab never mentioned it to her.
“Yes. I’m here for Gab.” Farrah uttered her purpose of the visit directly since they already knew her that just meant they were investigating her.
“I know but I am sorry to tell you that you are too late. He is going to marry the only daughter of the Ming family.” Mrs. Kenley sounded proud.
Farrah trembled hearing Gab’s mother but she tried her best to compose herself. Her heartbeat heightened as she smiled crazily like she heard the funniest joke in her life. Then she got something from her bag and showed it in front of Mrs. Kenley.
“Am I really too late?” Farrah said showing their marriage certificate.
Mrs. Kenley was stunned for a while but quickly regained her elegant and bossy self. She gave Farrah an intimidating smile too.
“That’s nothing, my dear. There’s no money can’t fix.” Mrs. Kenley said with sarcasm.
“I love him.” Farrah declared honestly.
“Love?” Mrs. Kenley frowned.
“Look. In this family, there’s no such thing as love and passion. We grow by giving up those two. My son needs Eunice to be more competitive and powerful. Gab is my only son. He will lead our company soon and he has to feed hundreds of thousands of employees now tell me is your love can feed them?” Mrs. Kenley’s tone was sarcastic as she looked at Farrah from head to toe.
Farrah’s heart was clenched.
“I want to see him.” Farrah pleaded almost crying as she already felt defeated with her words. She felt like a very small stone and Eunice was the big sturdy rock. At the same time, she felt like a weed in a garden that needed to be pulled out from the soil so no one could steal the nutrients, water, and sunlight from the flower.
“Sorry dear, he’s not here. Gab is with Eunice now as we speak, they are celebrating a party in the Ming’s residence. I have to go. I don’t want to miss my son’s pre-wedding party.” Mrs. Kenley strode elegantly past Farrah with a compelling smile on her face while Farrah was left disheartened.
“Farrah!” Seeing her best friend's gloomy expression, Arabella was alerted.
Farrah went back inside the car and released a heavy breath before she spoke, “Gab was going to marry Eunice Ming, her original fiancée. They are having a pre-wedding party now at the Ming’s residence.” Farrah had no tears to cry anymore as her eyes were already swollen due to excessive crying but her voice was no energy and cold.
Arabella held Farrah’s cold trembling hand.. She squeezed it a little showing her sympathy and support then she said, “Then, let’s go to that party.”