The morning light seeped through the half open blinds of the hospital room, casting faint rays over the sleeping figures curled up in uncomfortable chairs. Racheal shifted, blinking groggily as a gentle nudge stirred her awake.
"Miss George?" A soft voice whispered. "Miss Kate is ready to be discharged."
Racheal rubbed her eyes, momentarily disoriented, before glancing at David, who was slumped awkwardly in the chair beside her, his head tilted back, mouth slightly open in deep sleep.
Another nudge, this time to David's arm. He jerked awake, eyes darting around in confusion before settling on Racheal. "What's happening?" he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.
"Kate's ready to leave," Racheal murmured, stretching out her stiff limbs before turning toward the hospital bed.
Kate, looking much better but still pale, sat upright, already dressed. A nurse was beside her, handing over a few documents and a bottle of prescribed medication. "You just need to sign this, and you'll be good to go," the nurse said kindly.
Kate nodded, took the pen with slightly shaky hands, and scrawled her signature. "Thank you," she said softly.
David, now fully awake, pushed himself up from the chair. "Alright, let's get out of here."
They stepped out into the crisp morning air, Kate leaning slightly against Racheal for support as they walked toward David's car. Just as they reached the parking lot,her heart skipped a beat.
A sleek black Mercedes rolled smoothly past the entrance gate. Her breath hitched.
"David…" she whispered urgently, gripping his arm. "That's my dad's car."
David's brows furrowed. "Where?"
Racheal subtly turned his head, nodding towards the vehicle that had just entered the hospital grounds. Antony George's unmistakable figure was visible through the tinted glass.
David's eyes widened in surprise. "What is he doing here? I thought he was supposed to be in Oakhaven." Racheal's voice was laced with annoyance. "So did I! And Mom's not even with him. What's going on?"
Kate looked between them, confused. "Is he sick?"
Racheal's chest tightened at the thought. Her father had always seemed invincible,powerful, unshaken by anything. Seeing him at a hospital alone sent a strange wave of unease through her.
"We need to get out of here before he sees us," she said quickly, bending lower in the backseat as David ushered Kate inside.
David started the engine, keeping his eyes on the rearview mirror. "Should we wait and see why he's here? Maybe"
"No!" Racheal snapped. "I don't want to risk being seen. Whatever's wrong with him, I feel bad, but I can't deal with that right now."
David hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, let's go."
As the car pulled out of the parking lot, Racheal couldn't help but steal one last glance at the hospital entrance. Her father was stepping out of the car, adjusting his cufflinks with a tense expression.
As they drove away, Kate, oblivious to Racheal's growing anxiety, leaned back in her seat and sighed. "Where are we going again?"
"Five Seasons Hotel," Racheal replied, shaking the thought of her father from her mind. We are going to a safer place. Kate gave her a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Racheal."
As they made their way towards the hotel, Racheal pushed aside the uneasy feeling gnawing at her.
They arrived at the Five Seasons Hotel, David brought the car to a halt and shut off the engine. He turned to glance at Kate, who had fallen asleep in the backseat, her face pale but peaceful. Racheal sat beside her, her mind racing with everything that had happened in the past few days.
David sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I booked two rooms,one for you and Kate, and the other for me. We need rest."
Racheal nodded. "Thanks, David. For everything."
They helped Kate out of the car, supporting her as they entered the hotel. The receptionist barely looked up before handing David the keys, and within minutes, they were settling in.
Kate's health had improved significantly, thanks to the medical attention she had received earlier. Her cheeks, a little less pale. She sipped warm tea while resting on the bed when David knocked softly and stepped inside their room.
"Kate," David started, his voice calm but firm. "Don't you think it's time you told us everything? You and Richard were planning to run away, right? We need to know why. It might help us figure out who killed him."
Kate hesitated, her fingers tightening around the cup. She exhaled shakily. "Well, If that's the case, then I'll tell you."
Rachael and David exchanged glances before sitting beside her.
Kate took a deep breath. "Richard was involved in a dirty business."
"When you say dirty business, you mean drugs," David guessed.
Kate nodded. "Six months ago, Richard met a guy at the Silent River. They became close, and eventually, he introduced Richard to some guys and he started doing business with them. He told me he was making good money, but I was angry with him. I didn't understand why he would get involved in something so dirty and dangerous. Then, we found out I was pregnant."
Tears welled in her eyes, and Racheal reached out to squeeze her hand. "It's okay, Kate. No one is perfect."
Kate sniffled, giving a small nod. "Richard told me he couldn't raise our child in Festac. He said he was doing everything he could to save enough money for us to escape. But things got complicated."
David leaned forward. "What do you mean?"
Kate hesitated. "Richard met someone they called 'The Man in Black.' He was their real boss, the true leader of the cartel. Richard was making good money for his business, he had more buyers than anyone and because of that, he got summoned by the Man in Black, something that rarely happens."
Racheal's eyes widened. "Wait…so the guy Richard worked for wasn't actually the boss?"
Kate shook her head. "No. The people we thought were running things were just middlemen. The Man in Black was the one pulling the strings. And Richard wanted out."
David sat back, his jaw tightening. "Let me guess, his boss wasn't happy about that."
Kate nodded, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Richard had been taking small portions of the drug money to fund our escape. He was careful, but someone snitched on him."
"Who?" Racheal asked urgently. "Who turned him in?"
Kate swallowed. "The guy he met at the river six months ago."
David's hands clenched into fists. "Are you serious?"
Kate nodded again. "Richard told me that the guy was jealous. Richard was new in the business, yet he got called to see the Man in Black. That never happens unless you've made the boss a lot of money. That guy must have been furious. He went to the bosses and told them Richard had been skimming money. That's when everything changed. The boss informed the Man in Black, and I think that's why Richard was killed."
Racheal's breathing grew unsteady. "Kate, that guy. Do you remember his name?"
Kate frowned, trying to recall. "It was something with 'And'... And..."
David's head snapped up. " Wait,you mean Andrew?"
Kate's eyes widened. "Yes! Tall, dark, Do you know him?"
Racheal felt the blood drain from her face. "Andrew, the same Andrew I met at the river? The same one who told me he wanted to help Richard get justice?"
Kate clutched her stomach, shaking her head. "He's dangerous. He's a liar. A traitor."
"I knew it!" Racheal seethed. "I knew something was off about him."
A sudden knock at the door made all three of them freeze.
David quickly tiptoed toward the door, peering through the peephole. He exhaled sharply. "Relax,"It's just room service. They brought the food Kate ordered."
Kate sighed in relief as the tension in the room eased.
By sunrise, David was already outside, checking the car while Racheal helped Kate get ready. She looked much better, her color had returned, and she seemed stronger than the night before.
Racheal adjusted the blanket over Kate's legs. "Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
Kate nodded, offering a small smile. "I'm fine, Racheal. I promise."
David entered the room, rubbing his hands together. "Alright. Are we ready?"
Kate exhaled, bracing herself. "Let's go."
The drive back to Festac was quiet, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Kate sat in the backseat, staring out of the window, lost in memories of Richard. The weight of everything that had happened still clung to her like a second skin.
Halfway through the drive, Kate suddenly broke the silence. "I forgot to tell you guys something yesterday."
David glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "What is it?"
Kate hesitated, then sighed. "Andrew knew Richard and I were going to escape Festac. He was the only one who knew."
Racheal and David exchanged a sharp look.
"That means…" David started.
"He was the one who informed the bosses," Racheal finished in realization.Kate's grip tightened around the hem of her dress. "I don't know why, but I feel like Richard still kept a lot of secrets from me. There were things he wanted to tell me… but he said he'd explain everything once we got out of Festac." Her voice cracked as she wiped away a tear.
Racheal reached back from the passenger seat and placed a comforting hand on Kate's. "Kate, I promise you, this will all be over soon. I just need you to focus on staying safe, alright?"
Kate nodded weakly. "Okay… I'll try."
Finally, they arrived at their destination.
David pulled into a quiet neighborhood, stopping in front of a cozy apartment complex surrounded by trees. It was tucked away from the main road, far from the prying eyes of the town.
"This is it," Racheal said softly. "A place where you can stay safely until the baby arrives."
Kate's gaze swept over the building, her lips parting slightly in surprise. "You... you didn't have to do this for me."
"Yes, I did," Racheal insisted, turning to face her. "Richard would have wanted this."
David grabbed Kate's bags from the trunk, slinging one over his shoulder. "The home owner is an old friend of my mom's," he explained. "She's discreet. No one will find you here."
"We told her everything already," Racheal added. "She's very understanding."
Kate stepped inside the apartment, her fingers trailing over the furniture as she took in the small but comfortable space. The walls were warm beige, the furniture simple but clean. It was peaceful, exactly what she needed.
She sat down on the bed, exhaling deeply. "I still can't believe Richard is gone."
Racheal sat beside her, her voice firm. "We will find out who did this, Kate. We will make them pay."
Kate's eyes filled with fresh tears, but she nodded, gripping Racheal's hand. "Thank you."
Racheal squeezed her hand gently and gave her a reassuring smile. "Rest for now. We'll be back soon."