Chapter 34

Lila's POV:

I rushed back to the house, panting heavily. Mom and Natalie stared at me.

"What happened? Why are you looking flushed?" Mom asked, as she stood up. I took in gulps of air as I tried to explain.

"Mom… It's Chad…"

"What about him?"

"He left the house just now… And I received a call from Nikita, reminding me of the threat she gave me earlier today," I hurriedly said. Natalie stood and walked towards me.

"What do you mean you received a call?"

"I did…" I showed her the phone, then turned to my mom. "I tried calling Chad afterwards, but it said his phone is switched off."

"You did?" Natalie asked. I nodded.

"Try it again…" she said and gave it to me. With shaky hands, I dialed his number again. Same results. Natalie looked at me with a knowing gaze and walked out.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To look for him."

"I'm coming with you!" I said and rushed after her. She didn't object.

We got into another car and drove out of the Sparks' mansion. With one hand in my hair and chewing my fingernails off the other, I tried to calm myself down. Nothing worked.

We had only driven for a while when we noticed the road was congested.

"That's weird…" Natalie began. "The roads are hardly congested in this part of the town." Just then an ambulance passed by us. I looked out, hoping I'd glimpse something.

Natalie drove a little further and stopped an onlooker.

"Excuse me… But what's going on ahead?"

"There's been an accident ahead, just right at the intersection."

What!?

"Really… do you know who it is?" Natalie asked again.

"I don't really know, miss, but I'm guessing it's one if the wealthy people that live around."

"Okay… Thanks a lot." Natalie said, and he nodded and walked past.

I bit my lips as I thought it through. There's been an accident. Chad just left the house moments ago… I received a call from Nikita. It could only mean one thing…

Terrified that my guess can be true, I got out of the car and started running ahead. I could scarcely think as I rushed down the sidewalk, dodging pedestrians. My actions must have startled Natalie as she also came out as well, calling me.

"Lila! Where are you going?" She called after me.

I ignored her and just kept running ahead. When I go the intersection, what I feared the most had come to life. There had been an accident… But it was Chad's car!

My body felt as if it'd shut down. No… This can't be happening. I ran my hands through my hair as the tears fell from my eyes. I didn't even bother to stop them. Natalie soon caught up with him and stared at the sight before.

"Isn't that…?" she began, but I cut her off.

"Yes, it is…" I muttered, my voice quivering. My teeth clattered as I looked around for the ambulance through teary eyes. Spotting one, I rushed to it. They were about to leave.

"Sorry… Sorry, but can I see the victim? I'm his cousin." I said to one of the nurses. They looked at me quizzically.

"You're one of his relatives?"

"Well, yes. Can I see him?"

"Um… okay." They said and opened the door. I jumped in and broke into a sob at the sight before him. Chad looked so pale, like he'd lost a lot of blood. I crouched nearer and held his pale hands into my shaky ones.

"Chad…" I whispered as I leaned closer. He didn't open his eyes. I turned to the nurses.

"What happened!?" I said to the nurses, tears streaming my eyes.

"We don't know too miss… But we're suspecting he must've collided with a car at the intersection. We came as soon as got the alarm. He's lost a lot of blood… That's why he's unconscious."

"Then why aren't we moving already?"

"Y-you're coming with us?"

"Of course I am! Just let's go."

Just before the door was closed and managed an eye contact with Natalie and whispered to her to let my mom know. Once the ambulance started moving. I laid my head on Chad's, sobbing loudly.

***

Ellen's POV:

I paced around the living room, eager for a call. The rest of the boys were looking at me, but I couldn't care less. Lyric and Natalie had gone out moments ago, and they were yet to return. I couldn't help but feel something terrible had happened on the way. Eventually my phone rang, and I hastily picked it up.

"Hello Natalie. What's going on?"

"Hi Ellen. You're going through have to calm down."

"What is it?"

"It's Chad. He got into an accident. We're suspecting Nikita planned it."

Wait…what!?"

"Wha…where's Lyric? Is she okay!?

"Yes…she's gone with them to the hospital. I'll call you when I find which one," she replied, and hung up.

I sighed heavily and looked ahead, tears clouding my eyes.

One of them looked at me and asked, "Ma'am…what's wrong?"

"It's Chad…"

"What about him?"

"He got into an accident," I replied quietly.

"WHAT!?" they all chorused.

***

Lila's POV:

I followed the doctors as they wheeled unconscious Chad all the way, holding his hand. Eventually we got to a point where they stopped me, saying I couldn't go any further.

"Sorry miss… But you have to wait here. We'll take it from here." They said, pushing me back. With tears in my eyes, I nodded.

"Please take care of him." I sobbed.

"We'll do our best." They said and closed the door. I stared at the stretcher till it disappeared and walked back to the reception where I met Natalie. She was making a call.

"I already told your mom where you are," she informed me, then she walked up to me and held my hands, reassuringly.

"Don't worry… Chad will be fine." I didn't believe her but so she could get off my back, I nodded.

"I have to go. I need to do some things so the paparazzi and journalists don't come flooding here any minute from now. They'll cause more harm than good." She announced.

I nodded again. She smiled stiffly and walked away, her phone in her ears. Looking at the door once more, not seeing anybody in sight. I laid my back on the wall and sagged against it, crying softly. I can't lose Chad. He is way too important.

My phone rang, and I made to pick it up. At first, I thought it was Mom, but then I saw it was Zoey. 'Why is she calling?' I wondered as I picked it up.

"Hi," I greeted, my voice hoarse from crying.

"Hello Lila… W-why do you sound like that? Are you okay?"

I inhaled and tried to push my sadness down.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I mumbled.

"O-okay."

Zoey sounded stunned.

"Why'd you call?"

"Uh… I don't really know how to say this but… I just scrolled through my news feed and I saw chad got into accident. What happened!?"

Hearing that, I broke down again. This is all my fault!

"Lila… Lila? Are you there?"

"Yes… Yes… I'm here."

"Are you crying?"

"No, I'm not."

"Oh, shut up. I know when people cry. Where are you?"

"In the hospital… Where Chad is?"

"Oh my gosh! It's true!?" she screamed.

"Keep it down please."

"I'm sorry, sorry. Can I come see you? There?"

I could really use a tight hug now.

"Yeah, sure… I'll text you the address."

"I'll be there. Hang in there!"

"I'll try. "I replied and hung up.

I laid my head on my knees, lost in my grief, until I heard a voice call me. It was mom's.

"Lyric!" she called as she saw me, rushing towards me.

I stood up and ran towards her, crashing my weight on her as use engulfed me into a hug.

"It's okay… It's okay." She cooed to my ears.

"Chad's not." I replied, crying.

"He will be." My mom muttered reassuringly. I looked up, and it was then I noticed she came with the rest of them. I pulled away.

"You told them?" I asked.

"Yes… I did." She muttered. "They need to know."

Yeah, they need to. I wonder what they must think of me now… Especially Dean.

I tried not to maintain eye contact with him as my mom hugged me again, crying into her shoulders.

***

Ximena's POV:

I stormed into mom's office and met her on the phone. When she saw me, she hurried through and hung up.

"Yes?" she asked, placing her phone on the table. I huffed and started talking.

"What is this I hear about Chad getting into an accident?"

"Chad got into an accident!? Wow… My condolences." She muttered.

"You have something to do with it, don't you?"

"Maybe I do… Maybe I don't." She muttered again, swaying around her chair.

Is she even thinking of the consequences?

"Why are you here?" She asked, this time more sternly.

"It's about Alya."

"What about her?"

"She told the Sparks that I wasn't the biological daughter of CG and now they all know!"

My mom sat up straight, her brows furrowed hearing that.

"She did that!?"

"Yes… Worse, I even think they know about Lila being the biological daughter, it's just the matter of time before the universe knows."

"Damnit!" my mum cussed underneath her breath. Then she looked at me.

"We need to cover that loophole. In the meantime, get Alya for me."

"What?"

"If she has done something like that, it's important for her to know that she's now part of the scheme. We need to use her to our advantage."

"Okay…" I muttered. "I'll get her for you."