Chapter 76 76

Chapter 76 76
Chapter Seventy Six.

Tess_

When he left the room, I turned to Ana. “Are you okay?” I asked, though I already knew the answer. None of us were okay, but we had to keep going.

Ana gave a small shrug, her eyes distant. “I’m worried about her,” she whispered, nodding towards my mom. “And about you. I feel like… I should be doing more.”

I reached out, placing a hand on her knee. “You’re doing enough, Ana. We’re all just doing the best we can.”

She nodded, but the doubt in her eyes didn’t fade. “I just want this to be over. I want Mom to wake up, I want Helen to disappear, and I want things to go back to normal.”

“Me too,” I whispered. “But we’ll get there, Ana. I promise. We’ll get there.”

She didn’t respond, but she leaned into my side, resting her head on my shoulder. We stayed like that for a while, finding comfort in each other’s presence, even if the fear and uncertainty still lingered.

A soft knock at the door broke the silence. We both turned to see Damien step back into the room, his expression a mixture of relief and tension.

“I’ve made arrangements,” he said, his voice low. “We have a bit of time before we need to worry, but we have to stay vigilant.”

“What arrangements?” I asked, my heart skipping a beat.

“I’ve called in some favors,” Damien explained. “We’ll have additional security here at the facility. They’ll be discreet, but they’ll keep an eye out for any signs of Helen or anyone she might send. We’ll also have a secure line for communication if anything changes.”

Relief washed over me, but it was tinged with anxiety. “You really think she’ll come after us?”

“I don’t know,” Damien admitted. “But I’m not taking any chances. I won’t let her get near you or your mom.”

His words were meant to be reassuring, but the fact that he was taking such precautions only made the situation feel more real, more dangerous. Still, I was grateful for his efforts, for the way he was putting everything on the line to protect us.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For everything.”

Damien nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at me. “You don’t have to thank me. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I wanted to believe that we were going to be okay, that we would make it through this, but the fear still clung to me, refusing to let go.

As the morning light grew brighter, the rest of the day stretched out, filled with uncertainty and fear. Jane finally stirred from her sleep, her eyes red and puffy but filled with hope as she resumed her vigil by our mom’s bedside.

The hours passed slowly, each minute a battle against the growing anxiety that smear at all of us. Damien stayed close, his presence a steadying force as we waited, watched, and prayed that nothing would go wrong.

Finally, in the late afternoon, the door to the room opened, and a tall, imposing man stepped inside. He was dressed in a dark suit, his expression serious and professional. Behind him were two other men

I was relieved, but it was tinged with anxiety. “You really think she’ll come after us?”

“I don’t know,” Damien responded in agitation. “But I’m not taking chances anymore. Helen is dangerous, and we need to be prepared for anything.”

Ana straightened, her eyes narrowed. “We’ll do whatever it takes to protect her,” she said firmly, her voice steady now. “We’re not going to let that bitch hurt anyone else.”

I nodded in agreement, feeling a surge of strength from Ana’s resolve. We had already been through so much, and we couldn’t let fear paralyze us or stop us from going further. We had to be proactive, to stay one step ahead of Helen.

Jane began to stir, waking up to the conversation around her. She looked disoriented for a moment before her eyes focused on us, the reality of the situation sinking back in. “Is everything okay?” she asked, her voice still groggy from sleep.

“Nothing sweetheart, why don't you sleep back? It's just a discussion on how to be vigilant,” I said gently. “Damien’s arranged for extra security. We’re going to keep Mom safe, Jane.”

She nodded, but I could see the worry still etched on her face. “What if something goes wrong, then what happens?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“We’ll be ready,” Damien said firmly. “I’ve made sure that no one outside of us and the staff here knows where your mom has been moved. We have the advantage right now.”

The reassurance seemed to calm her a little, though the fear in her eyes didn’t completely disappear. I couldn’t blame her, we were all on edge, waiting for the next shoe to drop.

The day passed in a blur of anxious waiting. The private nurses came in and out, tending to our mom, while we hovered around her bed, our worry with each passing hour. 

Damien stayed close by, always alert, always ready. As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the room, a sense of dread settled over me. 

Night was always the worst, when the darkness seemed to amplify our fears, making every sound and shadow a potential threat. I hated it, but there was nothing we could do except stay vigilant.

Damien, sensing my unease, pulled me aside. “You need to rest, Tess,” he said gently. “You’ve been going nonstop, and it’s going to catch up with you.”

“I can’t,” I protested, shaking my head. “I need to be here, in case something happens.”

“You won’t be any good to anyone if you’re exhausted,” Damien argued. “Just a few hours, that’s all I’m asking.”