Chapter 38: CONFRONTATION

“I told you not to move an inch from the bed." Xender scolded me when he saw me on the floor struggling to get back on my feet. He rushed towards me and carried me back to the bed.

I hate how weak I have become; it makes me feel incompetent.

“Alda I can only help you if you work along with me. I know you want to be out there looking for who murdered your parents, but you are too weak to do that. Why not just leave it to the police for the time being until you are able to regain your strength?

I ignored him as I tried to work on getting my strength back, and that begins with me having to eat. I grabbed the tray of food in front of me and started shovelling the food into my mouth.

“Easy, take it easy, or you will choke or even have indigestion.” I ignored Xender’s words and continued eating the food. I did the same with the fruits before drinking a glass of water.

I took a deep breath once the tray was empty as I rested my back against the pillow, waiting for the food to do its work.

“I will suggest you take a little nap; you need it.” Xender said as he got up to leave. I reached out and grabbed his hand.

“Do you need anything?” He asked and shook my head.

“I just wanted to thank you for coming to my rescue. Thank you, Xender; I owe you a lot. You helped me even though we haven't known each other for long.”

“It’s the least I could do; now rest.” I let go of his hand as I watched him leave. I just need to wait for him to go to sleep, and then I leave. 

I laid down on the bed as I pretended to be sleeping, but I was actually timing Xender. The time was 8:45 p.m., so I gave him until 10:00 to make my move.

I just laid on my bed, staring at the table watch as it ticked all the way down to ten. I got up and grabbed my handbag as I headed for the door. I still felt dizzy, but at least I could walk on my own.

I tried as much as possible not to make a sound as I walked into the sitting room. There was no sign of Xender; I took that as a chance to leave without him even noticing it.

When I got to the door, I quietly twisted the doorknob in order not to call attention to myself.

“Where are you going?” I froze upon hearing Xender's voice behind me.

“I need to go,” I replied to him, even turning to look at him.

“What do I have to do to keep you at a place? You are sick, and you could get harmed or in a more dangerous situation. You are not supposed to be walking around alone. Just tell me where you are going; I will take you there.”

“I have told you that this is none of your business; I will really appreciate it if you will stay out of it. I will check myself out of the hotel; see you around Xender.” 

I walked out of the door without looking back. I can't drag him into this mess. Calling a cab driver, I gave him the address to my office. I kept getting anxious the more we drew closer. Once the driver pulled up at the front gate, I paid him immediately and rushed towards the gate.

“Miss Barnard, you are finally here,” the security guy in front of me said, leaving me confused.

“Albert, he wanted me to bring you to him once you arrived here.

“Oh, thank you. I can't thank you enough.”

“It's nothing, Miss Barnard; your father was a huge blessing to my family, and so was Albert.” He said that and led me to my practice room, where I met Albert.

"Alda,” he called out, getting up from his seat as he approached me. His voice came out weak. Tears ran down my face as I saw the situation he was in. His left hand has a bandage wrapped around it, as it was tied to his neck for support.

“Albert, what happened to you? Just when I thought you were unharmed.” I approached him as I helped him back to his seat.

“I'm really sorry, Alda; I failed you.” 

“You didn't do anything; I know you would never harm my parents for any reason. Now tell me what happened,” I said to him, but he looked at me with hesitation in his eyes.

“I'm really sorry, Alda; your parents really didn't deserve what happened to them, and neither do you. I came back with your father after driving him outside town to meet up with some business partners.

When we arrived, your father was a little nervous because he was meeting someone he told me he had been waiting to meet for years. And when he returned, he had this satisfying smile on his face.

He was happy, so he called your mother up to dress up so they could eat out. He even made a reservation at the restaurant. I was waiting for them to get ready so we could go, then I saw Seth entering the compound.

I was surprised, but I didn't read any meaning in it. I never knew he had come with any weapon until I heard the sound of a gunshot. I got scared and didn't understand what was going on, so I went to check.

“Your dad was on the floor in the pool of his own blood, and your mum actually put up a fight with Seth, because I saw her holding Seth against the shirt as she hit him on the chest a couple of times. Seth shot her soon after that.

I ran out towards my car to call the police, but he had spotted me standing at the door. He shot my hand to keep me from calling the cops before knocking me out, but I wasn't knocked out completely.

I heard him laugh in a satisfying way before he said he was going to leave me alive. He said I would be the one to go to jail, not him. With that being said, he left.

I knew I had to find my way out of sight before calling the cops.” 

I felt devastated after hearing Albert tell the story. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I felt my surroundings start to spin in my eyes.

“You were the one that called the cops, but yet they are still insisting you killed my parents. Who kills someone and calls the cops there after?”

“Alda, I need you to stay away from Seth; he has another motive; your life could be in danger.”

“I really don't fucking care, Albert; what's the worst that could happen? My parents were killed by my ex-husband, and you got flamed for it. And apparently, I am pregnant with Seth’s child. What do I tell him or her when they ask about their father?

How will my baby feel to know that his or her father murdered his or her grandparents? Oh, God, I think I'm going to go crazy.”

“Did you just say you were with a child? Oh my God, why are things so messed up?”

“Albert, what am I going to do? I feel like jumping in front of a train and ending it all. I can't take the trauma anymore; it's too much for me to handle.”

“Alda, don't ever say that again. I will turn myself in; just hold on a little longer.”

“No, no, no, I'm not losing you too,” I said as I shook my head continuously.

"Alda, listen to me; sometimes we all have sacrifices to make, and I think this is it.”

“No, I said no; you are not turning yourself in. I am going to kill Seth; I will drag him down to the station if I have to.” 

I stood up and wiped my tears away as I felt a part of me dying inside me. Let's go pay someone a visit.

“Alda No, please don't do anything stupid." I ignored Albert’s words as I angrily stormed out. I called in another taxi as I headed for Seth's house. In my hand were the pregnancy tests, and in the other hand I held a penknife. Let's just end it all here.

When the car pulled up at his house, I went straight to his front door as I rang the bell. I waited patiently for him to open the door, but when it finally came open, I saw Anna instead of Seth. She looked surprised to see me. Her eyes were wide open, and so was her mouth.

"Al..da, it's not what you think; I can explain.” She said it in an unsteady voice.

"You, traitor, were involved in this.”

Alda That's not true; you know I will never do anything to hurt you; I just came to check if you were with Seth.” I didn't let her finish what she had to say before I slapped her hard in the face. I raised my hand and slapped her again. How could she do this to me?

“You look me in the eyes, and then you lie to me. What have I ever done to deserve this from you?” I tried to stay strong; I tried not to cry, but the tears came running like a river.

I waited for her to talk to me and give me reasons why she had to treat me the way she is doing now. But she looked me straight in the eyes and laughed—it was a very wicked laugh.

“You know what? I'm done playing nice. You want to know the reason why I did what I did? It's because you are too nice, and I hate nice people.”

“Being nice is now a crime; how come nobody told me? How come you never told me? I asked as I started walking close to her with fury in my eyes. Well, it's a good thing you let me know.”

“Let me guess, you are here to fight Seth for killing your parents. What a waste of energy. Even though Seth killed your parents with the gun that I gave him, you can't do anything about it, and no one is going to believe you without evidence.

I walked close to her and whispered...

“We will see about that; let's play this game since you want to play it,” I said to her and turned as I started heading out.

What I never expected was Anna attacking me from the back, as I felt her hit something against my head. I felt a shock of pain rush through my body as I passed out.