Chapter 22

As Luka and Diana left the hospital library, the atmosphere between them felt charged with emotions.

When they moved forward to a corridor, Diana's mind was once again filled with thoughts of Luka's confession.

She knew that they needed to be guarded, especially with the threat from Steffan.

Diana spoke up to break the silence, and turned to Luka, with her voice soft yet determined. "Luka, I respect your honesty, but we shouldn't ignore the fact that Steffan might still be out there. We need to stay vigilant and keep our friends safe."

Luka nodded in agreement with what she said. "You're right, Diana. But first, let's go check on Mr. Varane's safety in his ward."

"Ok! Luka," Diana nodded in agreement.

"Hold on Luka, I remembered when I checked Mr. Varane's room earlier, there was no sign of Meera." Diana became worried, and stopped walking.

"Are you sure?" Luka asked her, his voice showing concern.

"Yes I am, where could she be? Does that mean Mr. Varane slept alone?" she asked.

While they moved near Varane's room, Luka approached a nurse coming their way.

"Excuse me miss, have you seen Meera, the lady that brought a patient inside Ward 6BC She was here with Mr. Varane."

"Oh! Meera, I haven't seen her in a while. I overheard that she left a note saying she had to attend to an urgent matter." The nurse stopped to respond, her expression troubled.

Diana exchanged a concerned glance with Luka. "An urgent matter? But she did not mention anything earlier. Do you know where she went?" she asked, facing the nurse.

"I'm not sure. She did not prescribe." The nurse shrugged.

The looks on Diana and Luka's face could tell how worried and curious they were.

"Not to be rude, but I have a patient who needs my attention right now." the nurse said as she made to take her leave.

"Yes please," Luka paved the way for her to pass.

"Thank you." Luka and Diana said in unison.

"I believe Mr. Varane would know her whereabouts." He said as they got to the door.

Diana and Luka decided to ask Mr. Varane himself, and made their way to Mr. Varane's room, where he lay healing from his injuries.

Mr. Varane's room had pastel-colored walls that created a calm atmosphere.

It had large windows covered with see-through curtains that swayed gently in the breeze. This allowed a view of the outside world while maintaining privacy.

The hospital bed with covered white fabric was against one wall. Four large soft pillows were arranged at the head, to give more degree of comfort to the patient.

An adjustable mechanism allowed the head of the bed to be raised or lowered as pleased.

Beside the bed, there was a table, which held a small vase of fresh flowers, a glass of water, and a tray of untouched hospital food.

On the opposite wall, there was a large flatscreen television mounted, currently turned off.

A remote control was on the side table, this allowed patients to have the option for entertainment during their stay.

Moreover, the room had a comfortable armchair with a cushioned seat for visitors to sit and speak with the patient.

Medical equipment was carefully arranged around the room, including an IV stand with bags of clear fluids and monitoring devices.

There was a heart rate monitor that beeped in the background, providing reassurance of the patient's stable condition.

A nurse's call button hung within easy reach for the patient, to ensure easy and swift assistance available whenever needed.

As they entered, Mr. Varane turned to them with a weak smile. His face looked pale though, but conscious.

"Mr. Varane!" Diana called.

"Oh Diana, thank you for coming. I appreciate your help."

Diana moved toward his bed, her concern could be noticed. "Don't mention Mr. Varane, how are you feeling? Do you need anything?"

"I'm getting better my dear." Mr. Varane replied.

"Where's Meera, sir?" Diana's eyes scrutinized the spacious room.

Diana was worried as there was no sign of Meera.

Mr. Varane looked at Diana and hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice low.

"I wish I could tell you where Meera is," he said, "But she's a woman of many secrets, and she's always been good at disappearing when she wants to."

Diana furrowed her brow in confusion. "What do you mean, sir? Where could she have gone, especially at a time like this?"

Varane's voice gave a hint of sadness as he replied, "Meera has always been a complex person, with connections and obligations that I try hard to understand." He continued.

"She may have her reasons for disappearing, but I fear they might be linked to something much bigger and more dangerous than any of us could have imagined."

This shocking response left Diana with more questions than answers, deepening the mystery surrounding Meera's sudden disappearance.

With a tone of concern, Mr. Varane said

"But, Diana, I can't help but worry about your safety since I got here yesterday. What I know is Steffan is a dangerous man, and he won't give up easily."

"You don't need to worry, We're doing everything we can to ensure our safety. Luka here has a plan to deal with Steffan." Diana reassured him, her voice gentle.

"That's right. We won't let Steffan harm anyone else. Moreover, we want you to be discharged from here very fast." Luka stepped forward, with an obsessed expression.

After listening to Diana and Luka, Mr. Varane thought twice before making a discouraging offer.

"Diana, I want you to stay in the hospital for the time being, where you'll have protection. Also, I can arrange for someone to keep an eye on you, just in case." Mr. Varane showed a high level of concern.

Diana was startled by his suggestion. She appreciated Mr. Varane's concern, but the idea of being monitored felt nosy. "Mr. Varane, I appreciate your concern, but I can't stay in the hospital forever. Besides, I have people I trust to watch over me."

"We won't let our guard down sir, not for once. Diana's safety is our priority, and we'll handle Steffan together." Luka added to reassure Mr. Varane.

"Very well then, but I want you to promise me you'll always watch your back. Steffan won't hesitate to use any means to achieve his goals."

Mr. Varane nodded reluctantly, that Diana was determined to protect herself

"I promise, Mr. Varane. We'll be cautious and vigilant." Diana gave her word, hugged Mr. Varane, and left.

As they were about to leave, Mr. Varane reached for a folded paper, his eyes held a hint of sadness as he spoke, "Here, She left a note behind."

He handed the paper to Diana, which she collected to read.

"What!" Diana yelled, and the paper slipped from her hand.