Chapter 38: October 3

Laura Days passed and I went to see My father. —My face lit up with delight as I watched my father from outside his room as the doctor attended to him. He could point to things he needed. He even started eating and recognizing people although his speech wasn't back yet. He could barely hold a pen, but most basic functions were still possible. I knocked on the door and entered without waiting for the doctor's approval. My father's eyes lit up when he saw me and he moved his arms excitedly. I ran up to him and hugged him tightly. His body shook and he made strange sounds with his mouth. "Ma'am, you can't do that yet! You have to be careful with him. Mr Raphael hasn't healed yet!" The doctor warned. I drew away from my father and looked at him. He had lost a lot of weight and he looked more his age, but I was happy. Just one more step and I would clear his name. "Can he talk?" I turned to the doctor when he continued making strange sounds. The doctor shook his head. "I'm afraid not. But I'm sure Mr Raphael will get back to his normal self in no time." My shoulders fell but I squeezed my father's hands warmly. Tears rolled down his eyes and I gently cleaned them. "I know, I'm also happy to see you. I thought I lost you," I sobbed. His hands felt lifeless and hard. I touched them and they didn't feel alive or useful at least. "Doctor?" I stared at his dried up arms. "What's this?" My father's hands trembled, but he wasn't curling his fingers at all. "His motor skills are still rough, he can't use his fingers or limbs yet," the doctor explained. "Oh I'm so sorry father. You are going through a lot!" I held his hands warmly. "I will leave both of you together. I'm done with examining him, you have a lot of catching up to do." The doctor left us inside alone. My father's eyes were the only thing that looked very strong in his body. Those powerful eyes scanned me, and I knew what his questions were. I adjusted on the bed to make space for his legs. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm doing fine, I was just worried about you." I was worried that I won't be able to live long to see you awake. "Anyways, your second question is if I knew that Julian was the one that massacred our pack? Yes, I do. He told me himself, "We are getting divorced." I fell silent and thought about it. In a few days, Julian and I would be separated. I would be free again. I looked up at him and smiled. "Dad, mom came back. She was—worried about you. I don't know why she's back but I'm reluctant about talking to her." Father's eyes watched me silently. If he could smile, he would have done it. I adjusted in my seat and looked at the door. "But father, I want to know something." I lowered my voice. Father listened to me attentively. "Father, who did this?" Father's eyes lit up. He suddenly started moving like crazy and muttered softly. He pointed his hands to the floor and opened his eyes widely. I was scared that he was having a seizure as I stopped him from falling from the bed but he continued pointing to the floor. A foamy substance came out of his mouth and I got scared. The doctors came running inside and they quickly injected him with a sedative that calmed him down. His breathing returned to normal and he slowly fell asleep. I stood up from the bed as the nurses placed him on the bed and placed a blanket over him. The machine beeped, displaying his heart rate on the monitor. "What happened to him? Is he alright?" My voice shook. "He had an episode, PTSD you can call it too. But I've never seen one of that level. He is sleeping now, don't worry ma'am. Wait outside for him." He politely sent me out. My shoulders sagged as I stepped outside. Father slept peacefully, his face was calmer than before. I wouldn't let Julian brand him as a killer! I would do anything to clear his name as long as I was alive, I promised. I had a change of plans instead. I texted Jin and I was surprised that he replied almost immediately. Our meeting was at a cafe in town. I decided to go solo this time. I had used Mack too much, so I decided not to change her plans for today. That woman would abandon everything she's doing just for me. I took a cab and went to the designated meeting at the cafe. I paid the driver and he looked at me the way all drivers did when they didn't have enough change but I was adamant. I didn't have a lot of money to spare, and I still owed Mack a lot of money even though she never asked me for it. I left for the cafe as soon as I collected my change. Jin Okazaki sat at the far end of the cafe wearing plaid shirts, combed hair and black sunglasses. He looked like a well groomed Asian man and I couldn't help but nod my head in approval when I met up with him. "You do look nice you know?" I complimented him. Jin flashed his teeth at me, surprisingly white. "Thank you, love. You see, I went to a jolly old mam and she gave me this beautiful shirt. Well, I'm glad I look great." Okazaki blinked. He looked behind me for a long time, bobbing his head several times. "Mack's not around, she's not coming today." Jin looked down. "I see, I liked her vibes. So what do you have for me, eh love?" He rolled his sleeves slightly and the tattoos came into view. "More like a question." I rubbed my hands together. "I told you about my father's condition right?" Jin yawned and brought out a small bottle from his pocket and smiled at me. "Oh please continue, I'm all ears." I watched him slowly bring the bottle to his mouth. "So my father has woken up, but he can't talk or do anything. At best, he only recognizes us but he has lost all his motor skills, he can't even talk." Somewhere within me, it stung. "So?" Jin cocked his head. I frowned. "He kept on pointing to the ground up until when they sedated him. Know what that means?" Jin raised a brow. 'That could mean anything if you ask me. But if you ask me, you should start digging to find it. Maybe there's someplace your father kept his stuff? The ground? A vault, it could be anything." I sighed and folded my arms. That would mean going to the old pack. "I see, thanks for the help." "Thank you for keeping me company too!" Shin said loudly. An order of two hamburgers and chips came in and I had to stare as they placed it on the table. "Now, please sit down and let me treat you this time. I might have overcharged you sometimes." An act of goodwill from shin. "Thank you very much." I accepted it gratefully. Before that, I only had cookies in the morning. After lunch with Jin who was surprisingly normal. I would tell Mack about it one day. I hailed another cab and one stopped. I sat at the back and struggled to make myself comfortable in the small space. "Where to ma'am?" He asked politely. "Can you take me to the outskirts? I have to meet someone before he goes." I lied through my teeth. He gave me a hard look before turning away. "Well, you look the right age. I hope nothing is wrong." I ignored him and the car drove away to the outskirts of the city. We had barely made it through the city's limit when we got called over. "The royal escort?" I recognized the shape of the vehicles. I thought Julian had followed me behind. The car had started slowing down, and slowly parked as royal guards stepped out and watched it menacingly. I stepped out of the car because it was me they were looking for. "Mrs Laura. You can't step out of the city limits." The first guard warned me immediately. I scoffed. "What the hell are you talking about?" "The king says you are not to leave until the separation ceremony is done, ma'am. Now if you would like to come with us—" I growled at them. It was no use fighting back against these people. I knew Julian would have ordered them to take me in with force. "Now if you would come with us." He held out the door of the large car open. I grunted and walked inside the car. Back at the castle, I couldn't lash out at Julian because he wasn't around but I met with James in the common room. "Where is Julian?" I demanded. "Julian isn't around. What is it? Do you have a problem —" "When is the ceremony's date?" I asked. "October 3," he replied. My eyes lit up. So far away, I might have died before I divorced him. "But that's too far!" "Julian shifted it when the accident happened to his son. He did that for his son to recover on time." "Bullshit! Nothing happened to his son, I saved that child's life and I know what they are talking about!" I screamed. It was clear, Julian was delaying the ceremony on purpose.