Chapter 39
The car pulled over to the roadside, and Cressida reached for a black scarf lying beside her. She unfolded and draped it over her head, adjusting it until it shrouded half her face.
Her eyes darted around the surroundings, scanning for any signs of danger. Satisfied that it was safe, she slowly pushed open the door and hesitated for a moment before stepping out.
She waited until the car drove away. Then, she took out her phone from the back pocket of her trousers. The screen was too dim, and she furrowed her brow in frustration until she cranked up the brightness.
As she wanted to dial a number, a car horn blared from across the road. The horn continued to honk insistently, signaling for her to come over.
She tucked her phone into the pocket and adjusted the veil to cover her face properly. After a cautious glance left and right, she crossed the road and approached the car.
Before she could even knock on the door, the driver opened it, and she slid into the front seat.
“Good afternoon,” she greeted warmly, closing the door and turning to Nalina with a smile spreading across her face. “How’ve you been?”
Nalina nodded slightly, her lips curving into a gentle smile. “I’m good. You?”
Before Cressida could respond, Nalina’s expression turned wistful, and she chuckled softly. “Asking how you’ve been is almost like mocking you, especially coming from me…”
She paused, sighing as she rested her arms on the steering wheel. “With the ongoing crisis, I know it’s been hell in and out of the Palmer mansion. I just hope everything will be fine with you and Alaric.”
Cressida’s lips tightened as she nodded slowly. “Thank you…”
Nalina’s gaze softened, and she lifted her arms from the steering wheel, turning to face Cressida. “Cressida…” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
As Cressida met her gaze, Nalina reached out and gently took her hand. “I don’t know much about you, but something tells me it’s been tough for you, even before your marriage to Alaric…” Her voice grew cooler with each word, her eyes locked onto Cressida’s with an unnerving intensity.
“You deserve peace, and I pray you’ll find yours alongside Alaric’s,” she said, her voice filled with sincerity. “You both have been through a hellish ride, and it’s never been easy for Alaric, which was why I begged you the other day to do everything in your power to put a smile on his face again,”
“I’m glad you’re taking the risk of healing the heart you didn’t break,” she continued, her words laced with emotion. “To find peace for someone you owe nothing to. To take on the responsibility of looking after him,”
She exhaled softly, her voice cracking with vulnerability. “I know it’s difficult in there... it’s never been easy anywhere around the Palmer family. That family is toxic, and their wealth comes with a price,”
Nalina’s eyes welled up with tears, but she struggled to hold them back, her eyelids trembling with the effort.
“A lot is going on beneath the surface of that mansion,” she whispered. “There are secrets, lies, and power struggles within the family. And you’re strong because you took the risk I couldn’t take, despite having more than you do,”
A single tear escaped, rolling down her cheek, and she wiped it away with the back of her hand. “Thank you, Cressida,” she said, her voice cracking. “I owe Alaric a lot that I should have repaid long ago, but I couldn’t because I wasn’t who I thought I was. I wasn’t as strong as I imagined. But now that someone is taking charge, I’ll do my best to support you in every way I can.”
As she finished speaking, her composure shattered, and tears flooded her eyes. She couldn’t stop them, and they flowed freely down her face.
Nalina’s words also stirred Cressida’s emotions, but she waited for the perfect moment to release them. Instead, she shifted closer in her seat and offered a gentle consolation.
“It’s fine,” she whispered, but Nalina’s tears only intensified, as if Cressida’s words had touched a raw wound.
“If you're doing this, what do you expect me to do?” Cressida asked, her question having an immediate effect on Nalina, whose tears stopped as suddenly as they had begun.
Cressida’s words were laced with a hint of challenge. “If you’re being like this, I’ll be scared and end up abandoning Alaric, too. You don’t want that to happen, do you?”
Nalina’s gaze locked onto Cressida's face, and she rapidly shook her head, roughly wiping away her tears. “No,” she whispered.
She wiped her face again, still shaking her head. “No, I don't want to scare you. I'm sorry,”
She inhaled deeply and exhaled in the same manner, adding, “how could I be crying now? That’s not the right thing to do.”
“Good, you know,” Cressida said. She had been fighting back her tears as well, and to avoid losing control in Nalina’s presence, she changed the subject. “So, let's get to why I'm here. I can't stay long.”
Nalina nodded, licking her lips as she adjusted her sitting posture to face Cressida fully. “George has been transferred to another city.”
Cressida’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? But why? What did they say his offense is? Did he do anything wrong?”
Nalina shrugged, her expression somber. “He did nothing wrong other than attending to Alaric,” she said. “We know the source of the problem, so wasting another second thinking about it is a waste of time.”
“Yes,” Cressida agreed, understanding. “It started with the test results. They were lying, and they hadn’t been treating him but making his condition worse because they didn't want him to walk again.”
“Have you taken action against his doctor?” Nalina asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
Cressida shook her head. “No,” she replied. She anticipated Nalina’s next question, so she continued, “his treatment is a secret, and even without causing trouble, the chairwoman would still find out,”
“I told Alaric to keep his cool until we're done with his treatment,” she revealed. “Only then can we make a move. For now, we need to avoid distractions.”
“You're right,” Nalina commended. “The hospital executives are messing around with George. They said it’s either he accepts the transfer or his license will be seized. You know he can’t risk that, right?”
Cressida’s face fell, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes…”
“I pleaded with him to ask for three months to prepare, and fortunately, they agreed,” Nalina informed. “So, now we need to start his therapy in secret and hope he’ll be fine within that period.”
“Thanks.” Cressida said, a delighted smile spreading across her face.
“I’ve been thinking about it, and the best way to make this work is to employ George as your secretary or something. That way, he can come and go without raising suspicion.” Nalina suggested.
Cressida nodded in agreement. “It’s a great idea. But will it be possible? What about Amabel?”
“They’ve never met, so Amabel won’t recognize George,” Nalina assured. “Now, all we need to do is convince Alaric to go along with the plan, and I’m sure you’ve got that covered.”
Cressida nodded confidently. “Yes.”
Nalina picked up her phone. She checked the time and looked up at Cressida. “I have a meeting to attend, so we should get going. Besides, Alaric might be worried about where you are. Does he know you're meeting me?”
Cressida shook her head. “No, I didn't tell him where I’m going or who I’m meeting. I just said I’m meeting someone, and when he tried to ask questions, I didn’t let him.”
Nalina nodded, impressed by Cressida’s handling of the situation, but chose not to comment on it. Instead, she stayed focused on their discussion. “Cressida, do you still remember our agreement? The deal we made?”
Cressida nodded, a light smile on her face. “Yes, I remember. Why would I forget something like that? I’ll never forget.”
“Good,” Nalina uttered, and her expression turned serious. “One more thing, Cressida… always be vigilant. It’s very important,”
“Don't trust people just because they’ve helped you once or because your instincts say they’re good people,” she warned.
Her voice took on a cautionary tone. “Sometimes, the merciful can be ruthless, your hero can become a coward, a friend can become a stranger, and an ally can be deceiving. Got it?"