Chapter 172 The Confrontation 2
Chapter 172 The Confrontation 2
Pete’s POV
“What is your relationship with Richard?”
I watched her carefully, but really, I wasn't expecting an immediate confession.
I wanted to see what she would do when she realized I knew his name.
Her eyes remained on mine for a few seconds, then something changed.
Her lips parted and her breathing faltered. And for the first time since I'd walked into this room, my mother looked afraid.
I felt something cold settle in my stomach, because she knew exactly who I was talking about.
The question hung between us.
My mother didn't answer. She simply stared at me and I saw fear. Real fear. Not the carefully calculated expression she'd worn since I'd walked into this room.
This was different….She knew something.
My jaw tightened.
“So?”
She swallowed.
“Pete…”
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
I gave a humorless laugh.
“Don't….”
Her eyes returned to mine.
“Don't what?”
“Don't insult my intelligence.”
She shifted in her chair as I stepped closer.
“You know exactly who Richard is.”
“I don't.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
Her face went still. I watched her fingers tighten against the edge of the table.
“You're imagining things.”
“No mother.”
I shook my head.
“I'm finally seeing things clearly.”
She said nothing.
I leaned forward, keeping my eyes locked on hers.
“A man went to Diya's company two days ago.”
Her expression barely changed, but I noticed a tiny pause and a slight tightening around her eyes.
I continued.
“He asked about Diya.”
Silence.
“He asked when she came to work.”
Nothing.
“When she left.”
Her fingers curled tighter.
“Whether she was going to be away for long.”
She swallowed.
“And he asked if she had enemies.”
Her eyes suddenly lifted to mine.
There….I had her.
I straightened slowly.
“He had red hair.”
Her face lost another shade of color.
“A thick moustache.”
She stopped breathing for a second.
“And a limp.”
Silence.
My pulse hammered.
“Richard.”
Her lips trembled.
“Pete…”
“You know him.”
“No.”
“Stop lying to me!”
My voice cracked through the room.
She flinched.
I had spent my entire life trying to understand this woman. Trying to convince myself that somewhere beneath all her cruelty was the mother I'd once loved. But standing here now, I wasn't looking at my mother. I was looking at someone who had helped destroy my family.
“That man stole Steve's phone.”
Her eyes widened.
I watched every reaction, every breath and every movement.
“And two days later, that same phone was used to lure Diya and Matt out of the hospital.”
Her mouth opened, but no words came.
My chest tightened.
“You see it now, don't you?”
She shook her head quickly.
“I don't know anything about this.”
“Richard was the one who brought complaint against Diya from the council.”
She froze.
My voice dropped.
“The council, mother....”
I took another step toward her.
“The complaint.”
Her breathing became uneven.
“Do you remember what happened when the elder was speaking?”
She stared at me.
“An elder mentioned you.”
Her eyes widened. I could see the realization hit her.
She hadn't expected me to remember.
“You told Richard about Diya.”
“No.”
“You gave him information.”
“No.”
“You helped him plan this.”
“No!”
Her voice broke.
I slammed my hand against the table.
“THEN TELL ME WHY YOUR NAME CAME UP AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING!”
She jumped and I saw her eyes filled with panic.
“I don't know!”
“You don't know?”
“No.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
I stared at her.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke. Then I asked the question that mattered most.
“Where is Diya?”
Her lips parted. She looked at me, but she didn't answer.
“Where is my son?”
Nothing.
My hands curled into fists.
“Where are they?”
Still nothing.
She looked away. And that was when I knew that she knew. Maybe she hadn't planned every detail, maybe she hadn't personally taken them, but she knew where they were. And she knew who had them.
I slowly straightened.
“It's fine.”
She looked at me.
“What?”
“I'll find out.”
My voice was calm now. Too calm.
“Whatever you're hiding, I'll uncover it.”
She stared at me.
“And whatever Richard knows, I'll get the truth from him.”
Her breathing became faster.
“My men are already on their way to his pack.”
She said nothing.
“They'll find him.”
I turned toward the door.
“Pete…”
I stopped.
I didn't look back.
“What?”
Her voice trembled.
“Please.”
That one word almost made me turn around....Almost.
But then I remembered Diya, Matt and Mike bleeding on that hospital bed and my anger returned.
I reached for the door and suddenly, my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket and it was Shantel.
I answered immediately.
“Shantel?”
Silence.
I frowned.
“Shantel?”
Then I heard it.
A sob.
My entire body went rigid.
“Prisca?”
Another sob came through the phone.
“Prisca, what happened?”
She couldn't answer.
I could hear her struggling to breathe between her cries.
“Prisca.”
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Talk to me.”
I heard more crying. Then I heard something else. Someone else was crying in the background.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“Prisca.”
My voice rose.
“Prisca, what is it?”
She sobbed again.
“Why are you crying?”
Nothing.
“Prisca!”
I was shouting now.
“What the hell is going on there?”
More crying.
My stomach dropped.
Mike.
My mind immediately went to the hospital.
Mike was still there.
Something had happened. Something was wrong....Very wrong.
“Prisca!”
My voice cracked.
“Tell me what happened!”
She finally made a sound. A broken, terrified sob. And then...
The call went silent.
I stared at the phone.
“Prisca?”
Nothing.
“Prisca!”
I lowered the phone slowly. My blood had gone cold. Behind me, my mother spoke.
“Pete…”
I didn't answer.
I didn't even look at her.
My mind was already somewhere else. The hospital, Mike, Shantel and Prisca. I shoved the phone into my pocket and rushed toward the door.
I didn't know what had happened. I didn't know why Prisca was crying. I didn't know what was waiting for me at that hospital.
But Moon goddess please, spare my friend.