Chapter 96 FORGIVEN
"Give me her picture," Mark said.
Bonnie rolled her eyes and took out Audrey's photo from her phone. "Her brother is popular; you can easily get her picture on the internet."
"Aside from fucking you, I don't do anything with my life," Mark replied, eyeing her exposed boobs lustfully.
"Whatever. You know what to do, right?"
"Count the job as done." He pulled his face cap over his head and hid his gun in his pants.
He glanced at Bonnie, and she gave him a thumbs-up. "Don't disappoint."
He nodded and left.
Stacy, who was pacing around, rushed to her.
"Guns, Audrey picture, I don't understand. What do you plan on doing to her?"
Bonnie gave her a side eye. "What do you think? I'd let her off my hook after she humiliated me at the agency."
"Do you plan on killing her?"
"What does it look like?" she replied nonchalantly.
Stacy gasped, covering her mouth to prevent herself from screaming.
"This isn't right."
"I've never done the right thing," Bonnie replied, eyes glued to her phone.
"She only helped her friend. You were using the Skye, not as if you felt anything for him. There are other ways to take your revenge. Do you really have to kill her?"
Bonnie shifted her gaze to Stacy. "You've always supported my plans, why the change? She almost tried to kill me with Mark's ugly dick. Not only that, she disgraced me in front of the whole agency. If not for the agency, my nude would have been the talk of New York."
"I know," Stacy sighed. "I don't feel right about this."
"Well, I feel right about it. I didn't ask for your help. You willingly stayed back." She returned her gaze to her phone.
"But..."
She pressed her lips together, seeing the cold glare Bonnie gave her.
"I don't know why I can't get through to mum," Bonnie muttered.
\--
"I will miss you too, Ixora," Audrey replied, looking at the price tag of the clothes.
She was at the mall getting a few things. They'd be leaving the day after tomorrow.
"I really wish I could see Nelly one last time, but sadly, we're leaving." She bit her lips.
"Take care, love you, bye."
She ended the call with a deep sigh.
She didn't want to leave, and Blake wasn't forcing her either. She just can't go any place without her brother, so she has no choice.
She picked up the necessary things and paid for them.
On getting outside, she saw Joanna kneeling before her.
She hissed and took the other route.
"Please, Riley..."
"Audrey," she corrected. "My name is Audrey. Only Blake has the right to call me that." She kept on walking away.
"Won't you give me a chance? I'm ready to make amends," Joanna pleaded, trailing after Audrey on her knees.
Audrey paused and looked around. Thankfully, nobody was in sight at the moment.
She faced Joanna with a sharp glare.
"Aren't you such a blackmailer?"
Joanna shook her head, staring at Audrey with a shocked look.
"What? Are you going to pretend you don't know what you are doing?" She pointed her finger. "Get this straight. If you think kneeling on the road will make me forgive you, then you are solely mistaken. Blake and I might share the same birth date, but we're different people. Blake might take pity on you if you put on this charade in front of him, but I... It will only fuel my anger."
"A-Au-drey."
She wanted to leave but stopped with a sharp turn. "You know what, keep crawling on your knees, by the time you bleed enough, you'll leave. What do you want from me? Blake has forgiven you; isn't that enough for you? I have learned to live without a mother. You don't expect me to start calling you mum after those years. Get away from my life! You've brought nothing but pain!"
Joanna's lips quivered, and her hands trembled as tears poured out. She admits she made a mistake, but Audrey's words were breaking her.
She wiped her tears, locking her gaze with Audrey's.
"I... is there no place for me in your life again?" she stuttered.
"There was, not anymore." Audrey jammed her hands together. "Please leave me alone. Just go away."
As she walked away, the tears she was trying to hold fell uncontrollably.
She didn't mean to say that. It breaks her heart to see her mother that way. She stole a glance at her mother from a car's rearview mirror.
She was still on her knees, staring at Audrey with hope in her eyes.
"Bonnie, I can see her," Mark said from the airpod.
"Shoot her."
Mark raised the gun and aimed it at Audrey's back.
He rolled his finger around the trigger.
Joanna sniffled and stood.
She wouldn't give up until she earns Audrey's forgiveness.
She wanted to turn but halted, fixing her eyes on Audrey's back.
Her eyes grew wide in shock as she stared at the red pointer.
She looked around and saw the gun aimed at Audrey.
Click. Click.
Mark pulled the trigger twice.
"Riley!!!"
Joanna ran and blocked her.
Audrey stopped and spun around.
The bullet hit Joanna.
One in the chest and the other in the stomach.
"Shit," Mark cursed and fled from the scene.
"Mum!!!" Audrey screamed as she fell on her knees beside Joanna.
Blood pooled beneath Joanna.
"Mum!" she shook her body, sobbing.
Audrey held her hand tightly.
"Mum, open your eyes! Please. I forgive you. You are not a coward. You are the best mother in the whole world!" she cried.
Joanna slowly closed her eyes while smiling.
She coughed. "M-my Audrey."
"Riley mother. My name is Riley," Audrey sobbed harder.
Joanna gave her a bitter smile as her lids hugged each other.
"Mum!!!"
\[HOSPITAL\]
Audrey paced around, sobbing heavily as she prayed for Joanna. Blake and Skye were yet to come.
It's been up to twenty minutes, and nurses were running in and out of the ward.
Luckily for her, there was a hospital nearby, HALO HOSPITAL.
Blake and Skye rushed in at the same time.
"How's she?"
Audrey cried, resting her head on Blake's shoulder.
"I... I don't know. They haven't said a word."
"She'll be fine," Skye mumbled, patting her back.
Blake glanced at him, but kept quiet.
They heard someone coming in, and all their attention went to him. Drexton.
His expression was unreadable as he went into the ICU without sparing them a glance.
"How's her condition?" he asked, his eyes on Joanna.
"Critical," Jaxon replied through his nose mask.
Maddox dropped the second bullet in the tray.
Her heart rate began dropping.
"Defibrillator." He opened his palm, and a nurse gave it to him.
"100 charge." He gave her the shock.
She rose but didn't respond.
He did it for the second and third time, but got the same response.
He dropped the defibrillator, and his eyes went to the monitor beep.
"She will need to undergo immediate surgery," he said.
He and Jaxon got the surgical equipment ready to begin the surgery.
Drexton left the ward to see Ixora had arrived.
She sat together with them, crying as much as Audrey.
"How did she get shot?" Drexton asked, his eyes on Audrey.
"I-I don't know. S... W-"
"Take a deep breath," Skye said, patting her back.
"I have no idea how she got shot. I was going back home from the mall when she cried for me to forgive her. I—I gave her an earful, a-and left her there. Suddenly she s-shouted, and before I could understand a thing, I heard the sound of a gunshot."
"So you were the target?" Blake said and looked at Drexton.
Drexton nodded in agreement.
"I don't know of anybody who could be responsible. I haven't hurt anybody."
"Where were you before the incident happened?" Drexton asked.
"I went to the SPT mall."
Drexton glanced at the ward and then at Ixora.
"Where are you going?" Ixora sobbed.
"I'll be back."