Mrs. Chamberlin felt someone gently shake her. She moaned a little as she opened her eyes. The buzzing fluorescent light blinded her for a bit until she realized that there was someone standing next to her. Her eyes opened widely now. It was her son, Eugene.125Please respect copyright.PENANAITKArEvSrJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAeEbHCiDtTW
125Please respect copyright.PENANArvL8058YVt
"Hey, mum, are you alright?" he asked. "Sorry for waking you."125Please respect copyright.PENANAMZrbNSwjAv
125Please respect copyright.PENANASxRsObl09l
125Please respect copyright.PENANADAtwMSsia3
Mrs. Chamberlin sat upright; the big, heavy coat she had used as a blanket fell to her waist. She rubbed her eyes, trying to remove the sleep in them. She looked over at her son, who stood there looking at her.125Please respect copyright.PENANAgUrLsHoSNs
125Please respect copyright.PENANA5RvM6tk8BG
125Please respect copyright.PENANAwv4SpsxXoZ
"I didn't expect to see you here," she said, as she put up a tired smile. "What time is it?"125Please respect copyright.PENANARmSjOuWMuE
125Please respect copyright.PENANAXxWVSBtjOj
125Please respect copyright.PENANAsdNctFSAMP
"It's five in the morning," said Eugene as he went over to sit on the chair she had been sleeping on in the waiting room.125Please respect copyright.PENANAYHlH4nspIA
125Please respect copyright.PENANAh9l6vkICoM
125Please respect copyright.PENANA8wveVlRxZp
"And what about your brother? Aren't you going to see him off to school?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAUUZxzcM2vG
125Please respect copyright.PENANArF9N8Gz8l1
125Please respect copyright.PENANAYKQxZr1MpL
"I will. I came to check up on you first."125Please respect copyright.PENANA9uoyXbkFsj
125Please respect copyright.PENANAo1saSEFEzX
125Please respect copyright.PENANA9I5vQD8VUd
"I thought you were going to ask how your father was doing."125Please respect copyright.PENANA8CYjNPXNyy
125Please respect copyright.PENANAKWl5iV5qUh
125Please respect copyright.PENANAr5eLzufjDd
Eugene didn't know how to respond to that as he looked up at the ceiling and then back at his mother in silence.125Please respect copyright.PENANAeUwADCO9cB
125Please respect copyright.PENANA2ml3tPOugH
125Please respect copyright.PENANADAuug1uKUl
Mrs. Chamberlin sighed. She wasn't going to force her son to do so, even though she knew Eugene cared a lot more than he thought.125Please respect copyright.PENANAkNNxSyMBo5
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZ29BgvFwLw
125Please respect copyright.PENANAUNlyjOFYyF
"He's stable now," she said. "They managed to pull the bullet out. But he lost a lot of blood. The doctor said it would take time for him to recover." 125Please respect copyright.PENANA4NkhTXqPVX
125Please respect copyright.PENANA52WHwb9791
125Please respect copyright.PENANACs1PKiNMPR
"Did you go in to see him?" Eugene asked. 125Please respect copyright.PENANACZVfaINK6c
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZQhtHfXWnG
125Please respect copyright.PENANAfIsLYHSSxG
"I did. But he lay there unconscious. I'm hoping he wakes up soon."125Please respect copyright.PENANAOEEk3Mk0F3
125Please respect copyright.PENANAQgEZMmOx5w
125Please respect copyright.PENANAXbZPFDMN5v
"When he wakes up, you know he'll have to face the police, right? In fact, what did they ask you when they came last night?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAtIZeXdgPyP
125Please respect copyright.PENANA1QzIDWiQEk
125Please respect copyright.PENANA0PWRgSgoEo
Mrs. Chamberlin muttered to herself as she put both her feet down from the chair, trying to make herself comfortable. Eugene wondered if she would stall so as not to answer his question.125Please respect copyright.PENANAsgUeAS21du
125Please respect copyright.PENANAgghVCu9WQx
125Please respect copyright.PENANAaqgXyLgApI
"They asked if I knew about his whereabouts before he got shot," she answered. "If he had told me who had shot him, I would have told them, but I didn't know anything. He just showed up on my doorstep, and I had no choice but to call the hospital."125Please respect copyright.PENANAmrrIDbRSsn
125Please respect copyright.PENANA1IgUhivRq9
125Please respect copyright.PENANAyzTKCmOryf
"Do they think he was involved in some shady deal?" Eugene asked. 125Please respect copyright.PENANAkZ7ZEv3nyR
125Please respect copyright.PENANAPeMgBZsMbk
125Please respect copyright.PENANAuOWwlOWrwT
"They do." Mrs. Chamberlin sighed, shaking her head. "I wonder what he got himself into."125Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4KsjxP6Vr
125Please respect copyright.PENANAWTikuEqH9j
125Please respect copyright.PENANABv7PYZ7U5g
"Something dangerous, that's for sure. Maybe this time when the police investigate, they'll find out the truth about whatever he's been keeping from us for so long."125Please respect copyright.PENANAg6xHsJhHYD
125Please respect copyright.PENANAK9mJVLTGkd
125Please respect copyright.PENANAiVlborBVjC
"You already know that he is involved with dangerous people. Do you really want to dig deeper and find out who he is working for?"125Please respect copyright.PENANA33HuOzDzEk
125Please respect copyright.PENANA9cRwolNRy8
125Please respect copyright.PENANAr922wRpzp1
Eugene continued to look at his mother, and he had a feeling she wasn't going to like what he was going to say. He averted his eyes to the ceiling and stayed silent.125Please respect copyright.PENANAblW6lLe5Ha
125Please respect copyright.PENANAWK53tfKLzK
125Please respect copyright.PENANAds8ojc0lXF
Mrs. Chamberlin looked on at her son. After what seemed to be a long while, she slowly stood up from her seat. She needed to stretch her legs. Likewise, she also raised her hands in the air to stretch her entire body.125Please respect copyright.PENANAmAKAvgbKvT
125Please respect copyright.PENANAqB7RYPTFNk
125Please respect copyright.PENANAb9dTrsazjv
Eugene now looked at his mother and asked, "Won't you be going back home to freshen up?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAMGhMKtyLnw
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZX7nl2NffJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAD3SfgQHgMV
"I will," she answered after dropping her arms. "I'll do so when your father wakes up."125Please respect copyright.PENANA5QTohcHu1w
125Please respect copyright.PENANA0WbicZKQAa
125Please respect copyright.PENANAaS9Kdb6LY8
Her answer made Eugene scoff. "He was at your doorstep when he came asking for help," he said. "You don't have to show that you've been with him this whole time. A big part of me knows he will figure that out when he wakes up."125Please respect copyright.PENANAuL1bCI6L8E
125Please respect copyright.PENANAX2Rg4Li9oJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAbE8U4gNZb4
"So, how is your brother doing?" Mrs. Chamberlin asked, ignoring Eugene's statement. "It must have been confusing for him when you told him he couldn't enter his own home."125Please respect copyright.PENANAVNvkTSyJG2
125Please respect copyright.PENANAKLXSdU28wH
125Please respect copyright.PENANA5nU68NqUTK
"He won't take it lightly after he hears this news at school. I wanted to tell him, but when I got back to Mrs. York's, I found that he was already asleep."125Please respect copyright.PENANAAfnwSu5iyq
125Please respect copyright.PENANA95EKEfMv1t
125Please respect copyright.PENANATHSBLJ4bCj
"The disadvantage of living in such a town is that news travels so fast. I strongly advise that you tell him when you go and get him ready for school."125Please respect copyright.PENANA8m2A4cRMbp
125Please respect copyright.PENANAopplxINoXV
125Please respect copyright.PENANAmrOWWStYMd
"That will affect him, mum. He won't be able to go if it comes to it."125Please respect copyright.PENANA7deXbO6OiH
125Please respect copyright.PENANADLurnWPC7a
125Please respect copyright.PENANAHflMX7dYvA
"That decision will be up to him. If he doesn't go, the better. Make sure to call the school if it comes to it."125Please respect copyright.PENANA93mgIAhcHF
125Please respect copyright.PENANABwxd03LsvW
125Please respect copyright.PENANA0aBWQqJutu
Eugene gave a nod of the head. "Will do."125Please respect copyright.PENANAUPkZK1Zi7E
125Please respect copyright.PENANA1X1GXnutKy
125Please respect copyright.PENANAD1y34JSz6E
Mrs. Chamberlin looked down at her son and came up to him. She bent over a little and held his chin to lift his face and look straight into his eyes.125Please respect copyright.PENANA1UO6hsXcC0
125Please respect copyright.PENANAD2DI5NtWVl
125Please respect copyright.PENANABFhLaSNauZ
"Did you get any sleep?" she asked. "You look like you've been up all night."125Please respect copyright.PENANAF6ieiyJgh8
125Please respect copyright.PENANAxW83Hhpd6S
125Please respect copyright.PENANAJUN5laqtfo
"Yeah, I didn't," said Eugene as he put up a tired smile. "Not that I was worried about him. I'm more worried about you."125Please respect copyright.PENANAUJRpVqMe51
125Please respect copyright.PENANA2VaPYtp3aD
125Please respect copyright.PENANA3F8Mw4fn0N
"I'll be okay. Your father needs to recover first."125Please respect copyright.PENANAMF8HVdoPP0
125Please respect copyright.PENANAyZbAYWXOAi
125Please respect copyright.PENANASFKziYySl6
"If he does, will you consider leaving him for good?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAWiOZO30nzF
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZOmUU6FMbH
125Please respect copyright.PENANAAdfEYm0sOS
Mrs. Chamberlin let go of his chin as she stood upright. She didn't expect him to start talking about this subject at such a critical time.125Please respect copyright.PENANA5AdJkU2isB
125Please respect copyright.PENANAq1CjET58hZ
125Please respect copyright.PENANARZbgpqT799
"You should go and check up on your brother," she answered as she slowly turned away. "He will need you around when he wakes up."125Please respect copyright.PENANAAC6vZz8yWt
125Please respect copyright.PENANA9k2FeWvaTA
125Please respect copyright.PENANAfwHpG7E9Ut
Eugene continued to look up at his mother and, likewise, stood up from his seat. "I know you don't like to talk about this, but for once, think about Albert and me. What if that man brings danger to our own doorstep one day?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAS8fjVo123v
125Please respect copyright.PENANAHn7hqyljvF
125Please respect copyright.PENANApLygvZ4Ydu
"He can never do that. He promised me that whatever he's involved in will never affect us."125Please respect copyright.PENANAfsrysCUmnI
125Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1jKISxwFE
125Please respect copyright.PENANADtuQ9Wc1JV
"I'm sorry, mum. But him coming to our doorstep with a gunshot wound is proof that he already did. When are you going to wake up and realize that?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAE4O1FaK2rw
125Please respect copyright.PENANAdURP9gaME0
125Please respect copyright.PENANAjWf5VXrLbm
His mother still didn't look at Eugene. And he took it as his cue to leave. Before he could turn around and head for the door behind him, he turned back to her to say:125Please respect copyright.PENANAOhPBQimBol
125Please respect copyright.PENANA8cYdUvB6B9
125Please respect copyright.PENANAL5A1dc2TzK
"Mrs. York will be coming over to bring you breakfast. And she thinks it will be a good time for the two of you to switch so that you can go to the house to rest."125Please respect copyright.PENANA0tXj0GAFZJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANA1oibLqEaxJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAqnzFf3oo6z
Mrs. Chamberlin turned to Eugene. "And what if he wakes up and finds that I'm not here? I need to be here when he does."125Please respect copyright.PENANAD55eoAe8Ku
125Please respect copyright.PENANAEfRD0IKNyW
125Please respect copyright.PENANAfe1gB1Dr0v
"Seriously, mum, I don't know if you care about yourself at all."125Please respect copyright.PENANAa1FXnY9TUY
125Please respect copyright.PENANAPGLfWsIfUo
125Please respect copyright.PENANAFMWjo8cPo7
Mrs. Chamberlin couldn't help but swallow. She noticed the look in his eyes. It might be him being tired from being up all night, but there is a sense of darkness in them that she has never seen before. She wondered where it came from. Could it be after having a talk about his father? She couldn't tell, but seeing him like he is now made her realize that there's something different about him.125Please respect copyright.PENANAoLYDT4jSby
125Please respect copyright.PENANAU9hNvEaGcx
125Please respect copyright.PENANAp7oNzMt6rW
He said his goodbye, and without a second glance, turned and walked away, not realizing that he left a cold trail in his wake. Mrs. Chamberlin, at that point in time, didn't know if this was her son or some stranger.125Please respect copyright.PENANA9J2Uy7boJk
125Please respect copyright.PENANAw9hIpeMz0h
125Please respect copyright.PENANAmPWcJvorcE
Eugene had every right to be in the mood he was currently in. His mother still stuck to her marriage like a lifeline. He wished she would one day realize how much of a baggage his father was. Secondly, so many things happened last night that he didn't know what to think of his best friend anymore.125Please respect copyright.PENANAHBORvhmSTY
125Please respect copyright.PENANA2mZnb5vo9y
125Please respect copyright.PENANAbprUbTEqUW
After surprising Miguel with his presence last night, Eugene asked him where he was. Miguel lied to his face, saying he went out for some fresh air and didn't expect it to take so long. Eugene went on to ask him why he looked in such a mess, like he had just been beaten up in a fight. As usual, Miguel laughed it off and lied that he tripped and fell somewhere down the street. Eugene expected to be lied to, and he couldn't tell Miguel that he knew where he had been, for that might expose Miss Marie. So he pretended to buy the lie and told Miguel that he only passed by to have a chat. He left the place, saying that it was already late and he needed to be by Albert's side.125Please respect copyright.PENANADbKPoYztGu
125Please respect copyright.PENANAROgv8DcHrf
125Please respect copyright.PENANASDel59puKz
Eugene had already found himself outside the hospital's premises, heading for the bus stop. His body was in flight mode, moving on its own while he continued to get lost in his own mind.125Please respect copyright.PENANAgDNpUuitmH
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZJtWtJb9g9
125Please respect copyright.PENANAMJVTMFUojA
As soon as he reached the bus stop, he sent a message to Mr. Sinclair, telling him that he would be coming to work a little late. For any ordinary person, they would've accepted a day off with a loved one in the hospital. But in his case, he needed a distraction. And the idea of staying in the hospital didn't sit well with him. Not when his father is the reason why his mother and brother are suffering.125Please respect copyright.PENANAif0U6vV1FJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAtfYhqFKFb7
125Please respect copyright.PENANAYCfpl76GPd
A bus was coming from a distance, and Eugene felt his heart beat so fast as he realized that he was going back to wake his brother up and tell him the awful news. It was best he heard the news from him. Albert is emotional, so he needed to be there just in case he had a breakdown.125Please respect copyright.PENANAiO5EfCS4rq
125Please respect copyright.PENANA06spF3LEAL
125Please respect copyright.PENANAwAs2x0gtOt
As soon as the bus stopped right in front of him and the doors flew open, Eugene took deep breaths. He entered the bus feeling like he was going to a funeral. For whom, he wondered.125Please respect copyright.PENANAPtuYE1dGrT
125Please respect copyright.PENANAaxQ8x2I4I1
125Please respect copyright.PENANA4tyN0I0mbb
***125Please respect copyright.PENANAkrIWHuZqT0
125Please respect copyright.PENANA8bCEJ5xVAj
125Please respect copyright.PENANARE4oWpXy66
Rhénee turned in her bed, facing the window, this time around. She could tell the sun was now rising even when the curtain was drawn shut. She hadn't been able to sleep well the whole night as images of what happpened kept replaying in her mind, and she had just slept in intervals, only to be woken again by her dreams.125Please respect copyright.PENANACvHkETyEga
125Please respect copyright.PENANA1VE7uzASjJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAUFmzHWHGKJ
She suddenly sat up and decided to take a walk around the house. Her body ached with tiredness, and she decided that a cup of coffee would do her good.125Please respect copyright.PENANA8sJLZsFVrP
125Please respect copyright.PENANAYwvSrCVzZ8
125Please respect copyright.PENANAdhR4c6sB4D
After getting out of bed and wearing her purple bed slippers, she started to make her way out of the room when she heard her phone on the bedside table vibrate. She wondered who could be texting her this early in the morning. Perhaps her mother? Rhénee could only wonder what her mother would say if she were ever to tell her about the events of yesterday. She would drive here with her brother, Rhénee thought, and force her to go back home.125Please respect copyright.PENANAWaxqMLUF57
125Please respect copyright.PENANAq4GO4FApai
125Please respect copyright.PENANAN6LqoHiZj0
She went back to her bed to get her phone, and she found herself sitting back down on the bed. As she checked her phone, she found she had a message from Mr. Sinclair telling her to meet him at his office at 11:30 AM so that they could go and have lunch together. Rhénee raised an eyebrow. He was taking her somewhere more public. It didn't seem convenient, but it must be because he knows I won't overreact in a public place, she thought.125Please respect copyright.PENANA5cAV0AE2Ub
125Please respect copyright.PENANAVNoUM7HhwP
125Please respect copyright.PENANA5q9ilYCCLp
She texted him back, saying that she would be there, and stood up from her bed, making sure to carry her phone with her.125Please respect copyright.PENANADyO0eV33QT
125Please respect copyright.PENANAeDCipHE97j
125Please respect copyright.PENANAKv5w25qgSB
After walking out of her room and closing the door behind her, the silence of the house greeted her. She stood in the hall for a while, taking it in. She thought if she moved or made a sound, it would disturb the calm of the place. But the sweet sounds of the birds singing outside her bedroom window did the trick, though not in a harmful way.125Please respect copyright.PENANAEZhwplBnng
125Please respect copyright.PENANAp17SlWxfNP
125Please respect copyright.PENANAbj9QaPzQEG
She walked down the hall, bypassing her late grandmother's room. Stopping to look at the door, she thought of going in. But the events of yesterday came to her mind in a flash, making her think twice. She realized that all that's been going on right now since she came here is because of her grandmother, which stirred up a lot of mixed feelings.125Please respect copyright.PENANAE9dgTNeVCf
125Please respect copyright.PENANA73U4Bk3GsR
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZBfKDy5Ufx
She scoffed and turned away, heading to the stairs and to the kitchen.125Please respect copyright.PENANAXW6krhBkvy
125Please respect copyright.PENANAzO1rtt9N1v
125Please respect copyright.PENANAbY4tGgziWh
Upon entering the kitchen, she was greeted by the warm sun's rays that penetrated through the white kitchen curtain. The feeling was comforting, and it made Rhénee smile a little. She went on ahead to the coffee maker and started to bring out the coffee beans and sugar from the cupboard straight above her. Likewise, she made sure to pour some water into the coffee maker as well as putting in the coffee in the filter and switching on the appliance. She sat down on the kitchen stool near the island, waiting for the coffee to brew.125Please respect copyright.PENANAcm0UKK14lI
125Please respect copyright.PENANA1HqA6DCirN
125Please respect copyright.PENANAWr6xCIBeVr
Nevertheless, she decided to look through her phone, checking things out on social media. She found herself looking at a post by one of her friends, whom she hadn't talked to since she came here. Seeing this made her realize that she hadn't talked to any of her friends in what felt like forever, when she had only been here for a few days. With so much going on, time seems to have moved so fast when it barely has at all.125Please respect copyright.PENANAAfYzLqhdLz
125Please respect copyright.PENANAEmJzuFmd3U
125Please respect copyright.PENANAKOCF6lpWDs
Her coffee was still brewing, so she left the social media page and decided to call the one friend who wouldn't mind being bothered so early in the morning.125Please respect copyright.PENANABm6QRHolcB
125Please respect copyright.PENANASTonpUtRUQ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAD9vkfEQism
After finding their number in her contacts, she called it and put the phone to her ear. She heard the dialling tone and waited. It didn't take long before the person on the other end picked up.125Please respect copyright.PENANAkLsJCj8YHD
125Please respect copyright.PENANAyhEAxcC0xn
125Please respect copyright.PENANArnDA2TnId6
"Rhénee?" There was a sleepy male voice on the other end. "Hey, it's been a long time. How are you?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAboP4eQIppC
125Please respect copyright.PENANAnafxkMXQN7
125Please respect copyright.PENANABhYlffwEv1
"I'm good, thanks; how are you, Alex?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAujf9W35oxL
125Please respect copyright.PENANAyEzPGqUrva
125Please respect copyright.PENANAku1mr8QnHs
"Never better, now that you've called. I thought you forgot about me."125Please respect copyright.PENANApqzenflhqK
125Please respect copyright.PENANAjV5dIs441j
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZSoVAVCLOn
Rhénee looked up at the ceiling. "Yeah, I think I must have."125Please respect copyright.PENANAprfOtEFSxo
125Please respect copyright.PENANAcwUkqHP2UV
125Please respect copyright.PENANAXWDgOOYjcS
"Don't tell me you've made a tonne of friends over there and that you forgot about me. Or did your late grandmother's fortune get to your head?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAtnyc4AI9Wk
125Please respect copyright.PENANA4Go56pWwgm
125Please respect copyright.PENANAgmMUuYgtpE
The last thing Rhénee needed was to talk about her grandmother, but she had to act like nothing was bothering her for the time being.125Please respect copyright.PENANAxulraxlBwF
125Please respect copyright.PENANAn0CPgzd48V
125Please respect copyright.PENANA4bid2IDFW8
"You're just as funny as usual," said Rhénee with a smile on her face. "I've just been busy."125Please respect copyright.PENANA6CIT1qbadE
125Please respect copyright.PENANAVSu3HYS3nY
125Please respect copyright.PENANAuYNXiKKQBS
"Yeah, a new house and a new life must be a lot of work."125Please respect copyright.PENANAuGrZCoF5Qg
125Please respect copyright.PENANAHXihn28gRJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANA5CGxdBDNpT
"You've no idea. But I'm getting by just fine. I know it's been forever since I last came here, but a number of people still recognize me. So I don't feel entirely alone."125Please respect copyright.PENANADbPy7TVuuk
125Please respect copyright.PENANAr7LnN5CNII
125Please respect copyright.PENANAkxZTBirdwr
"Please, it's impossible to forget a person like you. And you were adorable when you were younger, so there is that."125Please respect copyright.PENANAJyZEu3I0bJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANA03HBOjLZcd
125Please respect copyright.PENANAd14tkIhzh1
"I wasn't adorable when I was younger."125Please respect copyright.PENANAodyEIZMcXy
125Please respect copyright.PENANAst2v8U8VrI
125Please respect copyright.PENANAk9pNoPZ02y
"I've seen your baby pictures, Rhénee. You were just the cutest."125Please respect copyright.PENANA7671aqNwvQ
125Please respect copyright.PENANARusZ3PQJSS
125Please respect copyright.PENANA7FF5C5pgQ9
"Who showed you my baby photos?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAO9PGdnIUoe
125Please respect copyright.PENANAVxEuc4OcgS
125Please respect copyright.PENANAl4vgYJW3Xp
"Zoey, of course."125Please respect copyright.PENANAhuuKLm3j59
125Please respect copyright.PENANA9RgwnJlJxt
125Please respect copyright.PENANAX1ZzuFJo8v
The two continued to chat, even about the old times. To Rhénee, it felt good to have her mind off of things, even when she knew it wasn't going to last long. As she poured herself a cup of coffee, she laughed at Alex's jokes and what he had to say about other people, especially their close friends.125Please respect copyright.PENANA0sHYb63zcB
125Please respect copyright.PENANApCxBbFlmb1
125Please respect copyright.PENANANrBj2Io3rc
"Goodness, I wish you were still with us, Rhénee," he said. "Everyone misses you here."125Please respect copyright.PENANAtMZj0DYTOm
125Please respect copyright.PENANABNXfNhR6GJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANATaKqghG7su
"Yeah, I miss the place too," she said as she looked out of the window. "Don't worry though. When the holidays arrive, I'll make sure to be there. My mum will kill me if I don't."125Please respect copyright.PENANAs7AOjZ2I3S
125Please respect copyright.PENANAqEGOg8Cp7L
125Please respect copyright.PENANAOGGJ8E812o
"Knowing your mother, I won't be surprised. How come she hasn't even thought of coming to get you back? I'll make sure to tag along if the thought ever crosses her mind."125Please respect copyright.PENANAdvFHhgF9cS
125Please respect copyright.PENANAVycGdPvVXn
125Please respect copyright.PENANA10hVUxFcB5
"Because I told her not to. I know she cares about me, but she never treats Ryan that way, and they stay in the same city."125Please respect copyright.PENANA4tUeJYGwoe
125Please respect copyright.PENANAlLEpAdHcmg
125Please respect copyright.PENANAuFqDoo6cAI
"Sorry, Rhénee, but you should know that you're her baby girl. Of course she would worry."125Please respect copyright.PENANA97wRVGCU4k
125Please respect copyright.PENANAKHmyqnZ0bG
125Please respect copyright.PENANAAKfGSFnxMF
"I wonder when she will ever get over me. I can look after myself, for goodness sake."125Please respect copyright.PENANASuW4RdyfYW
125Please respect copyright.PENANAxuhNaaNhhf
125Please respect copyright.PENANA7R4McpdaRH
"She'll get over it when she feels like it. Give her a break."125Please respect copyright.PENANAbi2KscEQRy
125Please respect copyright.PENANAXW35cHuXDZ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAAKjZExrRIf
Rhénee thought she heard footsteps in the other room. Miss Griselda must be awake.125Please respect copyright.PENANABZHXBlXplA
125Please respect copyright.PENANAUuSLHS1uMU
125Please respect copyright.PENANApoo1MDszL4
"Anyway, I better get myself ready for the day. It was nice talking to you, Alex."125Please respect copyright.PENANACovxZ2iUYB
125Please respect copyright.PENANAg0JlnUMwG8
125Please respect copyright.PENANAkQOxy9T6nD
"You should call every day. It will be nice to hear your voice every morning."125Please respect copyright.PENANAjTITj1KHpR
125Please respect copyright.PENANA8tOmme3lTL
125Please respect copyright.PENANAa7CLkACLDR
Rhénee chuckled. "Why don't you get out of bed and go flirt with other girls?"125Please respect copyright.PENANANkyBcqnhSi
125Please respect copyright.PENANACd9xZM194D
125Please respect copyright.PENANA98mYMCnYrt
Alex, on the other end, laughed. "Oh, Rhénee, you're the only girl for me; don't you know that?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAeAjzXxcQaN
125Please respect copyright.PENANAtnaMwzFd00
125Please respect copyright.PENANA8PbBN2BQYO
"Bye, Alex," said Rhénee, not ready for Alex's proposals, which he always made. This time she wasn't going to hear it. Even when she misses him for doing it.125Please respect copyright.PENANA6qhdoBKHXb
125Please respect copyright.PENANAiDORZTGwu8
125Please respect copyright.PENANAR6bzOZPoTg
After he said his goodbye, she cut the call and placed her phone on the table as she went to the sink to wash her cup. The door to the kitchen flew open, and Rhénee turned to see Miss Griselda walk in.125Please respect copyright.PENANAYLbmMV93Na
125Please respect copyright.PENANAcgslYrAuzW
125Please respect copyright.PENANAuWPdhoO4dP
"Morning, Rhénee," Miss Griselda greeted her. "Did you have a good night's sleep?"125Please respect copyright.PENANApohJiKl6VH
125Please respect copyright.PENANAbbkUkhKmN9
125Please respect copyright.PENANAIuB5viqO0t
"Not really," Rhénee answered. "I'm guessing that you didn't sleep well, either." She had finished washing her cup and had put it to dry on the plate rack.125Please respect copyright.PENANAbN6axwCvBp
125Please respect copyright.PENANAJQGaYg9sOO
125Please respect copyright.PENANAmWW8lXXZt0
"No. I barely slept a wink."125Please respect copyright.PENANA97A1Rdjm19
125Please respect copyright.PENANA4eEd2djhXj
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZYokiD1Dgn
"There's still some hot coffee if you need it." Rhénee pointed to the coffee maker.125Please respect copyright.PENANAWRfrHBYPET
125Please respect copyright.PENANAmbQYXyrtUQ
125Please respect copyright.PENANA0bsBnn7w9I
"I heard you talking to someone just now over the phone." Miss Griselda went over to the cupboards to get herself a cup. "Who was it?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAARffu1FZT6
125Please respect copyright.PENANALdBH1EGjwl
125Please respect copyright.PENANAn4VwlyQlKp
"A friend of mine. I hadn't talked to him in what felt like forever."125Please respect copyright.PENANAqUZl8aazW8
125Please respect copyright.PENANADhVQwu9dly
125Please respect copyright.PENANAt4NKQo2unt
"That's nice. You sounded like you were having a nice chat." Miss Griselda took a cup and poured herself some coffee.125Please respect copyright.PENANA6RvOqfdjHS
125Please respect copyright.PENANAwbXHfvXRPH
125Please respect copyright.PENANAV0YpCsb2AL
"I did. If only people like him knew what's really happening in my life right now. But the last thing I need is for him to get involved in something as dangerous as this."125Please respect copyright.PENANAxAOSpkZI8I
125Please respect copyright.PENANAIJgzFaGgw4
125Please respect copyright.PENANA5vrOYC3FJj
"A wise and sensible decision." Miss Griselda took a sip of the coffee, and her eyes brightened up a bit. "This coffee tastes great."125Please respect copyright.PENANALjwJFufDSq
125Please respect copyright.PENANAWIO0POnBET
125Please respect copyright.PENANAJVNZzF24xF
"I'm just fortunate. I didn't do anything to make it as nice as you make it." Rhénee chuckled.125Please respect copyright.PENANAMKOAJmHtrg
125Please respect copyright.PENANAyV8WQmqcqO
125Please respect copyright.PENANAk6ck7IOMzd
"So what do you have planned for the day?" Miss Griselda asked as she sat on one of the stools. "I hope you haven't forgotten that you've to meet Mr. Sinclair."125Please respect copyright.PENANAZQvsnk8OMB
125Please respect copyright.PENANAOLaC8U2Gci
125Please respect copyright.PENANATTQSbt31nU
"No, I haven't," Rhénee replied as she walked away from the sink towards Miss Girselda. "He texted me this morning what time to meet and where."125Please respect copyright.PENANAwKv7By4GO4
125Please respect copyright.PENANAJLLCMhWukX
125Please respect copyright.PENANAEPj1H2rSAh
"Wherever you will be, don't try and give him a hard time, dear. You're quite stubborn, you know."125Please respect copyright.PENANAUbQafQM5My
125Please respect copyright.PENANA6884SgXg5O
125Please respect copyright.PENANAHeCQs2zlWD
"Oh, I think he already knows that. The message clearly states he'll be taking me out for lunch. So you don't have to worry."125Please respect copyright.PENANAvymG1VCnuQ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAOT1cSbQDR8
125Please respect copyright.PENANAYkWJctSwpC
"Well, something tells me you'll still put him on edge with your questions."125Please respect copyright.PENANADuRjYtzSku
125Please respect copyright.PENANAwEbIEq0t6B
125Please respect copyright.PENANApiNduI9tTO
Rhénee raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? The way I see it, the man seems as cool as a cucumber. You saw how he was yesterday when we came back from the forest."125Please respect copyright.PENANAvOmCj4m9h2
125Please respect copyright.PENANAoyjouNFQiJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAhzvdOAwyWO
"I know. But just be careful of what you want to say to him, okay?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAgjIhrCiEgs
125Please respect copyright.PENANAzOOHHjMPSN
125Please respect copyright.PENANAOc1SsElHLM
"As you wish." Rhénee didn't like the feeling of being defeated so easily, especially from Miss Griselda.125Please respect copyright.PENANAoDjsnUvEPC
125Please respect copyright.PENANAOMOMvE7im6
125Please respect copyright.PENANAc2EsWqJdEB
"I plan on making pancakes today. Would you want some? I figured that we had a tough day yesterday it would brighten our day at least."125Please respect copyright.PENANA326GeYDPXa
125Please respect copyright.PENANA24Xeqd3qG9
125Please respect copyright.PENANAwFfGnkFNUb
That put up a smile on Rhénee's face. "That sounds great. Let me go freshen up first."125Please respect copyright.PENANACITt9OYddl
125Please respect copyright.PENANAcELDZLRdvp
125Please respect copyright.PENANAo72KWQKSBX
Rhénee made her way to the door while Miss Griselda continued sipping on her coffee. Rhénee stopped for a bit as she wanted to turn around and ask Miss Griselda something concerning last night. But she stopped herself knowing fully well that Miss Griselda might not want to talk about it right now. She opened the kitchen door and walked out.125Please respect copyright.PENANASEWaxKV8Vt
125Please respect copyright.PENANAQSBNSIVnhH
125Please respect copyright.PENANAiKaw7NJwbN
***125Please respect copyright.PENANAhSeZ8acCbi
125Please respect copyright.PENANAHVro8ileka
125Please respect copyright.PENANAtYzKadlGvu
Eugene walked out of the room he and his brother had slept in. He had just told the news of his father's accident to Albert, and as Eugene expected. He didn't take it so lightly, but mention that their father was now out of danger.125Please respect copyright.PENANA7gD4KFZLkE
125Please respect copyright.PENANAxTo2tJfqJS
125Please respect copyright.PENANA7cofvj0t36
Albert had also asked if that's the reason why they couldn't go back to the house. Eugene replied accordingly, stating that their father had come home badly injured. Albert understood, but there was no denying that that he was disturbed. Eugene suggested that Albert should not go to school until he felt like it. Albert thought so too and he told Eugene that he wanted to be left alone. Respecting his brother's wishes, Eugene left the room and headed down stairs where the smell of food from the kitchen was calling to him. Eugene now realized just how hungry he was.125Please respect copyright.PENANAiwhc2oiZCx
125Please respect copyright.PENANAxnh1D8jUfE
125Please respect copyright.PENANAoYml32NVPD
As he entered the kitchen, he found Mrs. York by the stove making scrambled eggs. He also noticed that there was toasted bread, a jug of juice and a pot of hot coffee on the kitchen table. Mrs. York turned to look at him as she heard him enter the kitchen with a smile.125Please respect copyright.PENANAuK0Zqsmi7G
125Please respect copyright.PENANAnbeNNONklv
125Please respect copyright.PENANAg1tGQ9aPGp
"Please, Eugene, sit," she told him.125Please respect copyright.PENANAqWhJV57RWU
125Please respect copyright.PENANA4UofaYJ8tp
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZs32CDx1L1
Eugene did just that. "How is Mr. York this morning?" he asked.125Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4pdS0Bhdh
125Please respect copyright.PENANAkAqI7AOtM5
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZVtYDvZG8h
"Oh, he's still fast asleep," she answered as she turned back to the eggs on the stove. "With the meds he is on, he sleeps like a rock. How did Albert take the news?"125Please respect copyright.PENANA2sB2Jq0VK8
125Please respect copyright.PENANAMa7GtgJs09
125Please respect copyright.PENANAI7uQa3iMxX
Eugene clenched his hand into a fist. "Not too well, I'm afraid. He looked like he was about throw up or something. He wanted to be left alone for a bit."125Please respect copyright.PENANAOTg5tzOxqE
125Please respect copyright.PENANARxAszXW8eY
125Please respect copyright.PENANAFWA43iyszL
"Will he be going to school?" Mrs. York removed the pan on the stove and put the eggs on a plate.125Please respect copyright.PENANAAz18ddK9wQ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAp135gLRNPJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAewae6alHR7
"No. He won't be able to concentrate. Plus, people might be talking about it a lot."125Please respect copyright.PENANAdoPlWp8DqT
125Please respect copyright.PENANALXPR2vNiw9
125Please respect copyright.PENANAbBc5o3Zkcz
Mrs. York approached the table with the plate and laid it in the table. "People will always talk, and you know that better than him."125Please respect copyright.PENANAjK5PneAjZt
125Please respect copyright.PENANA65ilgdmdB3
125Please respect copyright.PENANAfX25aIvLwN
She pulled a chair to take a seat. "And what about you?" she asked. "Are you going for work?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAKYUiOBoFB1
125Please respect copyright.PENANAhvyQPCxB47
125Please respect copyright.PENANAVnTeRuCgyJ
Eugene gave a nod of his head. "I need to get my mind distracted from all this," he answered.125Please respect copyright.PENANAU3E9hyjdmD
125Please respect copyright.PENANADiSqxQ0lvm
125Please respect copyright.PENANAaoAXnlXrLY
"I see." Mrs. York took one of the cups on the table and poured herself a cup of coffee from the coffeemaker. "I'm guessing your meeting with your mother didn't go well?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAZy7j885Vyr
125Please respect copyright.PENANAmmM55Jr1Y0
125Please respect copyright.PENANANzyBZHvaJG
Eugene looked at Mrs. York and gave a nod of his head. "No matter, she didn't want to hear anything regarding her leaving him."125Please respect copyright.PENANAtWinAiNDpb
125Please respect copyright.PENANARfhRXGP0oc
125Please respect copyright.PENANAOJkJqHzNFA
"Well, that wasn't the most appropriate time for that," said Mrs. York as she took a plate and placed two slices of toast from the main plate. "You know how your mother still loves your father. You better eat up while the eggs are still hot."125Please respect copyright.PENANAOLJ3SjWUJM
125Please respect copyright.PENANADWO5V0xOfd
125Please respect copyright.PENANALps5qpA58w
Eugene served himself a glass of juice and toast and eggs. "There's no denying that she still loves him," he said. "I'm afraid him coming to our house to ask for help spells danger for all of us. I don't trust him."125Please respect copyright.PENANAgjLpe0jTGp
125Please respect copyright.PENANAa3nc89aPCN
125Please respect copyright.PENANA7NIaZ82Opz
"Same here. It's going to take a lot to convince that stubborn mother of yours. But lets not think about it right now. Focus on taking of her and your brother."125Please respect copyright.PENANAfUMl3RP1Fy
125Please respect copyright.PENANATx3ftvkCeb
125Please respect copyright.PENANA22OvpzoteA
"I can't do that when she sticks to my father like it's all she knows how to do."125Please respect copyright.PENANAIrYWIJxqeM
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZIXsT8JH06
125Please respect copyright.PENANALaQrFsntHb
Mrs. York sighed and she took a bite out of her toast. "It will take some sort of a miracle to tear those two apart."125Please respect copyright.PENANAag89PqzfQE
125Please respect copyright.PENANAsOaHMnz0C5
125Please respect copyright.PENANAwLD4NAQROc
"You're right. Now that I think about it, I might as well just leave it be."125Please respect copyright.PENANA5bhi24Dnep
125Please respect copyright.PENANAMZTwuKQZ2V
125Please respect copyright.PENANA9gQXRNcZkn
The two continued to eat their breakfast and as soon as they were done, Eugene went to prepare himself to go to work. Mrs. York had fortunately taken the liberty of taking some of his and Albert's clothes from the house when the police were around. Their house was still a crime scene, but knowing that his father had been injured else where, they might bring down the yellow tape sooner than expected.125Please respect copyright.PENANAexwLB346V1
125Please respect copyright.PENANAQOxUQOu25L
125Please respect copyright.PENANAYS9oMdJj2Y
Before leaving for work, Eugene went to check up on Albert. Lucky enough, he found Mrs. York encouraging him to go to the kitchen and have something to eat. He also made sure to call Eugene's home room teacher to tell her that he wasn't going to be in today.125Please respect copyright.PENANAomRepKSyE6
125Please respect copyright.PENANACpAo4ptJEq
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZQmgKLFbSG
After saying his goodbyes, he made his way out of the house, heading for the bus station. There was no need for him to call Miguel to pick him up for work like always. Eugene thought he wouldn't even go in his car, if Miguel was to appear at the moment.125Please respect copyright.PENANAkBfLJOwIKl
125Please respect copyright.PENANAfvNpB2zezx
125Please respect copyright.PENANA7aP2iUlbfj
Knowing fully well, that he already told his boss that he won't be coming in early, Eugene took his time walking. While he did so, he wondered what he would tell his workmates at the office when he gets there.125Please respect copyright.PENANAcLNFJ2x3YB
125Please respect copyright.PENANA2sRfOLlSgG
125Please respect copyright.PENANAtNXOx4bOX8
***125Please respect copyright.PENANA55t2aFQTVt
125Please respect copyright.PENANArvygWHf60c
125Please respect copyright.PENANAKLedg9M1ZE
Rhénee looked at the time and figured it was now time to leave and head to Mr. Sinclair's office. She had been seated outside the patio, overlooking the garden with Miss Griselda and Sofie at her feet.125Please respect copyright.PENANAFSqvGoM2ha
125Please respect copyright.PENANAczY0yEmIFy
125Please respect copyright.PENANAbEed870kvQ
"I better get going now," Rhénee announced as she stood up from her seat. "I don't want to be late."125Please respect copyright.PENANArDC37kRwZz
125Please respect copyright.PENANAvJjdxAb8ng
125Please respect copyright.PENANAWY2WGD4Bmp
"Alright," said Miss Griselda, sewing her red dress on the collar. "Remember what I told you about Mr. Sinclair and your questions."125Please respect copyright.PENANAsTwyZUXkk5
125Please respect copyright.PENANAUY1C73FVW9
125Please respect copyright.PENANAyrLlVoZ75D
Rhénee gave Miss Griselda a smirk. "I'll do my best. I'm not going to promise anything."125Please respect copyright.PENANAijMo0KafDn
125Please respect copyright.PENANA5E57v5thcf
125Please respect copyright.PENANA52m3PtbAmw
Miss Grisleda looked up at Rhénee, regardless. "Take care," she said. "Make sure you don't wander off on your own like you did yesterday."125Please respect copyright.PENANAwgkxXUqreS
125Please respect copyright.PENANA2rpV1Nok1d
125Please respect copyright.PENANAeJ3So0k8ls
Rhénee gave a nod of her head and started to make her way to the back of the house to the garage. She had left the door open leading to it an hour ago as she had come into the garage to check on the car for oil and gas. She also took the extra precaution of looking around the car for anything suspicious. You can never know with what's been going on around her lately. She had to be extra careful from now on, and that meant checking her car once in a while.125Please respect copyright.PENANAwpOmeTZkHg
125Please respect copyright.PENANAliWWgHupSo
125Please respect copyright.PENANAPNDZRmPVFp
She unlocked the car, opened the door and we went in. She started the engine and soon enough, she drove the car out of the garage and onto the front drive way. As she passed the front lawns of the house, she noticed Kevin at a distance mowing the lawn. He didn't have to come in for work today and Rhénee told him that this morning when he came to her door. But he insisted that he stick around just in case trouble came by. Besides, he also had to keep up appearances for people to see, or else they would figure out that something is wrong.125Please respect copyright.PENANAOS3CgzjBnu
125Please respect copyright.PENANAbMamjRxaSc
125Please respect copyright.PENANAtAwgSqJz5N
Kevin stopped mowing as he saw her drive by and waved. Rhénee slowed the car and waved back. She reached the open front gates and drove off towards the town.125Please respect copyright.PENANAcnMvqV3SZg
125Please respect copyright.PENANAklxIMU9CV5
125Please respect copyright.PENANAKM7xbg0qEB
It took Rhénee less than ten minutes to find herself at the town centre. It's good she arrived on time. Even if Madison was a small town, slight traffic was starting to build up. The place isn't like New York where traffic could sometimes get you late, but Rhénee always liked to be where she had to be on time.125Please respect copyright.PENANAnZzMZ74ITT
125Please respect copyright.PENANAik29RGp1ro
125Please respect copyright.PENANA3mkTyOlH5i
She reached the law firm and packed right outside in the car park. She checked the time. It's only ten minutes till 11:30. Better early than late, she told herslef as she took her small white handbag and got out of the car.125Please respect copyright.PENANAAxoNN7rWp4
125Please respect copyright.PENANAESdizf0Pb2
125Please respect copyright.PENANAWfOdUE519P
After locking the door, she started to make her way to the building. She bypassed a guard making his rounds through the car park and she acknowledged her with a greeting by touching the brim of his cap. Rhénee in response smiled at him.125Please respect copyright.PENANAgMummQ9eUP
125Please respect copyright.PENANAR2wlariOBN
125Please respect copyright.PENANABNE9tovZB7
Before entering the building, two women in grey suits who she pointed out as lawyers, walked out through the front door. A chill ran down her spine all of a sudden as she had a strange feeling that she was being watched.125Please respect copyright.PENANAG8bebq0EBi
125Please respect copyright.PENANAVG4etYlGhF
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZVrIoPajtn
She looked behind her at the car park. Nothing seemed suspicious or was she just thinking too much? If there was one thing her father taught her over the years, is not to ignore your instincts, especially in such a situation she now found herself in.125Please respect copyright.PENANA3Aj2gZtVVM
125Please respect copyright.PENANAijeFz23BpD
125Please respect copyright.PENANAMX5BWILW14
With one last look around the car park, Rhénee turned around and started to make her way into the building. It wasn't her first time there so she made her way to the front desk and told the receptionist that she had an appointment with Mr. Sinclair. The receptionist told her to go right ahead. Rhénee thanked her and made her way to the elevator.125Please respect copyright.PENANAceb47gHqht
125Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZUkiBqo4O
125Please respect copyright.PENANA3vbjvhVCGW
Eugene continued to stare blankly at his computer in his work station. He hadn't managed to get much work done as his mind wandered off every now and then, thinking of his mother and brother. Maybe he shouldn't have come to work after all. When his workmates first saw him, they were actually surprised. They didn't bother to ask him why he had come, but they did ask how his father was doing. Eugene knew they were only trying to be sympathetic, but he could tell that they found him pretty weird to be coming in for work, especially with what happened.125Please respect copyright.PENANAFO7R4vizxL
125Please respect copyright.PENANAVRY24CN2p7
125Please respect copyright.PENANAxegqCDJJmq
He could feel people's eyes on him every now and then. That bothered him. At a time when he had to go get a piece of paper by the printer, he thought he heard two of his colleagues whispering. He thought he heard his name and when he turned to look at them, they stopped talking and went about their business. It's either they were talking about him or now he's mind was just playing tricks on him. With his mind so preoccupied, he couldn't tell which was which.125Please respect copyright.PENANA0nKD9FNEaS
125Please respect copyright.PENANAj9gzJYhHo9
125Please respect copyright.PENANAIp9Sq6Scow
He groaned and finally stood up from his desk. Looking at the screen wasn't going to do him any good, not when he couldn't concentrate. Even when Theodore and Mr. Sinclair had given him less work to do to, he still couldn't get anything done.125Please respect copyright.PENANAVmTamvMT2d
125Please respect copyright.PENANAltSDL0RlhT
125Please respect copyright.PENANAzZPlsiZDB0
Eugene gave a good stretch with his arms wide, that he almost hit someone who was walking round his cubicle. He stopped himself just in time and when he turned to see who it was, he found Preeta with a stack of files standing there.125Please respect copyright.PENANAWwl1hAVhiw
125Please respect copyright.PENANAnxpyMwbA1P
125Please respect copyright.PENANAGtacb3YH9v
"Oh, sorry, Preeta," he said, dropping his hands. "I didn't see you there."125Please respect copyright.PENANAlECrdSNUM1
125Please respect copyright.PENANAcIZS3hUMIc
125Please respect copyright.PENANAQby2BkP0Cl
"Oh, no, it's fine," she said. "I stopped just in time."125Please respect copyright.PENANA5DnRqOXinu
125Please respect copyright.PENANAfHI5QqS3eX
125Please respect copyright.PENANAoiUZ4lJ8tE
Eugene tried to smile at Preeta, but his facial muscles seemed too tired to do so. He noticed the worried look on Preeta's face, and knew she what she was going to ask.125Please respect copyright.PENANAlNLTbfmnub
125Please respect copyright.PENANAmuMH6oJDy7
125Please respect copyright.PENANAODWOnuDffe
"Eugene, are you okay?" she asked. "Maybe you shouldn't have come in today."125Please respect copyright.PENANAfms4tzc6rQ
125Please respect copyright.PENANA9nIlQOR1Ad
125Please respect copyright.PENANAOdZmG4FMhf
"I'm fine, Preeta," he answered. "I just need to keep my mind busy to forget all that's happening."125Please respect copyright.PENANALKGlVmP4Qg
125Please respect copyright.PENANAzaeMLf2URk
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZSHPVmZbJi
"But you can't, can you?" Preeta raised an eyebrow. "I can tell you're only stressing yourself out by being here."125Please respect copyright.PENANAkz5ksQm2sD
125Please respect copyright.PENANA6kCAlnC6up
125Please respect copyright.PENANAkTEiN9waqt
"I know you're concerned, but I can take care of myself."125Please respect copyright.PENANAmJ313J3rot
125Please respect copyright.PENANAvC0gKXDWbd
125Please respect copyright.PENANAMsNiyhgnaL
"I know you can, but if you ask me, you need to be with your brother and your mother right now. Isn't that's what most important?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAAfy2r9lnjH
125Please respect copyright.PENANANmYD8zhCYf
125Please respect copyright.PENANATAGTKwspTE
Eugene sat back down on his chair, with a sigh. His hand fell upon the side of his face as he asked, "how can I ever go to my mother's side when she doesn't even listen to me at all?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAXEqGrR5p5n
125Please respect copyright.PENANAaMSgZ7XSlr
125Please respect copyright.PENANAsdb1dwseRu
Preeta stood there silently, wondering whether to ask the question. She knew why he had asked this. His parents' affairs were well known to everyone in the town of Madison. And Preeta now found herself in some sort of bear trap.125Please respect copyright.PENANApFsaUxPgQo
125Please respect copyright.PENANAI6tSgNr8Cp
125Please respect copyright.PENANAYa0PAc073V
"I wish I could answer that, Eugene," she found the voice to say. "Doesn't that have to be her decision?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAjxZWLmvGKO
125Please respect copyright.PENANAdbIqbipz20
125Please respect copyright.PENANAo0pKsmnTAL
Eugene looked up at the ceiling. "Her decision, huh?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAkPhUfr8OlW
125Please respect copyright.PENANAKb9itDRc1g
125Please respect copyright.PENANAFx2oXpTagZ
Preeta looked at him, and she wished she could try and get Eugene out of the hole he was in. But he seems so lost in his own world. There was a sort of brokeness in his eyes and Preeta wondered if it's only his father's accident that might have caused it.125Please respect copyright.PENANAzyKmyv15wo
125Please respect copyright.PENANAxtieV9VzIT
125Please respect copyright.PENANAXrYlDqITcI
The land-line on Eugene's desk rang and before he could pick it, he continued to look up at the ceiling. Preeta looked at his landline that kept ringing, and then back at him. Should she pick the line instead, she thought. It could be important.125Please respect copyright.PENANAVxX5Ubd3NC
125Please respect copyright.PENANAVPpdQHO09H
125Please respect copyright.PENANAXDjaErEu3I
Before Preeta could even stretch her hand to reach the phone, Eugene quickly took it and put it to his ear. "Hello?" he answered.125Please respect copyright.PENANAtJgAhMxpAl
125Please respect copyright.PENANAIDJuaWdTu4
125Please respect copyright.PENANAleer1OUItJ
He listened to whoever was talking on the other end, and afterwards, he replied with a low grunt and put the receiver back in it's place.125Please respect copyright.PENANAAwOuPDJVdS
125Please respect copyright.PENANAxtcU6rMwzc
125Please respect copyright.PENANAQmhNQ4BZ3A
"Was that Mr. Sinclair?" Preeta asked.125Please respect copyright.PENANA7LIjVUqcAI
125Please respect copyright.PENANAoCRtcRoEkb
125Please respect copyright.PENANAiuC2jn653B
"No, his secretary called to go get some work files at her desk," he replied. "I better go. Those files won't fly here themselves."125Please respect copyright.PENANAi6Zp07WnSp
125Please respect copyright.PENANA1fPfQf4rf7
125Please respect copyright.PENANATvXsOsdvPB
Eugene stood up from his seat and before he could make his way to Mr. Sinclair's office, Preeta took hold of his shoulder to stop him.125Please respect copyright.PENANAVHREMXaxa4
125Please respect copyright.PENANADVTulp6C5A
125Please respect copyright.PENANA53lSOl2k6C
"Hey, it will be lunch soon. Do you mind if we can go out?" Preeta asked. "We can get to talk if you want."125Please respect copyright.PENANAh1eYGmoUyb
125Please respect copyright.PENANAUJ4KxJM21H
125Please respect copyright.PENANA0NH1cyd9MR
Eugene looked at her and the corner of his lip was raised to a smile. "Yes, that will be very nice, thanks," he said.125Please respect copyright.PENANAz9iKN7GbKv
125Please respect copyright.PENANA6z4AEJdGTt
125Please respect copyright.PENANA43uKzsCqga
"As soon as you're back, I'll meet you here at your station. Sounds good?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAyp2WaYVJiG
125Please respect copyright.PENANAzHTEgIqmKm
125Please respect copyright.PENANAitMABAWbsx
Eugene gave a nod of his head and without any hesitation, made his way to Sinclair's office.125Please respect copyright.PENANAMobIEIG06Y
125Please respect copyright.PENANAT7gMKCvuig
125Please respect copyright.PENANA7CtMxTamXf
Rhénee stepped out of the elevator and started to make her way to Sinclair's office just down the hall. She had a clear view of the secretary's desk. The secretary looked away from her computer to see Rhénee approaching.125Please respect copyright.PENANAd3Exuqas1u
125Please respect copyright.PENANANOox3CynIg
125Please respect copyright.PENANAAkqubxm9Pc
Before Rhénee could reach the secretary, there came the sound of footsteps coming from the other end of the hall, and a young man appeared in front of Rhénee entering the hall she was in and also approaching the secretary's desk.125Please respect copyright.PENANAKdxVis9nD1
125Please respect copyright.PENANAwWjrCUvPug
125Please respect copyright.PENANA9oHoeMXOE6
"Ah, Eugene," said the secretary looking at him as he reached the desk first. "I thought I wasn't going to get the chance to see you. How is your father doing?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAj7S5XSRIxO
125Please respect copyright.PENANAO4H8S3nMTD
125Please respect copyright.PENANAO5Wbro4nbL
"He's out of danger at least," Eugene answered, not realizing that there was someone coming behind him.125Please respect copyright.PENANAAPxxbHLKSJ
125Please respect copyright.PENANAn7f8gYWZ6a
125Please respect copyright.PENANAwanp9YHlMd
"Good morning," said Rhénee as she came to stand beside Eugene.125Please respect copyright.PENANAaCsa7zflIW
125Please respect copyright.PENANA7IRqKZc3WX
125Please respect copyright.PENANA5DuHJPDVgD
Her presence startled Eugene that he almost jumped in fright. He responded to her greeting bleakly.125Please respect copyright.PENANAXHM9AgnKQa
125Please respect copyright.PENANAc7Ge0paruh
125Please respect copyright.PENANAXlub7x90bG
"Good morning, Rhénee," said Mrs. Clarks with so much enthusiasm, like she hadn't sounded sympathetic with Eugene minutes ago. "Mr. Sinclair just stepped out, but you can go in his office and wait for him there."125Please respect copyright.PENANAxyLyPko9Dx
125Please respect copyright.PENANAdGMEXoBr3c
125Please respect copyright.PENANAZZlcJlukYH
"He trusts me to be in his office?" Rhénee asked, sounding surprised. "Won't it be better to wait for him out here?"125Please respect copyright.PENANALZQ8oApqxg
125Please respect copyright.PENANAoB33h3uJ0w
125Please respect copyright.PENANA4Eu3ORmW7J
"No, he wouldn't mind. Please, you can walk right in."125Please respect copyright.PENANAolAHLbgLDX
125Please respect copyright.PENANAN38MaTHfsl
125Please respect copyright.PENANAaMZWxctaHa
Rhénee thought twice about it and quickly made up her mind and started to make her way to Sinclair's office.125Please respect copyright.PENANA9z3V64qwG7
125Please respect copyright.PENANAIxfgzrGnBe
125Please respect copyright.PENANAVMzuLoRxXo
Eugene had been staring at Rhénee the whole time and it was only Mrs. Clarks placing the files so loudly on her desk, that brought him back to earth.125Please respect copyright.PENANAOmqIQpcfBk
125Please respect copyright.PENANAWksHzCWYT0
125Please respect copyright.PENANABQ14SFGGyf
"How is your father doing?" Mrs. Clarks asked as she looked on worringly at Eugene.125Please respect copyright.PENANA5K86IjtTKf
125Please respect copyright.PENANAmlC0h3fNsO
125Please respect copyright.PENANArPRdwtxvhf
Eugene quickly shook his head, trying his best to gather his thoughts. "Well, he's out of danger for now," he answered.125Please respect copyright.PENANAHvvlRO2qQ2
125Please respect copyright.PENANADu0npZ5nfB
125Please respect copyright.PENANAYQUhMtf3wp
"Just know that I have you and your family in my prayers. As soon as I heard the news, I got terrified. I still am. Do you know how he ended up like that?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAR2szB9AqHd
125Please respect copyright.PENANAo3bUWCwBGU
125Please respect copyright.PENANAt7UunKZxvE
Eugene shook his head. "No clue. He didn’t tell my mum anything, either. He passed out when he got to the house."125Please respect copyright.PENANAalqMtf4xkO
125Please respect copyright.PENANAmyfBC1KYtD
125Please respect copyright.PENANAG3u4GlW6RK
"It’s good that he’s okay. But isn’t it bad for him, though? I hear it was a gunshot wound, and the police are now investigating the matter. Did he say who shot him or what had happened?"125Please respect copyright.PENANAe53GEuGXIA
125Please respect copyright.PENANAKGBbkXLLML
125Please respect copyright.PENANALd9Yh2JvMp
Eugene shook his head. "No, he didn’t say anything to mum before he passed out."125Please respect copyright.PENANAaaZy4n0c5f
125Please respect copyright.PENANAqga4huD2jY
125Please respect copyright.PENANAgjSYw6OAdn
"Well, I hope it isn’t serious. No one reported any shootings, though, so hopefully it was just an explainable accident. It would be pretty bad if it turns out that he was involved in something shady."125Please respect copyright.PENANASPX3mfZrLj
125Please respect copyright.PENANA4Qpt4JEd3l
125Please respect copyright.PENANALZqNbumR0k
Eugene had had enough of Mrs. Clarks' talk as he picks up the files on the desk. "I better be going now. I’ll see you later."125Please respect copyright.PENANABWteplkRtO
125Please respect copyright.PENANAEDgCD0omiq
125Please respect copyright.PENANAOPs8L9BcMm
"You take care of yourself, dear. And tell your mother that I’m praying for her."125Please respect copyright.PENANAkgThZaqnCM
125Please respect copyright.PENANA1QaxmLq0PF
125Please respect copyright.PENANA1cfkm5TEtw
Eugene gave a nod of his head and turned around to make his way back to his workstation. He completely forgot about Rhénee, who stood in Sinclair’s office and had heard the entire conversation.