The door creaked open just as the Old Man’s hand dropped weakly to his side.
A nurse rushed in, halting at the unexpected sight before hurrying to his bedside. Her voice was brisk but professional as she glanced briefly at Davis.
"Sir, please, we need a mont."
Without waiting for a response, she sprang into action, checking vitals and calling for backup as another team of nurses and a doctor rushed in behind her.
Davis stood aside tensed and reluctant, his face blank, and expression unfocused as he watched on.
Taking deep breath before he stepped out of the room. His mind swirled with questions and unease.
"What vault?"
"What’s inside that requires the key to be hidden, locked in a safe of its own?"
"Just how important is it?"
"What secrets does it hold?"
"And no doubt, it will be buried deep under other docunts and files," he mused.
A strange hollowness settled in his chest as he walked out of the ward, the tension in his shoulders was palpable as he dreaded this mont. Dreaded what might co next. Dread what the next situation might be.
The mont he stepped into the corridor, all eyes turned toward him, expectant and anxious as they waited for him to say sothing.
Jessica moved first, her gaze scanning his face with concern and worry. "How is he?" she asked, her voice calm.
Before Davis could answer, the flurry of dical staff rushing into the room gave its own testimony.
She glanced behind him at the door that had another doctor and a few nurses rushing in. Her brows furrowed at the scene, her lips parted to say sothing but then she closed it again as she took a deep breath.
"He woke briefly," Davis replied in a low voice, "but slipped back into unconsciousness."
Bella stiffened beside them, her hands clenched as tears welled in her eyes.
"Sis... can’t you do sothing?" she whispered. "You saved him before, right? Please... you can do it again."
Jessica’s face softened with empathy, though her expression held the weight of reality. "Bella, calm down. It’s not always that simple."
"But you’re Jessica! You always find a way..." Bella choked on a sob, grabbing her hand.
"Please, sis-in-law. I just t him. I just got a chance to find my family again. I can’t lose him now..."
Jessica sighed, gently holding Bella’s trembling hands. "I know what this ans to you. Believe , I do. But let the doctors do what they can. We’ll do everything possible..."
"There has to be a way," Bella murmured, eyes darting between Davis and Ethan.
Becky and Alex stood nearby, their expressions caught between concern and helplessness.
Davis finally spoke, voice heavy with frustration and grief.
"Bella, the doctors are already working to ensure his safety. And Jessica stepping in might even be terd a violation of the rule, so you understand?" He tried to explain with patience.
He dreaded this situation so much. He dreaded the possible outco of the Old Man’s health.
He didn’t want to think about it, but then he couldn’t help himself thinking about it.
"Bella, calm down. You don’t have to take it that way," Jessica tried to explain, but then Bella hurried over and held her hand, her breath coming in gasps.
She then glanced at Becky and Alex, who were stumped with several questions swirling in their minds.
Looking at the distraught Bella, Davis sighed.
"Bella, just as the Old Man is important to you, so also he is to Jessica. If there is anything she can do at the mont, do you think she will just stand by and watch?" His voice was heavy, his fists clenched by his side.
"But... do you not trust she can do it?" Bella challenged, her eyes locking with her brother’s.
Davis ran a hand over his face, a pulse throbbing in his temple. This side of Bella, so emotional, so raw, was unfamiliar.
Alex, who had been quiet for so ti now, stepped closer, his brow raised. He glanced at Davis, then at Jessica, who seed to be lost in contemplation.
"Davis, is there sothing you are not telling ?" Alex asked.
Davis exhaled. "Not really," he muttered, his tone warning that the conversation ended there.
"Bella," Jessica called softly. She spun around to face her, her gaze locking with hers. Several emotions swirled in them, but most prominent was her hope that Jessica should do sothing.
Jessica gently pulled Bella toward herself.
"Listen to ," she said. "The doctors are already working on it. dicine today is advanced. There will be a way to stabilize him."
"But...It seems..." Her voice choked, her tears falling.
Jessica pulled her into a hug, soothing her as she cried quietly in her arms. Over the years, Jessica had watched over Bella like a sister, nurturing her, protecting her fragile heart.
She had always hoped she will have a stress free life, a life of recovering her losses or possibly building up new ones.
And now, the first chance to et her grandfather...
Jessica took a deep breath. "Can you calm down? It is not entirely bad. With dical advancent, there must be a way out, at least to manage it."
Bella shook her head. "I know, just that I...am afraid. I’m scared. I’ve lost so much already... and now this..." Her voice cracked as tears slipped down her cheeks.
Jessica sighed. Her heart heavy as she held Bella in her arms. Having her under her care over the years she had long developed so sensitiveness to her feeling as wells as the opportunity to understand how fragile her heart could be over certain issues.
Knowing she had lost all mories of who she is, she only hoped that reuniting with her family could help her build new mories... new hope and new future.
And now, just when the opportunity is right before her, it seed to be at the point of slipping through her fingers.
Monts later, the doctors exited the room, their expressions unreadable. Everyone stood frozen.
The lead doctor stepped forward.
"He needs complete rest," he said carefully. "I suggest hiring a caregiver for constant supervision. Keep him calm. No stress. No pressure."
A wave of cautious relief passed through the group. They thanked him before he walked away.
Jessica led Bella to the door. Through the glass, they saw the Old Man lying frail and still, surrounded by humming machines and wires.
"Ethan," Davis called, his voice suddenly icy.
"Yes, sir," Ethan snapped to attention, he could feel the change in, the bitting coldness of his voice.
Davis’s expression hardened. A cold smirk curved his lips. "Find Aaron. I want his location within the hour."
Ethan’s heart skipped.
"And when you do," Davis paused, his voice like steel, "bind him. Bring him back."
The chill in his gaze sent a ripple through everyone. Becky instinctively stepped back. Alex caught her hand to keep her in place
"Nervous already?" he teased.
"Don’t joke about this," she snapped.
Davis turned to Alfred, the family butler, his tone softer. "You’re the only one I trust right now. Can you stay here with him? I’ll get a caregiver to assist you."
Alfred had stood silently all along, eyes moving from Davis to Bella. His lips finally parted.
"Sir... is she...?"
Davis nodded. "Yes, she’s Bella. But sothing happened. She can’t rember much yet."
Alfred’s face lit with emotion. "Sir will be happy. He’s always blad himself for that incident... said he failed to protect you both."
Davis turned to Bella.
"Co et Alfred. He’s been with our family longer than I’ve been alive."
Bella approached with a small, polite nod.
"Nice to et you, sir. I was told about you, but I don’t rember..."
Alfred gently patted her shoulder. "It’s alright, Miss. Welco ho. And besides... it’s not a bad thing to forget the pain of the past."
Over the years, Alfred had investigated the incident, as per the Old Man’s orders. But many things were buried... so totally erased. Still, sothing told him, those children had endured more than anyone knew.
Babe, can we still go back to the launch?" Davis asked. He really needed to find a way to make it up to her.
Jessica shook her head. "Going ho," she chid.
She glanced at Alex. "Alex, we go over to the house. Deborah could have your stomach covered for today, you have been stressed," she smirked.
"Do you think so?" Alex raised a brow, yet a tinge of regret crossed his heart. But he couldn’t hurt this friend of his.
Do you doubt ? It’s not always that you have the opportunity to experience Country Y. Besides, Deborah’s cooking should be better than your fancy five-star chefs."
Jessica grinned. "So, don’t waste the experience." Though, she had been unable to attend to these special guests of hers but then simple courtesy still matters.
With that, the group departed. The tension still lingered, but for now, they had chosen to remain calm... and focus on what ca next.
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