In the late afternoon as evening approached, Dennis and Daisy sat on the living room sofa, listening to a report from Diana, Dahlia, Donna, Deborah, Dulcia, and Daphne. They explained that two n—who looked like thugs dressed up in office shirts and were likely syndicate mbers—had co to the apartnt looking for Destiny. Dulcia had already neutralized them. They added that they were currently "interrogating" the two n in their own unique ways, which were probably better left unexplained. Dennis and Daisy turned to look at each other.
"Let’s just wait for the results of their interrogation," Dennis said.
"Yeah, but if those people showed up at our place... it ans Bella was caught dropping Destiny off with us," Daisy replied.
"It seems so. Hopefully, everything’s fine... besides, it’s almost night already, isn’t it?" Dennis said, turning to look toward the large window separating the living room from the backyard.
"Hmm... yeah, let’s just wait. Are you worried?" Daisy asked, turning to look at Dennis and studying his face.
"Not at all. Bella created this ss herself by not properly vetting the people she chose to hang out with. I’m only thinking about the state of our ho—not because I’m worried about them, but about whether or not the place will be a wreck by the ti we get back," Dennis answered imdiately without a second thought.
"Hehe... true. That is more of a concern, isn’t it?" Daisy replied, leaning against Dennis’s arm as he pulled her into a hug.
"Of course, that’s more important because it’s a hassle if we end up getting scolded or having to deal with the landlord when we move out," Dennis replied.
Suddenly, the sound of Rika running down from the second floor echoed through the house. She still had a towel wrapped around her hair, looking like she had just stepped out of the shower. Rika rushed over to Dennis and Daisy and thrust her smartphone screen toward them without saying a word. There was a ssage from Bella saying she was currently at a hospital in the city center; she had been beaten by Chris and his friends after they caught her bringing a parentless baby—whom they intended to sell—to Dennis’s apartnt.
Bella had sent a photo of her condition that left Dennis and Daisy in shock. Half of Bella’s face was bandaged, the eye that wasn’t covered was bruised, her arm was broken, her ribs were crushed, and there were deep welts all over both her arms. Dennis handed the phone back to Rika.
"Has she reported this to the police yet?" Dennis asked.
"I don’t know, but probably not yet. Um... could you guys please give a ride to the hospital? Would you?" Rika asked, looking visibly anxious after seeing her friend’s condition.
Dennis turned to look at Daisy, who simply shrugged with an expression that said, "It’s up to you, I’ll go along with whatever." Dennis thought for a mont. This way, Bella certainly wouldn’t be able to avoid him or Daisy since she was stuck in a hospital bed, but on the other hand, he wasn’t exactly looking forward to seeing her in that condition. After considering it for a few seconds, Dennis finally looked up at Rika.
"Alright. Let’s go to the hospital," Dennis said.
"Okay, thank you so much, Dennis, Daisy. Let go change real quick," Rika replied.
Rika imdiately ran back upstairs. Dennis picked up his car keys from the coffee table and stared pensively at Mr. Fudge, who was lying lazily on the sofa across from him, staring right back. Daisy leaned in close to Dennis.
"Are you okay?" Daisy asked.
"I’m fine... it’s just, even though I know exactly what kind of person Bella is, seeing her treated like that... it’s just uncomfortable. No one should be treated that way, no matter how bad their personality is," Dennis answered.
"Yeah... you’re right, honey," Daisy replied, hugging Dennis’s arm.
Not long after, Rika ca downstairs, and they imdiately set off for the hospital they had visited before, the one near Willow’s school. When they arrived, they headed straight for the ergency room, since Bella had said that was where she was. The three of them walked inside and searched for the cubicle where Bella was receiving first aid. But they suddenly froze in their tracks because they heard the voices of a young man and Bella.
"Go... please just leave... I don’t want to be with you anymore," Bella pleaded.
"Forgive , Bella. I just lost it, I wasn’t thinking... you know I’m never usually rough with you. We’re supposed to get married in two months, right? You’re really going to throw away a whole year just because of this one little mistake I made?" said the young man, who was Chris.
"Please... get out of here, Chris... just go," Bella replied weakly.
"No, Bella, I won’t. I can’t live without you. I won’t hang out with those people anymore, and I promise I won’t get mixed up in their business again. I’ll change for the better; we can even go to counseling if we have to. I’ll do whatever you want, please," Chris said, trying to coax her.
Rika marched straight toward the curtained cubicle in a fury. Dennis and Daisy were too late to stop her and were forced to follow. Rika yanked the curtain open, and Chris spun around, looking startled. He imdiately grabbed a smartphone off the table—it appeared to be Bella’s—and snatched her limp hand to unlock it using the fingerprint scanner. He seed to be scouring her chat history, his fingers scrolling up and down in a panic. Suddenly, his eyes widened and his hands began to shake. He turned to Bella, his expression shifting completely as if a mask had been ripped away to reveal his true face.
"You contacted your friend? How many tis do I have to tell you—don’t go hanging out with just anyone!" Chris scread, sounding possessed and completely indifferent to the fact that he was in a hospital.
"Hey... don’t you dare!" Rika shouted, stepping forward to snatch Bella’s phone out of Chris’s hand.
Seeing Rika’s defiance and anger, Chris—his face now looking utterly deranged—raised his hand, ready to strike her. Rika closed her eyes in resignation, knowing she couldn’t avoid the blow from soone as strong as him. But "thud!" Dennis caught Chris’s fist mid-air, while Daisy instantly pulled Rika back. Dennis glanced at Bella, who looked stunned and seed on the verge of tears at the sight of him. He turned back to Chris.
"Still rember ?" Dennis asked with a cynical smile.
"You... Bella’s childhood friend... of course I rember," Chris answered.
"I’m telling you to leave right now. If you don’t, things are going to get ugly," Dennis said, his face turning deadly serious as he glared at Chris, activating his killing instinct skill and directing it straight at him.
Chris, feeling the weight of Dennis’s killing instinct, imdiately yanked his hand free. He glared at Dennis, took one last look at Bella, and then walked out without saying another word. Dennis just snorted and gave a cynical smile.
"Smart move," Dennis said.
"Are you okay, Bel?"
Dennis turned to see Rika already at the bedside; Bella was sobbing in Rika’s arms while his wife, Daisy, stood right beside them. Dennis remained silent, rubbing the back of his head; he was honestly reluctant to even look at Bella in such a helpless state. Then,
"I’m sorry... I’m so sorry... sorry," Bella stamred, apologizing to no one in particular.
Dennis stayed quiet and just watched her, but suddenly Bella turned her gaze toward him and said the exact sa thing.
"Fine. Now, can you tell us what’s actually going on? And whose baby did you leave at my doorstep?" Dennis asked, getting straight to the point and keeping his voice firm.
"Dennis, can’t the questions wait? Look at the state Bella is in right now," Rika said, her voice snapping at him.
Dennis glanced over at Daisy, whose expression seed to say the sa thing even though she remained silent.
"Be patient, honey. Let do the talking. You’re heated and emotional right now, so just stay quiet," Daisy said, using telepathy.
"Fine, I get it," Dennis replied in his head, folding his arms.
Then, they all fell silent, and the room grew still until the only thing audible was the steady beep of the EKG machine. Bella glanced at Dennis, who was looking away, clearly annoyed. She finally opened her trembling mouth.
"It’s okay, Rika. I really do need to tell them. I’ll tell you both everything... Dennis... Daisy," Bella said, struggling to sit up.
Rika helped Bella sit up by raising the head of the bed slightly. Bella then turned to look at Daisy, who stood beside Rika with a faint smile. After that, she glanced over at Dennis, who was standing with his arms folded across his chest, staring toward the cubicle curtain. She gave a small nod to Rika before opening her mouth again.
"So, here’s the story," Bella said, beginning her tale.
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