"How the hell do you not know what Jedrick was up to, Rick? He almost got Marcus killed!" Jonathan's furious voice tore through the phone as he confronted Rick.
This wasn't just an accident—it was a calculated move. Jedrick had planned everything, ensuring Marcus would be left incapacitated. With Marcus out of the picture, Jedrick had a clear path to take control.
Jonathan's breath ca shallow as he processed the weight of the situation.
"You need to be careful, Rick. Jedrick keeping secrets from you is a bad sign," he warned, his grip on the phone tightening.
He had already suspected sothing was off from Rick's absence, but this call only confird it. And now, more than ever, he needed to make sure Rick stayed protected.
"I will," Rick replied, his tone unreadable before abruptly ending the call.
Jonathan exhaled, the burden on his shoulders growing heavier. Marcus had been targeted—sothing they had anticipated, but never expected it to be this brutal.
"What's wrong? Why do you look so restless?"
Jonathan turned to see Erna walking into the room, concern evident in her expression. She had heard his raised voice and knew sothing was wrong. She already sensed his distress after what happened to Marcus, but now, seeing his pale, tense face, her worry deepened.
She stepped closer, pressing a glass of water into his hands. "Here, drink this."
Without a word, Jonathan took a few sips, his mind racing. He needed to think clearly. Jedrick's movents were becoming more erratic, more dangerous. Even Rick, soone who should have been closest to him, was being kept in the dark.
Erna gently rubbed his back in an attempt to soothe him. "I called Nancy this morning. She said Marcus has woken up."
Jonathan's head snapped up, surprise flashing across his features. But just as quickly, his expression dimd, shadows settling in his eyes.
He wasn't ready to face Marcus—not with the sa confidence and ease as before. Not after what he had just uncovered.
"Jonathan… are you sure there's nothing you want to tell ?" Erna asked softly, a last shred of hope in her voice.
She had expected him to brush her off, like always. But this ti, he didn't.
Instead, he looked her in the eyes and spoke the words that sent a chill down her spine.
"Jedrick caused Marcus's accident."
Erna froze, her breath hitching as the full weight of his revelation sank in.
"What are you saying?" Erna asked, still trying to process Jonathan's words.
Jonathan had convinced himself he could carry this truth alone, but with every passing mont, it beca harder to keep it buried.
"Yes," he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Everything I said is the truth. And the worst part? I have no damn idea what else he has planned for us."
The weight of it all pressed down on him, the realization sinking deeper.
"Marcus wanted revenge against Jedrick," Jonathan continued, his voice heavy. "But now… it seems impossible."
Erna's brows furrowed in confusion. "Revenge? For what?"
Her thoughts spiraled, grasping for answers.
Jonathan hesitated for a mont before finally revealing the truth—Jedrick's involvent with Marcus's sister.
Erna's breath caught. She had known Jonathan and Marcus had been friends since their university days, but Marcus's sister was never a topic of conversation. In all their social gatherings, she had been a silent ghost—never ntioned, never acknowledged.
Now, it all made sense. The indifference Marcus's family had shown toward their deceased daughter was deeply rooted in their rigid values.
"How many lives has Jedrick ruined?" Erna whispered, a surge of anger burning in her veins. The man destroyed lives without a second thought, as if it were second nature.
Jonathan's jaw tightened. "Maybe he was born broken. No matter how well you raise a child, in the end, it's up to them whether they choose the right path."
A heavy silence settled between them, the weight of Jedrick's actions pressing down like a storm waiting to break.
"We should tell Marcus" Erna said and he nodded despite being hesistant.
Marcus had the right to know everything that conspired and without wasting another mont they both drove to the hospital to et his friend.
****
[Evergreen Haven Foster Care]
"I'm sorry, Miss, but we can't disclose confidential details about any child," the receptionist said, darting an apologetic gaze toward Ella.
Though they had already declined her request over the phone, she had still decided to try her luck in person, hoping for a different outco.
Defeated, Ella exchanged a worried glance with Eveline. "Thank you," she said before they turned to leave the foster care building.
Outside, Eveline stopped her. "What should we do now?"
Ella scrolled through her phone and held it up, showing Eveline a ssage. "We need to go to this place," she said, leaving Eveline curious.
"Who is Martha?" Eveline asked, her curiosity evident in her gaze.
"The warden who used to work here," Ella responded.
"I knew they would turn us down, but I still wanted to try—just in case we could convince them. But I guess this is our only option left."
Eveline nodded in understanding, and soon they hailed a cab to the address. Thanks to Stefan, who had helped Ella find the woman's details and confird that she was still alive.
After her retirent, Martha dedicated her life to serving the gods. She was now a nun, spending her days preaching to people in the church.
Their car ca to a stop in front of the church, and the girls quickly made their way inside.
"Sister Martha?" Ella called out, drawing the attention of an elderly woman, likely in her eighties. The nun's wrinkled eyes landed on the girls, and a gentle smile spread across her face.
"Yes, that's ," the old woman said, her voice calm. Her confirmation brought a wave of relief over Ella and Eveline.
***
[Inside the Church Office]
"Please, have a seat," Martha said, gesturing toward the chairs in front of her desk. Eveline and Ella complied, settling into their respective seats.
"How can I help you?" the nun asked, her kind eyes observing the two young won.
Ella hesitated for a mont, fidgeting with her hands before finally speaking. "We ca here to ask about a child nad Jedrick. He was later adopted by Gerald Miller."
Martha's brows furrowed as she searched her mory, her eyes narrowing in thought. Then, as realization struck, her expression changed, and her eyes lit up.
"Jedrick," she murmured. "The baby I found outside the foster care's door."
Her words left both Eveline and Ella stunned.
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