"Lionel.., have you heard from Riley? We've been trying to call her but we can't reach her line." queried Kate anxiously on the other side of the line on hearing Lionel's voice.
"Calm down first Kate." he sighed.
"Okay..." she replied with a sigh.
"Okay. Yes I have heard from her. Actually, she has been admitted to the hospital."
"What..?! What happened?" they queried anxiously.
"It's a long story Kate, will tell you girls later." he uttered dully
"Okay. So how is she now?" questioned Nancy.
"Well, she is out of danger now." he muttered with relief.
"So have you been able to contact her parents?" inquired Loretta.
There was a long silence on the phone. Lionel stood quietly not knowing what to say.
"Hello Lionel..? Are you still on the line?" queried Kate on the line.
"Uhm..., yes..." he murmured.
"What's going on Lionel? Why were you suddenly quiet?" she questioned.
"Uhm..., it's about Riley's parents." he slowly murmured.
"What about them?" asked Loretta anxiously.
"Uhm.., her dad was involved in an accident and was rushed to the hospital but they lost him. Her mother on hearing the news collapsed and she is still unconscious."
"What..?!" they exclaimed in unison.
"Oh...God...How will Riley take this news?" asked Kate, concerned.
"Well..." he was about to say something but was interrupted by Loretta.
"We've coming over now." she hastily uttered.
"No, no..Loretta. It's already late. It's not safe for you girls to be moving around this late. I'll take care of her. You girls can come over tomorrow." he uttered, trying to convince them.
They first hesitated but finally gave in.
"Okay.., if you say so. Then...."
Lionel was half way through the corridor when he remembered that he had left his wallet in Riley's ward.
"Oh..." he murmured and turned back still on the phone with Kate and her friends.
RILEY'S WARD
Zed was about to inject Riley with a deadly drug when he heard foot steps approaching the ward. He quickly went to the door and pecked through. He saw Lionel heading towards the ward. He looked through the ward for an escape route but found none.
"I have no other options" he murmured to himself and rushed out of the ward.
Lionel noticed him ran out from Riley's ward.
"Hey...." he exclaimed
"Will call you later girls.." he hastily added.
"Lionel.. wait..." but before Kate could say anymore, he hanged up.
Lionel went after Zed but couldn't catch up with him. Suddenly, it downed on him that Riley was alone.
"Riley..., oh shit." he cursed underneath his breath and rushed back to Riley's ward.
"Riley...,Riley..." he called rushing to Riley's bed.
He touched her face and hand to see if she was still fine.
"Are you Okay? I won't forgive myself if anything happens to you Riley." he murmured to Riley who was still unconscious.
He looked up and pressed the bell to call in a nurse to help check if Riley's health was still stable. Like a flash of lighting, a nurse rushed in. She checked Riley's pulses and temperature.
"She is okay. she just need to rest." uttered the nurse.
"Okay. Thank you nurse." he uttered, feeling relived.
"Welcome." the nurse replied with a smile.
He sat beside her and took his hands into hers in deep thoughts.
"I will be at my post sir. You can call me if you need anything." said the nurse, took her things and headed to the door.
"Excuse me." called Lionel.
"Yes.." replied the nurse and turned to Lionel.
"Uhm.., did you by any chance see a suspicious person around?" he queried.
"No sir.." answered the nurse, a little puzzled.
"okay.., thank you." he replied and turned back to Riley as the nurse left the ward.
HOLLANDS MANSION
Mad. Flora couldn't bear the news of Clifford's death. Her health deteriorated rapidly.
"Are you okay, Mum?" asked Lian as he watched his mother grimace in pain.
"My heart Lian.." she replied, holding her chest.
Lian quickly rushed to her Mother's end and held her to sit down.
"Nanny.., please call the Doctor." he replied anxiously.
"Okay, let's get her to her room first." she uttered.
"Okay, I will do that. Just call the doctor." he answered and took his mother to her room. He put her in bed and sat beside her.
"I knew you will be like this mum..." he muttered to himself as he sat starring at her on the bed.
Just then, Mrs. Anastasia entered with the Doctor.
"Doctor, you're here. Can you please check on her?" queried Lian.
"Sure..., let me." uttered the Doctor as he went over to Mad. Flora's bed to check on her. Within few minutes, he was done.
"How is she doctor?" questioned Lian
"I'm afraid, she is not in a good state. I'm afraid what the outcome will be."
Lian looked over to her mother, stunned.
"Is there nothing we can do about this?" he queried.
"For now, I can't think of any. Let's just pray and hope. I will take my leave now." he uttered and turned to leave.
"Thank you doctor."
*************
Riley woke up to see Lionel's head beside her on the bed. She grimace, trying to sit upright on the bed. Lionel felt her movement and woke up.
"Up already? How are you feeling?" he queried.
"I'm fine. How is my mum doing?" she inquired with a gloomy look.
"She is fine." replied Lionel encouragingly.
"Can I go and see her?" she requested.
"Sure, let me get you a wheelchair." he replied and went out to get her a wheelchair.
Few minutes later, he returned with one and helped Riley to sit in.
"Thank you." she replied, slightly smiling.
Lionel nodded with a smile and they left to Rosita's ward.
ROSITA'S WARD
They got to Rosita's ward and Lionel slowly pushed the door opened. Tears streamed down Riley's eyes on seeing how her mother laid unconscious on the bed. Lionel pushed her closer to her mother's bed.
"Mum.." she called amidst tears as she neared her bed.
She took her mother's hand into hers.
"Your little girl is here mum....,can you hear me?" she uttered wiping the tears away from her eyes.
"Do you know mum...Dad left us.." she replied sobbing.
Lionel patted her on the shoulder to console her.
"It's just you and me now mum.. You can't also just leave me here like that. You have to wake up mum.." she uttered sobbing.
She couldn't bear the pain anymore. She turned to Lionel, hugged him and broke down sobbing helplessly.