Three days.
That's how long my brain wouldn't rest trying to figure out what happened. My therapist did what she could to recreate scenes that I remembered. Most of them were flashes but that was better than not knowing.
My family was told to hold off for a while because this was something I needed to do. I was getting better and I could walk, something that was hard at first because of my apparent stroke.
The doctors were lying to me, and they knew that I knew they were lying, but what could I do, it's not like I could.
"aaaahhhh" I groaned as a stupid asshole passed me with a cigar.
How could he not tell that this was a hospital, some people were inconsiderate. I was about to curse at him when flash images of broken pieces came to my mind.
The smell of smoke must have triggered them because the flashes contained snippets of burnt meat everywhere, it was like someone had been blown to bits. It was not just a memory, it felt real like I had been there, like I witnessed it, good thing I could walk well because I went to the restrooms to clear my head.
Why did all that feel real, and why did my family not tell me about what got me in this place? I had to find out because there was only so much they could hide from me.
I was worried, about myself, my family, my company, my debts to jay, the almanac, Jia and most importantly I was worried about Lia.
Extending my stay in this hospital was not going to do me any good. besides, it was not fair that I was eating hospital food when I could get better food at home, I love myself too much. I had to go home, it was time I accounted for my lost memories.
I didn't even say goodbye to my therapist, she would deduce my leaving herself. Getting out of the hospital I hailed a cab home, the only downside was the paparazzi, they're so annoying. Thankfully the cab driver managed to get out of there fast. Those people were asking me questions that I had myself.
"why were you hospitalized?"
"What happened to you?"
"We can see you're healthy, where is your girlfriend or was she just another fling?"
"Why are your parents not here to take you home?"
"are you sneaking from the hospital?"
"Sir Alex, where is your girlfriend?"
"This is going to make a good story. Did she cheat on you?"
"was she just here for your wealth?"
"is she a gold digger?"
Goodness, I didn't even know how to start answering them, not that I ever did. All I wanted was to get home and get answers and this time they wouldn't lie.
*****************
Third-party pov.
His exit from the hospital was obvious because the news was on every channel. Alex was a big shot everywhere so that for him was normal. He was a desperate man who would do anything just to stop feeling crazy.
It was hard not to, especially when everybody had a different backstory to his accident.
After Ryan had been sent away by the therapist along with the family of Alex, they had to prepare for the inevitable, but no amount of preparation could dismiss the possibility that Lia was dead.
Nobody wanted to think of it, nobody wanted to accept the possibility and nobody wanted to see Alex break down.
For that very reason, they had done DNA tests on the remains that were found on the scene, it was done so discretely because the police were not supposed to know of the involvement of the Garners.
But even then the DNA tests proved nothing.
The body was burnt to crisp.
There was no knowing whether it was Lia or Jenny, with their hope being Jenny because heaven knows Alex was always a mess without Lia.
She had been the only one he listened to, as if she were his lifeline, the only precious thing hed held on to.
But now the time had come, and someone had to tell him.
Ryan was too scared.
Lexi was too sad.
Mrs. Garner had gone bonkers since the hospitalization of her son.
Mr. Garner was just breathing.
Nobody could tell what was going on in his mind. So when all eyes turned to him to be the one to talk to Alex, he humorlessly chuckled and sadly asked, how did we even get here.
Just as Lexi was about to prowl the possibilities, the man of the hour arrived.
And boy was he furious.
*************
Jia pov (surprise!!)
Have you ever tortured someone? Better yet, have you ever wanted to torture someone so slowly till the brink of death and then left them to recover only to resume the torture again? have you ever broken someone and forced them to act as if nothing happened?
That shit messes with someone's mind and is not healthy for anyone. But this kind of torture was one that ensured that my people were loyal to me, Jillian James. If you haven't tortured someone, well I have, and it was fun, hearing their screams of pain and agony while electrocuting them.
Watching them squirm at the sight of you, watching them wet their pant jut at the mention of your name. my surgical blades were my favorite because with them t was easier to open the skin, literally any part of the skin, and watch the blood pour and expose the wound to worms, only to disinfect it later.
It was always epic, always. I mean their screams are my favorite genre of music and y'know just when they are about to lose consciousness from excess bleeding, I electrocute them and wake them up only to start over again.
Think of it this way, the human body is a canvas, but the bodies of the people I tortured was a real masterpiece when I was done with them. This is because I always made sure to destroy them mentally to the point that they would want to die, but even then they had to seek my permission before they killed themselves.
They needed my permission to log out of their lives, how sweet that was. Having absolute control over a person, trapping them in their own minds and of course, after torturing them I never let the free.
They were my toys and I liked my toys clean.
All they had to do was just eat, because I fed them good food, take a shower, and remain available for when I would be in the mood to play. The kind of torture I practiced was the kind that was adventurous.
Sometimes I made them fuck each other because what else would they do with their sexual desires? I am a caring person who knows and understands the human body so well.
They had to do everything I said because if they didn't, I would torture them for 36hours without end. I had enough man-power to do that. Alex did not like what I did, but then whatever got the work done right?
My torture methods forced loyalty to my people and nobody would ever think of betraying me.
But
Ryan
Did.
Six years, that's how long it had been since I saw the last of my family. When that stupid Disneyland trip failed, my reputation was at stake and I had to do something. So while my parents and jenny blew up, I ordered Ryan to kill Lia because she would be a pain in my ass.
She would be used as a weak point in my life and people would exploit that, but I did not have time to keep worrying about a family member. And for six years I thought Ryan had followed my instructions and finished off my sister because I couldn't do it myself.
At sixteen and the little one at twelve, I couldn't kill, but I had enough power to have someone do the job for me. The bastard did not do his job and I wanted to know why. I had to know how Amelia survived. Because only then would I be able to make peace with my past, I sure hoped that for the sake of Ryan, it wasn't love.
Love always had a price.
Love, I hated that term.
****