"Mom...." Priya called out as she pat her mom's hair gently. "Priya... you are back." Clara said as she embraced her daughter after jumping off the couch.
"How are you dear? How is everything? C'mon, have a seat." Clara pulled Priya to seat beside her after their hug. " Oh sorry... you should be starving right, let me get you something to eat." Clara said quickly as she rushed into the kitchen.
Priya also stood up following her mom a few steps behind and she smiled seeing how her mother behaved.
"Here... have some."Clara scoped a spoon of pudding and brought it to Priya's lips. Priya opened her mouth wholeheartedly as she enjoyed her favorite pudding with a satisfied smile on her face.
They proceeded to the dining and Clara continued to feed Priya until she was filled.
" Mom, how is everyone back at home? Peter...dad, I think I'll come visit sometime, I miss them so much." Priya said cheerfully as she washed the dish with her mom by the side.
"They are doing well. I'm concerned about you Priya... how are you feeling? I heard you are sick." Clara asked with concern on her face as she touched Priya's forehead before checking her temperature.
"Don't worry mum, it was just a little fever." Priya assured Clara as they both went out of the kitchen.
_________
The next day came in the blink of an eye and Monica sluggishly got up from her bed and went to the shower. When she was through, she went downstairs to see the whole house already seated for breakfast.
'Looks like I'm the sleepy one now huh...' Monica said to herself.
"Morning mom,morning dad... Chris, Max good morning." Monica greeted as she kissed her parents on the cheek before taking her seat close to Chris. The sun pouring in through the windows, down on their face, reflected peace and satisfaction as everyone had a calm expression on their faces.
This should be the best breakfast in 5 years as they never sat together without any form of hostility in the air. "Aunt! Uncle!"
The Mitchell family all turned around to see Jenis in an orange T-shirt followed by a bulky man in all black. "Jenis! Good to see you..." Sam replied enthusiastically.
"Denis... long time no see..." Chris said as he shook hands with the bulky man in all black who only responded with a nod.
Denis and Jenis were identical twins who only resemble in their facial appearance. Jenis, who was the eldest was quite slim, but muscular at the same time. He is the carefree one among them and always seen in bright outfit. Denis on the other hand, is the younger one among them. He's bulky and quite huge and always wear an expressionless face which matches his all black outfit.
Denis who was about to seat beside Monica was suddenly chunked to the next seat by Jenis who quickly took the seat.
"Hey beautiful.. you are looking fabulous this morning." Jenis said very close to Monica's ear but was forced to retract his head due the chills he felt from across. By this time, breakfast has already been served so without further ado, they all dug in.
After breakfast, they all went to the garden and sat under the refreshing morning sun.
Mr Mitchell took a sip of tea and set it down with his eyes locked on Chris. "General Ahmed was rushed to the hospital late last night." Mr Mitchell said with his gaze still on Chris.
"The Benjones stole a contract with foreign investors from us and the company's stock value has been dropping steadily since last night." He continued.
Monica and Bella both wore a grave expression seeing the direction they were heading too.'Things are getting really serious.' they both thought.
"He has decided to attack."
"And he decided to take things slow." Jenis added after Max. He at least wasn't smiling at this time to show how severe the matter was.
"Andrew was seen at the bar last night." Denis finally spoke after taking a sip of his tea.
"Isn't that normal??" Bella asked. " It isn't a shocker anymore for Andrew to be seen at a bar anymore. After all, he was known for his habits so why was it brought up? she thought.
"He was seen with an Aari." Denis added. all their expressions turned grave except for the emotionless Denis and Bella together with Monica who were greatly surprised.
It slipped their minds that the Aari's and the Benjones were already a family now due to the engagement of Marco with General Ahmed's daughter.
'Oh no... My heartthrob.' Bella screamed inwardly.
"I didn't do it." Chris spoke up all of a sudden.
"We know you didn't." Mr Mitchell said sarcastically.
"Believe him dad, he's not like that." Monica spoke up which only earned a heartless chuckle from Mr Mitchell.
"Dad... our Chris is back. He has always been there and believe me when I say he's innocent." Max spoke.
Mr Mitchell looked like he finally believed as he regained his composure as the atmosphere turned silent.
"He better be." he said after a long while.
"Chris just sat by the side with regret and pain on his face.He felt so bad knowing this is how his father thought of him. But who could he blame? He brought it upon himself.
"Does Adam knows of the collaboration between Andrew and the Aari?" Bella asked. The atmosphere remained silent before a mutter came from Monica.
"I don't think so." she said softly.
"Well, we can only hope nothing goes bad during this period. We are close to the truth in our investigation so let's hope the remaining six days will be peaceful." Max said as he got up and leave with the twins following behind.
At the hospital, Silas just woke up to see his father by the side of his bed. "Dad..." he called out softly.
"Where is mom?" he asked after doing a quick scan of the ward.
"She's with general. He fell sick last night." Adam replied with an emotionless voice.
"Oh..." and so the ward became quiet.
"Um... so why are you here dad?" He asked hesitantly.