His wife had been traumatized after that incident which was why they also left city M so she could forget those awful memories but it didn't help much as she would sometimes fall sick, after dreaming of her dead brother and his wife. And the doctor feared that she might develop mental illness.
" It was my fault... all my fault...poor child. my poor little pearl. " the woman sobbed silently and both son and father sighed.
Jack stood up from the hospital bed and sighed again as his father was now the one hugging her. He was about to summon the nurse when his phone started ringing and his father gestured him to pick it outside while he calls the nurse.
" S..Sir, you have to return this instant... I.. I think miss is in trouble.." His assistant's worried voice sounded from the other end and Jack knitted his brows, knowing well who he is speaking about. He had just communicated with Clara yesterday and she was alright.
" What happened?" He asked with a small frown, knowing she was still in the province.
" I was passing by her apartment's building this morning... When there was suddenly an ambush... I stopped to take a look, then heard that a lady that has twins was attacked. . . you once mentioned to me that she has twins, right? "
" What!?" Jack's pupils dilated and he stood up with a jerk. " It's Lara, what happened to her? and the twins, are they alright? Where are they?" He asked frantically as he paced in front of the ward.
" I think the attackers left already. and they were all taken away. I don't know anything else.... the police had already left." The assistant stammered from the other end and Jack sighed exasperatedly then muttered a thanks and cut off the call.
He hurriedly scrolled through his contacts list and stopped at Clara's number, contemplating whether to inform her or not then sighed again and shoved the phone back into his pocket then walked back inside the ward.
" Dad, I have to go back to city M. something urgent came up," he said hurriedly then glanced at his mother who was now sleeping peacefully on the bed, probably due to the injection the nurse had given her.
His father's brows knitted then he sighed. " It's alright, I'll inform your mother when she wakes up..." He nodded.
" Wait." He suddenly stopped him then turned away from the bed to face him." about your engagement, we'll start preparing everything before you return... after your mother got better."
Jack looked down and sighed heavily then nodded slowly without giving a reply and walked out of the ward.
********
" Richard, don't you think we should tell her to go back already?" Clara's mother sighed as her eyes were fixed on the woman who had been raining insults on her daughter since morning.
Her husband sighed helplessly as his gaze was also fixed on his mother who had dropped a lot of dirty clothes for Clara to wash. Since the woman came three days ago, the house had not been at peace as she would scoff at the sight of anything unusual and put the blame on his daughter in the end. " Let it be Anna, you see... Clara does not mind. She had been a strong child since she was little. She can put up with it, " he said and continued watering the vegetables.
The woman sighed again as she couldn't break her gaze from the old woman. She dropped down the watering can in her hands and walked toward them.
" Leave it to me, dear, I'll wash the rest, " she said softly and grabbed a cloth which was in Clara's hand.
Clara held tight to the cloth and laughed nonchalantly then shook her head. " It's alright Mum, I'm almost done... See, " she said softly while her eyes darted to the scary woman whose scrutinizing gaze was fixed on her.
" Get up Anna, let her do it. . . this little witch. I know this would eventually happen if she returns. Now both you and my granddaughter are sick, " the old woman scoffed and Clara sighed inside.
" Mother stop it already. If you keep on doing this, she might also fall sick." Clara's mother stared at the woman and sighed helplessly. She snatched the clothes from Clara's hand after giving a look then commanded her to go inside the house while the old woman scoffed again.
Clara pouted and slowly stood up after getting a glare from her mother. Her gaze darted to her father who had stopped what he was doing and watching them with a worried expression and she smiled lightly then walked inside the house.
After returning from Carl's place three days ago, she had suddenly met the woman at home just as her sister predicted and regretted she didn't follow her sister's advice to go to Maya's place.
She sighed again as her thoughts went back to yesterday when Maya and Ken also went back to the city.
Ken had said that his family wanted to meet Maya and they had to go back hurriedly. Now, she was left alone, in the clutches of her grandmother and no Maya around to hide in her house, with only her sister to comfort her while her parents watched helplessly. ' Argh! I should have followed Carl back to the city." She yawned and sauntered inside their bedroom.
" Big Sis..., are you alright?" Lily asked softly as she played with the small hairpin in her hands.
" Y..yeaH, I'm f..fine, " Clara replied sluggishly and locked their door to make sure the woman doesn't barge in then slumped down on her bed.
Lily watched her with a sigh and put the hairpin back in her hair then retrieved a small box from her pillow. " I managed to take it while she was not looking... Here."
" Oh, thank you." Clara took the box from her hand and smiled gratefully. It was the box Derek had given her, she was about to open it yesterday when the old woman suddenly barged into their room and took it away. She was lucky that she had hidden the one Carl had given to her, which contained a diamond bracelet.