Audrey's eyelids fluttered open, a disorienting haze of white walls and beeping machines filling her vision. The sharp, sterile scent of antiseptic was overwhelming. She blinked slowly, struggling to clear her blurred sight, trying to grasp her surroundings.
"Where am I? And where is Godmother?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Panic began to creep up her chest, tightening with every passing second. She tried to sit up, but dizziness made the room spin uncontrollably. Clutching the edge of the bed, she called out again, more urgently this time.
"Godmother!" Her voice cracked with desperation. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, but the effort left her disoriented. Instantly, two nurses rushed to her side, their expressions a mix of concern and professionalism.
"Let me go! Where is my mother?" Audrey's voice rose into a frantic cry. Her tears blurred her vision as she struggled against their gentle but firm grip. The nurses carefully guided her back onto the bed, one preparing a syringe with practiced calm. Audrey barely registered the needle before darkness pulled her under.
When she woke again, the room was dimly lit, and Rosaline was seated beside her, her face streaked with tears. The sight of Rosaline's sorrow sent a sharp pang of fear through Audrey, jolting her upright. Her heart pounded wildly as she looked around.
"What happened to Godmother? Is she dead? Did my mother die?" Audrey's voice was a ragged whisper, choked with sobs. She grasped Rosaline's hands, her eyes pleading for answers. Rosaline only hugged her tighter, her own tears falling onto Audrey's shoulder.
"I'm just relieved that you're safe," Rosaline said, her voice breaking. "I was so scared."
Audrey pulled away slightly, searching Rosaline's face for the truth. "Please, just tell me. Where is Godmother?"
Before Rosaline could respond, the doctors arrived, and she stepped aside, letting them examine Audrey. They confirmed that she was physically stable aside from a minor head injury, which was now bandaged. But Audrey's mind was a storm of worry.
Ignoring the dizziness that swirled around her, Audrey pushed herself off the bed. Clutching her stomach and holding her head with the other hand, she staggered towards the door, with Rosaline trailing closely behind.
Navigating the stark, fluorescent-lit hallways, they finally reached a room at the end of the corridor. Audrey peered through the glass and saw Godmother lying still, her body connected to an array of tubes and wires. The sight was like a knife to her heart. Overcome with grief, she crumpled to the floor, her sobs echoing in the quiet hallway. Rosaline knelt beside her, her arms a comforting presence as she rocked Audrey gently.
"It's going to be okay," Rosaline murmured, but her voice was thin with uncertainty. Audrey's sobs grew louder, her body trembling with raw, uncontrollable emotion.
A moment later, a doctor approached, and Audrey struggled to her feet, desperation written across her face. "Doctor, please, what's happening to my Godmother?" she pleaded.
The doctor's face was grave as he spoke. "Your Godmother has brain cancer. She suffered a seizure that caused her to faint, and the accident worsened her condition. We're doing everything we can, but it's a critical situation."
Audrey felt as if the ground had been yanked from beneath her. She swayed, and Rosaline steadied her. "It's all my fault," Audrey whispered, guilt lacing her words. "If I had just waited…"
Suddenly, the beeping of Godmother's machine grew frantic. The doctor's pager went off, and he rushed into the room. Audrey and Rosaline watched through the glass as the medical team surrounded Godmother. The alarm blared, and Godmother's body began convulsing. Audrey's heart felt like it was being torn apart. Tears streamed down her face, and her entire body shook with fear.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctors managed to stabilize Godmother. Their collective sigh of relief was faint but palpable. Audrey pressed her hand against the glass, her heart a chaotic mix of hope and dread.
"Please, Godmother, don't leave me," she whispered, her voice breaking as she clung to Rosaline.
Diana Wolf paced back and forth in her office, her mind reeling with a mix of anger and humiliation. The incident that had unfolded previously had left her seething with rage. The walls seemed to close in on her, and her thoughts were consumed by the embarrassment she felt. Each step she took was punctuated by the sharp click of her heels on the marble floor, echoing the fury inside her.
"I will make them pay for this," Diana shouted, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. Her frustration boiled over, and she swept her hand across her desk, sending papers and office supplies tumbling to the floor. The once orderly workspace was now a chaotic mess, mirroring the turmoil inside her mind.
Her breathing was ragged as she grabbed her phone, desperately seeking any distraction from the invasive thoughts. She navigated to the news section, her eyes scanning the headlines with increasing urgency. As the screen filled with the latest updates, Diana's face hardened. The sight of her rivals being publicly exposed only fueled her anger further.
"Good for them," she spat, her voice laced with venom. The thought of them enjoying even a fleeting moment of triumph only made her resolve stronger. "Now I'll make sure to finish them off."
Diana's hands shook slightly as she dialed a number she knew all too well. Her emotions were a tempest of vindictiveness and cold calculation. She pressed the phone to her ear, her mind racing through the plan she had in mind. The dial tone seemed to stretch on forever, each ring amplifying her growing impatience.
When the voice on the other end finally answered, Diana's tone was steely and commanding. "I need you to take care of someone for me," she said, her voice smooth yet tinged with menace. "And I need it done quickly, without anyone noticing. Understood?"
There was a brief pause, and Diana could almost hear the person on the other end processing her request. The confirmation came, and Diana's lips twisted into a satisfied smirk. She could almost see the wheels of her plan starting to turn, each detail falling into place with chilling precision.
"Perfect. My threats will be gone very soon," Diana said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. The finality in her tone was unmistakable. She ended the call with a decisive click, her mind already racing ahead to the next steps.