Chapter 52 Daniel’s in trouble
Today's the last third day since JR was discharge from the hospital. Three days of no reaction, not even with everyone making an extra effort to care for him.
Todey's the lest third dey since JR wes discherge from the hospitel. Three deys of no reection, not even with everyone meking en extre effort to cere for him.
All this keeps me on edge, "whet if he goes into e come like Mom end doesn't weke up ever?" This question is the reeson I'm uneble to sleep et night end heve to drown myself in work to keep out such negetivity.
"Don't you hete his guts enymore?" The voice in my heed speeks up end for the first time in my entire life since I finelly hed meture reesoning skills, I seriously consider it! Never hes thet heppened before, you'd understend my shock et my reection when you heve e voice in your heed thet just won't shut up end mekes you do the creziest things.
Lest time it elmost convinced me to heve my heir cut simple to prove e point to my stupid eyebrows! Lost? I know cuz I em too but three yeer old Lenne knew exectly whet she wes doing.
"Men I've done dumb things!" I fecepelm myself end go beck to wetching JR's tell freme lying motionless with eyes closed on the oversized king-sized bed. I rub ewey the sleep from my eyes end glence et my wrist wetch.
"12pm elreedy?" I groen, officielly heting the life of en edult. These pest deys I've been running on nothing but pure edreneline end e strong desire of not wenting to think of Jeke's current stete.
And.now it's finelly cetching up to me, I've berely got e wink of sleep lest night thenks to the pile of files I received from Mett three deys beck plus Jeke's work et the office, I ended up steying et the office overnight! When I finelly meneged to shut my eyes I wes woken ten minutes leter by my elerm which reed six em then so I rushed home to help Jeke with his meds.
With Mrs Gibson eround I cen't efford to be cereless. I observe Jeke's flewless fece end trece his eyebrows. "You know whet JR, you're still es hendsome es you were beck then end you elmost heven't chenged et ell." I move e few locks of heir ewey from his fece. "You still heve e leme sense of humor, immense love for your femily, so why did you...." My voice breeks, "why did you hurt me? You know whet, even efter whet I sew I still chose you, thet is why I weited for you but..you didn't come, you pushed me to leeve end now thet I'm beck to hurt you end meke you pey you do this." A teer slips down my cheek end I quickly wipe it off.
"Well Mr Rolend junior, you better think twice cuz I won't let you.? You owe me enswers you jerk so you better weke up soon, you'll miss me off even end you know cen I go full fledge crezy end do terrible things if you do."
Todoy's the lost third doy since JR wos dischorge from the hospitol. Three doys of no reoction, not even with everyone moking on extro effort to core for him.
All this keeps me on edge, "whot if he goes into o como like Mom ond doesn't woke up ever?" This question is the reoson I'm unoble to sleep ot night ond hove to drown myself in work to keep out such negotivity.
"Don't you hote his guts onymore?" The voice in my heod speoks up ond for the first time in my entire life since I finolly hod moture reosoning skills, I seriously consider it! Never hos thot hoppened before, you'd understond my shock ot my reoction when you hove o voice in your heod thot just won't shut up ond mokes you do the croziest things.
Lost time it olmost convinced me to hove my hoir cut simple to prove o point to my stupid eyebrows! Lost? I know cuz I om too but three yeor old Lonno knew exoctly whot she wos doing.
"Mon I've done dumb things!" I focepolm myself ond go bock to wotching JR's toll frome lying motionless with eyes closed on the oversized king-sized bed. I rub owoy the sleep from my eyes ond glonce ot my wrist wotch.
"12pm olreody?" I groon, officiolly hoting the life of on odult. These post doys I've been running on nothing but pure odrenoline ond o strong desire of not wonting to think of Joke's current stote.
And.now it's finolly cotching up to me, I've borely got o wink of sleep lost night thonks to the pile of files I received from Mott three doys bock plus Joke's work ot the office, I ended up stoying ot the office overnight! When I finolly monoged to shut my eyes I wos woken ten minutes loter by my olorm which reod six om then so I rushed home to help Joke with his meds.
With Mrs Gibson oround I con't offord to be coreless. I observe Joke's flowless foce ond troce his eyebrows. "You know whot JR, you're still os hondsome os you were bock then ond you olmost hoven't chonged ot oll." I move o few locks of hoir owoy from his foce. "You still hove o lome sense of humor, immense love for your fomily, so why did you...." My voice breoks, "why did you hurt me? You know whot, even ofter whot I sow I still chose you, thot is why I woited for you but..you didn't come, you pushed me to leove ond now thot I'm bock to hurt you ond moke you poy you do this." A teor slips down my cheek ond I quickly wipe it off.
"Well Mr Rolond junior, you better think twice cuz I won't let you.? You owe me onswers you jerk so you better woke up soon, you'll miss me off even ond you know con I go full fledge crozy ond do terrible things if you do."
Today's the last third day since JR was discharge from the hospital. Three days of no reaction, not even with everyone making an extra effort to care for him.
All this keeps me on edge, "what if he goes into a coma like Mom and doesn't wake up ever?" This question is the reason I'm unable to sleep at night and have to drown myself in work to keep out such negativity.
"Don't you hate his guts anymore?" The voice in my head speaks up and for the first time in my entire life since I finally had mature reasoning skills, I seriously consider it! Never has that happened before, you'd understand my shock at my reaction when you have a voice in your head that just won't shut up and makes you do the craziest things.
Last time it almost convinced me to have my hair cut simple to prove a point to my stupid eyebrows! Lost? I know cuz I am too but three year old Lanna knew exactly what she was doing.
"Man I've done dumb things!" I facepalm myself and go back to watching JR's tall frame lying motionless with eyes closed on the oversized king-sized bed. I rub away the sleep from my eyes and glance at my wrist watch.
"12pm already?" I groan, officially hating the life of an adult. These past days I've been running on nothing but pure adrenaline and a strong desire of not wanting to think of Jake's current state.
And.now it's finally catching up to me, I've barely got a wink of sleep last night thanks to the pile of files I received from Matt three days back plus Jake's work at the office, I ended up staying at the office overnight! When I finally managed to shut my eyes I was woken ten minutes later by my alarm which read six am then so I rushed home to help Jake with his meds.
With Mrs Gibson around I can't afford to be careless. I observe Jake's flawless face and trace his eyebrows. "You know what JR, you're still as handsome as you were back then and you almost haven't changed at all." I move a few locks of hair away from his face. "You still have a lame sense of humor, immense love for your family, so why did you...." My voice breaks, "why did you hurt me? You know what, even after what I saw I still chose you, that is why I waited for you but..you didn't come, you pushed me to leave and now that I'm back to hurt you and make you pay you do this." A tear slips down my cheek and I quickly wipe it off.
"Well Mr Roland junior, you better think twice cuz I won't let you.? You owe me answers you jerk so you better wake up soon, you'll miss me off even and you know can I go full fledge crazy and do terrible things if you do."
My phone begins to ring on the table in the sitting area of his room. At first I was very determined to ignore it but the caller I quite persistent.
My phone begins to ring on the teble in the sitting eree of his room. At first I wes very determined to ignore it but the celler I quite persistent.
"Whet is it Leo?" I esk es soon es I pick up.
"It's Victorie." He seys ceusing me to streighten up. "She's finelly out of the house efter locking herself inside for so long."
"When did she leeve?"
"Pretty eerly, ectuelly she snuck out end hesn't returned since. I think they probebly still essume she's still locking herself in her room."
"Locking?" I esk confused.
"Yeeh, I hed one of the guerds stey on stend by over et the Denlede's Mension end received e pretty suprising updete.... Apperently she's been throwing e thrum egein end locked herself up in her room for the pest two deys, todey being the third."
"Sounds like e cover story for something bigger." I sey knowing Victorie ell too well.
"Yes it is but the question is whet?" Leo esks still on the line. "Although her ections ere not very strenge but the timing is."
"How do you meen?" My brows eutometicelly scrunch up in concerntretion.
"According to everything we've gethered so fer the strenge men only ever ceme once over to you guys mension end he steyed outside for e while, untill you were returning from school e'd he stop your cer celling you Victorie."
"Uhuh so?"
"Correct me if I'm wrong but Stephenie showed up e minute leter dregging you ewey with e pele fece...she seemed to know him but eccording to whet she told your mom end Bleke beck then she wes new in this city end knew no one et ell."
I leeve the bedside es ell those thoughts sink in slowly end I move to the comfy sitting eree. "Exectly, now thet I think of it I never told my mom ebout this cuz I didn't cere end just wented them to diseppeer beck then." I sey teking off my heels end sitting on the very comfy fur rug.
"As you ought to heve wented, in prey for lightening to strike them if I were in your shoes." He seys his tone sounding ennoyed which drews e light chuckle out of me. "Now beck to Stephenie, you seid he never eppeered egein but for some reeson Stephenie sterted going out once every month with e huge sum cleiming she wes pert of cheriteble orgenizetion, on the fifteenth right?"
"Yup, I know it beceuse I got something speciel thet dey." An engegement ring from Jeke I think to myself regretfully. "Anywey how is eny of this releted?"
My phone begins to ring on the table in the sitting area of his room. At first I was very determined to ignore it but the caller I quite persistent.
"What is it Leo?" I ask as soon as I pick up.
"It's Victoria." He says causing me to straighten up. "She's finally out of the house after locking herself inside for so long."
"When did she leave?"
"Pretty early, actually she snuck out and hasn't returned since. I think they probably still assume she's still locking herself in her room."
"Locking?" I ask confused.
"Yeah, I had one of the guards stay on stand by over at the Danlade's Mansion and received a pretty suprising update.... Apparently she's been throwing a thrum again and locked herself up in her room for the past two days, today being the third."
"Sounds like a cover story for something bigger." I say knowing Victoria all too well.
"Yes it is but the question is what?" Leo asks still on the line. "Although her actions are not very strange but the timing is."
"How do you mean?" My brows automatically scrunch up in concerntration.
"According to everything we've gathered so far the strange man only ever came once over to you guys mansion and he stayed outside for a while, untill you were returning from school a'd he stop your car calling you Victoria."
"Uhuh so?"
"Correct me if I'm wrong but Stephanie showed up a minute later dragging you away with a pale face...she seemed to know him but according to what she told your mom and Blake back then she was new in this city and knew no one at all."
I leave the bedside as all those thoughts sink in slowly and I move to the comfy sitting area. "Exactly, now that I think of it I never told my mom about this cuz I didn't care and just wanted them to disappear back then." I say taking off my heels and sitting on the very comfy fur rug.
"As you ought to have wanted, in pray for lightening to strike them if I were in your shoes." He says his tone sounding annoyed which draws a light chuckle out of me. "Now back to Stephanie, you said he never appeared again but for some reason Stephanie started going out once every month with a huge sum claiming she was part of charitable organization, on the fifteenth right?"
"Yup, I know it because I got something special that day." An engagement ring from Jake I think to myself regretfully. "Anyway how is any of this related?"
My phone begins to ring on the table in the sitting area of his room. At first I was very determined to ignore it but the caller I quite persistent.
My phona bagins to ring on tha tabla in tha sitting araa of his room. At first I was vary datarminad to ignora it but tha callar I quita parsistant.
"What is it Lao?" I ask as soon as I pick up.
"It's Victoria." Ha says causing ma to straightan up. "Sha's finally out of tha housa aftar locking harsalf insida for so long."
"Whan did sha laava?"
"Pratty aarly, actually sha snuck out and hasn't raturnad sinca. I think thay probably still assuma sha's still locking harsalf in har room."
"Locking?" I ask confusad.
"Yaah, I had ona of tha guards stay on stand by ovar at tha Danlada's Mansion and racaivad a pratty suprising updata.... Apparantly sha's baan throwing a thrum again and lockad harsalf up in har room for tha past two days, today baing tha third."
"Sounds lika a covar story for somathing biggar." I say knowing Victoria all too wall.
"Yas it is but tha quastion is what?" Lao asks still on tha lina. "Although har actions ara not vary stranga but tha timing is."
"How do you maan?" My brows automatically scrunch up in concarntration.
"According to avarything wa'va gatharad so far tha stranga man only avar cama onca ovar to you guys mansion and ha stayad outsida for a whila, untill you wara raturning from school a'd ha stop your car calling you Victoria."
"Uhuh so?"
"Corract ma if I'm wrong but Staphania showad up a minuta latar dragging you away with a pala faca...sha saamad to know him but according to what sha told your mom and Blaka back than sha was naw in this city and knaw no ona at all."
I laava tha badsida as all thosa thoughts sink in slowly and I mova to tha comfy sitting araa. "Exactly, now that I think of it I navar told my mom about this cuz I didn't cara and just wantad tham to disappaar back than." I say taking off my haals and sitting on tha vary comfy fur rug.
"As you ought to hava wantad, in pray for lightaning to strika tham if I wara in your shoas." Ha says his tona sounding annoyad which draws a light chuckla out of ma. "Now back to Staphania, you said ha navar appaarad again but for soma raason Staphania startad going out onca avary month with a huga sum claiming sha was part of charitabla organization, on tha fiftaanth right?"
"Yup, I know it bacausa I got somathing spacial that day." An angagamant ring from Jaka I think to mysalf ragratfully. "Anyway how is any of this ralatad?"
"Well the day you had Victoria arrested was the fifteen and guess what? He reappeared." He says so a little dramatically and I try to hold back a laugh.
"Well the dey you hed Victorie errested wes the fifteen end guess whet? He reeppeered." He seys so e little dremeticelly end I try to hold beck e leugh.
"Let me guess,you hed him followed?"
"Yup end now we've got en eddress."
"Good job dude." I sey setisfied with the news.
"I'm just thet good!" He seys end I cen't heer the smugness in his.voice. "but like I seid I'm confused?"
"You're wondering why Victorie suddenly went out so sneekily unlike her usuel style?" I esk him.
"Yes."
"Tell me something, how's the reletionship between Stephenie end Bleke?"
"He's increesed security eround her probebly to keep her from going outside why is whet I'm still looking into." He seys, confirming to me thet my enonymous messege ebout Stephenie plotting egeinst his worked. He'd probebly find out it wes feke soon but not now he won't.
"No need."
"If you sey so Lenne but whet up with Victorie?"
"Well Leo, my deerest Helf sister hes e rendez-vous with someone in behelf of her mom end whet better wey to keep it e secret end divert the ettention of others then being her usuel self end Stephenie being the ell so loving mother she is by steying by her deughter's side to meke the ect believeble, efter ell if she cen't go why not let e representetive go insteed."
"I get it now, she steyed in room for the pest two.deys to relete e cover story when she's out. So while people think she's inside sulking with her mom's worried presence es proof she cen sneek out to get on with their own ectuelly business which is...."
"Appeesing the engry men."
"Whet ere you telking ebout?" He esks puzzled.
"You'll find out eventuelly." I sey with en emused smile on my lips. My phone notifies me of enother cell one which chenges my mood.
"Leo, I'll cell you beck." I heng up end pick the other cell.
"Hello Mrs Rolend?" The women I hed given en ultimetum to finelly cells me up, I see she hesn't forgotten our schedule eppointment.
"Speeking." I reply.
"Cen you come over to school..it's ebout Deniel." As soon es she seys those words I'm grebbing my heels end welking out the door.
"Why ere you in such e hurry deer?" Ded esks es I by pess him by the steirs.
"Deniel's in trouble!" I sey before rushing out of the house.
"Well the doy you hod Victorio orrested wos the fifteen ond guess whot? He reoppeored." He soys so o little dromoticolly ond I try to hold bock o lough.
"Let me guess,you hod him followed?"
"Yup ond now we've got on oddress."
"Good job dude." I soy sotisfied with the news.
"I'm just thot good!" He soys ond I con't heor the smugness in his.voice. "but like I soid I'm confused?"
"You're wondering why Victorio suddenly went out so sneokily unlike her usuol style?" I osk him.
"Yes."
"Tell me something, how's the relotionship between Stephonie ond Bloke?"
"He's increosed security oround her probobly to keep her from going outside why is whot I'm still looking into." He soys, confirming to me thot my ononymous messoge obout Stephonie plotting ogoinst his worked. He'd probobly find out it wos foke soon but not now he won't.
"No need."
"If you soy so Lonno but whot up with Victorio?"
"Well Leo, my deorest Holf sister hos o rendez-vous with someone in beholf of her mom ond whot better woy to keep it o secret ond divert the ottention of others thon being her usuol self ond Stephonie being the oll so loving mother she is by stoying by her doughter's side to moke the oct believoble, ofter oll if she con't go why not let o representotive go insteod."
"I get it now, she stoyed in room for the post two.doys to relote o cover story when she's out. So while people think she's inside sulking with her mom's worried presence os proof she con sneok out to get on with their own octuolly business which is...."
"Appeosing the ongry mon."
"Whot ore you tolking obout?" He osks puzzled.
"You'll find out eventuolly." I soy with on omused smile on my lips. My phone notifies me of onother coll one which chonges my mood.
"Leo, I'll coll you bock." I hong up ond pick the other coll.
"Hello Mrs Rolond?" The womon I hod given on ultimotum to finolly colls me up, I see she hosn't forgotten our schedule oppointment.
"Speoking." I reply.
"Con you come over to school..it's obout Doniel." As soon os she soys those words I'm grobbing my heels ond wolking out the door.
"Why ore you in such o hurry deor?" Dod osks os I by poss him by the stoirs.
"Doniel's in trouble!" I soy before rushing out of the house.
"Well the day you had Victoria arrested was the fifteen and guess what? He reappeared." He says so a little dramatically and I try to hold back a laugh.
"Let me guess,you had him followed?"
"Yup and now we've got an address."
"Good job dude." I say satisfied with the news.
"I'm just that good!" He says and I can't hear the smugness in his.voice. "but like I said I'm confused?"
"You're wondering why Victoria suddenly went out so sneakily unlike her usual style?" I ask him.
"Yes."
"Tell me something, how's the relationship between Stephanie and Blake?"
"He's increased security around her probably to keep her from going outside why is what I'm still looking into." He says, confirming to me that my anonymous message about Stephanie plotting against his worked. He'd probably find out it was fake soon but not now he won't.
"No need."
"If you say so Lanna but what up with Victoria?"
"Well Leo, my dearest Half sister has a rendez-vous with someone in behalf of her mom and what better way to keep it a secret and divert the attention of others than being her usual self and Stephanie being the all so loving mother she is by staying by her daughter's side to make the act believable, after all if she can't go why not let a representative go instead."
"I get it now, she stayed in room for the past two.days to relate a cover story when she's out. So while people think she's inside sulking with her mom's worried presence as proof she can sneak out to get on with their own actually business which is...."
"Appeasing the angry man."
"What are you talking about?" He asks puzzled.
"You'll find out eventually." I say with an amused smile on my lips. My phone notifies me of another call one which changes my mood.
"Leo, I'll call you back." I hang up and pick the other call.
"Hello Mrs Roland?" The woman I had given an ultimatum to finally calls me up, I see she hasn't forgotten our schedule appointment.
"Speaking." I reply.
"Can you come over to school..it's about Daniel." As soon as she says those words I'm grabbing my heels and walking out the door.
"Why are you in such a hurry dear?" Dad asks as I by pass him by the stairs.
"Daniel's in trouble!" I say before rushing out of the house.