Chapter 97: 97. Discharged "Dad, what are we talking about? Do you know her from anywhere?" Bernard questioned his father curiously, still stunned by Beta Gilbert’s initial comment.
Beta Gilbert remained silent, his face still twisted in anger. His silence only made Bernard even more curious.
His face tightened more, and his jaw clenched hard as his brows furrowed deeply. His nostrils flared as his eyes darkened with fury, radiating intense anger that couldn’t be mistaken.
"I don’t know her from anywhere," Beta Gilbert finally muttered, his voice tense. "But I can’t explain it... I always feel this deep unrest and fear whenever I see her. There must be something about Laura being a girl!"
"That’s strange. I grew up knowing you as someone who was never afraid of anything or anyone. I think you’re right... there’s something different about her," Bernard said, his tone certain as he leaned back on the couch, still processing his father’s words.
"So, son, what kind of problem is she giving you?" Beta Gilbert asked with a curious look, leaning in slightly.
"I asked her and Cassandra a question, but the reply she gave me was exactly what I was thinking in my head, like she could see straight into my mind. She also challenged me with strong words, and I couldn’t even deny what she said or get angry. If I had reacted, it would have exposed my weakness. Something about her feels off," Bernard explained, his voice firm and his suspicion growing.
Beta Gilbert’s face hardened. "Now, I am sure about my feelings toward her. We need to run a thorough background check on her immediately. We can’t afford to have someone like that close to Maria. Such a person is a threat to us and our plans."
"Yes, Dad. I’ll start the investigation right away. I’m sure we’ll dig up something about her. We can’t let someone like her get close to Maria," Bernard said confidently.
"Good. But how do you plan to carry out the investigation without leaving any trace? You know we can’t let her suspect anything," Beta Gilbert asked with raised eyebrows, his voice laced with concern.
"Don’t worry about that, Dad. I’ve got my men who can handle this perfectly. They’ll get the job done cleanly without her noticing a thing," Bernard assured him calmly.
Satisfied, Beta Gilbert rose to his feet, his body showing signs of fatigue.
"Good night, Dad," Bernard said as his father walked out of the living room.
"Good night, son. Don’t stay up too late—you need your rest too, so you can think clearly," Beta Gilbert advised as he headed toward his room.
When his father was gone, Bernard remained seated in the living room, his thoughts consumed by Laura and their unusual exchange.
’That girl is too confident. She didn’t just speak boldly to me—she looked me straight in the eye. I must find out who she really is and where she comes from,’ Bernard thought with determination, his jaw tightening.
After lingering on the thought for a while, he finally stood up and went to his room, exhaustion finally catching up with him.
***
At the Celtic Hospital, Maria lay in bed, restless and wide awake. Sleep refused to come, and her mind was crowded with questions, especially about the strange visions she had while in a coma.
’The two lives I saw... they weren’t the kind of life I ever planned for myself, or anything I would have pictured. No, I must make sure I work toward a different life. But what if none of what I saw was even real?’ Maria’s mind churned with worry and confusion.
She bit her lip, thinking harder. ’I need to find out what was really happening while I was unconscious. How did people around me react to everything that happened?’
She considered talking to her friends, wondering if their perspectives would help her figure out the right path.
’Maybe if I talk to them about the things I saw, I might understand what I need to do...’ But then, she paused and shook her head slowly.
"No, I can’t talk to anyone about this yet, not with how everyone is acting so concerned and loving—especially Luna Victoria. I can’t trust anyone right now, not even my closest friends," she whispered to herself, her voice soft but firm.
Her thoughts drifted to James, the one person she missed deeply.
’I miss James... his hands around me, his kisses. I wish I had kissed him earlier when I saw him by my side, but I can’t afford to do that now. That’s why I need to work hard and fast to secure my freedom and start living my life on my own terms.’
Maria smiled gently, thinking about him.
’I need to know how far Cassandra has gone with the assignment on Bernard. I can’t waste any more time. I need to leave this hospital soon so I can also focus on the task Mr. Frederick gave me.’