My blood ran cold as I watched Daniel slip inside. What were they planning?
I remained crouched behind the wall, watching and waiting. It felt like an eternity, but it was probably only a few minutes before Daniel came out of the room.
I couldn’t make out what they were saying from this distance. I needed to get closer. Carefully, I began to edge forward, staying pressed against the wall.
"Excuse me, miss." A nurse appeared beside me, making me jump. "You shouldn’t be wandering around at this hour. Let me help you back to your room."
"I’m fine, I was just..."
"Please, you need your rest. Come along."
The nurse gently but firmly guided me away from the area. I looked back desperately, but Cassandra and Daniel had already disappeared. Whatever they had been doing, I’d missed my chance to find out.
Back in my room, I immediately pulled out my phone and dialled the private investigator.
"I need you to find out what my sister and brother-in-law are up to. I saw them sneaking into my mother’s hospital room not long ago," I said without preamble. "Whatever it was, they were being secretive about it. I need to know exactly what they gave her or did to her."
"I’ll look into it," he replied. "It might take some time, but I’ll get you answers."
"Thank you." I ended the call.
The rest of the night passed in a blur of restless sleep and worried thoughts.
The next morning, I was surprised by an unexpected visitor.
"Helena?" I sat up in bed, confused. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard you were in the hospital," she said, looking genuinely concerned. "Are you alright, Mrs. Layla?"
"I’m fine, thank you for coming. I’ll be discharged later today, so don’t worry about me."
"That’s a relief. I was so worried when I didn’t see you this morning."
Just as Helena was preparing to leave, the door opened again and Erica walked in. Both women stopped and stared at each other. The look they gave each other was kind of strange, almost as if they recognised each other but couldn’t quite place where from.
"Helena, this is my friend Erica," I said, sensing the awkward tension. "Erica, this is my assistant Helena."
"Nice to meet you," Helena said quickly, barely making eye contact.
"Likewise," Erica replied, but her tone was guarded.
Helena suddenly rushed toward the door. "I should go. I’m glad you’re okay, Mrs. O’Brien. I’ll see you at the office."
And with that, she was gone, leaving Erica and me in confused silence.
"That was strange," I said. "Did you by any chance know her?"
Erica sat down in the chair Helena had vacated. "Who was she again?"
"My assistant, Helena. I think I’ve mentioned her to you before, the one taking care of her younger siblings. I was actually planning to invite her to hang out with us sometime, but I don’t know why she left in such a hurry."
"It’s probably nothing," Erica said, though she still looked off. "Don’t worry about it. How are you feeling? What happened to you anyway?"
"I’m fine. Just had a bit of a scare last night, but I’ll be discharged today. How did you even know I was here?"
"I went to your office yesterday looking for you, but you weren’t there. I bumped into Axel, and he told me what happened. What exactly happened to you in the first place?"
I was about to explain when the door burst open yet again. This time, it was Cassandra, wearing that familiar, cruel smile.
"Well, well," she said, looking around the room. "Why haven’t you left yet? Stop being such a drama queen, Layla."
"I’ll leave when I see my mother," I replied firmly.
Cassandra turned to Erica, tilting her head as if studying her. Then she laughed, seeming to recognise her.
"Oh, this is rich," Cassandra said mockingly. "The only visitor you have is your old high school friend. Still incapable of making any new friends, I see. How pathetic."
Erica stood up immediately, her eyes flashing with anger. "I see nothing about you has changed either, Cassandra. You’re still as bitchy as you ever were."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Now listen up, I’m not as easy-going as Layla, so if you keep troubling us, I won’t hold back."
Erica’s gaze dropped to Cassandra’s slightly protruding belly. "That poor child is unlucky to have you as a mother."
Cassandra’s face turned red with rage, and she raised her hand to strike Erica. But Erica was faster, catching Cassandra’s wrist mid-swing.
"Don’t even think about it," Erica said coldly.
Cassandra looked between us angrily, while I just observed, finding her expressions almost comical in their exaggeration.
Suddenly, Cassandra’s phone rang. Her expression changed instantly as she answered.
"Hello?" she said, and even from across the room, I could swear I heard my father’s voice on the other end. Cassandra’s face went pale as she listened.
"Yes, I understand," she said quietly. "It’s handled."
She hung up and looked at me with something that might have been fear mixed with determination.
"You won’t be seeing Mother ever again," she said, her voice shaky. "You should give up and leave. Now."
"You’re mistaken if you think I have such a weak spirit," I replied. "I’m not going anywhere until I see her."
Erica stepped in front of me, blocking Cassandra’s view. "Have some humanity now, at least. You’re pregnant. This stress can’t be good for your baby."
Cassandra snapped, shoving Erica aside roughly. "Shut up and mind your own business!"
She glared at Erica for a long moment, then her phone beeped with a text message. She glanced down at it, and I watched her expression change again, this time into something darker.
When Cassandra looked back up at Erica, there was pure venom in her eyes.
"You’re going to pay for your insolence," she said quietly, her voice dripping with menace.
With that threat hanging in the air, Cassandra turned and walked out, leaving Erica and me staring after her in shock.