CHAPTER 11

DADDY DEAREST

Savannah staggered out of the restrooms looking horror-stricken. She stumbled along the stairs and tried her best to regain balance. Her legs would not cooperate, and the next thing she felt was a sharp pain through her back.

Was she badly injured? She saw a masked man in all black approach her as she lay on the cold floor, helpless. “You can’t escape me, my dear.”

This must have been a dream. She desperately wished it was. Only she felt it when he put his hands over her mouth once she screamed. It was all real. Had anyone heard her?

She tried to scream again, but the mysterious man’s large, gloved hands muffled her cries for help. The pain was becoming unbearable by the second.

There was a sharp, stabbing sensation from her lower back to her legs. Her eyes teared up, blurring her vision. All she heard was the sound of footsteps approaching, before all she saw was darkness.

She woke up in a white room, from the walls to the sheets, it felt strange yet familiar. She knew this room all too well; she was a nursing student after all.

Her attempt to sit up sent a shiver of pain throughout her body, and her head was throbbing persistently. What happened? She had no recollection.

Just then, the door to the hospital room was flung open. Mr. Andrew careened to where Savannah was.

“Are you okay? Who did this to you?” he was speaking rapidly and sounded out of breath.

His questions only made her more apprehensive as she remembered the masked man. “He was there.” She was feeling lightheaded.

“I don’t feel so good, Mr. Andrew…I…” Mr. Andrew helped lay back again. He was looking at her so lovingly and reassured her that he was there.

Three medics joined them in the room and worked on her as she stared blankly at the ceiling. He was following their every move with his eyes, inwardly praying she would be okay. She was the last person he wanted to lose.

Mr. Andrew received a call from his driver that he had found Savannah unconscious. The driver had waited for her for almost half an hour.

He grew worried, knowing that she was always there when he arrived. The school guard told him she had gone to the restrooms, so he decided to go in that direction.

He heard a scream from a distance, which turned into muffled cries. A man dressed in black ran off just as he got to where she was.

Mr. Andrew did not need to think twice before he drove to the hospital where she was being rushed to. He was worried sick. Had her father found her? How long would it be before he struck again?

He must have broken every traffic rule on his way there. Hooting at every car on his way, he had to be there fast.

****

“Everything will be okay, Rosy.” Zayn was trying to comfort Jada as she paced around her room.

“If anything happens to her, he will have a whole other life crisis trying to get over her.” She was worried about her brother. He had looked incredibly petrified upon receiving the call.

They had spent the afternoon together. He picked her up from school early, and she got to choose where they went. It was a memorable afternoon.

She was having her second bowl of ice cream when he spoke again. “I’m sorry we don’t spend time like this often. I always put my work before family.”

She looked up at him and smiled. “You didn’t ask to have to live this way. It’s okay.” Jada scooped more ice cream and stuffed her mouth.

“I know, but I’m slowly learning that the people I love are important too. I promise to be there for you, Rosy.” He had called her Rosy intentionally to remind Jada Rose that she was still his baby sister.

That afternoon reminded her that her brother still cared. He was just learning how to live like she was. It was harder for him since he never chose his fate; he was stuck as billionaire Andrew.

Three hours had passed since he left in a hurry for the hospital. The silence in the mansion was not because everyone was preoccupied with their activities.

It was there because everyone knew what the other was thinking and none wanted to talk about it. They had the same fears.

It was around midnight when Zayn heard the cars pull up in the front yard. He woke up Jada, who had lain her head on his lap. She scrambled out of her bed and sprinted to the entryway.

She found Mia already there. Mr. Andrew was carrying Savannah; she looked so frail in his arms. She was deep asleep.

“Is she okay?” It was Zayn speaking; he got there a little after Jada.

“Not really, but I can’t risk having her in the hospital.” He was speaking in a quiet voice as though speaking to himself.

“Follow me.” He was motioning for Mia to follow him.

Jada hugged Zayn tightly as soon as they were out of sight. She was just grateful to have Savannah alive. She was her brother’s happiness.

Mr. Andrew did not leave her side that night. She woke up at intervals, covered in sweat and crying uncontrollably. She was beside herself after the day’s events.

Seeing her in her frightened state infuriated him. He had to find out what happened; for now, he would keep her hidden and protect her.

She was unable to give a clear recollection of what happened. The only thing that remained consistent was that there was a man in black sent by her father. That was the only thing she was certain about.

He had just managed to soothe her to sleep again. Savannah was sleeping peacefully again, and he was slowly drifting to sleep as well. He was exhausted.

They fell asleep in each other’s arms, and they both felt comforted that way. “Javyn Andrew!?” He could hear his name being called from a distance.

He was too tired to think about whether it was truly him being called. It was only after he heard some footsteps that he realized it was not an illusion.

Whoever it was, they were taking long strides. He could tell they had been to his room since he heard his bedroom door shut before they paced towards Savannah’s.

“Javyn, if I…” Javyn Andrew immediately recognized the voice. He was just about to make his way out of bed when the door flew open.

Celia stood at the door, and she was seething with anger. She had a large brown envelope in her hand. “So it’s true. I can’t believe what a secretive, dishonest man you have become.”

Mr. Andrew made his way towards her. He did not want to stir Savannah from her sleep. They both made their way out of the room, and he closed the door behind them.

“I was going to tell you about us, it’s just that…” His tongue was suddenly tied, and he strained to form words.

“That she is someone’s wife-to-be?” Celia completed the sentence for her son, who looked at him in disbelief once she uttered the words.

The silence between them was loud. How had she found out?

“So shocked? That is just the cherry on top, young man.” Could it get worse?

“You reopened the investigations for my husband’s murder and requested that the information be concealed from me?” She looked hurt by this revelation. She felt betrayed by her son.

He was going to speak at last when he felt it. The familiar feeling of his heart racing. All this was too much for him in one day. The adrenaline rush was taking a toll on him.

His mother noticed him straining to stand up. She suddenly felt guilty for handling the matter as she did.

“Javyn?” She was calling out to him to make sure he was okay. The door to Savannah’s room opened. “Mr. Andrew?”

He was suddenly so pale.