Chapter 22

MAY

"You shouldn't leave like this!" Abby chased after me. I only smiled and ran faster. Abby caught up to me when I got to the garage. I was panting which was unusual. I used to be so athletic. Was it the pregnancy?

"We have to go somewhere," I announced.

"Where? I will bring Ken!" Abby informed me.

"No, you can drive instead," I replied. "Ken can stay behind. I am not going into a warzone. I am only going to the hospital for the sake of my unborn child. I need to be examined, you know."

"Well... My instincts tell me..." Abby had begun to say.

Fuck your instincts, I wanted to shout. However, I smiled pleasantly. I had to win Abby over so there would be smooth sailing. However, Abby was a hard kind. She could literally see through me. I had to learn how to fool ber properly.

"What hospital are you going to?" Abby asked.

"Where else?" I acted as if it didn't matter. "I am going to Greenfield hospital. Get in the car and drive. We need to be there in thirty minutes."

"That explains it!" Abby exclaimed. "You have another reason for going to the hospital. It is certainly not about a checkup."

I could never fool Abby. However, I decided to play dumb regardless. I helped myself into the back seat of the car and reluctantly, Abby entered the driver's seat, got the car running, and we drove off. Abby asked me no questions after. She respected my decisions, a trait I liked about her.

"Why aren't you asking me about my real intentions for going to Greenfield hospital?" I asked calmly.

"I don't want to be nosy," Abby replied.

"Oh, that's cool," I replied, mildly disappointed. I had begun to see Abby as someone I could trust but if she was never interested about what I wanted to do, there was no way it would work. A part of me wanted to tell her regardless but I beat that feeling. If she didn't want to know, I shouldn't be a chatterbox.

**

Susan was there to welcome me. Abby was there with me when Susan escorted me into her office. She complimented me several times, telling me how better I looked compared to last time.

"I'm sorry I didn't attend your wedding," Susan said sarcastically. "I wasn't exactly invited, you know."

It was her own way of scolding me for not inviting her to my wedding ceremony. Well, I had little control over that. Even Sherlyn and Emma got no invites. They didn't deserve it but as my family in name, Nicholas should have given them. Anyway, this was about Susan, my only doctor friend.

"I'm sorry about not inviting you. It was out of my control and everything was so rushed..." I apologized.

"It's fine," Susan replied. "If you are truly sorry, invite me home for dinner. I heard you had world-class chefs in your new home."

"Well, Nicholas is pretty particular about who prepares his meals. World-class chefs weren't an exaggeration," I replied. Susan was so excited that she kept asking when she would be invited over. I already made a mental note regarding that.

"I came here for an important reason..." I told Susan. I looked really serious here.

"For the checkup?" Susan asked. "I will call a friend from the gynecology department."

"No, that's not it," I replied. Susan looked alerted. I turned towards Abby who had been around ever since. Abby was standing by the window. Since we were on a top floor, she could see whatever happened below clearly.

"Then why?" Susan wanted to know.

"I came because of my father. I have to know how he is doing..." I held Susan's hands. "You work here. You can tell me all that has happened so far."

Susan took a deep breath and stared at Abby.

"It's fine," I reassured Susan. "You can talk. Abby is a trusted fellow."

Susan nodded, "I am not sure about the current situation of your father but it might be pretty bad. For weeks, Sherlyn has banned visitors. There are guards at the door everytime and only one person apart from Sherlyn has access to the room. I wonder how a single doctor can take care of him and if anything is being concealed. At least, there should be nurses who go in to check on him as well."

"Who is the doctor?" I asked carefully.

"His name is Dr. Charles. He is a genius, alright and I believe he was scouted by your father when he was healthy," Susan explained. "My gut feeling tells me he has joined Sherlyn."

"Of course," I shrugged. "That's the only reason he is the only doctor aware of my father's current condition."

"I think your father is being isolated..." Susan explained further. "Everyone knows at the hospital that he always has visitors. However, no one, not even his close doctor friends have been allowed to visit him. Something smells fishy."

"I have to see him!" I said firmly.

"They won't let you. There are guards at the door," Susan told me.

"How many?" Abby asked. This was her first time interrupting and all eyes fell on her.

"Three guards," Susan replied.

"I will take them," Abby told me confidently. "Susan can lead the way. You will see your father today, Miss."

"I am talking about three grown men!" Susan shouted at Abby. "Don't be reckless. Those men are well trained bodyguards. If something goes wrong..."

"I am well trained as well!" Abby said firmly.

"But... But you are a..." Susan paused.

"But I am a woman?" Abby laughed. “If that's what you think, you must be really naive indeed. How about you stop warning me and lead the way instead? Or wait, is it that you are afraid of losing your job?”

My eyes fell on Susan. She looked nervous.

“I will lead the way,” Susan muttered. She took a deep breath and did so. Abby followed closely behind while I took the rear position. We were at the VIP room's entrance in no time and Susan came towards me as Abby faced off the three guards.

“Leave here, bitch!” One of the guards pushed her.

Abby's eyes were fixed and her fists were clenched. I took a deep breath on her behalf. I must be the most nervous person here.