CHAPTER 10

Livia

A sleek dark car rolled to a smooth stop in front of me as the windows slid down with a motorized hiss.

“Get in,” Prof. Sterling said. 

Every fibre in me wanted to protest, but I felt it wasn’t going to be a smart move. 

I climbed to the passenger seat, and the engine roared as it entered the street again, turning towards the highway. 

His focus was entirely on the road with one hand resting casually on the steering wheel. He typed something on the small screen of the dashboard sleek interface and what looked like a holographic map with a blue arrow appeared. 

The drive was silent as I stared outside the window, not knowing what else to do. 

I should probably thank him for how his doctor treated me today. But the words stuck in my throat tangled with the sheer intimidation of his presence. 

“How do you feel now?” I heard him ask. His gaze remained fixed forward on the road.

I blinked before clearing my throat a bit to speak, “I am fine now.”

This definitely looks like a good time to thank him. 

“Prof. Sterling… Thank you for earlier today. I apologize for causing trouble, even though I have only been hired. It won’t happen again.”

There was a small silence that followed. I watched his fingers tap gently on the leather-wrapped wheel.

“Why did you run that fast?” He asked 

“Huh…?” 

“The doctor said you fainted from exhaustion and physical overexertion. He said it’s clear your body isn’t used to that kind of strain.” 

I held my bag tighter, thinking hard about how to respond. 

“Your message came in late, and I didn’t want to be late. That’s why I ran.”

He turned the steering wheel into a sharp corner with a single hand. I found myself mesmerized by this motion. The way he moved the car with such effortless grace.

“The driver would have waited regardless “. 

If that was so, why had his previous message been so demanding? He talked like everything was final, yet he kept changing the rules. It was hard to understand or read him.

The car slowed down and pulled up a short distance from the front gate.

“Thank you for bringing me home,” I said, glancing up at him. “But.. how did you know where I lived?”

He turned towards me for the first time since I entered the car. Without a word, he reached into the center console and brought out a smooth, white envelope.

“Take this”

I hesitated, then took it. The paper was heavy and of high quality.

“Your pay for today,” he clarified. “About your address, it was in the documents you submitted. I don’t hire people without knowing exactly where they come from, Livia.”

The way he said my name made small tingles roam around my body.

I felt my cheeks flush. “Oh… right. Of course”

He must probably think I am dumb for even asking about the address. 

“Thank you,” I said again as I shut the car door, which immediately sped off.

I entered the house, which was strangely quiet, much to my relief. It felt like a break from my aunt’s usual loud presence.

I hurried to my room and sat on the edge of my bed, looking through my bag to retrieve the white envelope. It was beautiful and had a very smooth finish. It also had a fragrance similar to the cologne from the car.

I carefully opened the envelope to avoid tearing it, as I pulled out a thick bundle of clean dollar notes.

My hands trembled a bit as I counted them. One, two, three...

 It came to a total of $400.

I paused, counting again to be sure. The agreed-upon rate for a day was $350. Prof. Sterling is a perfectionist and barely makes mistakes. 

“Oh well, must be an oversight from him,” I mumbled.

I grabbed my phone and shot him a quick text, although I know he must still be driving. 

Sir, you made a mistake with the payment. It should be 350, not 400.

He responded a minute later. 

There is no mistake. Everything is yours. 

I stared hard at the message and reread it over and over again. Why would he give me an extra? There must certainly be some reason. 

I made a mental note to ask him again the next time we meet. 

But as I lay in bed, a small smile stretched across my face, knowing that there is hope for her, for my mother, to continue her treatment fully.

************

The following afternoon, the familiar smell of antiseptic and medication filled my lungs as soon as I stepped into the hospital’s main building. 

About three female receptionists sat at the front desk, each attending to a line of weary-looking visitors. A few people were scattered at the waiting area, including a pregnant woman with a man beside her.

I waited till my turn, and then strolled to the front desk with a small smile. 

“Hi…I am Livia Thorne, and I am here to see my mother.”

The lady at the other side of the computer typed on her keyboard a bit before she looked at me. 

“Hospital number?” 

“653748,” I replied on cue. 

She typed a little again before gesturing to me to go ahead. I thanked her and walked towards the end of the lobby, then turned to my left. 

As I stood in front of the door, my heart raced. I haven’t seen her in almost a month, since I was mostly job hunting during that period.

I took a deep steadying breath, knocked briefly, and stepped inside. 

The place was just the way I last saw it. It was just like every other day I come in here. On the bed, laced with different transparent lubes beneath her nose and hands, lay my mother. 

The lubes were connected to a monitor on the side that beeped continuously. 

I sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her hand. It was cold and felt paper-thin.

“Mom,” I whispered, “how are you doing today?”

I began stroking her knuckles softly. 

“I know… You are probably mad that I didn’t come visit you every weekend as I had earlier promised. It’s just…” I trailed off, looking away from her for a moment. 

“I’ve been trying to get a job…to pay for my college fees and rent…and the bills here.” 

I returned my gaze and squeezed her hand a little.

“But don’t worry, Mum.” My voice trembled as I spoke now. “I will… fix and take care of everything. I got a job, and I will ensure you continue getting your medication so you recover fast.”

The tears I had been holding back finally broke free, running down my cheeks and dripping into the white sheets.

I leaned forward, resting my forehead on her shoulders.

“Please wake up, mum. I miss you so much.”

I don’t know how long I stayed in that position, but I eventually fell asleep, only to be woken up by the sound of my phone ringing. 

I sat up feeling a bit disoriented, then fumbled for my phone in my bag. It was a number I didn’t know. 

I stood up and walked to the far end of the room. 

“Is this Livia throne?” A voice asked as soon as the line connected 

“Yes, who is this?”

“I am Malcom Payers, the attorney handling Professor Johnson’s case, particularly the investigation into his alleged secret affairs, and I would like to ask you some questions.”

I felt my pulse race. Mr Johnson? Secret affairs? What the heck is this?

“i...I’m sorry? I stammered as my head spun. “I don't understand what’s going on.”

“Was your relationship to Professor Johnson purely academic or... a romantic escapade?”