Chapter Nine

When Emily opened her eyes, she saw law enforcement vehicles followed by a sound of siren.

She heard another sound, it was the sound of another siren. Her head was hurting, and she slowly opened her eyes.

White lights blurred above her.

For a few seconds, she couldn't remember where she was.

And then the memories came back.

The party, the photograph of her late parents, the black car, and the vehicle accident.

“Where is Damian, she asked worriedly?”

She struggled to sit up, but couldn't because she felt pain all over her shoulders.

“Don't move” Sophia yelled as she helped her sit erect. Emily shifted her neck, and saw Sophia sitting beside her hospital bed. She was still putting on the clothes she wore to the party last night.

Sophia told her someone hit the car, but Damian was okay and was talking to the police. Emily felt relieved, closed her eyes, and remembered the SUV right before the crash.

Damian shouting her name.

Then complete darkness.

“Please tell me, how long have I spent in this hospital?”

“Just a couple of hours.”

Emily gazed around the hospital room.

She wanted to know if the police apprehended or at least identified the person responsible for the hit and run.

“No, they escaped.” Sophia said. Sophia held her hand, telling her how lucky she was to be alive. Immediately, the door flung open.

Damian walked in. His jacket was torn and he had bruises on his face.

“Are you hurt?” Emily asked him right away.

“Nothing serious. How about you?” He replied. “My shoulders hurt badly.”

“She is not badly hurt.” Said Sophia.

“Can I have some time alone with Emily? 

Sophia accepted and left almost immediately. “Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything.” And she walked out of the room.

Damian pulled out a chair beside her bed.

He said nothing as he watched her for a moment.

“I was afraid, you know?" He said that with a little bit of relief. It sounded odd coming from him. "I thought you never got scared." “I don't get scared easily.” He said and turned away."

Emily was trying to understand him.

“What is the matter?”

“The law enforcement are looking for the owner of the SUV.”

“Did they identify the person driving?”

“They did not.”

“Did you see his face of the driver?”

“No.”

Damian leaned backwards.

"But I do know one thing, whoever it was, didn't want to kill us." “How did you know?” She asked. He said they would use a weapon if they wanted them dead. But they just bashed the car and drove away.

“What do you think they want?” She asked. Damian ignored the question. "I think you know more than you are telling me."

“It is just an assumption.”

“Out with it.”

“Not now.”

She murmured.

“You do this all the time.”

“What do you mean?”

“You always give me incomplete answers.”

"I'm not telling you everything because it could hurt you," Damian said. Emily looked at him, then suddenly remembered, "My clutch purse." His face changed.  "Where did you leave it?" He brought out a little dark bag close to the chair and gave it to her. She grabbed it and opened it right away.

Her wallet was still intact.

Her cell phone.

Her Lipstick.

Where are the keys?

Everything looked fine initially but Emily remembered her mother's picture, "My mother’s picture is not here." She was sure that she kept a photograph of her mother and father in the purse. She checked again but couldn't find it. Damian's face went serious. Damian asked when last she saw it "I saw it before the gala," she said. Damian asked if she was sure. "Yes," she replied. "Someone must have taken it," Damian said. Emily looked up and asked, "What would anybody do with an old picture?"

Damian assured her that they are going to figure it out. All of a sudden, Emily recalled the picture somebody had sent her earlier.

Her Mom and Dad together with Victor.

Emily demanded to know everything about her parents and what happened just before they died in the accident.

“I don't think you are ready for now.”

“Don't you think I am old enough to decide that?”

With his eyes still focused on her, he nodded.

“That is correct.”

Emily lifted up the blanket and stood up.

“Where is the doctor? I would like to go now.”

Damian told Emily that she needed to rest.” I am tired of hospitals. "Emily answered. “ But you don't have anywhere else to go do you?”

“I am a grown up woman, don't you think I can take care of myself?"

“I am not going to let you stay in a hotel”

“Well I don't remember asking for your permission.”

"I'm not asking you," Damian said. "It was just a suggestion. Would you like to stay in one of my apartments?" She immediately shook her head.

Emily refused. "Why don't you want to accept my offer?" Damian asked. "Because I want to make my own choices without owing anyone an explanation," she replied. "I don't want anything in return," he added. "Still no," she said. "Then just think of it as temporary," he suggested. Emily to the other side. She didn't like the fact that he was right. "I will have to ponder on it," she replied. "Do I have a yes?" "It means I am not quite sure," she replied.

“That’s better” he said, as he turned and was just about to leave.

"Damian," Emily called him slowly. He paused and turned back to her. "Why are you so kind to me?" she added. He looked unsure. He said he didn't know and waiked out in a hurry. Emily watched him go.

She did not comprehend him.

That scared her. 

Later that day,  the doctor discharged Emily. Sophia took her to a house she helped her find. It was quite affordable and also portable, unlike Ryan's house but at least, it was her own. Those were the thoughts that filled her head as she stood at the center of the living area.

This is the first time in a long time she had a place she can finally call her own..

No Ryan. No drama of the Carter family, neither was there a fake marriage. Sophia gave her the keys to the apartment. “You can live in this place until you are tired. “Said Sophie.’’ It is a nice place, she said as she glanced around. Sophia added that it requires some furniture. “I will get some from the shop.” Sophia laughed and asked her if she had any money.

Her parents left a  trust to her. But Ryan had been in charge of all their money.

“Let us talk about the trust my parents left me, shall we?” Emily asked. Sophia became more serious than ever “okay.” She asked if she still had full control over it and Emily promised to check and get back to her. Emily asked what she meant. Sophia explained to her that her parents had opened a trust before they passed but it had many regulations. “Please explain clearly to me what you mean.” Emily replied. Sophia brought out a file, opened it and started explaining to Emily that her trust cannot be given directly to Ryan because her parents added that clause in the trust. “Why do you think they did that?” “I have no idea” Sophia answered. “There's another thing you need to know.” She added. “Your father included another condition to your trust. Emily asked of the condition, as her heart began to race. Sophia said that she can't see the complete document just yet, because that segment is locked. She said it as she shook her head. 

"Locked?"

"Yes. And only one other person can access it."

"Who?" 

"You," Sophia said. "Your husband."

Emily froze. "Ryan?"

Sophia said “yes.”

"He was made a second trustee after you got married."

Immediately, Emily felt dizzy. “Why was I not made aware of this?” And Sophia told her she was going to find out. Emily requested for the documents as she stood up. And Sophia promised to make them available for her later. Emily insisted that she wanted them that same day. Sophia gazed at her and laughed and reminded her how she sounded like her mother. And just be hearing Sophia mention her mother, her heart melted. She remembered the picture, Victor, the hidden trust and Ryan. She started to connect to dots but couldn't fill in the blank spaces.

That same evening, She sat by herself in the new house with all her stuff unpacked, when Ryan called her cellphone. She took a quick look at it and left it to ring. He called again and she hung up. That was when he left her a text that said “Pick up your phone.” followed by another one

“I need to tell you something about your parents.”

Emily stopped pacing. As another text message came in that read “Your Dad kept something for you.” Her heart was beating like the sound of a drum. She thought to reply but she was interrupted by another knock on the door.

Emily staggered as she stood up slowly.

“Who is it?”

There was no answer.

There was another knock. She walked closer to the door.

Her phone beeped, it was an anonymous number.

A message came in.

Do not let anyone in

Emily's blood ran cold.

She stepped back. Another message popped up: "He is not who you think he is." Emily stared at the door. Then she heard a voice from outside. "Emily?" She was completely shocked.

She recognized that voice.

It was Ryan's.

And he sounded scared.

“Open the door please, he said quietly.

"Open the door." Emily put her hand on the handle. Then she stopped.

Because from the other side of the door came another voice.

A man's voice.

And very close to Ryan.

“Emily, do not listen to him.”

Chills ran down her body..

The second voice continued.

“Open the door for me.”