unexpected visit

[Next day ~ Hospital Yokeme's private room]

Yokeme lay paralyzed on the bed. His mouth and eyes were the only parts of his body that could move or function.

His wife, Ebtimi, stayed beside him feeding him pap. When she was done, she wiped the corner of his mouth, where the pap had stained.

Then she placed the bowl away on the table, before giving him water gently.

"Careful," Ebtimi reminded, watching the water enter his mouth slowly.

"Good," Ebtimi praised with a smile. She dropped the bottle on the table and pressed the bell. Almost immediately, a nurse came in to take the dishes away.

Ebtimi stood up from the bed and went to the table where she had left her gold rings. She wore three on her right fingers, then the remaining six on her left fingers.

She sat beside him on the bed and rested her left palm on his chest.

"Darling, you will be fine in no time. The doctors said you just need to take your medications, eat, and relax. Don't overthink about Tari, okay?" Ebtimi said.

Yokeme's lips parted, vibrating as he forced the words out.

"I... I... it... it's not fine. My dau...ghter is not coming back.... And I wi...ll not be fine," Yokeme declared, and Ebtimi sighed.

This has been going on since he woke up paralyzed after the shock. Tari is always his number one priority; even in his state, he still ordered men to search the bridge for her body since the cops said that her body was not found.

"Darling, I told you to stop speaking negatively about yourself. Stop it," Ebtimi scolded.

Just then, the door opened and Yokeme's personal assistant came in. He bowed to Ebtimi, then to Yokeme.

"Sir, the chiefs had a meeting with Frost yesterday, but he refused to send the android robotic system body. There was no comment on why he did," Seab relayed.

The hope that had been in Ebtimi's eyes died.

"What! How dare he? My husband is paralyzed and he dared refuse! That riffraff that was picked from the dirt to become leader. How dare he say no to a chief!" Ebtimi barked.

Sean bowed again. "I have rescheduled a meeting with him, but he still refused," Sean said. "My apologies," Sean bowed again.

"That worthless bastard. I will go to Veinhill myself." Ebtimi stood.

"You will do nothing of such," Yokeme stuttered.

"Sit down," Yokeme ordered.

"Darling..." Ebtimi tried to protest, but he beat her to it.

"Fine." With a frown on her face, she sat back on the bed.

"What about m...mm...my daughter?" Yokeme stuttered.

"I am sorry once again, sir." Sean bowed again.

"All clues lead to a dead end," Sean said. Yokeme's eyes dimmed; the little hope he had died completely.

"Leave," Yokeme ordered.

Sean bowed for the last time and turned to leave. He opened the door and Malika walked in; their gazes met, but she looked away first and he walked out.

"Good morning, Mummy, Daddy," Malika greeted as the door shut behind her.

She went to hug Yokeme on the bed, kissed his head, then went to kiss Ebtimi's cheeks before falling onto the couch beside her.

"How did it go?" Ebtimi questioned, hopefully.

Malika sank into the couch, releasing a breath.

"I was denied access into the company. I tried entering, but it's like she changed sixty percent of the staff. I even tried calling Mitari, but her line was unreachable," Malika explained.

Yokeme's eyes closed immediately; he exhaled.

Malika leaned forward and held his arm.

"Daddy, don't think too much about it, okay. She will come around," Malika consoled.

Tears fell freely from the corners of Yokeme's eyes. Ebtimi held his palms and squeezed gently.

"I... I c...aus...ed... it," Yokeme stuttered, more tears pouring from his eyes.

"Don't say that—" Malika was interrupted by the ringing of her phone. She brought it out from her back pocket. A slow smile spread across her lips when she saw the caller ID.

"I will take this." Malika stood and walked out of the room, answering the call.

The second the phone touched her ear, Isaac's sweet voice beamed from it.

"Is this Malika?" Isaac questioned with an edge, which made her scoff.

"No, this isn't Malika. Who are you?" Malika asked, with a smile.

Isaac laughed from the other end.

"How are you doing?" Isaac questioned.

"Cool. I am just holding myself together," Malika answered honestly.

Isaac sighed from the other end. She rested her back against a wall; the area was surrounded by guards.

"I know it is overwhelming, after everything that's happened. Then the sex tape, and finding out that Tari might be alive. It's a lot to take in all at once. If you ever need someone to vent your emotions on, you know my address. I am always here for you," Isaac confessed.

Malika nodded like he could see her.

"I know. I am just grateful for having you," Malika admitted, releasing a breath after.

[Isaac's Estate House]

Isaac took a sip from the glass of wine, a smile on his face as he sat relaxed on the couch. His entire sleeve was unbuttoned, legs resting lazily over one another.

A big chandelier hung over the living room. One word to describe his mansion: high-class luxury.

"Don't forget what I told you. You don't have to handle all of this alone. I was close with Tari before her accident; you are the only person she trusted, so I am always here. And you know there is nothing—absolutely nothing—that you cannot tell me if you need help with. I should be your first call, okay...."

Isaac was speaking but was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.

"I have someone at the door; let me call you back," Isaac excused himself, then waited till she finished speaking before ending the call.

He left his phone on the couch and proceeded to the door.

Isaac's face fell the second he saw who was at the door.

"What are you doing here?" Isaac questioned with gritted teeth.

"Long time no see," Mitari replied, and walked into the house without permission, her shoulder bumping into Isaac's in the process.