One Hundred and Thirty Three

CHAPTER 133

Brittany was discharged from the hospital today. Everyone welcomed her home. Including Alicia, Nicholas and Noel who came along to make Brittany feel better. Alicia and Nicholas had even decorated Brittany's room with balloons and streamers, as well as a welcome home greeting with the help of Susan, Brittany's mom.

Brittany, who was in a wheelchair, was pushed out of the car and Paul, her father, helped her into the house. To her surprise and delight, Brittany found beautiful, simple decorations to welcome her home.

"Welcome home!" everyone shouted when Brittany saw the decorations in her room.

The blonde girl covered her mouth in surprise. She was delighted by the small gift she had received.

Brittany's eyes filled with tears as she saw the loving effort everyone had made for her. It was a difficult time, recovering from an accident that left her hospitalized for weeks. However, the warm embrace of care and affection from her friends and family was a balm to her soul.

As she pushed herself closer to the bed decorated with vibrant balloons and glittering streamers, Alicia smiled and held out a small parcel wrapped in delicate paper. "This is from all of us. Something to brighten your day."

Brittany's heart swelled with gratitude. Opening the package slowly, she found a beautifully bound notebook. The cover was embossed with intricate designs, and inside, the pages were clean, waiting to be filled with her thoughts and stories.

"This is very thoughtful, thank you," Brittany whispered as she wiped away her tears. She glanced around the room, her gaze finally settling on Noel, who had been silent but smiling with genuine happiness at her return.

Brittany didn't want to wait long, she immediately opened the gift from her friends. Brittany's brown eyes widened quickly when she found a new red scarf in the box. She looked up, seeing her friends one by one.

"Christmas is coming soon," Alicia said. "That's your Christmas present from all of us."

Brittany's fingers ran over the soft red fabric of the scarf, its bright colors a stark contrast to the pale hospital room. She wrapped the scarf around her neck, feeling its warmth, and smiled at her friends, a mixture of gratitude and joy enveloping her.

"Thank you, everyone," she said, her voice mixed with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you all."

Noel, who was sitting quietly in the corner of the room, looked at her with a gentle, reassuring smile. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a connection that had deepened during Brittany's hospitalization. He had been her constant support, silently present during her toughest days.

After all that fun, Paul suddenly cleared his throat and broke the silence. "Since we're celebrating Brittany's arrival, you might as well go out back and enjoy the BBQ Susan has prepared," he said, then glanced at Susan. Susan nodded with a smile. "Oh, Nic, can we talk for a minute?"

"Sure."

Everyone then went to the back of the house to enjoy the simple BBQ that Paul and Susan had made to welcome Brittany. Meanwhile, Paul invited Nicholas for a one-on-one talk in his study, in the corner of the house. It was the workspace after Paul retired from the police station.

And what Nicholas found in there, amazed him. Many paintings of the world hung on the walls. When Nicholas felt the walls, he could tell that Paul must have bought original works.

Paul sat down first, then he said, "Have a seat, Nic."

Nicholas smiled and walked over to his former boss in the police force. "This atmosphere reminds us of the old days, doesn't it?"

"Ah, you're overdoing it, but if you want to be casual, I'm fine with it," Paul chuckled. He placed both hands on the table, his face turning anxious. He then cleared his throat softly to start the conversation. "What about my daughter's accident case? She has a hearing in a few days, doesn't she?"

"That's right."

Nicholas nodded, his expression turning grim. "Yes, it's true. The evidence isn't straightforward, but I've prepared her defense rigorously." He rubbed his chin, seemingly thinking with much deliberation.

Paul's brow furrowed. "I know it's a tough case, Nic. But I need to know if we might be missing something. Brittany's been through a lot. I can't bear to see her go through more."

"I understand, Paul," Nicholas replied, his tone earnest. "I've double-checked every detail, every piece of evidence. But there are still gaps, something important that we're not seeing. I'll keep digging."

Paul leaned back, letting out a long breath. "I trust you, Nic. You're always thorough. But I can't shake the feeling that we're overlooking an important aspect. There's something in the air, a feeling that the truth might be right in front of our eyes."

Nicholas' eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you suspect anything specific?"

Paul hesitated, pondering his words carefully. "There are rumors, whispers about that day. Brittany's accident, it wasn't just an accident. Some people believe that it was intentional. I heard that man Kevin... he once manipulated another woman like he did Brittany. Is that true?"

"You must have an informant in the police force, right?" Nicholas grinned, knowing that Paul had gotten the information from someone they knew.

Paul nodded, there was a mixture of anxiety and determination in his eyes. "Brittany's safety is paramount. We can't ignore any possibility, no matter how improbable it may seem. If Kevin wants to frame my daughter, then we should be able to take Kevin with Brittany. I don't want him to get away and go free, while my daughter endures this all alone. You saw Brittany's condition yourself, didn't you? An asshole like Kevin, will do the same thing to someone else and it will keep happening until he gets his just desserts."

With a firm nod, Nicholas rose from his seat, the weight of this new information heavy on his shoulders. "I'll update you as soon as I find out something important. Trust me, Paul, we'll sort this out."

"I trust you, Nic. So don't let me down."