CHAPTER 5

ALICIA

“Dr. Grey?” A hand gently caressed my shoulder, dragging me out of my thoughts.

I held back the tears threatening to roll down my cheeks as I stared at the name tag on the door in front of me.

It took serious dedication, sleepless nights and emotional neglect but finally after six years, I had my life back together.

Not like I imagined… but much better.

“Mum!” Two simultaneous voices burst through the hallway.

And my greatest achievements were sprinting towards me with open arms.

“My babies!” I lowered my height to the toddlers’ height, wrapping them in a tight hug.

“It’s been forever!” My six year old son, Kai screamed.

“No, it hasn't, you drama king, she dropped us off at preschool.” Kayla corrected her brother with a pout on her face.

“Well, It feels like forever.” Kai argued further, folding his arms in front of his chest dramatically.

“ It doesn't.” Kayla replied with no emotion and I chuckled, pulling them closer.

“It feels like a year to me, I missed you both so much.” I pulled them closer.

“But, how are you here?” I asked, letting go of them.

“They kept insisting, ma'am.” Aunt Darla said from behind, gently patting me on the shoulder as she walked past us to her office.

“I hope you guys had a great ti–” the sound of the door bursting open cut me short.

I heard a very familiar voice, one that made goosebumps run through my skin. I bit down on my lower lip, letting go of the twins as I headed in the direction of the familiar voice.

“Let me handle this, stay with the kids.” Zach's hand gently caressed my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks.

I watched him walk away, the atmosphere had gone quiet but I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew whoever it was at the reception.

“Mum?” Kai tugged on my sleeves, dragging me back to reality.

“Sorry about that baby.” I smiled down at him, roughing up his hair a little bit.

“Can we go play in the kid's section?” He grinned.

I possibly couldn't say no to that.

“Sure baby.” I sighed and let a small smile shape the corner on my lips.

“Take care of your sister!” I called after them as they ran off.

Once they were off, my curiosity got the better of me, subconsciously pulling me towards the reception hall but as I arrived there, the lobby was empty, back to business as usual.

Something felt off.

I paused in my track, examining Zach's face as he studied a piece of paper in his hand closely.

“Zach?” I called out, headed in his direction.

“Um–yes?” He cleared throat, tucking the paper into the clipboard in his hand.

“What was that?” I asked, my eyes scanning his hand.

“What's what?” a nervous chuckle escapes his lips, his eyes darting to the nurses behind me.

“The one you just tucked into the clipboard you're clutching.” I folded my arms over my chest and smirked.

“Oh, that!” He laughed, running a hand throu h his hair nervously.

“Oh, it's just a receipt for some equipment I purchased.” He rushed out, nervously brushing his lab coat down.

“Why are so uneasy about a “receipt”?” I asked, making air quotes about the last word.

“Well… it cost a lot and it needs to be penned down in the books.” He cleared his throat quietly, gripping the clipboard tighter.

His eyes were darting to every corner but mine, beads of sweat were threatening to roll down his face and his lips were pressed into a straight line.

He was definitely hiding something.

“Zach?” I called out, one of my eyebrows darting up in curiosity.

“I need to get something straightemed out with Dr. Darla, if you… could… excuse me.” He breathed out, squeezing past me to the hallway.

“What could he be hiding at this point?” I tapped my chin softly, my eyes scanning the main doors. Whispers from the receptionist table drew me out of my thoughts, reminding me of the first clue I had.

I shook my head almost immediately and turned around to the direction the voices had come from.

“Nurse Florence, who was the patient earlier?” She raised her head from the computer, her eyes moving to the nurses around her.

She was avoiding my question, just like Zach.

“You had something to tell me earlier.” I cleared my throat, my fingers doing drum rolls on the counter.

“I was trying to inform you of the letter that was just delivered to your section earlier today.”

“I’m sorry, what was that?” I cleared my throat, finally able to peel my eyes off the hallway leading to the offices.

“Can I have it now?” I opened my hand over the counter.

“Dr. Za–Zach said he would have it processed.” She stammered, her eyes immediately returning to the computer screen in front of me.

The response speed of Zach was too unusual to ignore.

“Dr. Zach huh?” I chuckled and straightened up, pulling my lab coat closer as I headed in the direction of his office. Pushing the door open, the room was empty.

I continued down the hall to Aunt Darla's office when I heard a name I had not heard in six years.

One that made my blood run cold.

The name I had heard sounded too familiar to push aside.

I paused by the door, my fingers trembling as I reached for the door handle.

“Belmont?” My voice managed as I pushed the door open, the resolve in my heart hardening.

“Alicia, it's not important to take the job.” Aunt Darla started and my face scrunched up in confusion.

“Job?” Her eyes moved to Zach's face momentarily then drops to the paper on the table before lifting it to mine.

“Oh, you didn't know about it.” She started, her eyes dropping as I grabbed the paper off the table, my eyes scanning it intently.

“A job involved with the Belmonts.” I summarised the fine print, lowering the paper to the table.

Zach cleared his throat, his voice coming off a bit rushed. “I didn't tell you before becaus– well, I didn't expect you, I didn't want to be feeling obligated to take the job or bring back a past you're not ready fo…”

As his voice trailed, all I could hear was the repetition of the name: Belmont.

The name I once bore with so much respect.

The same name that marred me and almost cost me my life and sanity.

And with all these thoughts floating in my mind, I only wanted one thing.

REVENGE.

I lifted my eyes off the paper, focusing it on Zach.

“I'll take it.”