Chapter 20
Thanes pov.
I left Andrea’s office with suppressed anger. How could she think I would stoop so low as to frame her for stealing? The mere
suggestion of it is an insult to my person.
I reached my parked car and slid into the backseat, my chauffeur waiting patiently for instructions to depart, but I didn’t want to
leave just yet…
My body is torn between keeping my distance from her and the desire to go back into the conference room, pin her small body
against the wall, and demand that she listen to me.
My phone rings out, shrill in the silence of my Bugatti. It’s Melissa again, and the anger I’ve been pressing down surfaces. My quarrel today with Andera is because of Melissa.
I deactivated the AI used to read the caller’s name, already regretting my haste. If I had taken my time to prepare this morning before our impromptu meeting, my dammed phone would have been on silent, and Andera wouldn’t have found out about
Melissa
I slammed my head against the soft headrest. I need to find a way to correct Andera’s misconceptions.
She’d been on the verge of revealing something about the day we divorced, something about fainting and ending up in the hospital. What was she about to say….a cold runs down my
spine.
Oh my God!” I mutter. The chauffeur turns back to look at me but I pay. him no attention.
Is Andera… Sick? Is she .. dyin…
“No.” I yell, earning another curious glance from the driver.
I refuse to entertain those morbid thoughts. Andera is too vibrant, too full of life to be ill. Sick people don’t glow the way she does, they’re pale and weak and always in and out of the hospital.
“That’s… That is not possible. “I laugh the thought away, shaking off the unease. But as I do that, I suddenly remember my late grand aunty, Bethany Reinhardt. She was strong and healthy until the last weeks of her life. No one knew she was dying of acute leukemia. Bethany had kept it a secret from the entire family. She was dying on the inside, but on the outside, she was full of life,
or so it seemed.
What if Andera is suffering the same fate as Aunt Bethany? My stomach churned, and my thoughts spiraled out of control, conjuring up the worst–case scenario.
She was about to reveal it to me before Melissa’s disturbing call. I have to know. I need to. If I don’t get to hear what Andera was about to say. I might die of worry.
“I’ll be back. “I told my driver, opening the car door.
1/4
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The moment my first foot touched the ground, I spotted Andera breaking into a run towards her car. Her beautiful features were tight with worry. She looked like she might break down at any moment.
I pulled back my feet, observing her from my car; Andera was deeply lost in whatever was in her mind; she didn’t notice my Bugatti was still parked in her building complex.
When she hastily sped into the street, I couldn’t help myself anymore.
“Follow that car. “I ordered my driver. He nodded, relief etched on his face after the long, tired minutes spent sitting with me in
silence.
As Andera sped through the streets, my trepidation rose. What could have had her so worried?
She takes a turn, and my driver follows, bringing my car close behind hers; any moment now, she would notice that I’m
behind her.
I break into a cold sweat when she parks in front of a hospital.
A hospital!
Those sick thoughts start rushing in like a wave.
Is Andera sick?
Is it something that can be cured or is it terminal?
No. My heart beat dangerously fast. My breathing became rapid and shallow.
n trailing
Her tires screech to a stop, and we both alight our cars at the same time; Andera stares back at me with hate clouding her hazel
eyes.
We strode towards each other. Our footsteps synchronized.
eyes
When I reach her, I invade her personal space Mul
on her in a fierce stare. I need to know that she is fine but the next
word that comes out of my mouth wasn’t the best way to express my concern. I only realized after I had said it.
“Why are you here?” I demanded, my voice high with urgency. Andera recoils, her pretty mouth opened slightly, revealing her white uneven teeth. That slight imperfection that somehow, still added to her beauty.
There’s no way in hell Andera sick. She’s just too…
“What am I doing here?” She points a finger herself. “I should be asking you that question Mr stalker. But you know what, I don’t have time for this, please get lost and stop following me“.
Andera turns on her heels and walks away.
“Are you sick?” I holler from where I stand.
She pauses in her tracks and turns a bit to face me.
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You would like that, wouldn’t you?” She shoots back.
Inwardly, I cringe. Outwardly, I also cringe. Did she just admit that she’s sick?
Before I could find my tongue, Andera broke into a half run and dashed into the hospital’s sliding doors.
My feet stay rooted to the ground. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and thick clouds gathered in the sky. It was about to rain. I try to make sense of everything. Andera didn’t outrightly say she was sick, but she also didn’t say anything that would let me know she isn’t unwell and ease my mind of this confusion…..dammit.
I need a clear, concise answer. A Yes or no. I strode into the hospital, as I approached the reception desk, my eyes scanned around
for any sign of Andera.
“Excuse me,”
“I said to the receptionist. She lifted her head from her computer and smiled at me.
“Good day, sir, how may I help you?”
“I’m looking for Andera Campbell. She just walked in right now. She’s admitted here, I guess. Please help me check”
She hesitated for a moment before complying.
Alright, sir.”
The receptionist’s fingers flew across the keyboard as she checked the hospital’s database.
“I apologize, sir. We don’t have an Andera Campbell admitted here. However, we do have a Tiffany Campbell, and her mother just
came in to see her.”
My eyebrows shot up high. Tiffany Campbell? And her mother?
No, no, I’m sure this is mixed up. Andera doesn’t have any kids or siblings. She’s the only daughter of Mr Campbell. I’m sure this Tiffany is a different person entirely.
“Please check again for Andrea Campbell. She walked in a few minutes ago. Average height, hazel eyes, and auburn hair.
The receptionist sighed.
“Sir. We don’t have an Andera Campbell here. And I wouldn’t know who walked in recently as I just started my shift.”
Okay, can I speak to the nurse who was on duty before you?”
“Nurse Lilian walked out the minute you stepped in, sir, and even if she was here, we are not allowed to give you information concerning our patients except if they have permission from you or you are part of their family. I think you should call whoever it is you’re looking for, that’s if the person is here. As I said, only Tiffany Campbell is registered in our database.
I walked out of the hospital; it had started to drizzle outside. I didn’t mind as I stepped into the light rain; I took a look at the hospital again; Andera was in there, I didn’t know what her situation was, and I couldn’t fuckin reach hor.
In all my life, I have never felt so powerless
