Ria Episode 53 & 54

RIA ♠
EPISODE •• FIFTY •• THREE
THEME: FORGIVENESS ????
 
 
°°°°°°Two Days Later°°°°°°
♦ CHICAGO ♦
RIA ROBERT COUTURE ????
AUTHOR POV ????????
A soft knock sounded on the door.
“Come in” Ria answered
Elise walked in with Chad behind her with a box in his hands.
Ria sat beside Ian
Ethan sat beside Attorney Ava.
“Mrs Elise plea-se join us”
Ria said when Elise was about leaving the room.
She didn’t want Elise to feel left out in the plan.
“Okay” she bow her head slightly before settling down beside Chad.
Ethan cleared his throat and performed the introduction. He introduced Chad to Ian and Elise.
Chad hasn’t met them.
“So let’s get down to business” Chad said as he opened the box he brou-ght in.
“This box contains all the evidences and files which Derrick gathered six years ago”
“So what about Derrick?” Ian asked
“He is not coming” Chad answered
“Yes Derrick doesn’t want to work on the case. And he also rejected the money you s£nt him” Ava added
“I’ll will just tell everything he told me” Chad said

°°°
FLASHBACK
DERRICK’S Ap@rtMENT
“So you work as a Detective in Chicago?” Derrick asked chad when they stepped into his house.
Chad glanced around the small ap@rtment.
“Yes”
“Don’t mind the condition of my ap@rtment”
Derrick sniffed and sat on the couch
“Tell me everything that happened right after you turned in the information you gathered”
Chad said
“I lost everything..my job, my wife,my home, marriage..everything”
“Who fired you at work?”
“My boss. He asked me to work on the case but he fired me after I told him the suspect and tendered the information”
“Who was the suspect?”
“Frederick Robert”
“Oh well it was possible that Frederick ordered your boss to fire you”
“Exactly. He was the br@in behind the case. He manipulated everything, Fake b©dy, false witness,false killers -”
“And the cops allowed it?”
“You don’t know Frederick Robert” Derrick chuckled
“He is ruling here and he’s highly connected”
“How did you know Frederick Manipulated everything?”
“I worked on the case secretly after I got fired at work. A colleague of mine provided me with information I nee-ded. I even talked to the witness and she admitted that she saw them that day.. I mean the MML Gang. She saw them when she c@m£ out to tend to her dog that won’t st©p barking. And even before that it wasn’t ha-rd to figure the killers. I knew it was the MML gang cause I’ve worked on several cases which involved them. Frederick claimed the inheritance after they closed the case and then I found the Truth”
“Tell me about it”
“Frederick s£nt the gang to get his brother to sign the transfer of inheritance paper and get rid of him too”
“So what did you do after finding the truth?”
“Nothing”
“Why?”
“There was nothing I could so since the case was closed and my life was alre-ady miserable by then… when my wife left me”
Chad shook his head
“I’m sorry about that -”
Derrick snorted
“Don’t feel sorry”
“Ethan told me everything”
“Yeah he worked with me secretly. He was the one that gave me the idea of the inheritance. He hired you to reinvestigate the case?”
Chad nodded
“Is really she alive?” Derrick asked
He wanted to be 100% sure
He had gone to the cyber cafe that night Matthew c@m£ around. He searched for Ria Robert on Google and he found her among the list of t©p Clothe Designers in USA. He found everything!
He recognized her with the pictures he had taken from their home six years ago.
She was older now.
It was ha-rd for him to believe that she was alive. And he wondered how she had survived!
“Yes and she want Justice”
Derrick stood up and carried the box. He gave it to Chad
He opened it and saw stack of papers,a white envelope and a small black recording device.
“A guy c@m£ around and gave me that device and envelope” Derrick said
“Who is he?”
“Matthew Alley, An ex convict and a friend to an Ex member of MML Gang”
“Yes..about the MML Gang I’ve been trying to find information about them”
“They are all dead”
Chad looked up at him
“The five of them?” He asked
“Well only one survived six years ago. He was in jail for Six years but he died too a couple of weeks ago”
“He is dead?”
His forehead crea-sed
“Yes. His name is Dane Kelly but usually called Speedy. And he did that recording and wrote that note before his death”
Chad checked the writing on the envelope. It was directed to “RIA ROBERT”. And it was sealed.
“tell me all I nee-d to know”
Chad said
Derrick sighed
“Matthew said that Frederick visited speedy few days before he died. He didn’t know what they talked about..but he suspected that there was a de-ep secret between them. And Days later speedy had a fight with an inmate and was stabbe-d”
“Perhaps was there a grudge between speedy and that inmate?”
“Yes scorpion used to be the Lord of the Prison before speedy took away that title. He survived and at the infirmary speedy told Matthew that he nee-ded him to find someone as soon as he leaves prison”
“Hold up..” Chad raised a f!nger
“Speedy asked Matthew to find someone when he gets out of jail”
“Yes. And he said that someone wanted him dead. He told him the place to find the note and device and asked him to find me and deliver it to me”
“And who wants him dead?”
“Who else?”
Chad raised an eyebrow
“Frederick Robert” he replied
“Yes. Matthew went back to the infirmary the next day during lunch but was told that Speedy pas-sed out during the night”
“But..why did Frederick killed Speedy?”
“You will find the answer in that recording” Derrick itched the bridge of his nose
“Everything you nee-d to put Frederick in jail is in that box”
They l@psed into silence
Chad was busy checking out the papers In the box. He saw pictures. Two pictures of Ria and her parents.
“I advice you don’t deal with Frederick here in Idaho. And also get the best Attorney to help you on this case”
“Yes Derrick the best Attorney will be in town soon to request for the files”
“Good one Chad.. But I hope they don’t tell her that the files are missing”
“They won’t do anything silly. Attorney Ava isn’t an ordinary Attorney..she’s got connections”
“Then tell her to request for a transfer of case to Chicago. That will render Frederick powerless”
“Frederick is powerless in this case. Ria Robert is not the hopeless Blind girl people around here know her to be..she’s rich now. And she’s got Rich and powerful people helping her on this case. You know Ian Bryant?”
“Ian Bryant?”
“Yes..He’s a Mogul”
Derrick nodded
“I haven’t met him but I’ve heard of his family history..pretty famous”
“Third riche-st family in USA. He is Ria Robert p@rtner. And he’s determined to put Frederick in jail. And I can as-sure you that he won’t get away this time”
“You can’t be sure Detective. Frederick is smart. And as a matter of fact his spies at the station will call to him inform that An attorney tendered a reinvestigation note. Let’s see -”
He paused
“Frederick Robert will leave town” he completed
“We will arrange for his arrest before he leaves town”
Chad replied
“We?”
Derrick sh0t him a confused look
“Yes..me and you. Derrick you are a detective”
“No I’m not a detective anymore and I don’t want to work on the Case”
“Ria Robert Will be happy see you”
“I’m not interested” he spat
“I can get you a job in Chicago. I’m sure my team will be happy to have a detective like you on our team”
He was silent
Chad dropped his number on the table.
He stood up and carried the box with him and walked out of the house.
He s£nt Derrick’s address to Ava.
Ava went to Derrick the next day she arrived at Chicago. She gave him the money Ian asked her to give him but he refused it .
Ava tried to convince him to join them to work in the case.
She dropped her card and told him that she awaits his response.
He had a second thought..it was a chance to start his life again. To live a normal life and forget about his wife that left him..and forget the miserable life he lived in Idaho.

°°°
FLASHFORWARD
“So have you listened to the tape?”
Ethan asked Chad
“Yes..” He took out the envelope and gave it to Ria. Ian collected it and handed it to her.
“Speedy s£nt this to you”
Chad said
“Can we listen to the tape first?”
Ria asked
“Sure”
Chad took out the device and pressed the bu-tton.
Speedy: My name is Dane Kelly but my gang called me speedy. I used to be a member of the MML Gang. I made this recording as an evidence to be used against Frederick Robert in court cause I know nemesis will catch up with him soon. He is a bad man. Frederick used us for dirty jobs. He ordered us to kill people.. Mostly anyone who tried to get in his way. Six years ago,Frederick c@m£ to my Boss Lucas and told him to get rid of his step brother Nathan Robert. He gave us paper works which contained the transfer of inheritance. He told Lucas to get Nathan to sign those papers and we should kill him and his family. The inheritance was a lot of money..$10 million dollars and Frederick offered to give Lucas p@rt of the money aside the payment of the job. We killed Nathan and his wife but Lucas took Ria away cause he couldn’t control his S-xual urge after seeing her”
Ian held Ria’s hands
“Lucas took her to our den but lied to Frederick that he had fun with her in his car and she died and he threw her b©dy off a cliff.
Frederick believed him and left that day. He thought it was over until they declared Ria missing. He c@m£ back to the den and yelled at Lucas for not killing her in their home. Then he devised a plan.. The perfect plan to make everyone believe that Ria was dead. Frederick paid the commisioner of police to fire the detective in charge of the case and some cops who will pres£nt the false b©dy of Ria Robert. It wasn’t human but a toy in form of human. It was made by the toy industry in Idaho. They designed it to look Real…like Ria…that was why back then there wasn’t much cops at the place they found Ria’s so-called b©dy. It was just the cops the commissioner as-signed to the woods. And when a witness showed up and said she saw us that night and everyone suspected us. Then Lucas s£nt Kelly.. The only female in our gang. He asked her to go to the witness. She was a single mother of two and so Kelly threatened to kill her sons. And she ordered her to change her words whenever the press c@m£ around. And she complied and admitted that the men they found are ones she saw that night. The truth was Frederick paid two thvgs to act as the killers giving them the as-surance that he would fly them out of the country after the case was closed. And they confessed that they killed Nathan and his wife because he refused to pay the money he borrowed from them. And they killed Ria in the woods. It was a lie. Actually, we killed those men after they closed the case. Lucas was willing to protect Ria from her uncle because he was in love with her but my boss couldn’t tell her.
And in a long run,we went for an operation in a bank but someone called the cops on us. They killed Lucas and two other members. I was apprehended and the last member that was sh0t didn’t make it. Python died the next day leaving just me to face the wrath. Frederick couldn’t get me out of cell. I was s£ntenced to Life Imprisonment but that bastard promised to get me out of jail when i threatened to expo-se his secrets. Six years pas-sed now he didn’t do anything. He c@m£ to jail weeks back and asked me to tell him the truth about Ria. He claimed that she was Alive and I told him the truth after seeing the pictures he gave to me. Then I told him to turn himself in to the police before he left that day. I knew Frederick won’t spare me for saying that to him. He was so confident that Ria won’t do anything to him. And i s-en-sed that my end was near and I was glad. It was better to die than stay in jail for life. I’m recording this just in case Frederick orders someone to get rid of me just to conceal the Truth. I don’t want Frederick to get away with his crimes. And I’m the only evidence Ria has to put him in jail. Detective Derrick I’m sure you’re listening to me,you are the only one I can trust with this cause I saw how determined you were back then to find the killers. Mr Derrick find Ria,she’s in Chicago, now a famous clothe designer. Find her and help her get Justice on her Parents death”
Then it beeped
“That’s all”
Chad said in a low tone.
“We can arrest Frederick with these evidences”
He said
“Yes and the transfer of case is in Process” Ava added
“Mr Chad do the necessary things” Ian gritted
“Sure I will turn in the evidences to my boss today and make a report. Attorney Ava plea-se I will like you to come with me to the station to talk to my boss”
“Okay”
They both stood up
“plea-se kindly drop by at the station to make a statement”
He said to Ria
“Should I bring the letter along?” Ria asked
“No it yours..whatever is in there is personal”
“Okay”
Ava and chad left
“I think I’ll take my leave too”
Ethan said and walked out
Elise went to Ria
“Don’t worry everything will be fine. Mr Ian I will leave her with you”
She said
Ian nodded as she blink back tears.
Elise exited the room.
“Ria -” he called as he squee-zed her hands gently
“I promise you that he won’t get away”
She nodded and picked the letter
“Ria..you know you can re-ad the letter some other time”
“No..I will re-ad now”
“Are you sure about it?”
“Yes Ian”
And he re-ad it to her
Dear Ria,
I’m glad to hear that you are alive and also doing fine in Chicago. I heard that you are now a famous Clothe designer – it Good. To be sincere Ria, You deserve the Best after everything you went throu-gh in Lucas den. I’m so sorry for What I tried to do to you. Find a place In your heart to forgive me for trying to f0rç£ myself on you. I’m using this medium to ask for your forgiveness for getting you into trouble with Lucas. I felt guilt for what Lucas and his men did to you. I wish we could meet again so i can apologize properly…but I know I’m the last person you wanna see. I know I deserve death and I will gladly accept it.
plea-se Ria,once again forgive me and the MML gang oer killing your parents and for causing you pain. It’s only your forgiveness that can make us rest in peace.
plea-se Forgive us.
Thanks in Advance!
And I wish you all the best in life Ria Robert.
From Dane Kelly (Speedy).
Tears dropped down Ria’s cheeks.
“He knew he was going to die” she stood up and Walked to her desk.
Ian went to her and pu-ll-ed her into his arms ti-ghtly.
She lasted two minutes in tears. She couldn’t st©p them.
“And even after everything.. he shouldn’t have died” she sobbe-d
She was heartbroken
She felt bad that he was dead.
“Ria that’s enough”
Ian whispered
“Everyone deserve a second chance..you know no one deserves to die. He was bad though, but he thought of doing something that would help me. Now I feel bad that he died because of me. And if he hadn’t confessed the truth then he would still be alive -”
“No Ria don’t blame yourself” he shushed her
“I forgive him..I forgive them” She muttered
That was the best thing she could do to repay speedy for preparing that evidence.
Forgiveness was the only option left to take away the guilt she was feeling. And she promised that she would do everything in her power to make sure that Frederick pays for all his crimes.
 
 
EPISODE •• FIFTY •• FOUR
THEME: SUSPECTS ????
°°° Three Days Later °°°
• RIA ROBERT COUTURE •
RIA POV ????‍
I stood outside my shop waiting for Ian. I was anxious. And i was beginning to lose patience. I left my office and decided to wait for him outside. The time was now 10:30am, Ian was never late for our coffee Mornings and he always call if he couldn’t make it down here due to emergency at work.
But,today was different,he didn’t show up and no call.
I was worried when I called his line and Ian didn’t pick up.
I was disturbe-d and started to feel that something was wrong.
The transferring of case from Idaho to Chicago was approved the day before yesterday. And chad went with his men to apprehend Frederick but no one was home except the maids. Chad called Derrick to inform him that Frederick wasn’t home and the an old woman at his home said that Frederick left home some days ago. Chad was quic-k to calculate the day the woman gave him and it happened to be that Frederick left home the day Ava turned in the Reinvestigation Letter.
He left Town! Someone much have told him about it!
coward!
This made Derrick to join our team. He was now determined to find Frederick. And very soon they will declare him wanted.
“Miss Ria..Miss Ria -”
I heard Elise voice behind me.
I turned to face her.
She looked troubled
“What’s wrong?”
“plea-se come in and watch the news”
She said shakily
“The news?”
She nodded impatiently
I followed her back inside to the large Tv. My workers gathered around to watch the news too.
I saw Lint Corp Textile Factory. My eyes scrolled down to the breaking news.
Breaking New: Textile Factory on Fire ????
They showed the building on fire
“Several workers injured and CEO Ian Bryant coll@psed in fire” The Reporter said
My heart skipped beats when I saw the medical team pushing Ian in a stretcher with oxygen on his nose.
“No..no” I muttered
Tears rolled down my cheeks
Elise held me ti-ghtly
“He will be fine”
I looked up at the Tv again. Firemen trying to put out of the fire.
What could have happened?
“The victims are being rushed to the nearest hospital which is Ainsley Hospital” the reporter continued
“Ainsley hospital?” I repeated
“I’ll get your bag” Loretta offered and rushed to my office.
I waited impatiently for her return.
“I’m coming with you” Elise said
“No I’ll be fine..just stay at the sto-re”
“Okay” she replied reluctantly
The two b©dyguards Ian hired (Brian and Bert) followed me.
“I don’t nee-d you guys following me around!”
I yelled at them and they stepped backward.
And it so annoying having b©dyguards to protect you. At school they almost followed me into the toilet.. They never left my side even in clas-ses. And I alre-ady told Ian that I don’t nee-d any b©dyguard following me around.
I dialed Mrs Perla number and she picked
“Hello?”
It wasn’t her voice
“Hello can I talk Mrs Perla?”
“Ria is that you?”
The soft voice asked
“Yes”
“Oh Ria..it me Lauren”
Ian’s second big sister. We’ve met before when she wanted to get a dress for her daughter Mia. She celebr@ted her 10th birthday two weeks ago.
“I just watched the news now..and I’m on my way to Ainsley hospital” I rushed out my words
“Okay”
“What about Mrs Perla?”
“She fainted after she received the news that Ian coll@psed in the fire”
“How is she?”
“She’s fine now -”
“Okay..I will be there soon”
She hang up
What’s going on?
Oh my God! Let Ian be fine.
I said the prayer over and over again.

°°°
♦••••• IDAHO ••••• ♦
°°°°°SANDER MANSION°°°°°
AUTHOR POV ????????
Alexis went to the door when she heard the doorbell.
“Good Afternoon Sir. How may I help you?”
Derrick who was now working as a detective in Chicago brou-ght out his ID card and showed it to the maid. He c@m£ with two cops.
“We are here to see Mrs Robert”
“Alexis is everything okay?”
Serena asked
Alexis opened the door wi-de for Serena to see their visitors.
She walked closer to the door.
“Are you Mrs Sanders?”
Derrick asked
“Yes I’m Serena Sanders”
He showed her his card.
“And Mrs Vivian Robert is here Right?”
She nodded
“Is everything okay?”
She asked
“Yes i just want to have a word with you”
“Come in”
She invited them in
“Vivian -” she called
Vivian and Bay c@m£ to the sitting room. They st©pped on track when their eyes fell on the men in uniforms.
“Detective Derrick from police quarters in Chicago”
“What’s going on Mom?”
Bay asked
“Pres£ntly we are reinvestigating Nathan and Madison’s case -”
“Nathan and Madison?” Vivian asked
“Yes The Robert.. Your husband’s step brother”
“They are dead”
“Yes I know” he c0cked his brows
“Where is Mr Frederick Robert?” He asked
“My husband?”
She sh0t him a confused look
“Yes”
“He’s out of town..on a vacation”
“Where?”
“I don’t know”
“Or you don’t want to disclose his location?”
“Mr Frederick didn’t give me a specific country or town?. He only warned me not to go Chicago”
“Why?”
“I told him some weeks ago that I’d like to Visit RRC to buy dresses but he refused”
She paused
“Why are you looking for my husband? And why are you reinvestigating a closed case?”
“For justice to prevail. After much investigation we found out that Mr Frederick Robert was de-eply involved in the case”
Their jaws dropped.
“What do you mean?”
Derrick ignored Vivian’s question
“Thanks for your time”
“Hey…” Bay called out to him but he don’t respond
And then he left with his men.
He figured Frederick’s location in his wife’s word’s. He had warned her not to travel to Chicago.
Then he is in Chicago!
His phone beeped.
It was Chad.
“Hello Chad”
“I just spoke to Mrs Vivian”
He told Chad what he found.
“Frederick is in Chicago”
He said
Chad was silent
“Are you there?” Derrick asked
“Someone set Lint Corp The textile Factory on fire” chad said finally
“What?!” His mouth dropped slightly
“Yes and Ian coll@psed in the fire”
Frederick is in Chicago, Textile factory on fire,Ian Coll@psed in fire…
Derrick thought de-eply
Then it struck him!
“Chad I think this is Frederick’s doing” He muttered
“Yes..lets just say that he want to get rid of Ian to make Ria Powerless. Ian said Frederick called him and.. he had told Frederick straight that he would put him in jail -”
“Now I think we don’t have to work in Idaho”
“Yes..the search is in Chicago..we have to find him”
“Yes”
“Perhaps did to tell his wife about it?”
“Not directly. I only said Frederick was involved in the case”
“Why didn’t you tell her?”
“The woman would coll@pse if I told her Frederick murdered his brother. And I have too much work to do than rushing a woman to the hospital”
“She will find out anytime soon”
“Yes the press are alre-ady storming the police station here trying to find any information”
“Well drop something for them before moving to Chicago”
“Sure” the line dropped

•••
AINSLEY HOSPITAL
RIA POV
The rush to the hospital was in a bad way,hectic scene in the emergency room and this feeling I had felt before..the fear of losing Ian..the fear of not being in Ian’s world again.
“Don’t let it be”
I chanted in my head
I pushed my way throu-gh the Nurses and patients who were in my way,running towards the ICU. I met Lauren and Josie sitting in front of the ICU. They stared at me. I recognized Josie from the pictures Ian had showed me on his phone. Lauren stood up and c@m£ to me.
“How is he?”
I asked her
My eyes held a pleading look,hoping Ian would be fine.
Nothing will go wrong!
Ian will be fine! I prayed
A solemn look on Lauren’s face
“We’re not sure yet” she said
On cue,Doctor Hawn exit the ICU with a Female doctor and a Nurse behind him,turning all attention towards him.
“How is Ian?” We chorused
“He’s fine”
We let out a sigh of relief
“It seems Ian didn’t take his ventolin Inhaler to the factory that was why he coll@psed in the fire. The smoke must have been too much for him to bear that it affected his breathing” Doctor Hawn said
I was trying to make s-en-se of his words.
Ventolin Inhaler echoed in my head.
“Will he fine?” Josie asked
“Ahmm yes..he’s currently on oxygen machine but he will regain consciousness soon”
“Can we see him?” I asked
“Sure but you can’t go in yet”
He replied
“plea-se excuse me I will cheek on Mrs Perla”
He said and walked away with the women
“Josie.. this is Ria Robert. Ian’s girlfriend” Lauren introduced me
I fiddled with my f!ngers
Josie was totally different from Lauren. She had a frown on her face..and she sh0t me a disgusting look like I had $h!t on my b©dy.
“It nice to -”
She cuts in
“Lauren I’ll just go ahead and Check on Ian”
She said coldly before walking away.
“I apologize on Josie’s behalf. She is always like that anytime…she’s un-der tension”
I gave her a half smile
“It fine”
It doesn’t matter to me. I’m more concerned about Ian.
“Mrs Lauren -”
I paused
I swallowed ha-rd
“I don’t un-derstand what Doctor Hawn said about Ventolin Inhaler -”
“Ian didn’t tell you?” She asked
I shook my head
“Ian is asthmatic”
My heartbeats ra-pidly
“I never knew Ian had health problems..he didn’t mention it to me” I replied
“Well maybe he didn’t want you to worry about him. Actually he goes around with an inhaler. And he’s pretty good at hiding his problems”
And I never noticed it.
And why didn’t i ask him if he had any health problem to?
“I’m sure he’s going to be fine”
She ru-bbe-d my arm
And I nodded in agreement
“Do you want to see Ian first or check on my mom?” She asked
“Your mom..” I replied
I don’t want to be with Josie. She scares me!
“Let’s go”
She held my hand and led me to Mrs Perla Ward.
I heard Mrs Perla voice when we almost got to the entrance of the ward.
“It all your fault!” She screamed
Lauren rolled her eyes
“Family issues” she muttered
I shouldn’t go in with her.
I st©pped
“Mrs Lauren you can go in. I want to call a Friend”
She stared at me for a second
“Okay” she nodded
“If only you had monito-red the factory seriously like the rest of your sisters did to the company as-signed to them then Ian won’t be unconscious!”
Mrs Perla said
Lauren stepped in
“You are incompetent Piper! And all this happened because of you!”
She yelled at Piper
I wondered what had caused the fire at the factory.
My phone beeped
It took it out of my bag.
It was Ethan!
“Ria..I watched the news -” he whispered
“Yes..Ian coll@psed in the fire”
“Where are you?”
“At Ainsley hospital”
“How is he?”
“He’s unconscious but the doctor said he would be fine” I blinked back tears as I explained Ian’s health condition to him.
“And he didn’t tell you about it?”
“Ian didn’t tell me he was asthmatic..and I’ve never even noticed an inhaler with him”
“Ria relax.. Ian – maybe he didn’t want you to worry about him”
But I’d be glad if he had told me about it.
Now I’m feeling bad hat I haven’t been caring about him.
“Will you come back to the sto-re?”
“No I will wait here..I want to be there for Ian when he wakes up”
This is the time to repay Ian for taking care of me in China
“Okay..just give me a call when he wakes up”
“Okay”
He hang up
I turned back and Josie was there.
And i didn’t know what to say to her.
“The board of directors and shareholders of the factory requests that you stepped down as the chairlady”
A masculine voice said
“What?!”
“Piper you don’t have to worry about them..you can’t step down if the major shareholder doesn’t want you to – and you know your mom is the major shareholder”
“I want her to step down”
Mrs Perla said
“Mom! You can’t do this to me! After everything I -”
“You ruined the company. Now we have no textile company now!”
“Calm down mom” I heard Lauren’s voice
“Darling we can discuss and sort things out” the masculine voice said
It was Ian’s dad!
Josie held the door knob
“You shouldn’t be eavesdropping on our family’s discussion”
Oh yeah she was right!
I think it better I stay away. Since I’m not p@rt of the family.
I will talk to Mrs Perla later.
I stepped backward. The door opened and Piper c@m£ out with a we-t face. She had been crying. She ran down the hallway as fast as her legs could carry her.
Josie stepped in
“Darling -”
“That’s my final decision and.. I’m not changing my mind”
Mrs Perla said
“Mom is this about Ian or the company?” I heard Josie’s voice
“plea-se don’t start Josie”
Lauren said
I wasn’t re-ady to stay around and listen to their discussion. I made my way back to the ICU. I peered throu-gh the transparent glas-s on the door. Time ticked constantly,moving while I stood waiting outside the Intensive care unit. I watched him l@yunconscious in be-d. There he la-id,Ian limp b©dy on the be-d,a bandage around his head and left wrist and a gauze on his nose. I was sure there was more un-der the hospital go-wn. He wasn’t in a good condition.
And all that’s left is to wait till he regained consciousness.
My phone buzzed again. It was Ethan
“Hello”
“Ria -” he called shakily
“What’s wrong Ethan?”
I asked fearfully
He drew in a de-ep breathe
“Chad just called me now and he said that …Frederick is in Chicago”
My heartbeat accelerated
Don’t let it be what I’m thinking
“And he said that..it is possible that Frederick set the textile factory on fire. No evidence yet but they are preparing to check the CCTV in the factory.. Some p@rt are not affected..”
“Oh no -”
I whispered
Tears.. I could feel them dropping down my cheeks.
If it was Frederick truly..then he must have done that to get back at Ian. I was there the day Frederick called Ian to ask why he had canceled the deal and Ian told him everything.. The recording and the case he tried to cover up.
Realization hit me!
And all this happened because of me!
The textile factory got burnt because of me!
Those workers in the fire..Ian..and Piper getting blamed..It was all fault.
“Ria are you there?”
I dropped the phone from my ear and stared at Ian closely.
Why was there a bandage on his head and wrist.. And the a gauze on his nose since he was only affected by the smoke?
It was clear!
If it was Frederick then he was after Ian’s life. He wanted to destroy Ian to make me powerless over the case. He knew that Ian was Solidly behind me and determined to put him in jail.
And at the same time what if it wasn’t Frederick but someone else?
Who?
I thought de-eply
“Ethan..” I placed the phone on my ear
“Yes Ria…”
“What if it was Drake Robert?”
“Drake?”
“Yes..the Deal Ian cancelled..Drake must have done it to make Ian come back to him. Remember he wanted to supply me Fabrics but I rejected his offer…He -”
“I un-derstand Ria.. I will call Chad and tell him about it too”
The line dropped again
My mind was spinning. It could be Drake Robert. He must have thought that ruining The textile factory will make me come to him for supplies so then he will use that chance to make Ian sign the deal again.
And I could ha-rd ly believe what I was thanking!
But somehow feelings of guilt washed over me.
I wondered what would happened tomorrow and in the next few days.
 
Tbc