The atmosphere in the Georges' house had been suffocating for Racheal since the truth about Richard's escape was revealed. Days had passed, yet Racheal was still treated like an outsider. Her parents, especially her Mom, could barely look at her without resentment flashing in their eyes.Each morning, Harriet would pass her in the hallway without a word. Anthony barely acknowledged her existence, and when he did, it was with cold indifference. The weight of their disappointment crushed her, and no matter how much she tried, she couldn't escape the guilt they forced upon her.
Downstairs, the doorbell chimed. Racheal, standing at the top of the stairs, froze. Inspector Jones had arrived.
She leaned over the railing, holding her breath as she eavesdropped on the conversation unfolding in the sitting room.
Jones' voice was steady, but there was a weight behind his words that made the air in the room feel heavier. "Mr. and Mrs. George, I need you both to be honest with me. If Richard truly wanted to escape Festac, something must have pushed him to make that decision. And besides, Racheal mentioned that he didn't want either of you to come after him."
Harriet's face twisted with anger as she shot up from her chair. "So what exactly are you implying, Inspector? That we drove him away? Or worse, that we had something to do with his death?" Her voice trembled with outrage, her hands clenched into fists.
Anthony reached for her wrist, giving it a firm squeeze, a silent plea for her to calm down. His gaze locked onto hers, and with a slight shake of his head, he signaled for her to sit back down.
"Let him finish," he muttered.
Jones barely flinched at Harriet's outburst. His sharp eyes flicked between them before he continued, his voice unwavering. "As his parents, can you think of anything, anything at all,that might have driven Richard to fake his own death?" He let the question settle in the room, his gaze assessing their every reaction. Then he leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable. "Did you ever say anything to him?
Anthony exhaled through his nose, a mirthless chuckle escaping his lips. "Richard wasn't running from us, Inspector," he said flatly. "He must have been running from responsibility, from the family business. He was supposed to take over the wine business, but he didn't want to. I assume that's why he wanted to leave."
Jones didn't look convinced. His gaze narrowed. "And why do you think he wouldn't want to take over such a flourishing business?" His tone was careful, calculated. "Did you make him scared?"
Anthony's expression turned cold, his voice firm. "My son was not scared of anything." He replied flatly.
Jones tilted his head slightly. "Then why fake his own death to escape? I think there is more"
Anthony's patience snapped. He leaned forward, his face darkening with fury. "I won't have you standing in my home, Inspector, and insinuating that my wife and I had anything to do with our son's death," he seethed. His voice was sharp, slicing through the air like a blade.
"This is a sensitive time for us jones, our son is dead. And if you and your men were competent, his killers would already be rotting in the ground where they belong. Now, if you'll excuse me, my wife and I have a business to run in Oakhaven."
Harriet took Anthony's hand, nodding toward the staircase before they disappeared upstairs.
As soon as Jones left, Racheal rushed to her room and locked the door behind her. She grabbed her phone and dialed David's number.
He picked up almost immediately
"Racheal?"
"David," she whispered, glancing at her bedroom door to make sure no one was nearby. "We have to go look for Kate tomorrow."
David hesitated. "Are you sure? What of your parents"
"My parents won't be in town for a few days," she cuts in. "It's the perfect time."
There was a pause, then David sighed. "Alright. Where do we meet?"
"The gas station. Tomorrow morning."
"Okay. What time?"
"9 a.m."
"Got it."
Racheal exhaled deeply. "Thank you, David."
"Just be careful, Racheal."
She ended the call and closed her eyes.
The morning sun filtered through her curtains, casting long shadows across her bedroom floor.
Racheal carefully folded the crumpled note Andrew had given her, stuffing it into her pocket along with her phone and a small stack of cash.
As she slipped out of the house, a strange sense of finality washed over her. David was already waiting at the gas station when she arrived. He leaned against his car, arms crossed, his face tense with concern.
"You ready?" he asked as she slid into the passenger seat.
She nodded. "Let's go."
The drive to Greendale was tense. The city soon gave way to long stretches of empty roads and scattered trees.
David's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Do you think we'll actually find Kate?"
"Yes," Racheal said firmly. "Andrew gave me her address."
David shot her a skeptical glance. "And what if this is a trap? What if Andrew set you up?"
She hesitated. "I don't think he did."
David's brows furrowed. "How can you be sure?"
Racheal exhaled. "If he wanted to hurt me, he could have done it a long time ago. Silence stretched between them.
Then Racheal asked, "Do you think I should tell my parents about Kate? Maybe they'd let her stay with us, since she's carrying Richard's baby."
David scoffed. "And you think they'd believe you? Racheal, they barely even talk to you. You need to win them over first. Gain back their trust."
Racheal sighed heavily, slumping back into her seat. "You're right."
The Clinton Lodge in Greendale was run-down, its neon sign flickering dimly in the gray morning light.
Racheal's pulse quickened. "She's in there."
David parked the car. The apartments smelled of damp wood and cigarette smoke. They moved cautiously, following the numbers on the doors.
At the far end of the hallway, they found Room 006.
Racheal raised her fist to knock but hesitated.
David nudged her. "Come on."
She knocked twice.
A few moments passed, then the door creaked open.
A pale, terrified face peeked through the gap. She was stunning,red hair, blue eyes,but her features were hollow with exhaustion. A slight bulge in her stomach made Racheal's breath catch.
"Oh my God," Racheal muttered under her breath.
"You must be Kate," she whispered.
Immediately, Kate's eyes widened, and she slammed the door shut.
"No, please wait! I'm Richard's twin!" Racheal blurted out. "I've come here to help you."
Kate hesitated, then slowly opened the door, studying Racheal warily. "You're Richard's sister?" she finally said.
Racheal swallowed hard, nodding. "And you're carrying his child."
Kate placed a protective hand over her stomach.
Racheal hesitated. "Can I… can I touch it?"
Kate's lips trembled, but she gave a small nod.
Racheal reached out, her fingers brushing against Kate's stomach. A tear slipped down her cheek.
For the first time since Richard's death, she felt hope.
Kate stepped aside, letting them in.
The room was dimly lit, a small bed pushed against the corner, a duffel bag half packed near the door.
"I've waited three weeks, and I haven't seen Richard," Kate admitted, her voice laced with anxiety. "Did he come with you?"
David and Racheal exchanged a look.
"Kate…" Racheal's voice cracked.
Kate's expression turned desperate. "Where is he? He promised we'd run away together."
Racheal's lips trembled. "Richard is…" she struggled to say the words.
Kate's expression turned desperate. "Richard is what?"
Racheal swallowed hard. "He's dead."
Kate's face contorted in shock. "No… No, he can't be."
Her breath hitched. Suddenly, she clutched her stomach, wincing in pain.
"Kate?" Racheal rushed forward as Kate collapsed. David caught her just before she hit the ground. "She's burning up! We need to get her to a hospital. Now!"
They hurried to the car, carefully placing Kate in the backseat.
David jumped behind the wheel, the tires screeching against the asphalt as they sped toward Greendale Specialist Center.
Racheal held Kate's trembling hand as she whispered, "I won't let anything happen to you."
Kate's eyes fluttered closed as the car screeched to a stop.
David jumped out of the car, his heart racing as he rushed to the hospital entrance, clutching Kate's limp body tightly in his arms. Nurses hurried forward, wheeling a stretcher toward them. "She fainted!" David gasped, his voice frantic. "Please help her!"
The nurses carefully transferred Kate onto the stretcher, her head falling to the side. Racheal followed closely, her fingers digging into her palms as they disappeared through the emergency ward doors. She stood frozen in the hospital corridor. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Then, the double doors swung open, and a middle aged doctor in a white coat approached them, his expression calm but firm.
"Are you the ones who brought in Miss Kate?" His voice was professional yet kind.
"Yes," they both murmured in unison, their voices tight with anxiety.
The doctor gave them a reassuring nod. "She's stable now, but she needs rest.
But I can assure you, both she and the baby are safe. We'll monitor her overnight, and if everything remains stable, she can be discharged tomorrow."
A breath Racheal didn't realize she was holding rushed out of her lungs. Relief crashed over her like a wave. "Thank you, Doctor," she whispered.
David exhaled sharply, nodding. "Can we see her now?"
The doctor gestured toward the ward. "She's resting, but you can go in."
Without wasting another second, Racheal pushed through the doors and stepped into the dimly lit hospital room. Kate laid on the hospital bed, her face pale against the stark white pillow. The slight rise and fall of her chest reassured Racheal that she was okay. She pulled up a chair and sat beside Kate, watching her sleep. David settled into a chair near the window, rubbing his hands over his face.
Three hours later, Kate's eyes fluttered open to the soft hum of hospital machines. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of antiseptic. A dull ache throbbed in her abdomen, but the panic that had gripped her earlier had lessened.
Beside her, Racheal sat, eyes red and weary, watching her intently. When she noticed Kate stirring, relief flooded her face. "You're awake," Racheal whispered.
Kate swallowed hard, her throat dry. "The baby?"
"You're okay," David assured her from the chair by the window. "And so is your baby."
Tears welled in Kate's eyes. "Thank God…" She exhaled shakily. "I was so scared."
"We were too," Racheal admitted, squeezing Kate's hand gently. "But you're safe now."
Kate turned her head slightly, her brows knitting together. "Where is Richard?"
The question sliced through the air like a knife.
Racheal's throat tightened, and she felt David shift uncomfortably in his chair.
"Richard is gone," Racheal whispered, her voice trembling.
Kate's face twisted in confusion. "No," she murmured, shaking her head weakly. "No, that's not possible.
Racheal reached for her, but Kate recoiled, her body trembling.
"Kate, you need to calm down, okay." But Kate wasn't listening. "No, no, no!" she wept, rocking back and forth, her entire body shaking.
Suddenly, she gasped, her hands clutching her stomach. A sharp cry escaped her lips as her face contorted in pain.
"Kate?!" Racheal got up from her chair.
Kate's breathing became ragged. She grimaced, pressing a hand to her belly.
"She's in pain!" David grabbed the emergency call button and pressed it repeatedly.
Within seconds, a nurse rushed in, assessing Kate quickly before turning to them. "She needs to stay on bed rest. Too much stress is dangerous for the baby."
Kate sobbed quietly, her body limp against the hospital bed.
Racheal brushed damp strands of hair from Kate's face. "I know this is unbearable," she whispered, her voice breaking. "But you have to be okay. For the baby. For Richard."
Kate nodded weakly, fresh tears slipping down her cheeks.
After a few minutes, the nurse adjusted Kate's IV and left the room