He was also sick and tired of Tracie’s attitude towards Selene whenever they spoke about her. He could only hope when they told Selene everything, Tracie wouldn’t be a problem.


    "What are you three talking about?" A woman in her early fifties asked as her brown eyes simr to Tracie’s scanned between them. "I can hear your voice from the kitchen." She held a confused look, waiting for one of them to answer her.


    She could feel the tension in the air, as if they’d just argued.


    Turning to Tracie whose lips were shut tightly, her eyes ring into space, she questioned, "Did you cause your brother trouble again, Tracie?"


    "What? Why do you always think I’m the problem, mother?" Tracie asked her mother, feeling utterly offended by the woman’s words.


    "Because you always do," Nora, Mrs. rk responded with a stern look which made Tracie mp her mouth shut before the next words would spill. "And what are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you you would help me in the kitchen today? You are in yourte twenties and you still can’t cook. Come on now," Nora grabbed Tracie’s hand and pulled her away.


    "We are going to have to tell Mother everything at some point," said Ezekiel when the mother and daughter were no longer in sight. "We should invite Selene for dinner one time and tell her the truth there. I will inform Xavier," he added.


    Jeffrey gave him a side eye but didn’t refute it. He despised hearing that specific name. But he would have to endure it for a little more time until he figured out a way to get rid of Xavier from his daughter’s life.


    **


    "Take one more spoon, you have to finish this today so that you can take your drugs," Xavier urged Selene, who was making an ugly face as soon as the spoon was in close contact with her mouth.


    "Are you sure this is food? It tastes so nd. It’s like water mixed with bitter leaves and blended chili poured into a bowl. I can’t have anymore, please," she pleaded, taking her face away when Xavier tried to feed her.


    "You’ve only taken three spoons, you need to take more," he urged her.


    "No."


    Xavier sighed before keeping the bowl of soup down.


    "Fine," he gave up. He could smell the pungent aroma of the soup and he pitied her for taking it. "It’s time to take your drugs."


    He gave her the tablets and a ss of water. Selene was satisfied with Xavier’s response—she had no problem with taking drugs. Before he could change his mind, she immediately swallowed down the pills.


    Not quite long after, Xavier received a phone call.


    From Selene’s angle, the name of the caller was upside down. After identifying the alphabet, she recognized it to be Maxwell.


    Xavier excused himself before picking up the call.


    "Talk."


    "We were able to capture the driver before he left the city. He said it was Robert who sent him to kill Selene," Maxwell informed.


    Xavier’s hands clenched on the phone, veins popping on his neck as he tried to contain his wrath.


    "It was Michelle, wasn’t it?" He heard Selene’s voice from behind him.


    Instantly, he turned to find her standing, hands ced on the wall as a form of support.


    "You know you shouldn’t be standing yet until your wounds heal," he nagged her, his earlier ragepletely reced with worry as he assisted her back on the bed.


    "It was Michelle, wasn’t it?" She repeated.


    "It was Robert—-she must have told him to help her," he responded.


    A slight chuckle escaped from Selene’s lips before she could stop it.


    "Has any news about my recovery been uploaded on social media?" She asked.


    Xavier shook his head. "I kept it confidential until the criminal was caught."


    ’That means Michelle doesn’t know I survived,’ Selene thought to herself.


    Selene grabbed the bag beside her bed. It contained a new phone. She set everything up before ncing up at Xavier.


    "I should surprise her."


    **


    The sound of a ringing phone echoed loudly through the room, irritating the figure covered with a duvet amidst scattered bottles of alcohol on the floor.


    "Where’s that stupid phone?" Michelle groaned as her hands searched for the phone.


    When she found it, she checked the caller only for it to show <i>Unknown. </i>


    "Who is this?" She grumbled after sliding the screen.


    "Hi, Michelle!"