That night, Dustin and Natasha sat by Haley’s bedside in one of the wards of East Swinton Hospital. Their hearts ached for her as they watched her sleep.


    She had just gone through an operation. All her injuries had been treated and bandaged. Dustin had even performed acupuncture on her to ensure that her blood cirction was fine.


    Though she was no longer in danger, the shock of the ident was still traumatizing for a five- year–old child.“Don’tworry,Haleywillbefine.”DustinheldNatasha’shandtforther.


    “Those beasts! They didn’t even spare the child!” Natasha hissed through clenched teeth, furious.“I will get to the bottom of this. I will not let whoever is behind this off!” Dustin was dead serious.


    Whatever he did should not implicate those around him. They had crossed a line now that both Natasha and Haley were harmed.


    Hewouldnotgoeasyonwickedpeople.


    “Natasha!”HectorandRuthrushedin.


    TheyweredistraughtwhentheysawthebandagearoundNatasha’shead.Theyhurriedtoaskifshewasalright.


    “Dad,I’mfine.Justsomeminorscratches.”Natashasmiled,tryingtoeasetheirworries.


    “Oh,that’sgood.It’sgreattohearthatyou’refine.”Hectorheaved asighofrelief.


    “IwasshockedwhenIheardyouguyshadbeeninanident.Thankgodyou’reallsafe.”


    “Howdidyouguysgetintoanident?Youguysweren’tdrunkdriving,wereyou?”Ruthasked.


    “Itwasn’tus.Someone diditonpurpose.”Natashadidnothidethetruthfromthemandrecounted


    everythingthathappened.


    BothHectorandRuthfrowned.


    “Whodaresdosomethinglikethis?Howcouldtheydosomethinglikethisinbroaddaylight?What’sthepointofthw?”? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    “We’relookingintoit.I’msurewe’llhaveouranswersbytomorrow,”Dustinanswered.


    “Nomatterwho’sbehindit,theymustpayforthis!”Hector’sexpressionwasdark.


    Itwashingforotherstoschemeandplotagainstthem.Butnow thathisdaughter’slifewasthreatened,hewouldnotsitbyandwatch.


    “Well,Iseeyou’reallhere!”Suddenly,awell–dressedandhigh–spiritedmanstrodein withhis


    headheldhigh.


    Thereweretwoadjutantsinmilitaryuniformsfollowingbehindhim.


    “Dn?Whyareyouhere?”Natasha’sbrowsfurrowed.


    “Iheardthatyou wereinvolvedinatrafficident.I’myourcousin;itonlymakessensethateandvisityou.”


    Dnlookedherupanddownbeforehesmiled.“ButIthink you’refine.Youdon’tlookterriblyinjured.Congrattions!”


    “Cutthenonsense.Whatareyouherefor?”Natashadidnotwishto wastetime conversingwith


    him.


    AfterHectorhadbeenforcedfromhis positionas headoftheHarmonfamily,theirrtionshiphadgonesour.


    “Icameheretocheckifyou’refineandtochatwithUncleHector.”DnturnedtolookatHector.


    “MayIspeaktoyouinprivate,UncleHector?”


    “There’snoneedforthat.Ifthere’sanythingyouneedtosay,youcansayithere,”Hectorsaid.


    “Alrightthen,sincewe’reallfamily,Iwon’tbeataroundthebushanymore.”Dnsatdownonachair,makinghimselfortable.


    Then,hesmiled.“UncleHector,theHarmonancestorshaveleftusatreasuremap,haven’tthey?


    “ording to the rules, the head of the family should keep the map. Now that you’re no longer head of the family, don’t you think it’s time you return the map?”