Kate took him to the Chairman's room. There were vibulizers, bronchodilators and other beeping machines attached to him, as if his life depends on  it.

"How did it get to this, mum? Jade asked with the stunned look on his face. He couldn't believe the chairman was in this state. Things probably got worse because of me, right?" Tears formed in his eyes as he muttered the last word.

"No, my son. Don't blame yourself for other people's mistakes. It's the Damien's family that caused this to us, okay?" Kate cleared up the thought.

"I won't agree less but would grandpa ever survive this? You said he's only having less than a month?"

"Yes... That's what the doctor said.

"This can't be happening. Not now... In anyway, it is unfair to be acting like this right now, grandpa. You should properly end this game your started, even though it would be the last." Jade's tears eyes watched the oxygen masks attached to his mouth and nose. He noticed the dark circles that formed under his under-eye sacks. The sickness gave his face more wrinkles and baggy looks, and Jade just realized how much this has eaten into him. It just took so long for any of them to realize.

Jade pulled his wheelchair closer to have a better look. His skin appeared so sucked in as if there were tightness in his back muscles. His collar bones were already visible. Seeing the chairman in this state was not only devastating to Jade. He shivered with thrills soaring down his throat, but Jade muttered all the courage left in him, as he held the Chairman's hand. It felt cold and soft, but Jade held onto it.

"Grandpa... I can't take this any longer. I'm impatient, I can't wait any longer. I'm selfish and stupid at the same time. I might be greedy from wanting more from life but can you grant me this wish? I don't mind loosing the inheritance because I'm not your heir....but... all I want is to be with Sapphire. Hopefully, we get a heart donor. I want you to witness my joy, grandpa. Our joy. You call call me an idiot, a punk or any name you choose to. I'll gladly accept if you give me your blessing as your grandson. I don't know if I can endure loosing either of you right now."Jade wept heavily, placing his forehead on the handle of the stretcher. He could feel his heart breaking into a million pieces, and Tere was no one to help.

As it is, he's in the verge of loosing the two people he love and cherish the most.
Kate places her hand on Jade's shoulder in consolation.

"Don't worry Jadee. I'm here with you." She gave him a tender as they broke into each other's arms in tears and comfort.

***

Meanwhile, when Lucas stepped out. Someone ran up to him, holding his wrist as if it was life depending. Lucas jerked away from the touch immediately, before he noticed that it was Chloe Charles. Dressed in disguise just to meet up with him.

"What? Are you crazy? Like seriously, what are you even doing here?!" He asked her in concern.

"I'm so sorry, Lucas. I'm truly sorry from the bottom of my heart. I can't bare staying away from Jade like this. The last time we met, he treated me like a trash. I can't even live a normal life anymore, my parents left for Tokyo and I'm the only one here. I don't know what to do, Lucas. Please help me out of this mess. My dad did all his best to help out of prison, just to clear our name but... The truth is that I don't have my freedom. I can't appear anywhere without being attacked. Please, how do I take this Shame off my face?"

"You started it, Chloe. And you brought this upon yourself!" Lucas looked around and noticed some people staring at them, strangely. "Just follow me!" He rolled his eyes at her as they went to his car.

"I know it's all my fault. My parents even got exposed because of my foolishness. Right now, they don't even want to see to me. Nobody wants to see to me. I have no one except you, Lucas. How can I clear my family name. Even if it's just a little. What efforts can I make? Please, help me out. We've known each other for so long."

Lucas rolled his eyes at her as a scoff escaped from his lips.

"Yes, we've known each other for so long but you've gone far with this. You've caused so much drama already, I don't want to have anything to do with this case. You've done the extreme, Chloe!... Uh! This is madness." He gushed at her as of she presence stinks.

"I'm so sorry.... I'd fallen deeply in love with Jade throughout the years. I know I was desperate for a moment but all I did was because I love Jade. I love him so much and I thought taking Saph out would be the best option."

"Look at you, Chloe. You're a beautiful and independent young lady. You shouldn't beg anyone to love you, Chloe. You used to be very cute, kind and charming. You're an intelligent woman at that but you've gone too far this time. Begging for love changed you completely. I just want to let you know that...you are beautiful the way you are. And you don't have to change for anybody."

"Would you marry me? Would you love me?" Her teary eyes searched his for answers.

"No... Not that, Chloe. Not now. I mean... I'm not even ready to love let alone, marry. Don't throw yourself to any man, Chloe. When it's time, the right guy would come for you. I want you to know that... you deserve so much love and respect as any other woman out there."

"You won't even love me? Is it because of this Shane or what?" She looked at him emotional and held her forehead in pain.
"So what am I going to do now?" She face him, again. "I just want to end my life already. I'm so messed up! How's Jade and Saph?"

"They're at the verge of death, right now. I don't know if Sapphire would be able to heal but Jade is so heartbroken. You've cut him deep, Chloe. It's just so sad but... I'll help you through. First, we need to meet Sapphire's parents and beg for their forgiveness."

"Okay... but, how do we do that? Do you have their address or something?" She looked at him with so much hope.

"Ummm... I know where she resides. I'd just check her apartment. Hopefully, I'd meet her roommate."

"Okay, let's go there now.

"But I'm having a meeting right now, Chloe. He looked at his wrist watch. Ugh! It's already 9:30 a.m... I'm thirty minutes late." Lucas muttered, looking so frustrated.

"Oh... I'm sorry." Chloe apologized to him. "I didn't know."

"Don't worry. I'll just have to skip it for your sake. Fasten your seatbelt!" He ordered before turning on the car engine.

They zoomed out if the parking lot, going to the direction of Sapphire's house.

At that moment, Zoey was arranging Sapphire's room. She'd tried Jade's number for a thousand times and it wasn't reachable. She even went to Jade's hotel two days before, to check on him but they told her he wasn't around. She caused a lot of drama saying she must see him but she got thrown out by the security guards. Zoey hated herself. She promised to make Jade pay for disgracing and deceiving her so much, not knowing what had happened.

Just then, she heard the announcement on television. It was about Ace's arrest for kidnapping the so called Sapphire Blac. They reported that she, along side the CEO, Jade Alejandro got admitted to Mayo Clinic after stuffing from gunshot injuries. Hearing this, she dropped her broom and moved closer.

Tears gathered in her eyes as she listened in dismay.

"W...what... thais is impossible! God! How is Sapphire? No... This shouldn't happen." Tears clouded her eyes as her lips quivered to the words.

"Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!"

The alarm bell rang thrice as she went to check. She gazed on the screen by the door. It was someone dressed in suit, and probably, a lady. Chloe wiped her tears immediately and opened the door.

As the door creaked, Zoey's eyes widened to the gaze of Lucas before her. There was this eye contact they shared.

(Flashback)

A month ago... After Lucas dropped Jade at Sapphire's place when he was drunk. Climbing the stairs downward, he met Zoey walking upwards.

"Good evening." He greeted.

"Good evening." She replied him. "It's almost midnight... Who are you?" She asked with her eyebrows almost touching each other in a vertical line.

"Ummm... I'm Jade's friend. I brought him here because he's drunk."

"Okay..." Zoey nodded looking upwards as if she wanted to go in but Lucas's hand held her back. She frowned at him with disgusting eyes, because of the touch.

"Ummm... I'm sorry but can you do me a favour?"

Zoey raised and eyebrow at him in confusion.

"Please, don't go in there. I mean. They're not in a good state and they might be comforting each other. Can you not go in tonight? Ummm... I can drop you off if you want."

With this, Zoey faced him completely. Looking at him from head to toe. Trying to understand what he just said.

"Like seriously?" She took a step closer to him. "Are you stopping me from seeing my friend?" She stared into his eyes, focusing her gaze upon his.

Boldly.

"No... I mean, yes. Especially if it's for your own good. I mean.. for Jade's sake." Lucas went confused for a second.
He wasn't expecting her, but staring at her sent him thrills. It was as if she was stiring up his heart, he was just went confused.

However, Zoey find him annoying and daring. She looked at him with a sullen face and hissed trying to walk upstairs again but Lucas held her back.

"Okay... Can you not go in there for my sake?" His voice pleaded with the puppy-eye look he gave.

"Uggghh!" Zoey rolled her eyes at him, and hissed. "Whatever!"

Then she walked downstairs while Lucas followed.

He quickly opened the car door for her, watching her take a seat before he gently closed the door. They stole glances at each other but didn't say anything till Lucas parked his midsized Toyota Camry.
That night, he took her back to her shop— where she normally spend the night if she doesn't go on an arranged date or to Sapphire's place.

Lucas was about to open the door when she pulled it open, herself.

She rolled her eyes at him and walked out. Lucas closed the door while she walk away. In awe, he went to stop her.

"Like seriously? You're aren't going to say THANK YOU?"

"That's the payment for not making me meet Sapphire tonight. And don't dare block me again, okay?" Pissed off, Zoey walked into her shop and locked the door.  She didn't mind if he was Jade's friend or not.

"Well, they must be birds of a feather, right? So annoying!" She threw her bag on a table and lazy fell to the couch to sleep while Lucas drove home, thinking about her attitude.

Seeing Lucas after that night, suddenly sent tightenings to her guts. She felt her heart racing inside of her and as if it was burning.

"Good morning." Zoey started.

"Good morning. Nice to meet you again, miss." He replied her, blankly. As if he was lost in her eyes again.

"Come in..." He opened the door and offered them seats.

"How are you... Are you doing alright?" He asked in concern.

Chloe noticed the connection between them, she just kept quiet.

Zoey swallowed the feeling biting inside of her.

"Your friend disgraced me the other day but I'm going to forgive him for now. I bet you're here to tell me about the incident.... I just saw it on the news."

"No... It's not that. I need you to take me to Sapphire's parents. Chloe here need their forgiveness." He brought up.

Just then, Chloe dropped her blindfold. She was actually dressed in a head-tie wrapped over her face and huge dark shades, almost covering all if her face.

With this, Chloe took off the dark glasses as Zoey recognized her from the picture, Sapphire once showed her.

"So you're the Chloe Charles that kept bugging my friend's life?! You were stalking Sapphire just to upset her, now and you're here? What did you do this time, uh?!" Chloe raised her voice at her,  pestered.

***

Chloe needs forgiveness. Would you forgive her?
Sapphire's parents are about to know about their daughter's health. If you're in their shoes, would you take it lightly?

Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts. Scroll to the next chapter to unfold this mystery. Have a blessed day.