Chapter Twenty

I froze for a moment as the newly heard news flashed in my mind trying to figure everything out. I can feel something in my throat and that's the reason why it's hard for me to breathe and talk. My heart is aching thinking of my Daddy's text. At that moment, I didn't care about everything. I immediately ran out of my unit leaving Dawn there having his meal.

I don't care if the culprit might kidnap me anytime now. My stubbornness crept within me at this moment but I don't care. I'm thinking of my Dad.

I immediately called for a taxi. Good thing, I found one immediately. I left Dawn there. I felt sorry because I left him there hanging and didn't bother to tell him what happened. I'll just explain to him later. I'll just call him and I'm thinking that he would understand. Hopefully, he won't worry about me that much.

“Dad! Dad!” I cried his name immediately the moment I stepped through our main door. I immediately saw him feeling uneasy in the living room.

My call made him turn his head to me immediately with his eyes widening in an undoubted shock. “Helly?! Oh my, what are you doing here? It's dangerous!”

When he saw me, he immediately grabbed me and hugged me tightly. Thankfully, my Daddy is safe.

“Are you okay, Dad? Who did it?” I didn't answer his question because there were a lot of thoughts in my head. I am trembling at the thought of we're certainly unsure if we're completely safe. I still don't know what's the real cause but something in my mind is telling me that they're holding a grudge against my dad—might as well my family that lead whoever he was to do such thing.

“I don't know either, Helly. We're still on our investigation and hopefully, the culprit will get arrested immediately,” he answered.

I can feel the electricity running down my body. I am trembling and my heart is beating so fast. This is the first time our hospital got involved in this kind of incident.

“I'm scared, Dad...” I didn't stop my tears from falling as I buried my head in his chest.

“I told you to don't go out yet, still so stubborn Helly,” he said while caressing my hair.

“I can't sleep if my mind is here! Thinking of your safety, Dad!”

“I know, I know... So for now, just stay here—you can stay in your room. I don't want you to worry about this too much Helly, don't worry. Daddy's here.” He kissed my forehead and hug me again. This time, it was a bit warmer.

Out of nowhere, the memories of my Mom came to my mind. How I wish she was here too and hugs me every time I'm feeling scared. Embracing the both me and Dad, wiping all the fears in our hearts. I am deeply mad about car accidents. It ruined my almost perfect happy family.

“I don't want you to leave me just like Mommy did, Dad.”

I can hear his sigh. “No, no, Daddy won't leave his princess, okay?”

We're busy hugging each other and assuring that everything is there. How I wish this will be done immediately. I don't want this. I don't want to be involved in this kind of mess, especially Daddy. I just want to live peacefully with Daddy and of course, Dawn.

I'm sorry Dawn.

“Timothy!”

We both turned to the man who called who just came in. It was Richard Gladstone, walking towards us. Oh, I remember. Their family also has their own men for times like this.

“Oh, Richard! How's the investigation?”

I saw him clench his jaws and looked at my Dad with dark eyes. “We knew something.”

From where he was standing, I saw someone from his back also walking towards us. It was his son, Ethann.

“Helly?” He called as he spot me. “Thanks, you're safe.”

“Ethann? What just happened?” I immediately went to him and asked him.

“Someone pulled a trigger on AMC's Parking lot and everyone's worried,” he said and left a heavy sigh. Oh right, we're definitely in chaos right now.

“How about the patients there? Are they safe?” I followed one of my worries. How I wish they were just safe now. Those people are innocent. They are just healing themselves so they don't deserve to get involved.

“Yeah, don't worry Helly. Our men made sure that they were safe after the incident and a few officers came for just about a few minutes but unfortunately, they failed to capture whoever it was but we learned something in the investigation.”

I nodded and sighed. I bit my lower lips for the pressure that roamed in my whole body.

“Then, we caused it?” asked Daddy.

“We're very disappointed with what we knew, Timothy. We truly didn't expect it.”

I turned my head in Richard's direction. He entered on our topic. I saw my Daddy raise his eyebrows and furrow. Me neither, I didn't get what they were saying. What disappointment are they saying, though?

“Wh-What are you saying? What do you mean?” Daddy stuttered.

“You know Bricianna Hadley, right?” Richard asked. Uh, is that Dawn's mother? I thought.

“Yes, she's the wife of Zixus Hadley, right? The owner of Hadley Corporations.”

“What else?”

“Uh, that's it. Why are you asking me these anyway?” Daddy avoided his gaze on the two Gladstones.

Ethann cleared his throat. “Are you aware that Mr. Zixus has been searching for his wife's affair now? whoever he is? We also knew that they are planning to kill his wife's affair. That's why they went to the Addingston Medical Center because the affair was working there. The affair's wife died due to a car accident and they had a daughter named Helleon. Zixus' paid his men to shoot him four times. I assume that you already know who's the affair here.”

My jaw dropped. I'm sure as hell that my name was mentioned and the accident I'm deeply mad with, as well.

My world literally stopped after hearing what Ethann said. Now, the electricity that I can feel in my body got more intense. My knees are trembling as I immediately get it.

My brows arched and force me to figure it out. I turned to my Dad and I caught him gazing at me. No Dad, this can't be true. I shook my head a few times while hands both in my mouth. “D-Dad? What's the meaning of this?” I asked as my tears started to form at the side of my eyes.

Is he lying to me all this time?! Hiding things that he unusually did?! I don't want to believe it but there's a high possibility that all things I heard seconds ago are true.

“Helly, let me explain—Richard! What kind of investigation did you do? That was all a lie!”

I trembled more when Daddy shouted at us furiously. My tears fell more. I bit my lower lip to stop making sounds while crying.

Ethann tsked as he smirked and I saw the amusement while glaring at my Dad coldly like he is so confident about what they're accusing of my Dad. “There's no room for denying it now, Mr. Addingston. If you didn't flirt with that Hadley, then everything would supposedly be fine now. But by the way, let's off to that. What's the plan for Hadley?”

“Silence, Ethann! Why are you putting all the blame on me? I'm not even close with that Bricianna! Yes, I was all alone for a long time now but I wasn't thinking of replacing my deceased wife!” Then, he turned to me. “Helly, don't believe their accusations!”

I swallowed hard. I know that I should put my full trust in Daddy on everything but in a moment like this? I don't know! I just want to teleport and seek for the truth on my own.

“Is it true, Dad?” My heart is racing so fast and at the same time, it is aching.

I felt Ethann held my right arm. “Don't believe in your Dad for now Helleon. They've been together for months now. Remember, he was the one who pushed you to get a unit. Helly, that was for him to bring Bricianna here freely.”

I gulped. I still can remember how he wants me to get a unit but he told me that it was for me, for my own good so I won't go to school late. No, please, Dad... I shook my head again and let out a silent sob.

“Shut up you bullshit heir! I trusted you! All of you, why the hell are you fucking accusing like this shitty things! All are absurd!” My dad is now furious as a wild animal now but I can't see any fear from these people.

“But that's what one of his men told us! So why are you denying it, Mister? The truth was already being spilled!”

Oh, they have their evidence? Every word of them attacked and hit me hard. I just want to escape for now. I want to skip this part of my life and go to our peaceful part.

“Fine, let's move on Timothy. Ethann, we're out of that issue so now, let's plan on how to arrest the culprit. They might be planning on going out of the country so we should stop them. Might as well shoot them too just like what they did.”

“That's not the right decision and solution for this incident, Richard.”

“But they're ruining the reputation of your Medical Center! Better call your family's lawyer now Tim. Get ready to defend yourself.”

“I called him already. He's probably on his way now. Helly, off to your room. Don't worry about Daddy. I will fix this.”

Fortunately, Daddy calmed for a moment. I was standing still there and didn't bother to meddle with them. I can't do anything about this.

“Yes, dad.” That was almost a whisper. My heart is still aching and maybe, it'd be better if I were not here with them.

I began walking to my room

“I'll explain if this chaos is over.”

I'm sorry if I'm doubting you now, Dad. I don't know what and who to believe and trust. I'm so much stuck in between. The other side has its evidence. They might be celebrating now.

I fell myself to my bed. I miss the smooth smell of this. How I wish I could escape all of this and just have my peaceful life with Dawn.

I remember Dawn... Does he have any idea about all of this? Don't tell me he planned on courting me too because this is his way of revenge? What if he was actually truly dating that Mariella woman and lied to me just to take his trap? I could still remember he told me about his mother cheating on them.

I swallowed hard while my hands were still trembling. I looked at his name on my 'contacts'. But I just chose to turn my phone off after a few moments of staring at them. I shouldn't be worried about him now. He knows all of this. I don't believe that he's innocent all this time.

“Helly...”

I looked at Dad who just entered the room and how he closed it behind him.

“D-Dad...”

“I'm sorry—”

“Is that true?” I asked coldly. He sighed.

“No! I mean—”

I closed my eyes firmly. “No need to answer it Dad. My mind might explode now.”

“I'm sorry Helly. Uh, I'm here supposedly to explain everything to you but I see, you still can't take it. Uh, you're aware of our condition right now, right? You can't go out yet and this chaos is not that easy to fix since we still don't know how and where to find the culprit.”

I slowly turned my head upon him. Oh no, “What do you mean, Dad?”

“You'll be homeschooled, Helly. It's for your safety.”

I gulped for a moment. Of course, that's the only decision so I can continue my studies. So does that mean I can't see Shannie and Yulla? I can't go out with my friends?

That thought hit me hard. I just nod. I don't have any choice.