Chapter 95: "I love you and always will".
---
Since they couldn't get Baby Jeda last night, Joan headed down to the underground base early in the morning and assembled a new strike team-determined, burning, ready to rip through anything that stood between them and the child.
Just as they were mounting their bikes, weapons loaded and spirits tight with purpose, a figure stepped out from the shadows near the exit.
It was Flora.
Joan halted, brows furrowing. "Sister-in-law?"
"What are you doing here?" Her voice was cautious, laced with something close to disbelief.
"I want to tag along," Flora said. Calm. Too calm.
Everyone went still.
Even Arthur's boys-the hard-eyed ones-exchanged glances. No one expected Flora. Not here. Not now. Not in this state.
There was something in her eyes. Something unreadable. Cold? Maybe. Focused? Definitely.
Joan's gut twisted.
Scott hadn't been heard from since last night. He'd gone to that hotel-led by a ghost message, one even Arthur's best tech guys couldn't trace.
And now Flora appeared like this?
Something about it reeked.
Still, this wasn't the time for suspicion. Not yet.
"Sister-in-law..." Joan softened her voice. "Have you heard anything from brother-in-law?"
Flora offered a tight smile. Too tight. Almost as if she knew something-something she wouldn't say.
"We need to get Baby Jeda," she said instead, brushing past Joan like a breeze of smoke. "Forget about that."
There was finality in her voice. Steel.
Joan didn't move for a second, then gave a small nod. "Alright. Agreed."
They said nothing more.
Just mounted their rides, kicked up dust, and vanished into the underworld shadows-toward Arthur.
Toward whatever waited on the other side.
---
Flora went to the hotel at midnight.
But fate has a cruel way of playing tricks-because she didn't pass the side entrance.
If she had, maybe-just maybe-everything would've been different.
Because Raphael and Joel had been stationed there, waiting for their delayed shuttle. Just a few minutes of misalignment. That was all it took.
Just after midnight... chaos.
Scott was rescued-but he was a breath away from death.
Only minutes after Flora walked out of that room, Raphael and Joel burst through the hallway like a pair of unleashed storms.
"Boss! Boss!" they shouted, footsteps pounding, hearts racing.
They kicked the door open-and froze.
Scott was sprawled across the bed, unmoving. Out cold. Barely breathing.
But the room?
Empty.
Whoever had done this was long gone.
"Fuck!" Raphael hissed, eyes blazing, knuckles slamming into the wall.
"There's no time for that!" Joel snapped. His voice cut through the tension. "We need to move-now!"
That shook Raphael. He straightened.
Together, they hoisted Scott's body between them-limp, cold, sweat-soaked. His shirt was torn, bruises blooming beneath his skin.
No hesitation.
No questions.
They carried him out of the hotel, tossed open the doors of the waiting black SUV, and slid him into the back seat.
The engine roared.
They peeled into the night, destination: one of their covert medical bases tucked away in City B.
Ten minutes.
That was all it took for their private medic to arrive-armed with bags of fluids, adrenaline shots, and an expression that didn't dare ask what happened.
One look at Scott, and he got to work.
A drip was inserted. Injections administered. His vitals-barely stable.
It didn't take long for them to realize-
He'd been drugged.
Diana's touch was all over it.
Scott was alive.
But whatever he'd seen or heard before he blacked out-whatever damage was done to his mind, not just his body-
It wasn't fading anytime soon.
Not yet.
~~~~
Just a few hours later, Baby Jeda was brought in by Joan, followed closely by Flora, into the Silver Mansion.
Everyone inside the Silver Mansion had been anxiously awaiting good news. They'd been panicked all day.
But something shifted.
It was the look on Flora's face-it consumed them all.
Grandmother was the first to step out and ask gently, "Flora, my sweet great-granddaughter-in-law, what happened?"
Flora hesitated, then replied softly, "Grandma, I'm fine."
There was a pause before she could say more.
Charlotte stepped forward and gently took Baby Jeda from Joan.
"Oh, thank you, my daughter-in-law. I really appreciate it. Oh, my baby..."
Baby Jeda looked just as beautiful as ever. It was hard to believe anything had happened to her. She seemed perfectly healthy-glowing, even. The baby was smiling, as though she knew she was finally back with her family.
They all walked inside in silence. No one said much.
The maids served dishes at the dining table, and those present sat down to eat.
But not everyone was at ease.
The ones absent were Matthew and his family, Scott, and Maxson.
Though Matthew had called to offer his support, it was Mark who told him not to bother, assuring him his thoughts were enough.
Joan could sense something was wrong with Scott. She felt it deeply.
But she didn't say a word to Flora-because she had no idea what had truly happened between them.
---
In another part of City B, in a hidden outskirt where Scott was staying, Maxson was with him.
Scott sat on a tall, golden wooden chair, speaking to his brother.
"So, brother... you mean Diana knew all along about the disappearance of Baby Jeda?" Maxson asked, his voice tense.
Scott nodded slowly, his mind clearly elsewhere.
"So we were just wasting our time, while the two of them were in it together?" Maxson continued, his anger simmering. "And to make it worse, she drugged you too."
Scott leaned forward slightly, rubbing his temples. "But what's really disturbing me now is... I think Flora came there. I think she came to that place. I don't know how she got the address-it must have been Diana."
Maxson's eyes narrowed. "Yes... I remember. Sister-in-law came back late last night. I was told she entered the house around midnight."
"That means she had come there," Scott muttered, guilt creeping into his voice.
"But brother..." Maxson leaned in. "What did you say to her?"
Scott looked up, then turned his gaze away. "I can't remember. I think I pushed her away... and now, I don't even know how to face her."
A heavy silence fell between the brothers. Both sighed deeply, lost in their own thoughts.
After a few moments, Maxson spoke again. "So... when are we leaving?"
"Soon," Scott replied. "Since Baby Jeda has been found... we need to restrategize. Create a new plan."
"Yes, bro," Maxson nodded. "We're ready."
Just as they were speaking, Micheal and Gad entered the room.
"You just have to confess to her," Micheal said firmly. "I believe she will understand. She's not someone like that."
Scott didn't look up. He remained silent, his head bowed, listening.
"Yes, I think so too," Gad added quietly, standing nearby. "And I believe she'll believe you if you tell her the truth."
Both friends exchanged a glance.
Then they turned to look at Scott, who still hadn't said a word-his head now buried deeper in his hands, weighed down by regret.
~~~~
After breakfast in the Silver Mansion, Grandfather stood and addressed everyone.
"Please, I want to use this medium to warn all of us," he said. "Let us be careful. If there's any way you can inform someone or keep the family updated about where you're going or your whereabouts at all times, do it. We all know our enemies are still out there, hiding in the dark, lurking."
He paused, then added, "I will carry out my findings and investigation on Baby Jeda's disappearance today. Tomorrow, we'll have a family meeting here. I'll need everyone to be present."
Everyone went silent in response to what Grandfather Sky had said. Then they all nodded their heads.
~~~~
Scott, Maxson, and the rest of his friends were the first to leave the hideout house, leaving Joel and Rapheal behind to sort a few things. Maxson had thought her brother would wait until noon before heading out, but it seemed Scott couldn't wait another minute to see his wife.
Scott had heard Flora had returned to their mansion, and without wasting a second, he drove straight there.
When he stepped inside, the living room was empty. The only person in sight was the butler, quietly cleaning up the dining area. Without saying a word, Scott headed upstairs.
He walked straight into their bedroom and found Flora sitting on the bed, staring blankly into space.
"My wife..." he called softly, locking the door behind him as he stepped in.
He sat beside her and slowly wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"I know you came yesterday," he began, his voice low, heavy, "and what you saw... that wasn't me. Please, I need you to believe me. I'll explain everything."
He hadn't even realized she was crying until he felt the drop of a tear hit his hand. He looked at her-and his heart shattered.
Tears streamed silently down her cheeks. Her eyes were glassy and distant.
It felt like a thousand knives to his chest.
"Why are you crying? I'm so sorry. I swear on everything-there's nothing between Diana and me. She forced it. Everything."
Still, Flora said nothing. Her tears flowed harder.
"Okay... okay, I'll explain," he said quickly. "Yesterday, I got a message from her. She said she had Baby Jeda. Here, look-look at my phone."
He unlocked it and handed it to her.
"It was from Diana. She sent me the address of a hotel. Said Baby Jeda was there. You remember how everyone was panicking, searching? I didn't think twice. I went."
He paused, watching her reaction.
"The moment I stepped into that hotel room... everything went black. She drugged me."
Flora blinked. Her eyes widened. She turned to him slowly.
"She what?" she whispered. "She drugged you? Scott, how? How could you not see it coming? How did you not know she'd try something like that?"
"I wasn't thinking clearly," he admitted, guilt crawling up his throat. "I was too focused on the thought of seeing Jeda. I didn't care about the risk-I just wanted her safe."
He sighed and opened his gallery.
"But look at this. I found something. A video."
He tapped on a file, then handed her the phone again.
"It's from the hotel room's hidden CCTV. Diana must've forgotten to wipe it. Maybe she thought I came alone... or maybe when you showed up, she panicked and left in a rush."
The screen lit up. First, it was dark. Then the lights flicked on.
There she was-Diana-entering the room, syringe in hand. Her movements were quick, calculated. She injected something into a drink. Moments later, Scott walked in.
The camera caught it all-how he collapsed, how Diana paced around the room like a woman possessed.
Flora's hands trembled.
Scott turned to her, raw pain in his eyes. "She wanted to destroy me, Flora... ruin us. Please, believe me."
The more Flora cried, the deeper Scott's pain grew. He drew her closer, wrapping her tightly in his arms.
"I promise to protect you," he whispered against her hair. "No matter what happens. You know the kind of man you married, right? I won't fall for their traps again. Never."
Flora sobbed quietly into his chest but nodded. She believed him. She wanted to.
Scott pulled back just slightly, enough to look into her eyes. "Arthur was involved too. He knew about the kidnapping... about Baby Jeda's disappearance. So please, Flora, be very careful around him."
Flora blinked in surprise.
"I heard Joan went with you. Are you now part of us?" Scott gave a soft smile, then reached for her hand.
"I am. And with everything in me... I will prove it."
A faint laugh slipped from Flora's lips, watery but genuine.
"Alright," He said softly. "But you know you don't have to be."
They both smiled-tired, but together-and embraced each other again, tighter this time, as if trying to shield themselves from the storm waiting outside their walls.
~~~~
Still morning....
At the Silver Mansion, Joan and Maxson had yet to return to their own home. After everything that had happened, they quietly agreed to stay one more night. The weight of recent events still lingered like fog in the air, and neither of them wanted to rush away from the comfort of family just yet.
Inside their guest room, Maxson sat close beside Joan. Little Jeda had gone quiet in Charlotte's arms, sleeping peacefully. The room was still, save for the gentle rustle of the curtains.
Maxson wrapped his arms around Joan, holding her close. Joan leaned into him without a word, her head resting on his shoulder. For a moment, there were no secrets, no enemies, no chaos-just the two of them, breathing in silence and holding onto whatever peace was left between them.
He brushed her hair behind her ear, his hand lingering on her cheek. "I don't want to lose you or the baby" he whispered.
Joan didn't lift her head, but her fingers found his. "Then don't let go."
They sat like that, wrapped in each other's presence, while the day quietly moved on outside.