"I will follow you, Nath," Lillian said in a pleading tone,looking at him in the eyes. If what he was telling her was true, then she needed to go and see for herself.
"No, Lillian. You really don't have to, okay? This is my business and I don't want to drag you into it," he said, holding her shoulders. How could he let her see the woman he was in love with for twelve years? That would make her feel bad. He didn't want that.
Nester was able to find the woman he had been looking for half of his life. He was very grateful at the moment that he chose to tell her about it or he would not have been able to meet her that soon. He needed to hurry home, but he shouldn't take anyone along. Not for the first time of their reunion
Nathaniel wrapped his hands around the woman and rested his chin on her shoulder, inhaling her scent. She smelled nice and he loved that. A tear fell down his face as he held tightly unto her. What was happening to him was a dream come true. "I really miss you, Lillian. So much that I almost lost myself. I'm so sorry," he said.Linda eased away from him and wiped her tears. "Why are you sorry?" She brought one of her hands to his cheek and caressed it with a smile."For not being able to find you earlier. It took me twelve years to see you again. I am so sorry," he apologized as he looked at her in the eyes. He saw something boldly written in there, yet he could not pinpoint what it was.
What Lillian was feeling was more than uncomfortable. She was really nervous and scared knowing that Nathaniel was home with a strange woman who was pretending to be her. What would they be doing at that moment? What if he really thought she was her and they started to get along? What if he fell in love with her? She could not help asking herself these rhetorical questions. She had tried calling his office but she kept being told that he was not in the office. Did he take the day off to spend time with the imposter?She did not realize when she started crying. She wiped her tears with the back of her hands, blaming herself for her misery. She would not have been suffering now if she had put herself first before her best friend's happiness. Only if she had told him that she was his childhood friend. Even if he would no
Lillian smiled mischievously as she peered at her phone which she had placed on the table a few minutes ago. She had just admitted what she needed to know. She was not even in the least surprised that she knew. Obviously, that was the reason she had given her Nathaniel's jacket at the hospital. She never wanted Nathaniel to find out.But why? She liked him, that was not vague, but going to that extent? Definitely too much.She dared to imagine what would have happened if she had not put on the jacket. Nath would have seen her arm when they had gone to her mother's ward together. Things would have been different now. But all because of his evil assistant, all of that got unfolded.
"Hey, Lilly. Do you mind if I use your phone?" Nathaniel asked as he made his way into the living room and sighed Lillian watching a movie. He smiled as he wondered why she was so obsessed with watching dramas. He never liked it. "I need to copy this file on your phone and then resend it to myself," he added as the lady turned around and looked at him.He had been working from home for some days now after he found Lillian, not because he only wanted to spend time with her. That would be lame. But because his condition had worsened. Every lady now seemed to have the same face, likewise all the men. He could no longer recognize himself in the mirror anymore and he could not even distinguish between pictures of people. So, why should he risk that and ruin his business?
Anyone that listened to the conversation she just had with Nester would think she had some gut and would be brave enough to go with her threats, but that was not the case. She became very afraid and nervous after Nester had left. She racked her brain to think of what to do, searching for the best option and what she could do at that moment.She finally decided to visit Nathaniel at his house. Paying him a visit and finding out the truth about his illness would trigger her next action. She could not just sit still and watch another woman walk her way into Nathaniel's heart. She was able to conclude that Nester had been responsible for the arrival of the imposter. But what did she want to gain from all she was doing?She would thi
Lillian was more than shocked and it was evident in her eyes. What was he talking about? Well, she knew what he was talking about, but how did he find out?Nathaniel forced a smile. "You don't have to take that seriously. I just wanted to lighten the tense mood a little."Lillian shook her head. She should just tell him the truth. "No, it's okay. I'm actually —"He palmed his face and looked down. "I can't believe she fooled me. I don't even know how possible that is. She even had the inscription. The one I wrote on Lillian's hands years ago."
Lillian's eyes became blurry for a moment as she heard someone calling her name repeatedly. She felt a hand touch her and she jerked back to reality. She met Nathaniel's eyes and was surprised to see him alright. She moved her eyes to the floor where he had collapsed earlier and around the room, nothing was out of place.She had just imagined that. How possible? What happened? How come? Nevertheless, she was grateful it was just her imagination. She would have never forgiven herself if anything should happen to him because of her. She had better kept quiet about everything. It was for the best."Why are you so out of it? Is everything okay?" Nathaniel asked.Lillian forced a smile. "I don't know. I am sorry."
"Nath, I can explain everything to you. Please, just calm down. You really don't need this shock. Please, calm down." She gestured with her hand as tears welled up in her eyes."Calm down? Oh, my God! Did you just tell me to calm down? You lied to me, Lillian. You have been deceiving me and making me believe that you are not the one. You fooled me!" He shouted and a tear fell from his eye.She started weeping. "I am sorry. I am so..so sorry. I never meant to hurt you, I swear. I just wanted you to be happy. I never…""How long have you known? You couldn't have known from the very beginning because I remember asking you
Nathaniel offered to drive the ladies home in Lillian's car that was brought to the place by the men. Nester had been taken away by the police to be investigated, but he still found it very hard to believe all what Linda explained to him about her. Nester was a loyal assistant to him, so he could not understand what could prompt her into killing.Lillian could not help but keep asking if he was okay and even begged Linda to drive instead of Nath which she gladly accepted and had Dorcas sit beside her while Lillian and Nathaniel sat behind them in the backseat. "Are you sure you're okay?" Lillian asked as he laced their fingers together. He kept smiling, but she could not lay a finger on the exact thing that could be making him smile.
Nathaniel sat up on his hospital bed and looked at the sheet of paper in his hand. It was neatly folded but had been rumpled when it was pushed into his hand earlier by Linda as she held his hand. He did not know what was there, but he knew he should not have opened it in anyone's presence if she had to secretly give it to him.He opened the paper and read, "I know you're not in the right state of mind, but this is urgent. Come with the police to the address below. Warn the police, no sirens."What was that all about? He should go with the police? To do what? He felt the urge to ignore the missive and sleep since he was drowsy, but decided against it as she remembered something.
Nester stood in akimbo as the doctor talked to her and Nathaniel's mother about Nath's quick recovery and how amazing it was for all the doctors who did the surgery. "It is really miraculous that someone would become conscious after that kind of surgery. It's all thanks to God," the doctor said. "During this recovery period, please do not talk to him about something that can unnerve or shock him. You can do this after he is fully recovered.""Thank you so much, doctor. Can he recognize faces now?" His mother asked, eager to know if her son's illness had been cured.The doctor nodded and smiled. "He will start recognizing faces that he sees now. You don't have to worry about that. He needs a whole lot of rest, so we won
Lillian decided there was no point in trying to fight for her life when she would die in a few minutes. One would think she truly would not be able to die that easily as she had bragged.But, wait a minute! Why was she breathing perfectly well and normal when she was being strangled? Strangled? There was not even a hint of pressure against her neck. What was going on? What was she doing, then? She looked at her, but her eyes were fixed on the door to the room."Linda!" Linda heard her name for the third time and she knew who that voice belonged to. She had no choice but to do what she was doing. "Let's go to the hospital. Nath's awake and he needs to see you first so we could introduce you to him," she heard.&nbs
"Please, stay in the car. I'll be back in no time. I just need to get some of Nath's stuff," Lillian said to her best friend who had insisted on following her to the hospital. She smiled as Dorcas nodded and then alighted from the car and into Nath's house.She got in and went straight up the stairs to look for his bedroom and luckily, she found it on time, but it was occupied."Hey, hi," Linda said to her.Lillian paused her steps. "Hi, Li..llian" she replied,stressing the name intentionally. "What are you doing in his room? I don't want to say that you are here looking for something that Nester asked you to find."&nbs
"Lillian, I think you should go home and freshen up. You've been here since yesterday and you've not taken anything," Nathaniel's mother suggested as she went to meet her where she was standing by the ward Nathaniel was in and looking at him through the transparent glass on the door.The doctor had said they could not visit him yet and it would take them a while, until he was more stabilized and responding more to their treatments. So, they could only see him through the door. He had a breathing mask on his nose and Lillian could see the rapid rise and fall of his chest.She turned around and looked at his mother who had a swollen face. That made her wonder how bad hers would be. She shook her head at what she said
Nathaniel's mother screamed and sat on the floor, weeping on top of her lungs. "I am doomed. I have no other reason to keep living. Nathaniel is my whole world," she cried.Lillian shook her head. "Doctor, he isn't dead. Please, go back in there and do something. Please. I can feel it. He is alive."Nester frowned as she wiped her tears. "What nonsense are you talking about? Are you deaf?" She covered her face out of frustration and cried."No, no, he's still alive. I don't believe what you're saying. He can't just leave like that. I still have a lot of things to say to him. So, he can't be dead. He is alive, doctor," L
The surgery had just gone six hours out of its twelve hours. Lillian had kept praying and crying non stop. Her phone started ringing and she excused herself from the waiting area to pick up the call from her personal assistant. "Hi, Jones. Yes, I am fine, thank you. My mum has told you? No problem, then. I bet you'll be fine with the works? Alright, thanks. No, everything is alright. Okay, bye." She hung up and looked up at the sky. It was past midnight and she was tired. She needed to sleep, but she wasn't even drowsy.Not when Nathaniel was in there, fighting for his life.She turned around and started walking back to the waiting area in front of the theater. She got there and noticed an older woman crying while Nest
"Nath, I can explain everything to you. Please, just calm down. You really don't need this shock. Please, calm down." She gestured with her hand as tears welled up in her eyes."Calm down? Oh, my God! Did you just tell me to calm down? You lied to me, Lillian. You have been deceiving me and making me believe that you are not the one. You fooled me!" He shouted and a tear fell from his eye.She started weeping. "I am sorry. I am so..so sorry. I never meant to hurt you, I swear. I just wanted you to be happy. I never…""How long have you known? You couldn't have known from the very beginning because I remember asking you