~An hour before~Laura kept thinking about what Audrey had told her about Lily's daughter. She wished she had known about it before Lily had come to the office. Although she could not think of anything she would have done differently to ease her pain."Laura? Laura?" Audrey called just as Matthew drove up to the hotel lobby."Uhm, what is it?" Laura said, jerking from her thoughts."Are you okay? You've had that look on your face for a while. We've gotten to the hotel," Audrey told her."Oh, uhm, I'm fine; I was just thinking about something," Laura replied, picking up her bag."I'll see you guys tomorrow then," she added just as she stepped out of the car."I'm supposed to get a file from you, remember?" Audrey told her, stepping out of the car after her."Oh, that's true," Laura said, rubbing a hand on her forehead, wondering how she had forgotten.Matthew drove off to park the car while Laura and Audrey walked through the hotel lobby towards the elevator."I think I know why you're
Jason looked up at Laura and saw her beckoning the girl to come to her."Mom, is Liam going to be okay?" Lisa asked again for the second time that night."Yes, Hunnie, he will be," Laura assured her. This time, she was more sure than she had been at the hotel.Teressa and Audrey also stepped into the room just as the doctor began to explain."It was really a close one, and getting him here on time was what made the difference," Dr. Zane replied.Surprisingly, he was the one on duty and had been called upon to attend to Liam. The hospital had some doctors dedicated to attending to anyone who was brought directly from the North Hotel."How is he now?" Laura asked."He would be fine. You just need to ensure that he does not take anything that has the almond nut in it, and also try to have the antidote handy for emergencies such as this one," Dr. Zane explained further."Thank you, Dr. Zane; I believe the hospital should be able to provide them with the antidote when he is free to go," Ja
The question had Jason pausing for a minute as he organized his thoughts. He had to confirm his suspicion before he said anything."You'll see," Jason told Tim.Tim shook his head and replied, "I don't really think you should meddle in that, Jason; you guys are already feet away from being sworn enemies."Jason was reminded of their little disagreement a few minutes ago as he replied, "I do not know what her problem with me is; we end up arguing with each other every time we talk, and tonight was not an exception.""Oh, oh, I really think you should try and be nice to her," Tim replied."Nice? Of course, I am nice to her; I have been nothing but that since we met," Jason defended himself.Tim turned to look at Jason, a weird look on his face as he said, "Jason, that is really far from the truth from where I am standing.""Well, you're standing in the wrong place," Jason replied.Tim shook his head, giving up, as they drove into the hotel. There was no talking to Jason, especially afte
Laura rushed towards the door, her heart skipping as she opened the door."Mummy," Liam called as soon as he saw her at the door.Laura rushed to his side, struggling to calm herself and breathe."Are you okay, baby? Are you feeling hurt anywhere?" Laura asked, holding him close as she scanned him with her eyes."I'm okay, mummy; I want to go home," Liam replied."What happened? I thought something had gone wrong." Laura asked the nurse."Oh, nothing; I was trying to request the doctor, that's all," the nurse replied."Oh, okay," Laura replied, adding, "Can he go home tonight?""The doctor is on his way; I believe he would ascertain that fact if he checked him again," the nurse replied."Okay, thank you," Laura said, sighing with relief.The door opened, and Lisa ran in with Teressa behind her. Laura had forgotten for a minute that she was also looking for them."Liam, you're awake!" Lisa exclaimed and rushed towards the bed."Yes, Lisa," Liam said, nodding at her."Where were you guy
"What the hell?" Laura muttered and looked up to see her father standing in front of her."I have to hunt you down to get you to speak with me; you are ungrateful and heartless, Laura!" Jerry Phillips muttered in a hard voice.Laura moved Liam from one arm to the other before responding to her father, "Whatever you came here to do, father, I do not have the time; it is late, and I think you should head back home.""I wonder if you are mine sometimes, but DNA doesn't lie, right?" Jerry spat at her."Please don't tell me all the time we spent waiting will be wasted," Gift said from behind.Laura rolled her eyes, wondering why the whole family would come to the hotel to wait for her."How did you know where I stayed?" Laura asked them."Well, little sister, you're famous; remember, we just had to look in the right places to find you." Gift spat in response, eyeing the whole hotel."I really can't do this right now; if you don't mind, please take your leave," Laura told them, and she step
"What are you doing here, man?" Jason asked himself as he shook his head at the fact that he was standing at Laura's door.He had taken the morning off from work to relax from the whole drama from the previous day and had decided to spend it in the gym."I should be nice; that's the goal," Jason said as he finally rang the bell."How did you guys get out?" Laura shouted as she opened the door.She stopped just a few inches from colliding with Jason, who stood at the door with a clueless look on his face.Laura saw that he had on a track pant and a face towel around his neck. He looked refreshed, and it was obvious he was coming from the gym on the floor below them."Hi," Jason said, adding, "Uhm, were you expecting someone else? You look so troubled to see me; well, not that you have any reason to be happy to see me.""Uhm, what do you want, Jason? I don't have the time for our usual banter right now," Laura replied, looking around the corridor behind him as she concluded."I was just
Jason raised his head to look at Tim, his brows raised in question as he asked, "You told Bobby I have a wife?""I am sure I didn't say it in those exact same words, Jason," Tim replied.Little Bobby grinned as he replied, "Uncle Tim said she was very beautiful, and Lisa's mom is beautiful."Jason shook his head and replied, "Okay, little man, I do not have a wife, okay?""You told me you were going to get married," Little Bobby countered."No, you said you would get me a wife, Bobby, but I didn't tell you it was going to get married now," Jason replied."I am going to find you a wife, uncle, a beautiful one like my mummy," Little Bobby interjected."Yes, I know Little Bobby; you've told me that countless times," Jason replied."I just did." Little Bobby grinned, adding, "Can I wear the little groom suit and not Liam? I think the two of us can wear it," Little Bobby said until he exhausted his last breath.Jason walked into the bedroom, and Little Bobby followed him. There was no way h
David saw the recognition on Laura's face and realized he probably had to take his leave."Uhm, David, you were going to tell me something," Laura said as she turned to David.She hoped she could answer his question on time so she could wrap up their conversation."Let's talk about this on Saturday; there's no hurry; I'll take my leave now," David said."Alright, thanks for dropping by; see you soon," Laura replied, adding, "Audrey will see you out.""Okay, thank you," David said as he walked toward the door."Good bye, Mr. Taylor," Adurey said as David stepped into the elevator.David nodded, his mind elsewhere as he muttered to himself, "I should have told her so she could prepare for their coming too. Anderson is unpredictable and might want to invest in other businesses apart from the hotel. I hope she has heard of them at least."Back in Laura's office, she walked over to the phone and picked up the call."Hello, Laura Phillips on the line," Laura said in a clipped voice."Did yo
Shawn and Tobias looked back instantly, and the shock on their faces was so appealing that it brought a smile to Lily's face. "Laura? What are you doing here?" Tobias asked, looking shocked. "You look like you've seen a ghost." Laura said as she walked over and sat in front of them. Before they could answer, they heard a knock at the door, and Laura said, "Oh, that must be him." "Aunt, I thought you said she left," Tobias said, looking at Lily. Lily remained silent and only responded with a shrug. Laura opened the door, and Jason walked into the office, a sight that only made Tobias more scared and Shawn visibly angry. "You were saying something about my family," Laura said, addressing Shawn. "What is going on here? Why does this feel like a trap? Are you suspecting us of something?" Shawn asked, standing up suddenly. "Nobody is suspecting you of anything; we are just asking you about your last statement," Lily said, breaking her silence. "You know what? I'm leaving. I only
As soon as they were alone, Jason turned back to Laura and said, "Let's hear it."Laura shook her head and replied, "Jason, up until this morning, I didn't have the information I have now. I was actually trying my best not to be angry at you.""Why would you be angry at me? If for anything, I should be the one pissed, because you were not picking up my calls and you left without any notice from the event that day.""I know, but if you hear me out, then maybe you will understand my reasons," Laura said, holding up her hand."Okay, you have the floor," Jason said as he took his seat a few feet away from her."I came back to town to find my mother and to find out what happened to me seven years ago," Laura said.Jason was silent as he watched her speak, his expression neutral. Laura brushed her hair behind her neck and continued to explain her mother's relationship to Lily."Suffix it to say that I found my grandmother, but I was not able to find out what happened that one night that I c
Grace walked into Jared's office, demanding to have an audience with him."I'm sorry, ma'am, but you can't go in now; he is not on sit," the receptionist said apologetically."I know he is in there; tell him that if he does not see me now, he won't like the next news he hears," Grace responded.Having no choice, the receptionist put a call through to Jared's office again and relayed the message.After a few minutes, she dropped the phone and said, "You can go in, ma'am.""I thought as much," Grace replied, and she walked straight to the elevator.It had been radio silence since her last confrontation with Jared, but now she was going to rain down all the anger she felt within on him."I told you not to come here, Grace," Jared said as soon as Grace walked into his office."I don't give a damn what you say any longer, Jared," Grace replied with scorn."What exactly do you want, Grace?" Jared asked."What do I want? Huh, that's rich coming from you." Grace replied, adding, "You know I h
Lily was surprised to hear that, so she gripped her hand tightly and asked, "What else is there that I haven't said?"Laura shook her head and replied, "No, not you; it's from me.""Oh, what is it?" Lily asked.Laura pulled her hand from Lily's grip and brushed it through her hair as she sighed deeply."Actually, I came back to town because of two things. The first was because of the note you sent to me about my mother, and the second was because I wanted to find out what happened to me about seven years ago." Laura explained.Lily's face squeezed in confusion as she asked, "Something happened to you? What might it be?""Well, I don't know either; all I know is that I got pregnant after, and that was what resulted in my father sending me away from town," Laura replied."What?" Lily exclaimed in shock."Yes, you see, I was betrothed to Jared Tuner, but my stepsister set me up that night," Laura said, explaining what Grace had told her about the same night.There was more confusion on L
"Jason?" Tim called, wondering what was wrong."Okay, Liam, thank you for calling me. Do you know where you stay?" Jason said this on the phone.Tim realized he was talking to Laura's son and shrugged, hoping he got the answer he was looking for."No, that's fine. How is Lisa?" Jason asked.Just like magic, the hard look on Jason's face cleared as he spoke with the children. After a few minutes, the call ended."So?" Tim asked."They are leaving in two days," Jason said."What two days?" Tim replied, surprised."Yes," Jason replied, his voice sounding dejected."Oh, oh," Tim muttered."What did Gift say?" Jason asked."Nothing, just like I told you she would," Tim replied, adding, "Don't the kids know where the house is?""They don't; I think Liam called me from the card I gave him sometimes back," Jason replied."Hmm, well, I think you have tried all that you can," Tim said encouragingly.I am really going to lose Laura, Jason thought as he sat there, staring into space.*************
When Jason walked into the office that morning, everyone who saw him knew something was wrong."Jason, you don't look so good," Tim whispered behind him as they walked through the building lobby."You look like you did not get any sleep last night," Tim added as he noticed a few people staring at Jason."That is of less concern right now, Tim; I need you to get Gift here today," Jason replied as they boarded the elevator."Gift? You mean the same Gift Hatcher?" Tim asked."Yes, I need to ask her about Laura. She mentioned some time ago that they had been childhood friends," Jason replied.Tim shook his head, knowing that was not going to be a good idea, considering the outcome of the last meeting Gift had with Jason."I can basically feel you shaking your head from here," Jason muttered."Uhm, I just don't think Gift would be a good idea; I mean, after the last time, she would not be so keen to see you." Tim explained.Jason was at his wits end, and he was only trying to hold it all t
Jason woke up that morning with a heavy concern in his heart. He had tossed and turned through the night.The night before, he had been stunned by Tim's statement, and for a moment, his heart had frozen."What did you just say?" He had asked."Humm, I just heard from Emily, who heard from Laura's live-in nanny that Laura is leaving town," Tim had replied carefully.Jason had sat at the back of the car, stunned by the news. He had imagined a lot of outcomes from her sudden departure from the hotel, but he had not imagined that she would leave town."When did you get this information?" Jason had asked."Uhm, just before you stepped out of your office," Tim had also replied catiously."Why isn't she telling me about leaving town? Why is she suddenly avoiding me?" Jason asked himself, feeling a sinking feeling in his belly.Now, at the dawn of a new day, Jason climbed out of bed, looking dazed as he murmured, "I never thought I would feel this way."He walked over to the balcony and stare
"I really must have feelings for him," Laura muttered under her breath."Laura?" Teressa called again."I'm fine; I just felt a tiny pain in my chest," Laura said."Okay, let me get you water or something," Teressa said, hurring over to the mini-kitchen in the apartment.Laura's phone rang, and she saw Audrey's name on the screen."Hello, Adurey," Laura said, picking up the call."I think something must be really wrong," Audrey said in response."What?" Laura asked, her brows squeezed in confusion."You never miss a chance to work; that's why I'm wondering what's going on. How are you feeling now?" Audrey asked.Laura shook her head as she replied, "I'm fine, Audrey; I'm just not up for work yet.""Okay, no problem; I just wanted to check in on you," Audrey replied."Thank you," Laura replied, adding, "If there is anything that requires my urgent attention, please let me know.""Don't worry, I will," Audrey replied before ending the call.Laura pulled the phone from her ears and rubbe
"Hello? Lily?" Jason said as soon as he heard her voice."Jason, how are you?" Lily said, breaking into a smile as she realized it was Jason."I'm okay. How are you? Is Laura there? I called to speak with her," Jason replied.Lily looked back, and to her dismay, Laura was gone. She looked from Audrey to Tina, both of whom had unreadable expressions on their faces."Humm, she is not feeling too well and has taken the day off," Lily replied, adding, "If there is anything you want us to help you with, I'm sure Audrey would take care of it.""Oh, yes, of course," Jason replied, the line silent for a few seconds before he added, "Are you aware she moved out of the hotel?"Lily coughed slightly as she replied, "Uhm, yes, I am.""Uhm, so do you know where she moved to? Well, not that I am particularly interested; I'm just, you know, trying to be a good neighbor; I believe we were neighbors," Jason replied, forcing himself to stop after realizing how he must sound."Hmm," Lily said, her brows