After quite some effort, they finally arrived at their destination. It was the villa that Carla and Mrs. Borah once resided in.
It had been completely uninhabited and on the market for two years, but nobody dared to rent the place because of a mishap. The neighbors also all moved away.
The entire district was dreadfully silent.
Shelley carefully selected this place not only because it stored traumatic memories for Carla, but also because of its desolate nature.
She figured that it would be the last place on Earth that Carla would look for them.
With Venus in her arms, Diane walked into the villa. It stunned her to see the Osmanthus tree in the courtyard, along with the row of dying succulents, as well as the clothes rack. They reminded her of an indescribable sense of familiarity.
As she proceeded further into the villa, she took a quick look at her surroundings. The decor and scattered products in the living room, together with the clothes on the sofa that had accumulated a mountain of dust, confirmed that this was a place Carla and Mrs. Borah inhabited.
"Venus, look. Mommy and Mrs. Borah used to stay here."
Diane gently patted Venus's back, only to realize she was out cold. Her clothes were dripping with sweat while her forehead was blazing hot.
"Oh god, Venus's having a fever." Diane rapidly sprinted to Shelley while carrying Venus.
"I'm begging you to please send Venus to the hospital. I'm not overstating her state of health. When she fell prey to your sister's toxins, she kept running a high fever and puked nonstop. After Dr. Feroma treated her, her condition finally stabilized. Now that she ingested sleeping pills, it's relapsed. Once she becomes feverish, it could become fatal." Diane beseeched in a state of agitation.
Upon hearing Diane's ramble, Shelley froze for a moment, as though she was pondering.
"Please, I'm begging you. Please…" Diane crawled over to hold onto Shelley's leg and entreated desperately.
"We're not going anywhere, " Shelley snapped as she kicked her away. "Piss off. Don't bother me."
"It's imperative that she sees a doctor this instant, else she'll suffer irreversible damage to her health. I'm pleading you, " Diane cried out as she kneeled on the floor. "She could lose her life over this. Please, I beg of you. Please…"
"Are you just afraid that I'll eliminate you after she dies? Is that why you're begging me so eagerly?" Shelley eyed her with contempt.
"I-I let her down. I let Carla down, " Diane uttered in between sobs. "If it helps, I'm willing to sacrifice my own life for her. All I ask for is that you spare the child!"
"Hmph. What a disgusting hypocrite. Oh please, you're just doing this for self-preservation. I mean, that's not unusual. It's every man for himself, after all." Shelley's tone was filled with disdain.
However, she reached out to feel Venus's forehead. She was indeed burning up with an intense fever.
Then, she instructed an unwilling bodyguard to head out for medicine. He grumbled and complained, clearly reluctant to take on the task.
Only after Shelley promised to reward him with more money did he finally acquiesce.
"Alright. Bring her to the room to rest. We'll just wait for the fever medicine."
Shelley then fished out her phone to make a call.
"That won't do. Fever medicine is not suitable for her. She requires other forms of treatment. We must go to the hospital."
"One more word from you and I'll chop off your tongue. Get the f_ck out of here!" An aggravated Shelley howled at Diane.
The latter dared not rile furious Shelley any further, so she quietly returned to the room and gave Venus some wet towels in an attempt to ease her fever.
Shelley then continued with her phone call. After a long while, her call was finally answered by a languorous voice. "Hello?"
"Daddy! It's me"
When Shelley left, the mysterious stranger told her that arrangements would be made for her father to return home to recuperate while waiting for the court hearing.
Hence, she decided to try her father's cellphone.
"You- How did you…"
"I escaped, " Shelley began with a hushed voice. "Where are you now? Is it convenient to talk? Your phone's not bugged, is it?"
"I'm at the hospital, " Layon responded in an equally low volume. "Don't worry, the call's not tapped."
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