The nurses were shocked when they saw my bed sheets covered in blood. They immediately called for a doctor, and not long after, a man in a white coat entered the room. I closed my eyes and sighed.
In fact, I felt no pain in my body. I just didn’t understand why I suddenly coughed up blood. My breathing was normal, and my heartbeat steady, though I had felt a bit dizzy before the incident.
“You should rest,” the doctor advised.
I looked at him. “There’s nothing wrong with my body, right?”
He shook his head and pursed his lips. “You’ll be well soon, Miss Azora,” was all he said before leaving the room.
Once again, I was left alone in the room. I pondered as a thought crossed my mind. Was I being poisoned again? But there was no pain or itching sensation either.
I sighed. Maybe I was just overthinking things.
Just before I fell asleep, the door opened and a tall man entered. He closed the door immediately and walked towards my bed. I looked at him, my forehead creasing. “They might catch you,” I warned.
He shrugged and looked at me. “Tomorrow. I’ll take you away tomorrow.”
Glancing at the digital clock, which also displayed the date, I realized tomorrow night was the planned escape. After all, I was done with hospital wandering. The doctor hadn’t reported anything strange about me, so there was no reason for me to stay.
A faint smile played on my lips. “This place is heavily guarded. Have you planned everything carefully?”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve got it covered.”
My eyes narrowed at him. “I saw your face in the hall of frames,” I said, observing his reaction.
To my dismay, there was no change in his expression. He could be innocent, or he might have known about that incident for a long time.
“Robert, are you related to De Lapaz?”
He stared at me longer than usual. It was the first time I noticed a change in his demeanor and actions. He was no longer the ordinary taxi driver I had known months ago. It was as if I were talking to a different Robert, though his tone remained the same.
Had something happened during those months he disappeared with Japen and Aya?
“Why do you ask, Miss?” he finally responded instead of answering my question.
His words piqued my interest. There were secrets hidden behind his eyes, and I failed to decipher what was on his mind.
I sighed. “The nurse mentioned the man in the painting was Franco, the sole heir of Sebastian De Lapaz. This Franco has the same face as you, though you’re more robust than the person in the frame.”
“What do you think, Miss?”
My lips pressed together. “You’re Franco.”
A slight smile tugged at the corner of Robert’s lips. Then he shook his head. “I’m not Franco, Miss.” He glanced around the room once more. “I’m leaving. Tomorrow night, get ready, Miss. I’ll come to get you.”
With that, he left swiftly.
Maybe he wasn’t Franco, or maybe he was still pretending. Either way, I didn’t care. I was just using Robert, and one day, we would part ways without looking back. I had no intention of forming a lasting friendship with him.
I didn’t know when I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes, I saw the white ceiling once again. I mentally sighed. I really hated being confined in a hospital.
I sat up and looked around, sensing something was off. The room seemed empty with only a couch and no windows. It felt strange yet oddly familiar, like a distant memory.
My forehead furrowed with worry…
Suddenly, the white door opened, and a woman in a white coat entered. My brow furrowed even more. Who was she? I didn’t recognize her, yet her face seemed familiar.
Where was I? Who had brought me to this place?
“Azora,” the woman greeted with a small smile.
Even her voice felt familiar, sending a chill down my spine. Then it hit me. I had seen this woman somewhere, perhaps in my dreams…
“How are you feeling?” the woman asked, moving closer to the bed where I sat. “Your mother is here.”
As soon as she said those words, the door opened again, and a woman in a red dress appeared in my view. I wasn’t mistaken-it was Simmy, entering the room with a forced smile.
She stood at the foot of the bed and looked at me, smiling broadly. My brow furrowed even more as I pondered deeply.
“They said you’re not eating, Azora,” she shook her head. “It’s bad for your health.”
“M-Mom…” my voice quivered through the room.
I was left puzzled by my own words. Mom?
In my peripheral vision, I noticed the woman in the white coat glance at Simmy. There was a hint of disdain in her eyes, but Simmy was clueless, unable to read the subtle expressions of others.
Simmy’s smile widened. “Get well soon, Azora. Mom is here.”
Her words almost made me nauseous. What? Did she really believe she was my mom? Come on!
“Simmy,” the other woman called. “You can leave now.”
There was hesitation in Simmy’s eyes, but she pressed her lips together and left the room. I was left alone with the mysterious woman, who studied my face as though I were an intriguing specimen.
Later, she gently held my face in her hands. “Azora, that woman is not your mother. Don’t let her ruin your life!”
Her words stunned me. I wanted to ask questions, but my body wouldn’t respond. Even my mouth remained shut. Wait, what was happening?
The woman continued to stare at me and said something that caught me completely off guard. “Don’t fall for that cunning woman’s words. You must seek justice for your mother! Her death was staged, but someone orchestrated it, Azora. They may have erased your memories, but don’t forget in your heart who your true mother was!”