We exited the hospital using the backdoor route. I asked Robert how he managed to navigate in and out of the private hospital, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he just smiled and shrugged.
Stepping out of the building, I hugged myself against the cool night breeze that brushed my face. Thankfully, Robert had lent me his coat. I was still in a hospital gown, and he was worried someone might mistake me for someone else, so he lent me his coat to cover up. It didn’t bother him much since he still had his shirt and pants on.
“The taxi is up ahead, Miss,” he said.
I nodded and walked alongside him.
We walked through the night. The moon hid behind clouds, casting darkness where the streetlights didn’t reach outside the hospital. Being at the rear of a private hospital, there weren’t many bright lights outside. Some of the lights weren’t even on.
“Are we still far?” I asked impatiently.
He didn’t answer, so I pressed my lips together and looked around. I didn’t expect the rear of the private hospital to look like this-a lonely, long road. In contrast, the front of the hospital was lively, lit up by bright lights.
Before long, I spotted a taxi in the distance. I sighed in relief. Robert didn’t say anything, so I quietly walked beside him as we headed towards it.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from behind the taxi. When they stepped into the light, I recognized the nurse who had shown me around the hospital. She glanced at me and offered a slight smile before turning her gaze to Robert. Her smile widened even more. Robert didn’t return her smile.
Robert stopped walking and stood in front of the nurse. I also halted and stood facing her.
“It’s you,” I exclaimed in surprise.
The nurse nodded. “I’m Abril.” She glanced at Robert before looking back at me. “He asked me to help you escape.”
“I see.” I nodded at her words and then looked at Robert. I narrowed my eyes at him. “I never expected you to have a connection with someone working for De Lapaz.”
Robert smirked and looked away. “Let’s go,” he said, walking past me and the nurse.
The nurse and I exchanged glances. She smiled and bid farewell before walking back to where Robert and I had come from. I quickly followed Robert towards the taxi. He didn’t even open the passenger door for me. What an uncultured man.
He had already gotten in the driver’s seat, so I opened the passenger door myself. I sat down and discreetly glanced at Robert. He had a mysterious aura about him. I had no idea he had contacts with someone working in the private hospital.
I knew De Lapaz was strict with their employees. Loyalty was essential to them, ensuring their employees were solely devoted to them. So how did Robert manage to win the loyalty of that nurse?
And the nurse was mysterious too. I had seen how the private security treated her with utmost respect. With both of them together, I suspected Robert was indeed connected to De Lapaz.
“You’ve been staring at me, Miss.”
I blinked at his statement and coyly looked out the window. “I promised to pay you, but I don’t have the money right now.”
He fell silent. I remained quiet too, gazing out the window at the scenery passing by. The streetlights were spaced meters apart, illuminating the car’s interior whenever we passed under them.
“Maybe…” I cleared my throat and cautiously continued, “I’ll pay you when I have the money.”
“Debt,” he remarked.
I glanced at him. “You can see it that way. But I truly will pay you when I have the money.”
He didn’t respond, but after a few minutes, I heard him ask, “Why do you want to escape from your father, Miss?”
I took a deep breath and cast a lonely look out the window. “A woman wanted me dead. And Dad wouldn’t listen to me.”
“Did you explain it to him?”
I shook my head, letting out a bitter laugh. “He trusted her more than his own daughter. I don’t understand why he always trusts her more than me. I did everything to please him, but it’s never enough.” I sighed. “Anyway, I’m free from that woman’s grip and Dad’s watchful eyes now, so let’s not talk about it.”
The car fell silent. But then, I noticed an unfamiliar black car in the rearview mirror. I didn’t pay it much mind and continued looking out the window. I asked Robert to pull over when I spotted a fast food restaurant ahead.
“Do you have money?” I asked him.
He nodded, so I smiled at him. Soon enough, I had my order in hand. Robert ordered a drink and placed it in the cup holder between our seats. I placed my drink beside his.
While eating my food, I noticed the black car in the rearview mirror again. It had the same license plate number, so I furrowed my brow.
“Don’t you find that black car suspicious?” I asked Robert, pointing to the rearview mirror. I glanced at him, but he didn’t look where I pointed. My lips pouted.
He suddenly spoke. “Fasten your seatbelt.”
I rolled my eyes at him and fastened my seatbelt. “You’re not wearing yours either,” I pointed out.
I raised an eyebrow when he buckled up. I couldn’t help but laugh at his actions. “Loser,” I teased and took a sip of my drink.
I noticed Robert glancing at me, so I grinned at him. He smirked back and shrugged. I frowned at what he did. “You’re really good at ruining my moments,” I muttered and placed my drink back in the holder.
The car turned into a corner with minimal traffic. The streetlights were dim, so the surroundings darkened slightly.
Looking in the rearview mirror, I saw the black car still following us. “Quick, there’s a car tailing us!” My breathing quickened as I stared at the black car visible in the rearview mirror. I clenched my fists. I thought we had successfully escaped Dad’s notice, but seeing that car made me realize it wouldn’t be that easy.
Our car sped into the darkness ahead. There were no streetlights, just the car’s headlights illuminating the surroundings. The green fields on both sides indicated we were driving along a road in the middle of rice fields.
My grip tightened on the seatbelt. I finally understood why Robert reminded me to fasten it.