“What’s wrong, Madam?” Mia asked with furrowed brows, not understanding.
Without giving an answer, Gabriella walked over with a bag full of “weapons”. However, before she had gone far, the secretary restrained her pace.
“Madam, where are you going?” the girl asked, still confused.
“Someone sent a strange message,” Minnie interjected with hands clasped together.
“Yes, and I have to catch him,” Gabriella implied before swinging her legs again.
However, when she took one step forward, the secretary had pulled her back.
“Please don’t be rash, Madam,” Mia said with a small frown at the base of her brow.
A second later, the girl grabbed the woman’s cell phone and checked the message. After a glance, a quick sigh escaped from her mouth.
“Who else is this?” she muttered before gritting her teeth.
“That must be the criminal who attacked Max, Mia. I have to stop him,” Gabriella said as she took her phone back.
“What will you do to stop him? That man is much bigger than you,” Mia exclaimed, trying to wake the woman up.
Confidently, Gabriella opened the bag and showed what she brought. Various kinds of self-defense tools like taser guns, pepper spray, electric flashlights, even to knife-edged pens, succeeded in astonishing Minnie and Mia.
“I’ve prepared this for the emergency. That bad guy won’t be able to mess up with me anymore.”
After blinking, the secretary caught Gabriella’s wrist again. “But, Madam, you must not come into danger. Mister Max will soon be awake. He will definitely look for you right away. If something bad happens to you, his condition may weaken.”
“It’s true, Madam. Mister Max needs your presence. Don’t go anywhere,” Minnie said, supporting her daughter.
Hearing her husband’s name, Gabriella finally lowered her tensed shoulders. After a moment of contemplation, she pressed the forehead with the palm of her hand.
“Then, what can we do about that criminal?” she sighed in a thin voice.
“Let me report it to the hospital. They will definitely increase the security.”
Hearing the secretary’s solution, Gabriella nodded with furrowed brows. Even though she had calmed down a bit, anxiety still haunted her mind. She didn’t want to be careless this time.
***
“Gaby ….”
The woman who was placing her face in front of her husband, smiled wider. Her slender fingers gripped the man’s hand tighter.
“Max? Can you see me?” the woman asked with round eyes.
The man slowly raised the corners of his lips. “Yes, I always see you, Gaby,” he sighed, successfully inviting the sigh of relief from people around him.
“Look, Madam. I told you. Mister Max will be fine,” Minnie said, making Gabriella blush.
After pursed lips for a moment, the woman asked her husband, “How are you?”
“Nothing different. It’s just … I feel powerless.”
“It was the effect of the anaesthetic. Don’t worry, it will be gone soon,” Mia said casually.
Hearing a reasonable explanation, Gabriella moved on to the next question. “Then, how’s your wound? Does it hurt?”
Smiling, Max shook his head. “No,” he lied.
“Of course it hurts. Her stomach was slashed and stitched back together,” Mia snapped, successfully publishing worry on Gabriella’s face. The butler immediately patted her daughter’s arm for being too honest.
“Did I misspoke? Lies won’t make the situation any better,” the girl said with an innocent look.
Unexpectedly, Gabriella let out a sigh of relief.
“Right. If you feel sick, just say so. I will heal you with love,” the woman said, spreading a smile on Max’s face. The man was happy that his wife didn’t harbor excessive worries anymore.
“Don’t make me laugh, Gaby. I have to avoid the pressure right now,” the man whispered in response to a joke.
He liked the light atmosphere, made him forget the pain. However, after a blink, the curve of his lips returned flat. “How’s Dad?”
“Still on the operating table,” Gabriella answered, rubbing her husband’s face. “You don’t have to worry. Doctors are definitely doing their best. I just checked your stomach. The bandage is very neat.”
Hearing those reassuring words, Max nodded. His face was completely carefree.
“Because Mr. Herbert is still struggling, I think my mother and I should return to the operating room. If there is any news, we will immediately pass it to you,” Mia said as she grabbed her mother’s arm.
Thinking that the secretary wanted to give them some privacy, Gabriella smiled. “Thank you, Mia …, Auntie.”
“You’re welcome, Madam.”
Shortly after, the girl asked her mother to come out immediately. Knowing the daughter’s unusual attitude, the butler asked, “What is it, Mia? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“I have to call Julian, Mom. The hospital doesn’t seem to believe my report. Their security is still loose. Earlier, I felt someone peeking through the door,” the secretary explained before putting her phone to the ear.
“Are you sure?” Minnie sighed with deep arches.
The girl nodded with a firm jaw. “We should also buy defensive tools like Madam’s. Can you contact Dad to look for it?”
“Ah, okay,” Minnie said before reaching for her phone with slightly shaking hands. “Do you think that we should also ask your father to keep watch?”
After nodding briefly, Mia turned around and started talking to the CEO. “When will you come here, Sir?”
“Is there any problem? I’m going to the hospital after today’s business is over.”
“Mr. Herbert is in the operating room, but you choose to work instead of waiting here. You even assign me here. You are indeed very difficult to understand, Sir,” Mia said with annoyance.
Getting a sarcasm from the secretary, Julian was annoyed. “Stop judging me! My job there is done. Dad just asked me to bring Max to him. I don’t want him to wake up and continue talking about my mistakes.”
“Are you out of your mind? How could someone who just had surgery be able to argue as you imagine? Please don’t be a coward anymore, Sir. Your presence here is needed. The person who was hired by Mr. Herbert, is hanging around this hospital.”
Hearing Mia’s explanation, Julian finally fell silent. After a few moments, he stammered. “Why is that person there? My father doesn’t have anything to do with him anymore.”
“That’s what we have to watch out for. I have appealed to the hospital to increase safety. But apparently, they don’t heed the request of an ordinary girl. Come here as soon as possible or call the hospital director to apply in person.”
“But, it can expose my father’s crimes, Mia. We can’t make a request without a clear reason, right?” the man whispered as he doubted his secretary’s idea.
“Let’s just say that Mr. Max has been the victim of an assault so we want to ensure his safety. That doesn’t need to explain Master Herbert’s role, does it?”
Realizing the truth of the girl’s words, Julian let out a quick sigh. “Okay. I am going to the hospital soon after attending a meeting.”
“Don’t delay, Sir. As soon as the meeting ends, come here immediately.”
“Okay.”
After ending the call, Julian deepened his brows and took a deep breath. Something had crossed his mind.
“Is this related to the black cell phone Dad left? Tsk, I should have checked the phone periodically.”
While the man ruffled his hair, elsewhere, Mia and her mother had resumed their discussion.
“Okay, if there’s something wrong, Mom will call you right away,” Minnie nodded with worry.
“And don’t forget to scream as loud as you can,” Mia reminded her mother.
“Okay. I’ll go now. Be careful, Mia. Call Mom if you see any suspicious person.”
After a nod, the mother and daughter separated. They had divided the tasks to be standby in each waiting room.
Unbeknownst to Minnie and Mia, someone was snorting lightly at their movements.
“The little mice have increased. This game will be more challenging,” the big man grumbled before walking quickly. When Minnie arrived at the lookout location, the bad guy had disappeared without a trace.