Deception

"oh my God...Lionel.." she gasped underneath her breath.

"Mum...are you still there?" queried Lionel on the other side of the line.

"Yes dear...what were you saying?" she uttered hastily, playing dumb.

"What job were you talking about mum..?" uttered Lionel still puzzled.

"Sorry son, I asked one of the employers in the office to complete some paper works I assigned him to. When the call came in,I thought he was the on calling. I really need those papers."

"Okay mum..,Is dad around?"

"No dear.., he just left to the office."

"Okay mum...,just wanted to tell you that I will be away from home for some days."

"Why dear? What happened?Are you okay?" she queried ,acting all anxiously

"Yes I am mum...." he replied with a sigh

"It's just a friend of mine who was admitted at the hospital so I will be with her for some few days." he added

"Really? Which of your friends?Riley?"

""Do you know her? I vaguely remember telling you about her." queried Lionel, bemused.

"Well..., I have heard you on the phone with her for quiet some time now."

"Okay...mum.." he uttered skeptically

"So how is she now?" she queried,acting a little concerned.

"Yes mum..,call you later."

" Okay..dear, take care."

"Okay...mum..,bye."

"Okay dear.." she replied and hanged up.

"That was close...." she sighed in relief and smiled smugly to herself.

"Poor Rosita...,let's see how you feel about this."

************

It was already 5pm when Lian got to the Hollands' Mansion. He packed his car and slowly got off. With a distressful face and teary eye, he leaned on his car.

"How am I suppose to break this news to mum, Cliff? What am I suppose to do with Rosie and Riley?" he murmured to himself

Auntie Anastasia was doing her normal routine check up around the house when he saw Lian leaning on his car.

"Is that not Lian? Why is he not coming in?" she murmured to himself and walked over to where he was.

He was so carried away by his thoughts and didn't notice Auntie Anastasia.

"Lian...." she uttered, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Nanny...." he uttered amidst tears and hugged her.

"What is it dear...? What happened?" she uttered in bemusement.

"Nanny...., it's Clifford"

"Why..? What happened to him?" she queried anxiously

"Nanny...we lost Clifford.." he uttered amidst tears.

"What!?" What happened? " she exclaimed, holding Lian by the shoulders.

Still in tears, he narrated everything to his nanny.

"How do I inform mum about this Nanny?What should I do?"he uttered in pain.

Auntie Anastasia couldn't also hold back her tears. She hugged him and cried over his shoulders.

"It's okay dear..You have to be strong for your mum." she muttered amidst tears.

"Okay..Aunt.." he replied and wiped away the tears from his eyes.

They both composed themselves well and went into the house. Lian met his mother in the living room having a glass of juice.

"Mum...?" he called with a distressful look

"Son....,what's wrong." she queried anxiously as she stood from her seat to meet her son.

"Mum..., we lost Clifford."

"What?!" she exclaimed', stunned.

***********

KATE'S HOUSE

It's 8pm now,

Kate, Loretta and Nancy have been trying to get in contact with Riley but to no avail.

"Have you been able to get through to her?" questioned Nancy

"No.."answered Kate

"What about you?" she queried, gesturing to Nancy.

Nancy sighed and shook her head. They both turned their gaze to Loretta quizzically.

"Me neither..." she mumbled.

"This is unlike her Kate..." uttered Loretta

"I know girl..., that's why I'm restless."

"Anyway, have any of you tried her parents line or their house line?" queried Kate

"Yes but I couldn't get through to any of them and this scares me." replied Nancy

"Anyway, have any of you tried Lionel's line?Perhaps he might have heard of her or something." said Loretta.

"No..,I even forgot. Let me try his line." replied Kate

"Sure and put it on speaker out."uttered Loretta

Kate dialled Lionel's number and they anxiously waits as the line connects.

THE HOSPITAL

Lionel sat beside Riley's bed starring at her face as he watches her sleeps peacefully.

"I know it's hard for you dear but you have to be strong. I'm here for you." he murmured to Riley.

Just then,his phone rang. He checked the caller and it was Kate.

"oh Kate, I guess they have been trying to contact Riley." he mumbled.

He picked the call and seeing how peaceful Riley was sleeping, he dashed out with the call.

"hello...Kate..."he answered and walked out of the door, his voice fading to the waiting room. All this while, Zed was spying on them. As soon as he saw Lionel walked out of Riley's ward, he pulled his hat a little closer to his face to hide his identity and sneaked into Riley's ward.

He stood beside Riley's bed and smirked.

"Too bad for you dear. I guess you have to die a second time. You should have died earlier to save me all this stress. Or should I say..you enjoyed the treatment I gave you." he mumbled and smiled smugly