Blinded By Hatred

Riley was shuffling anxiously in the hall when the door slammed opened with Kate, Loretta and Nancy rushing in, followed by Mr. Louis.

"Kate..." she mumbled as she rushed towards them.

"Oh Riley..," muttered Kate as she hugged her.

"Are you okay?" she queried.

"Yes I am Kate.. but Lionel is not." she uttered as she drew back from the hug.

"Don't worry Riley, he is going to be fine. We brought the drugs and Kate was also able to convince Mr. Louis to come with us." said Loretta as she gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Okay Lore..here, follow me." she uttered hastily as she trolled to her room, followed by Kate, Loretta, Nancy and Mr. Louis.

"Uncle, they are here." she muttered as she pushed the door opened.

"That's great." he answered as he stood up from the bed.

"Please, come in." he added.

Kate, Loretta, Nancy, Riley and Mr. Louis strolled to the room and stood beside Lionel.

"Here, let me." uttered Mr. Louis as he found his way closer to Lionel to check on him. Kate, Loretta, Nancy, Riley and Lian gaze keenly as Mr. Louis checked Lionel's pulses and bruises.

"I think he was attacked with shape and heavy objects. His wounds a quite deep but he is going to be fine. He needs proper medications and treatment." said Mr. Louis his thorough check up.

"So do we need to take him to the hospital or something?" queried Nancy.

"No hospitals." uttered Riley hastily, cutting in.

"Well.., we don't necessarily need to take him to the hospital. You just need to pay attention to his treatment and he will be fine in no time."

"That's fine by me. I will take care of his treatment." replied Riley.

"Okay, then I will leave him to you."

"Sure.."

"That's good. I will like to take my leave then. I will come by and check on him tomorrow."

"Okay Mr. Louis, thanks so much for coming." muttered Riley with a smile.

"I will see him to the door then." offered Kate.

"Sure Kate.., thanks so much." replied Riley, slightly smiling. Kate smiled back and lead Mr. Louis out to the door.

"Thanks so much Mr. Louis, I'm really grateful." said Kate to Mr. Louis as they got to the door.

"Never mind Kate, I'm glad to be of help." he answered with a smile.

"See you tomorrow." he added as he pulled the door opened.

"Sure..." she replied as she watched him glided out of the door, closing the door behind. She hived a sigh of relief and dashed back to Riley's room.

She got to the room to meet Riley treating Lionel's wounds as Loretta, Nancy and Lian stood beside them.

"How is it going?" she questioned as she strolled to the bed.

"So far so good. He looks better than before with all the wounds cleaned and treated." replied Riley.

"Okay girls.., I will be in the hall. You can give me a call if you need anything." uttered Lian.

"Okay, Uncle. Thanks." answered Riley.

"Welcome dear." he muttered and dashed out of the door.

Riley pulled the blanket half way over Lionel, covering him up. She pulled a seat and sat beside him with a sigh. Loretta, Nancy and Kate also came to sit by her.

"I think I know who is responsible for this." said Kate as she gaze at Lionel.

"Who...?" queried Riley, gazing at Kate, bemused.

"It's Nichole."

"Nichole..? But why? Why should she do this to his own son. Is she that heartless? How can a mother tried to take the life of her own son" mumbled Riley in disbelieve.

"Sorry Riley, but I think there is something you should know." uttered Nancy.

"Something I should know? And what does it have to do with what we are saying?"

"Yes Riley and it's directly related with what Kate is talking about." commented Loretta.

"I have seen Lionel tried severally to let you know but you wouldn't just listen." she added.

"What are you girls talking about? You're scaring me. Just tell me already."

"Okay Riley, the whole thing is, Nichole is not the biological mother of Lionel."

"What?" exclaimed Riley, stunned.

"Yes Riley, he just found out that Nichole had his mother murdered just to take her place. He tried to talk to his dad about it but his father didn't believe him and sent him out." uttered Kate.

"Oh my God.." muttered Riley as she swiftly turned to glance at Lionel then back to her friends.

"It was so hard for him Riley. He had wanted to talk to you to share his pains and agony but you were so blind with hatred and refused to hear him out. You should have seen how hurt he was, Riley." added Kate.

Riley was stunned and taken aback by this new revelation. She sat in silence as flashbacks of Lionel trying to talk to her hit her mind's eyes and tears run down her cheeks.

"We will leave now Riley." uttered Kate as she stood up from her seat, gestured Nancy and Loretta and they strolled out of the room.

Nancy, Loretta and Kate glided down the stars and met Lian at the hall.

"Are you girls living already?" he questioned.

"Yes Uncle, it's 2am now. We have early morning lectures so we have to get home and prepare for it but we will come back later in the day to see him." answered Nancy.

"Okay, you girls should take care."

"Okay, thanks Uncle Lian." they muttered with a wave and strolled out.

IN RILEY'S ROOM

Riley sat in her seat beside Lionel, gazing at him with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry Lio, I couldn't even see your pains. I couldn't even see that you were hurting more than I was." she mumbled amidst tears as she held on his hand.

"I'm so sorry Lio..."