Silencing Mrs. Hart

[Warning: Drug abuse]

~* At K Hospital *~

The sterile white corridors of K Hospital echoed with the muffled footsteps of medical professionals navigating the hushed urgency of the emergency ward. Mrs. Hart was swiftly taken to the emergency ICU chamber. She, nestled in the cold embrace of the emergency ICU ward, lay unconscious, shielded from the harsh reality of the investigation.

While Mrs. Gonzalez and others remained at the police station, their faces etched with worry and uncertainty.

Mr. Gonzalez, his tone laden with deceptive sorrow, speaks to Dr. Kane privately.

"Under no circumstances should she wake up. Keep her sedated as long as you can," Mr. Gonzalez commands, revealing darker intentions.

Dr. Kane, a figure clad in a pristine white coat, with a stoic nod, replies, "Don't worry, sir. Leave it to me. I will take care of it."

"Do that," Mr. Gonzalez demands, his manipulative agenda lingering in the shadows.

Dr. Kane carefully monitored the vital signs displayed on a bank of machines. He administers a sedative through a syringe to Mrs. Hart's wrist, and she immediately succumbs to complete unconsciousness.

Outside the ICU room, a heavy silence mingled with the distant sounds of a bustling hospital. Nurses hurriedly moved from one task to another, their faces a reflection of the gravity of the situation.

The Officer steps inside the ward and inquires, "What happened?"

Dr. Kane replies, "Until further assessment, we cannot disclose it. Please leave the ward now."

Stepping outside the ward, the officer asks Mr. Gonzalez, "Does she have any relatives or close ones nearby?"

To the officer, Mr. Gonzalez responds, his voice reflecting a calculated grief, "My daughter-in-law was the only one by her side. Other relatives didn't even bother to meet them except for my son's and Peony's marriage. They don't even live here. Sigh!, my poor son, they were newly married. How can one be so cruel? Officer, you should bring justice to my daughter-in-law."

The officer, dedicated and calm, asserts, "We will definitely investigate the matter thoroughly. It's a pre-planned murder case."

"Are you suspecting someone?" Mr. Gonzalez probes, attempting to sound him out.

"Suspects, I would say. I won't disclose it until the investigation starts," the officer says, a palpable tension threading through the air.

"I really hope my daughter-in-law will get justice. Although, she isn't alive to witness it," Mr. Gonzalez utters, his voice carrying a sorrowful weight.

"Will I ask my men to fetch some utilities from Mrs. Hart's home? She might need it here.", Mr. Gonzalez continues.

"Our department will take care of it," the officer asserts.

Mr. Gonzalez nods.

"I need to leave for the washroom now," Mr. Gonzalez informs the officer and discreetly slips away from his sight.

On his way to the washroom, he thinks, "This won't do. I need to get to her phone before he gets the proof I forced Peony to stay in our family. No matter what, I need to find a scapegoat with a perfect reason. I need to take care of this foolish son before he becomes a suspect."

In the quiet corridor, under harsh fluorescent lights, he immediately texts his spy, who had been trailing Mrs. Hart on his commands.

He immediately texts his spy, who was trailing Mrs. Hart on his commands before.

"Sneak into the room and bring Mrs. Hart's phone. Don't let anyone know."

"Roger, Sir." The spy acknowledges his request.

"I also want to know who tried to harm my son. I will not spare the one who will lay a hand on my heir. Peony, you protected my son until the end, you sacrificed your life as a dutiful wife. Your funeral will be a memorable one for the entire K City. Unfortunately, your mother has to remain quiet." The corridor absorbs his cold determination, leaving behind an unsettling tension.

~~~~~

~* At New Regal Hotel *~

Irina paces around her hotel room, her thoughts echoing, "Peony, please be safe. I should have stopped that marriage when I heard the Gonzalez name. Why did I contemplate? That monster family! They have no heart. Why did I trust my son when I clearly know he is brought up in that family."

The air in the hotel room becomes heavy with Irina's regret and worry, the dim lighting casting shadows that mirror the turmoil within.

Irina, growing increasingly anxious, dials Peony's number once again.

The phone rings, each unanswered call adding to the mounting tension. Over 45 attempts have yielded no response from the other side, leaving Irina suspended in a harrowing silence.

"The number you dialled is unavailable. Please dial again later," the automated voice repeats, a cold echo in the quiet hotel room. Irina, now filled with a mix of frustration and anxiety, stares at her phone, the repeated rejection amplifying her growing concern for Peony's safety.

Irina contemplates, "Should I try calling her mom? But does she even know?" The dilemma hangs in the air, and the hotel room becomes a space of uncertainty, Irina torn between the urge to seek information and the fear of delivering distressing news if Peony's mother is still unaware.

At the same time, Irina's secretary switches on the television. The first channel focuses on the news.

Irina, frustrated and irritated, yells, "Lower the volume!"

Simultaneously, a news update blares, "Today at 8:15 a.m., a huge blast took place from a 'Jaguar XF' car on B.T. road. Authorities are investigating the cause, and casualties are reported. The two victims are identified as a newly married young woman, and their family driver. Their bodies are yet to be found. The suspects are taken in for investigation. Stay tuned for further updates."

The room sinks into an eerie stillness as the gravity of the situation unfolds through the sombre news report.

Irina's face pales, and she sinks onto the sofa. The secretary, quick to respond, hands her a glass of water.

Irina, gripped by anxiety, can clearly see the possibility of Peony being the said victim. The weight of uncertainty and fear presses upon her, and she cannot fathom the possibilities that loom over the situation.

Irina, determined to seek answers, dials Peony's mother's number. The call rings, each ring resonating with Irina's escalating concern.

"Hello.", A familiar male voice picks up the call.

The room freezes as the familiar voice, heard 26 years ago, resonates through the phone.