CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

The nurse's statement that Raymundo was strangling himself last night shocked Sheila.

"Is he—is he okay?" She asked the nurse, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and concern.

"Yes, Ma'am, as of now, the patient has calmed down again, saying that someone entered their room and strangled them." The nurse explained it to her.

She only just nodded and thanked the nurse she spoke with. Sheila went to the ones watching over Raymundo.

"Did you notice anything in the room last night?" she asked the guards.

They exchanged glances. "No, ma'am, his room was hushed last night; we were only surprised when the nurse said during the round that Boss was choking himself."

"Did no one really enter here? Maybe you were sleeping at that time." She repeated the questions to the guard to ensure he was telling the truth.

At the same time, those she asked shook their heads.

Choking oneself? Woman? A question arose in her mind.

She shook her head, so she went into his room. Raymundo is on oxygen now; he lost consciousness due to his actions of suffocating himself.

Maybe this is also a reason for me to be free. Please, don't wake up either. She prayed in her mind. 

She could hear his voice; she didn't understand it, so she listened carefully to what the elder man said.

"Leah, Carmela." 

Suddenly, the hair on her body stood on end. She suddenly remembered that she was taken into the darkness and saw her sister. 

I don't want to go back there. She just shook her head. She noticed that his breathing was becoming heavier; it seemed like he was having difficulty breathing. 

Should I call a nurse? Oh, will I just let him die here? She questioned herself and was confused about what she would do.

If you don't seek assistance, suspicion will follow. Do you want to go to jail, Sheila? She quickly opened the door.

"Call the nurse here!" She ordered the guard, who was alarmed. The guard immediately called a nurse to the station. The nurse quickly moved and revived the patient.

Her hand trembled; he was calling Martin. Good thing he answered immediately.

"Can you come here to the hospital, please?" Sheila's voice was indeed sweet. 

"What happened? Are you okay?" Martin questioned her over the phone.

"I'm fine, but Dad suffered an attack. Can you please come here?" Her voice pleaded.

"Okay, I'll be there." He said.

She immediately ended the call, peeked inside, and revived it. She saw a woman looking at Raymundo.

Leah? N—No, N—o. She denied it in her mind and simply shook her head, possibly due to her eyes being deceived now. 

Are you happy now? Sheila? There was a whisper coming from behind her; she would rather not look to see who it was, fearing she might scream at an inopportune moment. 

She continued to observe the patient; fortunately, timely intervention prevented his complete death.

Aww, are you disappointed now? Leah whispered to her again. 

Leave, leave! I don't need you right now! Get out! Repeating in her mind. 

"Sheila." Someone called out to her and put an arm around her.

"Martin." She immediately hugged Martin. Sheila saw Leah's smile at her, and she signaled her to be quiet. 

The nurses adjusted the apparatuses that were there until the pulse rate and heart rate of the patient, Raymundo, stabilized.

Martin just patted her arm then. She exhaled with a sense of relief.

"Tito was still lively the last time I visited him. What happened, Sheila?" Martin asked her.

She just sighed; she didn't know how to explain the situation to Martin.

"The nurse and doctor said that Dad got stressed, so he had a nervous attack." That was the explanation given at the time.

"Why? Doesn't he like the hospital?" Martin asked her again.

"It's not that; every time she sleeps, she remembers her daughter; he always calls for her."

Martin only nodded in agreement. "Maybe he missed her daughter so much." He just shook his head.

She only just nodded.

"Just calm down; Tito will recover soon. Don't worry too much." Martin could only respond to her with a hug.

"Thank you for being here." She expressed her gratitude to the person in front of her.

"Of course, I'm here for you." He just smiled at her. 

Suddenly, her phone rang; it vibrated. She checked who was calling. 

"Oh, Attorney Justine Madrigal is calling," Martin commented to her.

A wave of anxiety gripped her heart; she was about to explain when Martin spoke.

"Go on, answer that phone; maybe the discussion you need to have is important regarding the case you filed or the divorce papers between Sharlene and me." He said those words while maintaining eye contact with her.

"Y—Yeah, maybe I'll answer this first." She just said it back then.

Martin just nodded at her. 

"Justine." She immediately mentioned it on the other line.

"I will go to the hospital to see you." Justine couldn't help but say it to her.

"W--- What? No way; Martin is here also." She couldn't help but look at Martin, who was quietly waiting for her.

"Well, I'm already in the elevator, going up," he said.

"Don't come here yet." She said softly.

Suddenly, Martin approached him.

"Hon," Martin called out to her. 

She just turned around. "Y—Yeah, hon, in a bit." She smiled at Martin. He nodded at her.

"Alright, don't come here for now." She even said.

"But I'm here." Justine replied with a sigh.

"Oh, is that Mr. Madrigal?" Martin made this comment while glancing toward the elevator exit. He was even carrying flowers. He even waved at them, so she ended the call.

Sheila is anxious about what will happen.

"Oh, is that Mr. Francisco? Good evening." Justine greeted Martin.

"Who are you going to give flowers to?" Martin asked Justine who she was going to give flowers to.

Justine looked at her. "Ah, Miss Atienza asked me to buy flowers for her dad." He even mentioned it.

Martin frowned. "Does he know Mr. Raymundo, your dad?" Martin asked her and got confused.

What happened, Justine? I told you that only Martin knows about Daddy. She thought to herself.

"Oh, Ms. Atienza once shared a story about her father figure; of course, since she's my client, I can't forget that." Justine replied calmly.

She only just nodded to both of them.

"That's correct, hon, I'll put the flowers away later." She nervously replied to Martin.

"By the way, I'll buy some cigarettes first, then I'll be back right away." Martin said goodbye to him.

"Y—Yeah." She just nodded and sighed in relief.

Martin walked out and was about to get on the elevator. 

"What are you doing?" she whispered, asking Justine. "We almost got caught if you hadn't made an excuse." She could only say...

"I'm truly sorry; I just miss my sweetheart." Justine even said it out loud.

Justine kissed him, and she accepted it. "Come on, or Martin might catch us." She even laughed.

Justine just nodded in response. But when she turned around, she saw Martin staring at them intently. Suddenly, her hand went cold, and it felt like she was doused with cold water all over her body.

Sheila could only swallow. Justine also stared at the man who was looking at them.

"You've already returned?" Justine asked Martin, who remained calm.

"Yeah, can you explain it to me, Sheila?" Martin asked her, looking at her with a cold stare that made her whole being tremble.