Chapter 57. Through the darkness

This incident with Megyn deeply disturbed the Hawi family. Mrs Hawi kept on calling her husband for comfort that Megyn will be alright. She had rushed to the hospital to receive Megyn.

Benjamin was extremely shaken and afraid. His world and that of his loved ones had never been like this. His world was that without fear, where he would go wherever he wanted. But this experience his fiancee just had, compromising her human rights! It was like his heart was being slashed by a machete! He cried. He shed tears.

That moment just before they started off after the ambulance that carried Megyn, for the first time, Mr. Hawi thought of Megyn's parents. He wasn't sure how to break the news to them—but he knew he had to, before they heard it from the media, or worse, on social media.

Without hesitation, he made the necessary call. James picked up on the first ring.

"Good evening, Mkwe," Mr. Hawi greeted.

Mr. Maringo had recently begun referring to Mr. Hawi as Mkwe—a local term of endearment used between in-laws whose children are married to one another.

"Good evening, Mkwe," Mr. Maringo responded cheerfully.

But Mr. Hawi struggled to begin the conversation. He hesitated, unsure how to tell his in-law what had happened to Megyn.

Sensing something was wrong, Mr. Maringo asked, "How are our children? Did they manage to see the marriage registrar today?"

"My Mkwe… that's why I'm calling you," Mr. Hawi said gravely.

The tone of his voice alarmed Mr. Maringo. The confidence and cheer he was known for had vanished.

"Megyn landed at the airport safely," Mr. Hawi began.

"Yes. She had called to let us know." Mr. Maringo interrupted, growing anxious.

"...But she never made it home. She was abducted at the airport. Thankfully, we've found her—though she's a bit unwell. She's in the hospital now, receiving care." Mr Hawi said.

"What did they do to my daughter?" Mr. Maringo asked, his voice trembling.

"Her condition is stable," Mr. Hawi assured him. "Both of you should take the next flight to the city to support the children. They'll need you."

Though unsure of the full extent of Megyn's injuries, or abuse, Mr. Hawi clung to hope.

As the car sped after the ambulance, he whispered a prayer over and over: God, rescue Megyn. Larry sat silently beside him, guilt and regret washing over him like a flood.

Even after Daisy had been dismissed from Royal Hospital for locking Megyn in the bathroom the first time, Larry had continued seeing her secretly. That very morning, when Benjamin had tried calling him, Larry had been in Daisy's apartment—specifically, in her bathroom. Daisy had seen Benjamin's text, realized what was happening, and seized the opportunity to plan yet another crime against Megyn.

All this time Mr. Hawi did not address Larry. He had no emotions to waste on him. He had no words to say to him. When he addressed him, he said,

"Larry we need to drop you at the police station so that you can write a statement."

The vehicle sped first to the police station and then to the hospital.

The three suspects were arrested, handcuffed, and bundled into a police van, and brought to the police station. Among their possessions were Megyn's and Larry's phones. Daisy had even inserted her own SIM card into Megyn's phone and started using it.

The police inspector was left wondering if Daisy was stupid or mad or both. They were bundled into the police cell to stay there over the weekend, awaiting court appearance on Monday.

Meanwhile, Megyn had been rushed straight to the intensive care unit. She was immediately put on a ventilator, her vitals closely monitored while blood and other test samples were taken. Benjamin never left her side, speaking to her gently, as if she could hear him.

Despite her low blood pressure, unstable oxygen levels, erratic pulse, and severe chills—all being managed by the medical team—Benjamin found comfort in one thing: Megyn had not been sexually assaulted. Though she'd been treated inhumanely, her dignity remained intact.

The lab results confirmed a heavy presence of anesthetics and traces of opium in her bloodstream. Still, the doctors reassured Benjamin that she was out of immediate danger. Her vitals were being tracked not only by the nurses but also by Doctor Benjamin himself.

Just after midnight, Megyn stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open. She felt a hand holding hers—Benjamin's. He had dozed off beside her, exhausted. She wasn't surprised. A faint smile touched her lips. She had been dreaming of him all along. His voice had echoed through her unconscious state. But now, reality returned—along with a throbbing headache.The nurses had been on standby, waiting for this moment. When Megyn complained about headache, they administered paracetamol to her.

They gently woke Benjamin, who was overjoyed to see Megyn awake.

"Hi, Princess. You're awake!" he whispered, leaning forward to embrace her. He held her tightly, unwilling to let go. "God knows I was terrified, Gazelle. I thought I'd lost you… my love."

Megyn began to sob softly.

"Hush, my love. Don't cry," he murmured, wiping her tears with a warm, steamed towel. "Now we'll move you from this room to your private suite on the third floor. Once you're settled, you can tell me everything. Okay, Princess?"

Megyn nodded slowly, like a child.

After transferring her to the private room, the nurses left the couple alone. Benjamin turned to her gently.

"Princess, you need to shower and eat something before we talk," he said, helping her sit up. "Try getting out of bed on your own."

Megyn attempted to stand but winced in pain as she stepped down.

"My left foot really hurts," she cried, sinking back onto the bed.

"Let me take a look," Benjamin said, sitting beside her. He lifted her foot onto his lap and inspected it carefully. A small injection mark was visible on the dorsal vein of her foot—likely where she had been drugged. He gently touched it, checking for any residue or foreign body, then took a picture for documentation.

"I'll help you with your shower," he offered, walking her toward the adjacent bathroom.

Megyn felt vulnerable but knew she needed help. Her skin felt grimy—like a layer of filth covered her—and she longed to scrub herself clean.

Once inside, she convinced Benjamin to let her try alone. She sat on a stool prepared for her and did her best, but when she tried to stand and reach for a towel, her left foot gave out.

She let out a soft moan—just loud enough for Benjamin to hear.

He rushed in and found her struggling to keep her balance. Without hesitation, he smiled, took the towel, wrapped it around her, and gently lifted her out of the bathroom, carrying her to the bed.

Megyn felt shy, avoiding eye contact. Sensing her discomfort, Benjamin reassured her, "My love, for now… pretend you're just my patient. Because you are."

He handed her some lotion. As she tried to apply it slowly—clearly sore—he remembered how they'd found her lying on a hard wooden surface. His heart ached. Taking the lotion from her hands, he began massaging her back gently.

Megyn had nothing to hide. The towel had slipped slightly, exposing her torso. Benjamin was struck by her natural beauty. His eyes darkened as emotions swelled within him. I'm a doctor… and this is my fiancée, he reminded himself.

"Do I still pretend I'm your patient?" Megyn asked, their eyes locking.

"Yes," he replied with a playful smile. "But I'd like to discharge you right now… and take you home with me. Here—put on these clothes."

He sat on the large couch near the coffee table, waiting. Moments later, Megyn limped toward him, wearing clean hospital clothes. To Megyn, this was the night Benjamin saw all of her. To Benjamin, it was a test of restraint he barely passed.

He patted the seat next to him.

"Princess, come sit."

She obeyed, and Benjamin served her freshly pressed passion fruit juice.

"Drink, my love," he said with a wink. "It's an expression of the strong feelings I'm wrestling with right now."

Megyn smiled, understanding the weight of his words. She served herself some hot chicken stew and rice from the nearby hotpot.

"Let's eat, my love," she said.

They ate from the same plate, sharing the same spoon. Once they were done, Megyn began to speak, recounting the terrifying events of that morning.

"Benj… you sent Larry to come pick me," she said after swallowing a bite.

Benjamin nodded. "That's true."

"It wasn't Larry," she said softly. "But he wore a Sunset-branded T-shirt—the same kind Larry always wears. He pushed me into the car. The driver… he looked scary. I tried to scream when I realized something was wrong, but he covered my face with a dirty towel."

She paused and looked at Benjamin, who was now putting his arms around her, listening intently.

"Benj," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "I thought I was going to die. I thought I'd never see you again. I passed out after that."

Benjamin leaned towards her and kissed her on her mouth and said,

"I'm here Princess - and I will never let you go. Because my heart and yours are glued together. Anybody trying to separate you from me makes my heart bleed, and it's high time I dealt with Daisy once and for all."

Megyn gasped. "So it was Daisy!"