Chapter 33: Mom
Kathe kept tossing on the bed, covered with sweat.
"Ahhhh," Kathe groaned as she tossed the pillow on the floor.
The pain was becoming unbearable for her. She kept glancing at her phone constantly, wondering if she should call Jark or not. Knowing that Jark was a workaholic, she decided not to call him.
Knock, knock, knock.
Kathe stood up straight to sit down, thinking that it was the old lady that had come to check up on her again. She didn’t want the old lady to meet her in that condition.
"Come in."
But instead of the old lady, it was the maid that walked inside.
"Ma’am, I was asked to give you this," the maid said, stretching out the bottle in her hands to Kathe.
Kathe didn’t collect the bottle immediately, but she looked at the bottle strangely.
"What’s that?"
"I don’t know, but I was asked to give you."
"Who sent you?"
"It’s the old house mistress."
"Why didn’t she give me this when she was in my room earlier?"
"It just arrived, that’s why. Or I might call her instead."
"No need for that. I will take it."
"Please, you are to drink it at once."
"I will. You can leave now."
"Okay, ma’am."
The maid walked out of the room.
Kathe stared at the small bottle with a frown. It had no label on it, not even the brand name. Kathe had trust in the old lady. Since it was the old lady that sent it for her, that meant it was for her well-being. Kathe drank the content in one gulp.
.........................................
The maid hurried to the kitchen, took out her phone, and dialed a number. The call was picked on the second ring.
"Ma’am, I have delivered it as you asked me."
"Has she drunk from it?" Rhea’s voice came through the phone.
There was a five-second pause before the maid replied in confidence.
"I didn’t see her drink, but I’m sure that she has drunk from it."
"Okay, I will take care of your daughter’s surgery and look for the right kidney donor for her."
"Thank you very much, ma’am." She was so happy that she didn’t know when she let out a loud cry.
"Shhhh, this should be a secret between me and you. No one should know about it."
"I know, ma’am," the maid replied, nodding to herself repeatedly due to excitement.
"OK, get back to your work."
.........................................
The moment that Rhea disconnected the call with the maid, her phone rang. Without checking the screen, she knew who it was.
"She has drunk from it."
"That’s good." The mechanician’s voice sounded pleased.
"Is the content going to kill her?"
"Rhea, you shouldn’t be quick to wish your enemy death."
"Sorry, I didn’t..."
"I don’t care, but I hope what I asked is ready."
"Yes, it is. I’m about to send it."
"Good."
.........................................
"Sir, I’ve made enquiries. Ma’am is now resting in her room," Thompson walked in, putting his phone back in his pocket.
"Don’t you think that her sickness was sudden?" Jark asked, leaning in.
"Yes, I think it’s mainly due to work stress," Thompson suggested.
"She doesn’t look like someone to break easily."
"She has been under a lot of pressure lately."
Jark nodded at his words.
"Hmmmm, they have been silent for a while. Have you noticed?"
Thompson knew who he was referring to and smirked.
"Maybe they’re scared to come out, boss."
Jark opened his eyes and looked at him, lost in thought, before shaking his head.
"No, I don’t think so. I feel she would take action soon."
The room went quiet for a few seconds.
"Boss, do you mean it’s going to be something big?"
Jark spun on his chair before stopping.
"No, I don’t think so too. There will be a move, but it will be light."
"Then it’s nothing to worry about."
Jark shook his head again.
"There is. We need to be cautious. For now, I want you to dig about this person’s identity."
Jark gave him an envelope filled with pictures.
"Okay, I will do it."
.........................................
Kathe came out of the bathroom, wiping her lips. This was the fifth time she had vomited. For some odd reason, she didn’t feel weak, but it seemed like she was filled with more strength.
She walked to where they had kept the empty bottle. She looked at it for a while and then put it into the mirror drawer.
She felt more at ease. When she thought she was done with some of the trouble, her stomach suddenly rumbled. Luckily for her, the old lady had sent her food. She rushed to where the food was placed and quickly dug into it. Though the food was cold, she could still manage it.
She suddenly remembered about Jark, that he was not able to eat in the morning due to her fault, and she wasn’t sure that he had eaten anything since the morning.
"Don’t tell me he’s still hungry till now," Kathe murmured to herself.
She picked up her phone. She was about to call him, but she changed her mind and decided to call Thompson instead, since it seemed that Jark would be occupied with a load of work.
Luckily, Thompson picked up on the first ring.
"Good afternoon, ma’am."
"Are you with Jark?"
"No, I’m not with him right now. He’s in the office while I went out for other work."
"Okay, did he have breakfast in the morning?"
"No, he didn’t."
"Do you by chance know if he had lunch too?"
There was a pause for a few seconds.
"No, I’m not sure."
"Okay, thank you a lot."
Kathe disconnected the call.
Just as she was about to call Jark and scold him, her phone rang with a strange number displayed on it.
"Hello? Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?"
There was no response from the other end as the call got disconnected.
Within five seconds, the phone rang back again. Kathe looked at the number, contemplating whether to pick the call or not. In the end, she picked the call.
"Hello, can you hear me now?"
Kathe stood still in shock. She knew that voice. That was her...
"Mom," Kathe’s voice cracked.
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