Chapter 23: Vera was found by her stepfather

Thinking that everything good will continue forever, or just long enough for a little while, so that people still feel comfortable and comfortable. But no, it seems that Vera's life is not yet over, because as soon as she is found, the next disaster will come.
Things went like this, I wonder how the person Lani hired was able to track down Vera so quickly. Maybe they got a little lucky. But no matter what, it is not possible to underestimate Lani's talent when going back and forth with the gangster world. The gangsters are crowded, operating widely in all areas of the city, of course, the ability to find people must be faster. Then As soon as I heard that Vera was at the hospital, there was a clear address. Lani had gleefully ran down to the living room to brag to Enoch.
"Father give me the money. I have found Vera's whereabouts." Lani excitedly said like a warbler, "Dad, don't forget our contract. Hurry up and give me the money."
Then Lani stretched out her hand and begged Enoch to grant her request.
"Where is Vera?" Enoch was leisurely sitting on a chair, watching a football match, interrupted by Lani, but when he heard about Vera, he focused on his daughter. The old man kept asking: "Tell me quickly."
"Give me the money first, I'll tell you." Lani insisted on getting her reward. Lani thinks she deserves it after giving Enoch a big credit.
Seeing Enoch's annoyed scowl, Lani knew it would be a little difficult to get the wages. However, Lani knew how to manage the situation.
"If I'm no longer interested in news of Vera, that's fine." Lani pretended to say, "I won't talk anymore, I'll go back to my room."
Saying that made Lani turn around and go upstairs.
"How much do you want?" Enoch eventually succumbs to Lani's unruly temperament. Lani has been like this since childhood, if she does not receive benefits for herself, she will never work redundantly.
Lani smiled triumphantly when she learned that her father had gone into the water, must abide by the original agreement with her. Without delay, Lani turned to Enoch, offering a firm price.
"1000 dollars in cash."
"What do you need so much money for?" Enoch frowned suspiciously: "The things you want to have for your studies, I have already bought them for you. So what do you need money for?"
Enoch's voice was authoritative, he was threatening his daughter.
"I need money to buy clothes, shoes, birthday gifts from friends... I don't spend it lavishly."
Lani cleverly retorted: "Besides, I agreed to the deal from the very beginning. You can do whatever you want as long as you find Vera for me. Now I can't go back on my word. Adults shouldn't be like that. so."
At Lani's reasoning, Enoch once again could only sigh helplessly.
"Okay then tell me where Vera is now." Enoch said: "After I get the money in the bank, I will give you some."
"Give me half first." Lani said firmly: "If I don't have a deposit, I won't believe it."
Child and chick, Enoch cursed indignantly. He did not expect to raise a useless child like Lani, by doing anything that requires payment in money and material. If it continues for a long time, bankruptcy is certain.
Without another word, Enoch pulled out a two-hundred-dollar bill, gave it to Lani, and said:
"Take this for now, I will pay the rest as soon as I get the money." Enoch tried to convince Lani to obey: "I don't have much money right now. Creditors have been yelling at me since yesterday. You've seen some guys hanging around out there too, they could be creditors' people. come and find. So..."
"Okay, Dad, stop talking." Lani interrupted Enoch's words. Listening to that familiar song, Lani got sick of it, she still knew the song: "I'll take this first, I hope you don't lie to me."
"No, girl." Enoch asserted firmly: "Father always does what he says."
"Can I trust you father?" Lani stepped forward to take the money from Enoch's hand, not forgetting to cast doubt.
"Why not, I'm your father," Enoch emphasized what he meant. The old man couldn't accept Lani's distrustful attitude: "Father never disobeyed me."
"It's funny to hear that come out of your mouth, Dad." Lani suddenly raised her voice mocking her own father: "If you keep your promise and do exactly what you say, how could Vera be mercilessly beaten up and down by your father? of Vera's mother that would love and take good care of Vera?"
Lani finished her speech and laughed with delight. Empty promises are the right kind of comedy to make people laugh, but have no weight or meaning.
Enoch flushed red when his own daughter exposed the crime. But there was nothing he could do about Lani because she was right, absolutely right. Money has clouded the mind and made the heart do wrong.
Only Vera is the poor, merciless, and unjustifiable, to suffer bitter tragedies.
"Don't say much, hurry up to your room." Enoch loudly shoved Lani out of his sight: "I forbid you from this word to mention anything that has nothing to do with me."
"Yes, I know." Lani replied with a smile, "I won't say another word that makes you uncomfortable."
Then Lani quickly went upstairs.
"Stop." Enoch requested.
"What's the wrong dad, what else?" Lani stopped on the second step, looked down at Enoch, and asked, "Or do you want to hear me continue?"
"Where's Vera?" Enoch scolded: "Are you trying to trick your own father for 500 dollars?"
Lani laughed at Enoch's impatient, annoyed expression. It turned out that Lani forgot to provide the information after getting the money.
In a sober voice she said:
"Vera is at X hospital. Dad used to arrive early to play the role of a good father before the police inquired about why Vera was lying unconscious in the alley. She could very well have endured it. tell me all that you did to her."
The warning made Enoch itch on his limbs. The old man shouted angrily:
"You don't need to talk too much, go to your room."
Lani shrugged lightly, haughtily walking up to the room. Her hand was holding the bill and her heart was happy. Having money to play with friends again, that's great.
...
Hearing the news that Enoch rushed to the hospital, the old man pretended to be concerned and asked about Vera's condition. When asked about the relationship between the two.
Enoch has claimed to be Vera's guardian. After providing all documents to prove her identity and legally recognized relationship with Vera, Enoch was told which room Vera was currently in. Enoch did not delay after hearing the information and immediately went to see Vera before something unexpected happened.
Enoch did not expect the police to conduct an extensive investigation into Vera lying unconscious in the street. However, life was not like a dream, when Enoch went to Vera's room, he found two police officers already there waiting for Vera to report the incident. Fortunately, the police arrived at the wrong time, Vera is currently being examined by doctors so they have to wait outside. I knew there would be trouble if I left it as it was. So, to prevent the incalculable danger, Enoch took the initiative to come forward and talk to the police.
"May I ask what you need in front of my daughter's hospital room?" Enoch was very polite when he asked.
The policeman looked at Enoch, one of the two opened up to ask:
"How are you with the girl in there?"
"I'm its father." There was no hesitation in his words, Enoch said. Enoch was used to lying and he was confident in doing so. Not to mention Enoch also deliberately gave his identification card, along with some documents that he brought from home, presented to the police to believe him: "These are my papers, as well as the certificate of the relationship. my father-son relationship with her."
The police were drawn to water so they could follow. They also took what Enoch had given them and examined it briefly. When he saw that Enoch's last name matched Vera's, he believed it. They returned the papers to Enoch.
Seeing the policeman's expression, Enoch thought he had distracted the policeman, but wanted to make sure he extended the story in a new direction:
"Do you two need anything from her?"
"We heard she was found inside the alley, so to find out what happened. Was she in any dangerous situation?" The policeman on Enoch's left has an explanation: "And why is she there."
Enoch was a little flustered after hearing that, but he still maintained his composure. To avoid putting himself at a disadvantage, Enoch decided to take action first:
"Actually, before she was found unconscious in the alley, we had an argument." Enoch's sudden confession made the police curious to know more.
"In the end how?" The police representative on the right asked.
"Speaking of which, it's because I'm not good." Enoch pretended to lament, berating himself: "If I hadn't stopped her from hanging out with her boyfriend, she wouldn't have run away. It was my fault that she fainted on the street like that."
The excuse is Too Perfect. Everyone understood what it meant to be young and naive, and Enoch used the fact that Vera was still in school to make up a very logical reason.
"I just want her to focus on her studies. Real fatherhood only wants the best for a daughter."
Enoch resumed his lamentation, what is a shameless man? "I never expected her to think that I forbade her, strict with her."
"It's really a serious misunderstanding that led to the situation like today."
Enoch appeared helpless in how to raise a daughter. The old man's anguished face was very hypocritical. The police, seeing Enoch's exaggerated expression, expressed sympathy.
"Slowly, his daughter will understand the father's heart." The policeman patted Enoch on the shoulder, consoling: "Next time, talk calmly to avoid unfortunate situations."
The police further revealed: "Fortunately, nothing serious happened. She was just exhausted so she passed out."
"Yes, I know."
At this moment the door opened, and the doctor stepped out to face the police and Enoch. In a calm voice, the doctor looked straight at the policeman and said:
"The patient was still tired, so he fell asleep after taking the test. Do you two need to wake her up to talk?"
Enoch gulped nervously, and before he could think, spoke up, not knowing what he had said.
"Can you two come back later? She's probably very tired right now, she needs to rest, I hope you can understand."
Well, although Enoch didn't plan it when he spoke, his words were not meaningless, or unrelated to the issue. He had just kicked the policeman back, to give him time to fix Vera. Enoch had to silence Vera before letting her see the police.
Listening to Enoch's presentation, the doctor also glanced curiously at the old man. Although he did not know who he was, the doctor agreed with Enoch, Vera really needed to rest.
"You're right we have a lot of time, so let's let her rest first." The doctor commented again. That inadvertently helped Enoch, and he was grateful that someone naturally agreed with his point of view.
"We don't think it's really necessary to ask what happened." The police finally spoke up, causing Enoch to listen nervously, waiting: "Anyway, the victim is okay, and the cause of the incident has been found. So there is no need to find out more."
Enoch felt like his life expectancy had just been increased by ten years when the police finished. It was too good that the police stopped meddling in his business.
"Then we'll excuse you." The police followed Enoch's call for attention.
"Yes." The doctor replied.
Then Enoch awkwardly chimed in: "Yes, thank you for coming all the way here. I thank you for your concern on behalf of Vera." He said and bowed his head slightly to show respect.
"It's our responsibility." The police emphasized: "Reclaiming justice as well as helping citizens is the mission and duty of the police."
"Yes, that's really honorable." Enoch did not expect to lie so smoothly. Compliments are more fake than genuine.
"Hope your daughter gets well soon." The police added: "And the father-son relationship will improve after this incident."
"I hope so too, thank you very much again."
The police then said goodbye and left the hospital. While Enoch briefly talked to the doctor about Vera's condition. The test results showed that Vera was only due to exhaustion. If you want to check the whole thing, you have to wait for the request of the family. In a word, it all depends on the money paid for the procedures. And of course, Enoch wouldn't have paid for a thorough check on Vera. Not to mention if Enoch did anything other than expose his own wrongdoings with Vera's body. Enoch was never so foolish.
Enoch stood by Vera's bed just to wait for her to wake up. And finally, the wait paid off. As soon as Vera opened her eyes, Enoch's dark voice frightened Vera.
"Are you awake, girl?"
Vera instinctively stiffened, and pure fear surrounded her.
Why? Vera secretly lamented fate.