Chapter 351 Things Kept from Her
Pearl's questions left him a bit flustered.
"Ms. Harris, you're overthinking it," Elijah said, keeping Oscar's secret. "Oscar's busy with business, so it's normal you can't see him."
"What about Haley?" Pearl asked again.
"I'm not sure," Elijah replied, not wanting to say more. Pearl had to stop her questioning.
"Can I stay here with Barbara?" Pearl asked.
Elijah hesitated.
"Is that not allowed?" Pearl pressed.
"It's okay," Elijah finally said. "But Barbara can't leave the room without permission, and you'll need to be checked when you come and go. That's our rule."
Elijah, being a soldier, was a bit cold.
Pearl understood and said, "I get it."
She walked into the room, and Elijah watched from outside, anxious without news from Oscar. He didn't know when they could act; he couldn't do anything rash and every moment felt like torture.
Pearl sat by Barbara's bedside, looking at the pale, unconscious friend. Even her vibrant red hair had dulled. Pearl used a cotton swab to moisten Barbara's dry lips, making her feel a bit better.
After a while, Pearl thought about Eileen who was also in the car the day she was taken. She wondered how Eileen was doing so she went to ask Elijah.
"Eileen had some minor injuries and is recovering in the hospital. Here's your phone; you dropped it in the car that day," Elijah said, handing it back. "You'll probably be bored here, so having a phone might help."
Pearl took it, relieved it wasn't broken. That day had been chaotic—shattered windows, blocked roads, and many casualties. The Crimson Eclipse Society was terrifying, completely unafraid of death.
Thinking back, Pearl was still shaken. She wondered, "Donald captured me and wanted Haley too. Poisoning me must be related to Haley. Did they have a falling out? I heard Donald mention Kevin. It seems they fell out because of Kevin. Since Haley and Donald were connected, they weren't enemies at first. They fell out and got involved with Oscar. Why?"
Pearl's questions made Elijah uneasy. She was getting close to the truth, and he feared he couldn't explain it to Oscar.
"I really don't know, Ms. Harris. Please don't ask me," Elijah said, avoiding the question.
Pearl saw the guilt in his eyes. She realized they were keeping things from her, just like they initially hid the fact that she was poisoned. Oscar might be trying to get the antidote for her. She couldn't help but think that. Although Oscar believed Donald had the antidote and he picked Haley. Was he attacking Donald's base for her antidote?
But the antidote wasn't with Donald. He wouldn't have made it. The poison could have come from someone else, but not the antidote. What role did Haley's father play?
Pearl couldn't figure it out. She glanced at Barbara, thinking she might have answers.
Sitting quietly, Pearl turned on her phone to check the news. The road bombing had spread quickly online. Netizens were buzzing about it. The police only mentioned that an operation to eliminate the bandits had started but gave no details.
Pearl asked Harper, who said they were withholding details to avoid public panic until the operation concluded. This meant a bigger storm might be brewing behind the scenes. The operation wasn't over.
'Is Oscar still on a mission?' Pearl wondered, feeling the case was too complicated. 'Who is the leader they need to arrest?'
Looking outside, everything seemed peaceful compared to the chaos she had witnessed. The hospital felt serene.
At mealtime, Elijah brought her food. "Ms. Harris, you've been here all day. You should eat something," he said, setting the table for her.
Pearl looked at him and asked, "Don't you find it strange?"
"What?" Elijah was puzzled, thinking something might be wrong with the food.
"Even though Oscar and I are divorced, you keep taking care of me. Do you think we'll get back together? Did Oscar give you that confidence?" Pearl asked sharply. "Donald was captured, but your operation isn't over. Is Oscar still on a mission?"
Elijah didn't know which question to answer first, making him more flustered. "Ms. Harris, the food is here. Please take your time," he said, wanting to escape. He was not a good liar. At this time, he preferred to fight a war than to answer her questions.
"Stop right there!" Pearl called out. Elijah just wanted to leave quickly.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Pearl pressed. "I'm just asking a question. Why are you so nervous? It makes me think I'm right. You don't want to tell me the truth. No, it's Oscar who doesn't want you to."
Elijah turned back and said, "I don't understand Oscar's thoughts either. I really know nothing."
His tight-lipped response made it clear she wouldn't get any info from him. Pearl decided to let him go and stopped pressing.
After this, Elijah avoided coming in unless necessary, preferring to stand guard at the door.
In the evening, Barbara showed some movement. Her fingers twitched, making Pearl stop overthinking and focus on her.
"Barbara," Pearl called softly.
Barbara, feeling exhausted, tried to focus. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Pearl. "Where am I? Am I not dead?"
"Of course, you're not dead. You're alive!" Pearl said, touching her face to let her feel warmth.
Barbara smiled faintly. "That's good. I feel warmth now. I'm no longer cold. It's very warm, but it just hurts a little."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
