CHAPTER 22

"Don't drop that here. Go drop it in the car." Nanny Mai instructed.
       "Nanny," I called her while walking into the house and threw my purse on the chair. "What's going on? Are you going somewhere?"
       "We are going back to Liam's place."
       "Today?" I removed my jacket and hung it on the chair. "If I had known I wouldn't have come back. I should have just called when I saw the lights on."
       "Hold on, did you go to Liam's house today?"
       "No. I went to Rosie's house."
       "Rosie? The girl that lives close to...."
       "Liam. Yes, she's the one. Why are we even going home today? I mean, what's the rush?"
       "It's Liam's grandma."
       "What happened to her." I walked up to her.
       "She was in an accident. She fell down the stairs."
       "Oh no. First, Anna now this? Why are there only sad moments in this house?"
       "Don't confess negatively. Everything will be alright."
       "Where's everybody? I asked.
       "They left for home. I took Lauren for a check-up, that's why I couldn't follow them."
       "And Diana?"
       "Wasn't she with you? She went after you in the afternoon."
       Dramatic queen. Why was she doing this to me? The one time I chose to trust her that had to happen to grandma. Was she innocent or did I make a mistake by trusting her? I sat on the sofa while Nanny carried my luggage outside. She knew how lazy I was when it came to packing up my bags.
       When she was done carrying our bags outside, she put Lauren in my arms while she carried Victoria. I locked the door after the nanny had stepped out.
       "Shall we?"
       "I feel like throwing up. This is the third time I'm entering a car today. I'm not a fan of driving."
       "Well, you have no choice but to like it. You are married to a billionaire and you have to get used to it because the day Liam finally falls in love with you, you will have to go on many drives with him. He loves doing that in his free time."
       "Liam and I are truly opposite of each other."
       "That's what makes your relationship cute."
       "Oh nanny, what do you know about being cute?" I teased.
       "Granny." She frowned.
       "Oh yes, that's true." We entered the car and drove off. It was a long journey from Mr. Smith's house to Liam's house. Victoria cried throughout the journey. I gave her to Nanny Mai to put to sleep. Nanny Mai fed her some pap before putting her to sleep. I carried Lauren on my lap and played with her. Her smile made me wish I was a mum. As much as I desperately wanted to be a mum, I also wanted to win my husband's love first.
       For me, my husband's love was more important than having a child. People say if you want to get your husband's love, give him a child. But it doesn't work for everyone, at least not for me.
       Rosie! I gasped. Yes, Diana loves or loved Liam. She wouldn't dare to hurt his family. It was either Rosie or her dad. I shouldn't have challenged her like that. I punched the front chair so hard that Lauren stared at me with her beautiful hazel eyes.
       When we arrived at Liam's house, we got out of the car. Paul, our driver helped us carry the bags.
       "Go in. I'll bring your bags afterward. Granny must be waiting for you." Paul said. He wasn't just a driver but a best friend to Liam.
       I dropped Lauren on the sofa very close to Nanny and rushed upstairs to Granny's room. Liam and his parents were there while the doctor examined Granny. Diana walked in with a cup of milk for Liam's mum.
       "Where have you been?" She whispered after giving the milk to Mrs. Smith.
       "I didn't know you guys were here. And you?" I asked suspiciously.
       "Liam called me over."
       "He couldn't even call me. I think Rosie might be behind this." I said softly.
       "Why would you say that?"
       "That's because," I narrated everything that happened at Rosie's home.
       "But if you have no evidence, how do you want to prove she's guilty?"
       "I don't know. I can't believe I'm back here. I should leave before Mrs. Smith starts her drama. We'll talk later."
       "Sure."
        I walked out of the room and into my room. I took off my shoes and bounced on the bed.
        "Mrs. Hannah," one of the servants called out.
        "Go on."
        "There's a letter for you."
        "Letter?" I sat on the bed. "When and who brought it?"
        "He didn't give me his name. He said he could help you if you listen to him and do as he says."
        "What? Could this day get any worse? What could be in this letter now?" I collected it from her and opened it. "Oh no, he says he knows everything about Rosie and he has evidence against her! This is good news!" I leaped for joy. The servant looked at me in confusion. She didn't understand how a letter could make me so happy. "But where would I get the money?" I sat down back on the bed. "10 million isn't something you can just beg for and it would be given to you. Do you know where I can get 10 million?" I asked sarcastically.
        "Mrs,"
        "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. You can leave."
        "Ma'am, may I suggest something?" He asked.
        "Go on."
        "Why do you stress yourself over little things? Your husband is Liam Smith. Why not ask him for money? I mean, 10 million is very little money to him."
         "As if." I sighed. Just as I was still pondering on how to ask Mr. Smith for 20 million, Liam walked into the room with his phone in his ear and a briefcase in his hand. He was talking to Ariana.
         "The money is in my wardrobe. I'll give it to them next week Saturday." He said. After he was done, he dropped his phone on the bed, put the box in his wardrobe, and entered the bathroom.
         What to do? I bit my nails hard. Why did he have to bring in money when I needed it? If I take money from there, I'll be able to replace it later. I'll talk to Dad about it. Plus, I'm only doing them a favor.
         I opened the wardrobe, brought out the money, and transferred it into my red handbag.
         "What are you doing?" Liam's harsh voice echoed in the room. I stood still, feeling very scared like someone caught by the police for robbery.
         "It's um...well..I...Liam, I'm."
         "Hannah if you have nothing to say, please move to the side. I want to take my brown suit."
         "I'll give it to you." I brought out the suit and handed it to him.
         "Thanks."
         "About yesterday," his phone rang. "I just want to say....."
         "Hannah, can't you see that I'm on a call?" He walked out.
         "You're the one at fault here so why do I care?" I fumed. "I would have told you the truth about your money also but you didn't wait to listen. It's your fault." I arranged my clothes in my wardrobe and dusted the table. "Since I got to this house, I haven't set my eyes on an iron. I wonder if they even have one." I looked out through my door, waiting for someone I know to walk past so I could ask for iron.
                "Paul!" He had come upstairs to deliver something to Liam. He was just on his way downstairs when I hollered at him.
       "Yes, Hannah?"
       "Is Mrs. Smith downstairs?" I asked.
       "She's in granny's room. Didn't you see Grandma?"
       "I did," I looked down in guilt. "but I didn't go in. Mrs. Smith would have yelled at me as she doesn't like my presence."
       "Hey, Mr. Smith is back. You can tell him everything that happened while he was away. I'm sure he would find a solution."
       "True. We'll talk about that later. Do you know where I can get a pressing iron in this house?"
       "There's a pressing iron in every room in this house. You just haven't searched for it." He looked at me like he was talking to a small ignorant child.
       "I see. I'll go check for it again."
       "Sure." He giggled. "It's on top of your wardrobe. Liam presses his clothes around 2 am every night and when he's done, he keeps the iron on top of the wardrobe."
       "Why? He's unbelievable."
       "He doesn't like sharing his things with careless people."
       "What's that supposed to mean?" I frowned. Paul and Liam were very close but I didn't expect Liam to be telling him about our relationship.
       "I'll be outside if you need me."
       "Yeah. Um, I'll be going somewhere tomorrow morning. I don't want Liam or any of the family members to know."
       "You don't have to worry. Once you are ready, tell me. I'll take you there."
       "Thanks." After Paul has left, I dragged a small stool close to the wardrobe and arranged it well. "Oh Lord, let me not fall to my death." I prayed and then climbed the stool. I searched every corner of the wardrobe for the iron. It was a bit dusty probably because we hadn't cleaned it for days. When I finally touched the iron, I leaped for joy completely forgetting I was standing on a stool. By the time I realized it, it was already too late. I slipped an fell into Liam's arms. He was glaring at me with disappointment. He looked very charming even with those cold eyes.
       "Are you going to keep lying in my arms like an ignorant child or will you get up?" His cold voice echoed in my head.
       "I was gonna do that before you asked." I got up and arranged my dress. "You said you were leaving right? What are you doing here?" I narrowed my eyes.
       "Do I need permission to come back to my house?"
       "You don't. But in case you get missing or kidnapped, I need to know about how I'll table down my information to the police."
       "So, it's your prayer that I get kidnapped?"
       "Who's the child on our bed?" I changed the topic quickly and sat close to the little girl. "She's so cute."
       "Her name is Tanya. She's Diana's cousin."
       "Diana's cousin?" Why did I always feel jealous when he mentioned her name?
       "Hmmm. Her mum is very ill and her dad is late. She will be staying with us for some days."
       "It's your house what can I...."
       "If it's okay with you." He cut in.
       "Oh." I smiled under my breath. The last time he put me in such a situation, the result was that Diana came into our lives and tried to ruin our relationship. But this time, it was a little child. If I said No because of Diana's misdeeds, I'll only be seen as a heartless person. "She can stay. I don't have an issue with her."
       "Good. I'll leave her here with you. I'm going."
       "Are you really going?"
       "Yes."
       "About this morning,"
       "When I return." He winked and strolled out of the room.
       Why was he avoiding the topic of what happened this morning? I was trying to apologize but he was making it difficult. Was he still angry at me or did he just hate it when people told him sorry?
       "Hey, cutie, I'm Hannah, your aunt."
       "Mama."
       "Aww. Your mum will get better soon. Tanya, let me tell you a secret about your uncle. He's a grumpy man. Oh no, if his mum finds out that we talked to each other, I'm sure she will give me an ear fold."
       I carried Tanya in my arms and played with her. Her soft giggle lightened up my mood. Nanny Mai eyed me from outside the room. She was upset with me cus I never really spent any time with Lauren and Victoria. She didn't understand that I didn't want to get too attached to Jasmine's children that I would find it hard to let them go. What if she returned? I mean, there was news of her death but no dead body was found.
       When she couldn't control her anger, she entered the room and dropped Lauren on the bed close to Tanya. "Take her." She snapped. "I'm off work for today."
       "But, nanny..."
       "Bye. Victoria is in the living room with Mrs. Smith."
       "Mrs. Smith is in the living room? Maybe I'll just wait here for a while."
       "Wise decision."
       I picked up my phone from the bed after Nanny Mai had left and dialed the number at the back of the letter.
       "8 am tomorrow. Come alone." The receiver replied and then dropped the call.
       "How did he even know I was going to call around this time?" I rolled my tired eyes. "9:30 pm. I wonder where Liam has gone by this time. I hope they don't kidnap him for real." I yawned and placed my head on Tanya's little lap.