Chapter 121

This took an unexpected turn. Chase visited Ann, but ended up being carried out of the ICU himself. Coincidentally, Grandma was also at the hospital, under the Kennedy family's care. They rushed over upon hearing the news.

Throughout the drama, I trailed behind Chase to the emergency room, utterly unconcerned. He deserved it! Men like him were despicable and the world would be better off without them. No, scratch that. I wanted him and Nicole to suffer a thousandfold what I endured before they finally died.

As Chase was wheeled away, my flustered mother rushed over. "Doctor, my son-in-law is alright, right?" She acted as if Chase were her own son.

The doctor adjusted his glasses. "Ma'am, don't worry. Mr. Reyes fainted due to malnutrition, exhaustion, and shock."

"Shock? I heard he passed out visiting someone in the ICU," Nicole interjected, far more direct than my cluelessly smiling mother. The doctor, attempting to avoid tangents, produced the medical report. "I only performed Mr. Reyes' physical exam. He fainted from shock, but we found concerning issues with his stomach and kidneys."

"What's wrong?"

"There's a shadow in his stomach; we can't determine if it's a polyp or a tumor. A gastroscopy and biopsy are recommended. If it's a tumor, we'll need a biopsy to determine if it's benign or malignant."

Nicole and I reacted differently; she was visibly worried. "Doctor, what does that mean?"

"Has he had stomach problems before?"

"He sometimes has stomach pain."

"It's likely something developing for a year or two. His kidneys also require a thorough check; I suspect early kidney failure."

Nicole's face paled. "How can that be? He seemed perfectly fine…" She trailed off. The doctor addressed her. "You're Mr. Reyes' wife, correct?"

"I'm his sister."

"Then ensure Mr. Reyes receives a thorough checkup, eats well, rests sufficiently, avoids overwork, and abstains from smoking, alcohol, and spicy food."

"Understood, thank you."

Nicole's worry prompted my mother's consolation. "Even the doctor is unsure about his stomach, so don't stress."

Nicole wasn't in the mood for small talk. "I'll check on him."

My mother muttered, "He's not even her real brother. How is she more worried about him than her missing sister?" She then followed Nicole, quickly adopting a concerned expression. "Chase, you're not…"

Chase looked around fiercely, twisting his neck. "Mrs. Kennedy, can you see it?"

His intense gaze chilled my mother—as superstitious as my grandmother, hospitals unnerved her. If not for Grandma, she'd never be here.

She rubbed her arms. "Chase, what are you looking at?"

Nicole offered him warm water. "Chase, the doctor said you're overworked. Rest. Are you seeing things? You'll be fine."

Chase stared blankly. "No, I'm looking at Amanda. Can you see her?"

Nicole's fingers trembled, spilling water. She quickly composed herself, setting down and wiping the cup. "Chase, what are you talking about? Amanda isn't back yet."

My mother dismissed it. "You must miss her terribly. The doctor said you need to eat well. Let me peel an apple for you." Nobody took him seriously, but Chase, looking ghostly, said something chilling.

"Ann said Amanda died on our wedding night. She saw Amanda's body, wounded at the waist and bleeding profusely…"

Nicole's hand shook. "Chase, you can't say things like that. It's terrifying! Ann was just stressed, right?"

"Yeah, Chase…"

But Chase ignored them. "Ann was taken onto a boat that night and never went to the police. How could she know Amanda's wedding dress was torn at the waist?"

"Ann was under stress. You can't seriously believe her, right?"

Chase turned to my mother. "But she said she saw Amanda just before she was put in a car."

My mother shivered, terrified. "No, that's too crazy…" she whispered.

Chase gestured. "She said Amanda was beside me, in a white dress, barefoot, glowing. Mrs. Kennedy, is it possible Amanda's been dead all along? And she's been with us…"

At this, my mother accidentally cut her finger, blood gushing out. The knife and apple thudded to the ground. The blood-stained apple rolled to Nicole's feet.