Chapter 96  Dad said his goodbyes to Ann’s family and headed to the hospital with Chase.  Walking down the hospital corridors was like stepping into another world. Doctors and nurses hustled past, patients in dire straits were wheeled in by ambulance crews, and the air was thick with the cries of heartbroken relatives. This was the critical care area, where the odds were never in your favor.  Dad arrived, looking like he’d run a marathon. “Mom, I’m back.”  Grandma lay in her hospital bed, oxygen tubes snaking into her nose. Her face, always delicate, now appeared even more ghostly and frail.  “She was doing okay just a few days ago. How did things get so bad so fast?” he asked, bewildered.  Nicole burst into tears as she rushed over. “Dad, it’s all my fault. When you guys went to the airport, I worried that Grandma would be  fone, so I went to check on her. She wasn’t in a good place mentally. She saw me and started yelling, blaming me for driving my sister away. She even threw things at me. I dodged, and she fell.”  “It’s my fault for dodging. If I hadn’t, Grandma wouldn’t be like this. Dad, you should punish me.”  I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d taken acting classes; she could cry on cue like it was nothing.  Instead of focusing on Grandma, the family now gathered around to console Nicole. This was her usual play, and somehow, it always worked.  Grandma lay there, eyes closed, while everyone fussed over the one who caused the mess. If Grandma were conscious, Nicole’s antics would surely drive her mad. Maybe that was Nicole’s plan all along–stir the pot without lifting a finger.  “Alright, alright. Grandma’s health wasn’t great to begin with, so it’s not all on you. Stop crying and take care of her. She’ll get better,” someone reassured her.  “Okay,” she sniffled.  Nicole reached for Chase’s hand. “Chase, have you found Amanda?”  With tears still glistening on her cheeks and that innocent smile, anyone would think she was anything but the catalyst for my demise. Chase’s expression was like thunder as he pulled his hand back.  “No,” he said curtly.  Mom, after tucking Grandma in, turned to them. “The silly girl wasn’t there?”  “No,” Chase replied.  “Where else could she be? Oh, what if something terrible happened? Honey, maybe we should go to the police. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”  “No, we can’t do that. I’m having friends look into it quietly. Going public will just cause more trouble for both families. Besides, this all started with Nicole, and there’s plenty of online chatter about it.”  Chase’s runaway wedding had already been a scandal, sending stock prices on a nosedive while his grandpa fumed. More news would only make things worse for everyone.  But I was his daughter, too. Why did it seem like my dad’s heart only had room for Nicole?  I wondered if he would still shield Nicole even after hearing about my death.  Unlike him, Mom’s tough words masked a softer heart. Her eyes showed her worry. “What if something really happened to Amanda, honey?”  “It’s not possible. She’s still in the city. We’ll find her. Everyone, keep this under wraps.”  “Alright,” she agreed, albeit reluctantly.  Disappointment washed over me as I looked at the man I’d called Dad for over twenty years. Was this really how he felt about me? Suddenly, my brother shouted, “Grandma’s awake!”  All eyes turned to Grandma, and I rushed to her side, too. Her cloudy eyes seemed to focus in my direction. Was it just my imagination? Did she really see me?