Chapter 293
Alarieka settled into a routine of studying, eating nutritious meals prepared by the caregiver, and sipping bone broth or Golden Milk from her mother. Hospital life threatened to turn her bones to mush—yet these were her most tranquil days since rebirth.
But Kieran’s final words haunted her: “You’ll apologize.”
After dinner and Tamika’s Golden Milk, drowsiness tugged at Alarieka’s eyelids as the phrase echoed in her mind. Nestled under blankets, she fought sleep’s pull.
Why would Kieran say that? What apology? Days had passed without any action from him. Yet Kieran never made empty threats—his promises were ironclad. Of this, Alarieka held no doubt. Despite the surface calm, lingering unease whispered that something was about to happen.
She had packed her schedule today—studying, completing multiple test papers, finishing several workbook pages, attending a follow-up checkup, and squeezing in some exercise. By day’s end, though she hadn’t moved much, she felt dead tired.
Fortunately, the checkup results looked good. She could leave the hospital tomorrow.
She hadn’t figured out Kieran’s situation yet, but she refused to dwell on it. Closing her eyes, she drifted into sleep.
Late at night, the hospital corridor outside lay in utter silence. Alarieka slept soundly, unaware of shadowy figures creeping closer outside her room.
Alarieka breathed evenly, half her face buried beneath the quilt, sleeping peacefully.
Buzz buzz buzz—
Her phone vibrated incessantly on the bedside table, calls flooding in one after another.
Alarieka remained undisturbed, her slumber deep and calm.
Every night before bed, she set her phone to mute mode—so that nothing would interrupt her rest.
So even with calls constantly coming in and automatically disconnecting when unanswered, Alarieka’s phone just kept vibrating quietly on the nightstand.
The night passed. Alarieka slowly opened her eyes, sitting up gradually as she stared blankly at the off-white wall with sleepy eyes.
She rubbed the back of her neck, stepped into her slippers, and grabbed her crutch. Leaning on it, she shuffled toward the bathroom. After washing up at her usual pace, she stepped out to find the punctual housekeeper already delivering breakfast to her hospital room.
“Good morning, Ms. Huston. Breakfast is ready whenever you are.”
The housekeeper turned to greet her. Alarieka nodded, her gaze settling on the meal tray by the bed.
The spread remained lavish as always. Alarieka hobbled over with her crutch. Once the housekeeper arranged the dishes, she hurried over to carefully guide Alarieka onto the mattress.
Just as Alarieka picked up her spoon, the housekeeper handed her the phone. “Ms. Huston, you should check this. While you were bathing, several calls came for yourself.”
The housekeeper wore a hesitant expression.
Alarieka set down her spoon and took the phone. When the screen lit up, revealing rows of missed calls, her face and mind went completely blank.
Frowning, Alarieka instantly grasped the gravity of the situation. She tapped into her call log.
Starting from 4:30 AM, Paloma, Jaylene, and countless others—including school staff—had dialed over ten times each. Paloma and Jaylene alone had called forty or fifty times.
Moments ago, a dozen unknown numbers from different regions had flooded in. Checking the timestamps, each call had rung until automatic disconnection.
Staring at the clustered numbers, Alarieka’s days of simmering anxiety suddenly solidified. Her pulse quickened; her breaths turned shallow.
Her finger hovered over the screen, uncertain which contact to return first, when a call from a distant city flashed.
Alarieka’s brow furrowed slightly.
This barrage of unknowns—based on experience—likely meant…
She hesitated, neither answering nor declining.
The housekeeper watched her. “Ms. Huston, is everything alright?”
“Fine.”
Alarieka pressed her lips together and decisively hit “Answer.”