As Scarlett slowly regained consciousness, her eyes fluttered open, only to be greeted by the sterile white walls of a hospital room. Confusion and fear washed over her as the memories of the terrifying ordeal flooded back into her mind.
"W-Why am I here?" she whispered, her voice barely audible in the room's silence.
She remembered the horrifying encounter with Jude Withers' people and the near-death experience her family had endured. The room felt suffocating, and she longed for answers and reassurance about her father's and Aunty Lana's fate.
When Scarlett attempted to rise from her bed, a familiar voice gently greeted her from the doorway.
"Baby, you're awake..." Xander's voice conveyed deep concern as his eyes met Scarlett's shocking gaze. "...do you need anything?" he continued, his hand reaching out to hold hers. Tenderly, he helped her sit on the edge of the bed, positioning himself in front of her.
"X-Xander..." Scarlett's voice trembled with emotion, tears threatening to escape as she saw her husband standing there. She clung tightly to him, seeking solace in his embrace. "H-How is my father? Aunty Lana?" Her voice was barely audible, weighted with the fear of learning that her cherished loved ones might not have survived the ordeal.
Not hearing Xander say anything and only feeling a gentle pat on her back made Scarlett even more nervous. She quickly released her arms and raised her head to meet his gaze.
"Please, tell me what happened to them, Xander," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, unable to hold back any longer. "I want to see them..." she managed to utter between sobs.
"Baby," Xander responded in his tender voice, sitting beside her. He delicately wiped away the tears that stained her face and pulled her into his comforting embrace. "Your father... he couldn't make it. He passed away a few hours after arriving at this hospital," he momentarily paused when she cried loudly, and her body trembled in his arms.
After some time, as her sobs gradually subsided, he continued, "And Aunty Lana... she passed away before the ambulance reached the hospital!"
Another wave of loud sobs echoed throughout the room as Scarlett released all the sorrow within her.
Countless questions now flooded Scarlett's mind; How could she lose the people closest to her in a tragic event that unfolded right before her? Why did Jude Withers mercilessly kill innocent lives, including her loved ones?
Her heart ached as she recalled the harrowing scene at her house, her father's lifeless body forever etched in her memory. The pain coursed through her veins, causing her entire body to tremble with grief and anger.
"Xander, I need to seek revenge. I won't find peace until I make Jude Withers suffer for taking away my father, Aunt Lana, and everyone else in my home..." Scarlett's voice shook, the intensity of her anger pulsating through her words.
All this time, she had restrained herself from directly confronting Jude Withers, fearing for her mother's safety and the secret of her existence. However, after this devastating incident, she was sure that Jude Withers now knew about her, and there was no longer any reason to hide. She no longer had to be afraid to face that evil man, Jude Withers!
"I won't stop you," Xander finally said after a few moments of silence. "But for now, let's set aside thoughts of revenge. We must focus on arranging your father's funeral and everyone who died that day..."
Scarlett could only nod in agreement, unable to find the words to express her grief. She felt as if she were being suffocated by the reality that her entire family was now gone, leaving her alone in this cruel world.
"And you need to eat," Xander added, gently smoothing her messy hair. "You must be hungry; you haven't eaten anything since yesterday..."
"What time is it?" Scarlett tried to catch a glimpse of the outside, but the blinds were tightly shut, concealing whether it was day or night.
"It's already morning," he replied, walking towards the window to draw back the curtains. Then he walked back to sit next to her.
"How did I end up here, Xander?" Scarlett's memory was completely hazy. After showering and changing her clothes yesterday, she shed her sadness by crying alone in her bedroom. After that, everything was a blur.
"Logan found you asleep in your room. When I arrived at your house, I noticed that you looked like you were unconscious instead of sleeping, so I decided to bring you here." Xander explained.
Xander also tells her that upon receiving the devastating news, he had immediately flown over and canceled all his meetings. He had also asked the police to investigate the perpetrators.
And, this morning, he received a report stating that the assailants killed in her house had all used fake identities. The police were unable to trace their true identities or discern their motives.
Scarlett's face flushed with anger as she lifted her head to gaze at Xander. "Did Logan tell you anything about their identities?"
"Yes, he did. I also conducted some private investigations. They are indeed from X country. They might be underground assassins working for Withers," Xander replied.
"I'm convinced it's them! I overheard them mentioning something about my mother, looking for evidence..." Scarlett explained, recounting what she had heard the criminals say before she killed them.
"Evidence? What kind of evidence?" Xander asked, confused to hear that.
"I also don't know what they are looking for..." Scarlett massaged her forehead, desperately hoping that her thoughts would provide some clue as to what evidence the men were looking for in her house, leading them to brutally kill her father and everyone present.
Their actions were unfathomably vicious! She would never forgive the Withers. She will avenge her father and the others.
While Scarlett was lost in deep thought, a sudden knock on the door startled her. Logan entered the room, holding a cell phone. She recognized it was her cellphone.
"Mam, your phone has been ringing nonstop," Logan said, handing her the phone.
