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“If what you just told me is right, then we need extra protection.” Natalie faced her, “I’m not risking your life for anything, not even for Marcel. You’re my daughter and I’ll do everything to protect you.”

And yes, Arianna had no choice but to narrate the situation to her mother. Although Marcel intended to inform Eric about Richardo, there was no time and then this happened.

“Fine, let him come along then, as far as he doesn’t talk too much,” Arianna said, hurriedly getting into the car. There was no more time to waste, Marcel needed her.

But Ezra rolled his eyes towards heaven, he was older than her for speaking out loud.

“You should get in, my lady,” Ezra gestured for Natalie to go in with her daughter but she disagreed with him.

“No, I should drive while you be on the lookout.”

“Don’t worry, I can do both,” He said, already nudging her into the car and Natalie knew that this couldn’t be argued. So she let him be.

Just before Ezra got into the driver’s seat, he sensed a movement from his peripheral view and stopped, looking in that direction.

.....

“What is it?” Arianna noticed he was distracted and her gaze followed his line of sight but came up with nothing.

“Nothing.” He gave her a sweet smile, but not without looking through the rearview mirror and smirked, settling down in the driver’s seat. He turned the ignition and started the car, carefully driving out of the residence.

Throughout the ride, Arianna was not relaxed and kept tapping her feet against the floor impatiently.

“Instead of worrying anxiously like that, you should call your Ruth, and ensure that everything is set in place for when we arrive. We don’t want to lose any life all because she ran out of medicines, right?”

“Y-yes, you’re right,” Arianna stammered, before picking up her phone and making the call. Unlike her, her mother was calm and collected and Arianna couldn’t help but wonder if Natalie was made that way or simply cultivated such composure over the years. If it wasn’t Victor but her in that condition, would she be this calm?

Her mother’s suggestion helped with Arianna’s anxiety because it kept her busy and on the phone for a while. Not to mention that she was updated on Victor’s condition and, to be honest, it was not encouraging.

According to reports, Victor had been wearing Kevlar for protection while out on this mission, but then how many layers had he been wearing and against how many rounds? For sure, Kevlar is strong and can keep a bullet from penetrating his body, but it cannot prevent blunt-trauma force because it’s flexible.

Ruth claimed he received tears in his internal organ that was squished by the bullet pressing hard into his body before it was stopped. The weapon was a .30 caliber bullet in a cartridge about one inch long. The bullet had fifty percent more energy than most nine-millimole bullets. Not to mention that he was shot in the thigh as well and was bleeding out.

Thankfully, Ruth got the bleeding part under control, although he lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion. In one word, if Victor survives tonight, he should thank the lord for his life in his favorite church. It was a good thing that Marcel brought him to Ruth’s place on time without calling and waiting for his doctor to arrive else it would have been too late.

“You should calm down. If Ruth is anything I remember, then Victor is in safe hands.” Natalie said, placing her hand on her knee and squeezed it tenderly.

“Huh?” Arianna arched a brow at her mother, “You do know Ruth?”

Natalie snorted with laughter, “The world is a small place. The both of us worked together as nurses while I was pregnant and the day I gave birth to you, I left you with her before your father arrived to pick you up. Daniel found out I worked at the hospital and I couldn’t let him find out that I had you. God knows he would hold you hostage just to make me stay by his side. ”

Arianna’s jaw dropped open so wide a swarm of flies would have flown in with no obstruction. What in the name of creepy coincidence was this? The woman that she had been working with in the past was the same woman who carried her at birth.

By chance, could it be that Ruth knew her identity all this while? Was that why she treated her well and wouldn’t let her go? It wasn’t surprising, after all, with the risky business she run, the woman made sure to do a background check on all her employees. If Ruth knew her father from when she was born, then she could have easily made the connection.

That woman!

Arianna gritted her teeth in annoyance. She knew about her mother and didn’t say a word. But then it was actually nice to know that she acted like her guardian angel all this while.

“Wow…” Arianna breathed. Her mind was blown off right now and it took the tension off her body. But not for long.

Arianna received a call not long after and her face distorted at once.

“What is it?” Natalie knew something was wrong the instant she saw her expression.

“Ruth wants to move Victor. The incident drew attention to her shop and now the police -”

“Say no more. Give me the phone,”

Arianna had never loved her mother more than that moment when she took charge and concluded Victor be moved to her hospital instead. She already made plans and he was to be received without questioning. Hence, Ezra had to reverse and drive to her hospital instead.

As soon as they arrived and stepped out, there were doctors lined up at the entrance as if they have been informed of her mother’s arrival and they acknowledged her presence.

“I told you not to make a huge deal out of this,” Natalie scolded an older doctor with bald hair in their midst who seems to be the chief resident. The man laughed, scurrying over to her mother’s side and flattering her.

Arianna was left dumbfounded by the scene, she never knew her mother was this powerful until now. Even she was a bit intimidated and lingered behind Natalie, hoping none of them questions her identity. She was like a fish out of water, unlike Ezra who looked more relaxed and in place. It wasn’t his first time here.

While some of the doctors left – whom she assumed to be resident doctors and trainees- the professionals remained and her mother got into doctor mode immediately.

“How’s the patient?”

“He was wheeled into the surgery room moments ago and is lucky to be alive. By chance, do you want to be a part of the operation or supervise it?” The bald man asked her.

And at that question, Natalie stopped and looked at her daughter. The man sensed her mother’s gaze and turned to look at her.

He asked out of curiosity, “If I may ask, who is she? ”

“She’s my daughter,” Natalie announced with pride and one should see the shock on the faces of the doctors present.

Suddenly, all eyes were on Arianna, making her uncomfortable and she wished the earth would open up and swallow her. The intensity of their gazes was enough to bore a hole in her head and she didn’t know how to behave. Was she supposed to wave or introduce herself?

The expression on their faces was a telltale sign that her mother liked to keep her life private. They probably couldn’t believe that she had a grown-up daughter – who was currently pregnant with a grandchild that she had no idea about. That was a matter for another day.

“The patient is very important to me so I’m taking part in the surgery,” Natalie said and Arianna’s heart surged with warmth. The fact that her mother was willing to go all out for Marcel’s cousin whom she has never met touched her. At that moment, she regretted ever treating her harshly in the past. Her mother was a good person.

“Thank you,” Arianna told her with a smile and her mother acknowledged it with a nod.

“I need to change,” Natalie said and headed into the lobby, followed by an entourage of doctors while Arianna and Ezra followed at a slower pace.

Arianna knew she couldn’t follow her into the surgery room. While she was good at assisting and stitching one or two things, this place was full of professionals that would do their best to save Victor’s life.

At that moment, Arianna resolved inwardly that she would take up her mother’s offer and be her successor. If it wasn’t for this place, they would have lost Victor tonight. Arianna knew she had to make plans not to lose Marcel in the future as well.