CHAPTER 98: 98. UNEXPECTED SCENARIOS

Maria finally stepped out of the hospital premises and eased herself into the car. Bernard had gone to the other side of the hospital to get the prescribed drugs the doctor had written for her.

About ten minutes later, Bernard returned with a nylon bag containing the drugs. He opened the door and placed the bag gently beside Maria in the back seat, where she was seated next to Beta Gilbert.

Since Maria was sitting close to Beta Gilbert, Bernard decided to sit in the front seat beside the driver.

As the car began to move, Maria felt a wave of relief wash over her. She was so glad to finally be out of the hospital, ready to return to her normal life and take on everything she had missed.

Fifteen minutes into the drive, they finally arrived at the mansion. Strangely, everything looked different to her now. Maybe it was because she had been away for some days, or maybe it was because of all she had gone through.

When the car stopped, Maria stepped out carefully, but confidently on her own. Bernard quickly rushed to her side to offer support, but she gently shook her head and smiled.

"I’m okay, I can walk by myself," she assured him softly.

She walked with slow but steady steps into the living room, and it was no surprise to her when she met Luna Victoria sitting comfortably and waiting for her. The older woman’s face instantly lit up with a bright smile when she saw Maria.

"Maria, welcome back home!" Luna Victoria exclaimed warmly. "This is such a big surprise. When they left this morning, they didn’t tell me you’d be discharged today. But I’m so glad to see you back!"

Maria was still shocked by the genuine care and affection she had been receiving from everyone—especially from Luna Victoria. She couldn’t help but wonder how long this kindness would last.

"So, what exactly would you like to eat?" Luna Victoria asked as she walked closer to Maria, her smile still intact.

"I don’t feel like eating anything just yet, ma’am. Maybe I’ll take something later," Maria replied softly, her face calm.

"No, no. You need to eat well and regain your strength." Luna Victoria waved her off gently. "Don’t worry, I know exactly what to prepare for you. It’ll satisfy your craving." With that, she turned and walked quickly to the kitchen, humming happily.

What’s going on? Why are they all being this nice to me? Maria wondered, lost in thought. Could it be the doctor’s advice?

Bernard and Beta Gilbert were still in the living room, chatting casually, occasionally trying to pull Maria into their conversation. But Maria wasn’t really paying attention. Her mind was somewhere else.

After a while, she stood up slowly and excused herself. "I’m going to take a shower and freshen up. I’ll be back soon."

"Are you sure you’ll be fine on your own?" Bernard asked, concerned.

"I’m fine," she replied gently before walking up the stairs to her room.

As soon as she entered her room, Maria instinctively walked around, checking her belongings one after the other. She needed to be sure everything was still where she left them. Nothing seemed out of place.

Everything was still intact, but she noticed her room had been thoroughly cleaned. It also smelled different, the usual scent was gone, replaced by something else.

Without wasting more time, she undressed and stepped into the bathroom. The warm shower against her skin refreshed her, making her feel alive again.

When she was done, she stepped out of the bathroom, her skin still damp as water dripped down her body. As she was drying herself off, she suddenly heard a knock on her door.

"Who’s there?" she called out, her voice loud enough to be heard.

"It’s me, ma’am," came the voice of one of the housemaids. "You have some visitors in the living room. The boss asked me to call you."

"Okay, I’ll be there soon," Maria responded as she heard the maid’s footsteps fade away.

Visitors? Maria thought to herself, puzzled. I hardly have visitors. Who could it be?

Quickly, she dried herself properly, applied some cream to her skin, and dressed up. Curiosity pulled her towards the living room as she wondered who would come to see her at home.

When she got there, she was surprised—and overwhelmed with happiness—to see Cassandra and Laura seated, waiting for her.

Her face immediately lit up with excitement as she hurried down the stairs to hug them both tightly.

The three friends exchanged warm pleasantries and hugged again.

"We went to the hospital this morning to see you and were told you had already been discharged," Cassandra said happily, her excitement evident. "So we just had to come check on you and see how you’re doing!"

"Yes, exactly!" Laura added, equally thrilled. "We even planned to surprise you at the hospital with cake and a little celebration, but instead, we are here now." She handed Maria a small cake box and some chocolates. "We’re just happy you’re out of the hospital."

Their presence truly made Maria’s day. She was deeply grateful to have such caring friends around her.

As they chatted in the living room, Victoria came out from the kitchen with a warm smile. "Food is ready," she announced cheerfully.

At first, Laura and Cassandra politely declined, saying they had already eaten. But after Maria’s gentle persuasion, they finally agreed to join her. They all sat at the dining table and enjoyed a delicious meal together.

After eating, Maria invited her friends to her room so they could have some private time.

Once they settled on Maria’s bed, Cassandra’s curiosity couldn’t be contained any longer. "Maria, what’s really going on? Why are Bernard and his family suddenly acting so nice and caring towards you?"

Maria sighed softly. "I’ve been wondering the same thing. Honestly, I don’t know. I’m just watching everything closely to see how it all unfolds."

Laura, always the cautious one, leaned in a little. "I think we should be careful about what we say here. I don’t feel like this place is safe enough to talk about sensitive things. You never know who’s listening."

Maria and Cassandra quickly agreed. They shifted their conversations to lighter topics—just regular girls’ stuff and spent the rest of their time laughing and catching up.

Hours later, it was time for Laura and Cassandra to leave. Maria didn’t want them to go, but they couldn’t stay any longer. She stood to see them off, but Laura stopped her.

"Don’t stress yourself, Maria. You need to rest more, okay?" Laura advised with genuine concern.

Cassandra turned to Maria with a hopeful smile. "When should we expect you back at the college?"

"Give her some time," Laura quickly jumped in. "She needs to recover fully first. But I’m sure she’ll be back with us soon."

Maria smiled warmly. "Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. Stronger and faster."

They exchanged tight hugs one last time before Laura and Cassandra left the room. Maria listened to their footsteps slowly fade away as they left the mansion.

As Cassandra and Laura walked towards the mansion gate, Beta Gilbert spotted them from where he was sitting in the garden. Without hesitation, he called out to them.

"Cassandra, Laura, please come over here for a moment!" Beta Gilbert’s voice was firm but polite.

The girls exchanged confused glances.

"Why is Bernard’s father calling us?" Cassandra whispered to Laura, curiosity written all over her face.

"I don’t know," Laura replied quietly. "But let’s go and find out."

When they got to him, they greeted him respectfully, still wondering why he wanted to speak with them.

"Please, have a seat," Beta Gilbert gestured to the chairs nearby. "I won’t take much of your time."

They both sat down, their gazes fixed on him, waiting.

"First, I want to thank both of you for the love and support you’ve shown Maria. My family truly appreciates it," he said sincerely.

They both smiled slightly but remained silent.

"Secondly, I wanted to ask—how close are you to Maria? Has she shared anything that’s been bothering her with you? The doctor said she’s mentally fighting a lot, and I’m wondering if there’s any way I can help her."

Cassandra immediately opened her mouth to speak, but Laura subtly pinched her arm, silently warning her to stay quiet.

Laura had already read Beta Gilbert’s thoughts. She could sense that he wasn’t asking out of genuine concern.

"Sir, Maria hasn’t really shared anything with us about what she’s been going through," Laura replied calmly. "Honestly, we were also surprised by what the doctor said about her fighting things on her own."

Beta Gilbert noticed that Cassandra wanted to say more but was stopped by Laura. He could read the shift, but he simply smiled and pretended not to notice.

"Thank you both for your time," he said to them politely.

Cassandra threw Laura another confused glance, but Laura simply shook her head gently, signaling that they’d talk later...