CHAPTER 15...
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Charlotte ran to her room and shut the door.
She bursts into tears covering her mouth with her pillow so no one hears her cry.
The recap of what she just saw kept replaying in her head. She almost lost her mind just thinking about it.
"No!!"
"Dad, please tell me I saw something else!!"
"No! No! No!" She screamed throwing her pillow away in anger.
Mrs Bu knocked on her door.
"Sweetie, are you sleeping?" She asked calmly over the door.
Charlotte jumped on her bed and wrapped herself with her duvet in pretense to be asleep.
Mrs Bu knocked again then came into the room.
She walked to bed and caressed Charlotte's hair gently.
"My beautiful daughter... You clocked 28 yesterday... You're all grown up my beautiful girl. Daddy and I are so proud to have you as our daughter! Good night sweetheart..." She uttered softly and pecked Charlotte's hair then she left the room.
Charlotte looked at the door and she cried even more.
"My poor mother!!" She cried her heart out.
NEXT MORNING...
~ MABEL'S FAMILY RESIDENT ~
Mabel returned home after her visit at the hospital. She went straight home.
All throughout her drive, her thoughts were crowded with Raphael's words.
"Dear, you came home? How was Charlotte's birthday party?" Mrs Park asked warmly helping Mabel with her purse as she walked into the sitting room.
Mabel was looking all pale, she still had Raphael's handkerchief tied on her hand.
Her mum saw it and panicked.
"Mabel, what happened to you here? How did you end up hurting yourself?" Mrs Park panicked taking a careful look at Mabel's hand.
Mabel took her hands off coldly. "I'm fine mum! You don't have to make a fuss about everything! I got hurt when making use of a knife"
Mabel walked up to her room with a frown.
She got into her room and stood in front of her dress up mirror. Has a quick flashback on how she got a cut on her hand.
"Raphael was only bluffing... There's no such thing as betrayal! If anyone's getting betrayed in my relationship with Charlotte then I'll be the one doing that..." She mumbled coldly then went into the bathroom.
****
Kent was all dressed up ready to leave for work. He sat down to have his breakfast before leaving when he noticed his mum looking up at Mabel's room.
"Mum is everything okay? You had a quarrel with that brat?" Kent asked sarcastically as he picked up a toasted bread.
Mrs Park glared at him then she ran to the table, leaning towards him.
"Kent, did anything happen at the party? Did Henry upset your sister at the party yesterday?" She whispered.
Kent scoffed biting on his bread clumsily.
"Not at all... Your daughter was way too busy to even spend time with him. She got dragged out of the party by her knight in shining armor... Mum, come closer..." He whispered waving his hand to her.
His mum leaned even closer with all seriousness.
"Mum, someone took a bullet for your daughter yesterday. I heard he even got admitted for it!" Kent lied through his teeth while making a curious expression on his face.
Mrs Park gasped in shock, covering her mouth.
"Bullet? What are you saying? There was a fight at the Bu resident? I thought they've got high security at the mansion... How did a bullet almost hit my daughter?" She questioned worriedly.
Kent laughed shaking his head and Mrs Park slapped the back of his head with a frown.
"Silly boy, how can you make a joke of your mother like that? What part of your story isn't true?" She asked still placing her trust in him.
Kent rubbed his head pouting.
"A guy saved her from falling and he ended up at the hospital... She spent the night at the hospital... Tending to him but you won't believe who this guy was..." He uttered widening his eyes.
Mabel got out of her room with new clothes on.
"Don't you dare tell mum any lies..." Mabel threatened glaring at her brother.
Kent rolled his eyes and stood up. He supped his cup of coffee.
"Thanks for breakfast mum!" Kent pecked her then rushed out of the house.
Mrs Park almost ran after him so he could finish up the gossip he started. She swiftly took out her phone and texted him.
(Son, what was it you were trying to tell me? Who's the man who saved your sister?)
"Mum, you can just ask me? You know Kent is full of lies" Mabel cut in, taking her seat.
Mrs Park swiftly pulled out a chair next to Mabel's then sat down.
"Daughter, my sweet girl... Who was the young man who saved you from a fall yesterday?" She asked in a very soft and calm tone.
Mabel looked at her mum, whose gaze were completely fixed on her.
"Someone who isn't Henry! Mum, please can you make something else for breakfast... I feel like taking some heavy!" Mabel whined.
Mrs Park stood up from her chair angrily.
"You two siblings are trying to play with me.. Am I a joke to you?" She yelled slamming the table angrily.
Mabel flinched shifting backwards.
"I made toasted bread so have it! Silly girl!" Mrs Park hissed then walked away.
~ RAPHAEL'S APARTMENT ~
Raphael was getting rained on under the shower. His thoughts were all over the place.
The expression on Mabel's face after the hug last night couldn't get out of his head.
Why did she give me such cold gaze? I don't think she believes me. He uttered in his head and he shut his eyes.
A clear vision of Mabel's death, she was standing on the edge of a rooftop, she was in tears, looking at someone. This vision appeared on Raphael's mind.
The vision hit hard and he opened his eyes immediately.
"It's getting closer than I think!" He exclaimed and rushed out of the shower, wrapping himself with a towel.
Josh was going through a magazine, he was seated on a rocking chair at the balcony.
Raphael grabbed his phone from the bed and he scrolled into the calendar.
"Raph is everything okay?" Josh asked turning to his direction.
Raphael dropped his phone and ran his fingers through his hair anxiously.
"Josh, what can I do? I fear it's getting closer" He stated and sat on the bed, his gaze wondering about the room.
He bit his lips anxiously stomping on his feet.
"What if I can't save her? What if she ends things when I'm trying to figure out a way to save her" Raphael pondered blinking nervously.
Josh rushed into the room.
"You saw a vision again?"
Raphael nodded gazing at him.
"What did you see in your vision?" Josh asked calmly.
Raphael stood up placing his hands on his waist nervously.
"It was snowing! She was putting on an unusual cloth..."
"Unusual?" Josh asked curiously.
Raphael nodded. "The cloth looked like that of a man and not just a man, it looked like a customized jacket made for me in Canada!"
"You? Could you see yourself in the vision?" Josh asked.
Raphael looked at him worriedly when a thoughts crossed his mind.
"What if, Mabel tries to end her life cos of me?" He gasped with his eyes wide open.
~ BU LAW FIRM ~
Charlotte arrived at the big law firm. She was putting on a black designer suit, she had her shades on, her hair was packed in a single ponytail.
She held some of her documents in one hand and her designer purse in the other.
She walked majestically into the firm. Everyone's eyes were on her.
All the employees there, knew who she was so greetings came from every corner of the hall.
Charlotte was burning of rage inside, she wasn't in the mood to return pleasantries. She walked straight to her Dad's office.
She grabbed the doorknob and opened the door angrily.
"Wow, who do we have here?" Mr Bu asked with a smile standing up from his chair.
Kent was reporting a case to him. He staggered in shock, seeing Charlotte all dressed up like a lawyer would.
Mr Bu noticed the shock on his face and he smiled.
"Sorry, I couldn't share it with you. Charlotte will be working with you henceforth! She agreed to join the firm days ago" Mr Bu stated proudly.
Charlotte walked into the office and slammed her file on the table.
"Mr Bu, you'll regret dragging me down here not after what I saw last night!" Charlotte threatened in a steady voice.
Mr Bu had a recap of last night on how he saw someone's shadow at the door and he cleared his throat anxiously.
He turned to Kent.
"I'll bring her out to introduce her to the rest of the staff... How about you excuse us for a moment?" He requested politely.
"Sure boss!" Kent bowed slightly and left the office.
He got out of the office and a smile appeared on his lips.
"Charlotte, what are you talking about? What did you see? You know it's wrong to start off your first day, having an argument with your boss!" Mr Bu stated.
Charlotte scoffed and leaned closer to him.
"I need you to stay away from my best friend and Raphael! I don't need you bugging into my affairs. I'm a big girl now, I can handle my business. Don't make me an enemy on my first day of work! It won't end well for you" Charlotte threatened and got out of the office.
Mr Bu exhaled sharply, adjusting his suit. He followed her up quickly.
"Your father's only looking out for you... Mabel's going to betray you and Raphael is never going to be yours!" He smirked and walked past her.
Charlotte clenched her fist angrily then walked up to him.
"I'll make Raphael mine and guess what I'll be doing next?" Charlotte asked with a vicious smile.
Mr Bu looked at her curiously.
"I'll kill secretary Shin!" She whispered in his ears and Mr Bu widened his eyes in shock.
His heart almost jumped out of his chest in shock.
LATER THAT DAY...
Charlotte was done with her start-up work for the day then she clocked out mid day.
She walked up to her car then dialed Mabel's number.
"Hey, bestie! Guess who's working at a law firm?" Charlotte squealed jovially over the phone.
"It's youuuu, babe!" Mabel responded in a sing-song.
"You're right! How about lunch to celebrate this baby who just got her first job at age 28…" Charlotte pouted in a dramatic tone.
She grabbed her car door and got in quickly.
Kent watched her from the entrance. It was too late to run up to her, it's been hard getting a one on one conversation with Charlotte the whole day. Her father piled up so much on her desk.
"I'll just speak with her tomorrow!" He smacked his lips disappointedly then turned around to leave only to find Mr Bu standing at his back, his heart skipped a beat in shock.
"It better not be what I'm thinking!" He smirked and walked away.
Kent shut his eyes holding his chest which just got frightened.
★★★★
Mabel arrived at the restaurant. Charlotte was waiting for her already.
She rushed to their table and took off her nose mask.
"For a second, I forgot you're a celebrity!" Charlotte teased.
Mabel chuckled shaking her head.
"How was it? Your first day at work? Is it okay for you to leave mid-day?" Mabel asked a bit concerned and Charlotte sent a signal for their meal to be served.
"It's fine... Advantages of being the boss's daughter! I think Dad planned on working me out but who I am... I'm Mr Bu's daughter.." Charlotte uttered and they both laughed.
Their dishes got served.
"Anyways, tell me... What happened at the hospital? Is Raphael alright? How serious was his injury?" Charlotte asked calmly.
Mabel leaned back on her chair as Raphael's words flashed in her head.
"Nothing much!" She brushed it off picking up her chopsticks.
Charlotte stopped her from digging into the food.
"Let's have a drink first! It's a crime to go out for a celebration and not cheers to it... Come on, girl, cheers to Charlotte's new job!" She uttered jovially picking up her glass of non alcoholic wine.
Mabel picked up hers with a smile and they clicked their glasses. Deep down, Mabel knew Charlotte was up to something cos Charlotte doesn't drink non alcoholic wines.
Charlotte smirked as she watched Mabel gulp almost all of it.
If she says his name... if she even mentions the hotel or any private moments she had with Raph then I'll know she's being lying to me. I'll know you betrayed me, Mabel. Charlotte said in her head.
I don't want to believe Raphael. I'm choosing to believe in you Charlotte. Mabel said in her head sincerely as she slowly began to feel drowsy.
Mabel blinked hard, her vision slightly blurred. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest not from fear, but from an overwhelming compulsion to speak. The warmth from the wine had turned into a searing itch in her throat.
~ RAPHAEL'S APARTMENT ~
Raphael was meditating at the balcony when he suddenly widened his eyes in shock.
"Josh, my vision changed! It wasn't a pill..." He gasped turning to Josh who was meditating also.
"It wasn't? Then what was it?" Josh asked curiously.
"It was in her drink! Charlotte added Lucidrane to Mabel's drink..."
"Lucidrane... Damn, that's a truth teller. What if she tells Charlotte about your night at the hotel?" Josh questioned seriously.
Raphael ran out of the house with his car keys.
He dialed Mabel's number but her phone was switched off then he tried calling Charlotte but she wasn't taking her calls either.
"Pick up... Pick up, Mabel!" Raphael muttered rushing into his car slamming the door then throwing his phone on the seat ro tighten his seatbelt.
If she says anything to Charlotte... She shouldn't say anything to her...
★★★★
Back at the restaurant...
Mabel's eyes flashed red, locking with Charlotte's and then it appeared a shadowed version of Charlotte... her hands covered with blood and a lifeless woman at her feet. A gun and a rooftop precisely. Charlotte laughing as someone begged. Mabel gasped and grabbed the edge of the table, breathless.
Mabel's lips parted ready to spill the whole truth about her night at the hotel with Raphael. She looked up at Charlotte with horror in her eyes...
"Charlotte... Raphael and I...."