At 1:00 pm, Laura was in her room as always, thinking about how perfect her life was before the misery she was facing at the moment. Tears were dripping down her cheeks uncontrollably. Her phone rang, it was her mom Claudia.
"Hello, Mom," Laura answered, trying to hold back her tears.
Her mom informed her that her dad had a heart attack on his way home and was at the hospital.
Her mom sent her the location and Laura quickly got dressed and rushed to the hospital without telling anyone.
Upon arrival, she was directed to the emergency room where her dad was being treated. Laura was worried about her dad's condition, but her mom reassured her that the doctor said he would be fine.
Laura asked to see the doctor and was surprised to find out that it was Harold, the same man she had been thinking about. Harold was happy to see her and put her mind at ease by telling her that her dad had been saved on time and was going to be okay.
Laura was grateful to Harold for saving her dad's life and they finally had the chance to talk.
"I must say your hospital looks great," Laura commented confidently.
Harold grinned, looking at her. "Thank you, I am quite proud of what we have built here. I spend most of my time here because I am passionate about my work," he replied. Laura's curiosity got the better of her. "Then why don't you visit anymore?"
The question had hung in her mind for a while now.
Harold was amused by her directness. "I have been busy planning my engagement with my fiancée.". Laura was taken aback by this news. She had no idea that Harold was already in a committed relationship.
Trying to hide her disappointment, she congratulated him, "Well, congratulations on your engagement. I'm so happy for you?"
However, her tone said something different.
Harold noticed a sudden change in Laura's mood and tried to find out if something was wrong, but she was already making her way out.
He watched her leave, unable to stop her or understand what had caused her sudden departure.
After being informed about the situation at hand, Laura immediately reached out to Bryan. He rushed to the hospital and spent some time with his dad. Throughout this trying time, Laura's family stuck together and supported each other. They really had to.
Harold was left pondering about Laura's reaction earlier. He couldn't comprehend why she was upset.
Did she like him?
Or was it just a mere mood swing?
Laura got back home quietly after spending quality time at the hospital. She didn't bother telling Daniel about anything about her father's condition because she knew he didn't care.
She gently relaxed on the chair in her room as she exhaled deeply. For a long moment, Laura couldn't stop thinking about Harold's engagement and wished he felt the same way.
Gina, on the other hand, lived a lavish life and would do anything to get what she wanted from Daniel Edward. She was wayward and arrogant and only thought about how to get Laura out of Daniel's life. Gina went as far as instructing the cook to add a deadly substance to Laura's food. The cook followed her orders, and after Laura had dinner that night, she started feeling dizzy and couldn't tell what was happening in her system.
Despite calling out to Gina for help, Laura was left to struggle helplessly in her room, screaming for assistance, but no one came to her aid. She continued to scream for help in a loud voice.
As soon as two maids rushed into Laura's room and saw her rolling on the floor, they carried her and called out to Gina, shouting that something was wrong with Madam Laura and that she needed immediate medical attention.
Gina stepped out of her room with a clear understanding of what was going on but pretended not to know.
When she saw Laura's condition, she gave clear instructions to get the driver and take her to Harold's hospital without any further delay.
This was a perfect opportunity to negotiate with Harold and eliminate Laura.
Or so she thought. Unaware that Laura and Harold were already on good terms.
She also called Daniel Edward, informing him of the situation and urging him to rush to Harmony General Hospital where Laura was admitted.
Despite her father's recent discharge, Laura was unconscious by the time she arrived at the hospital. However, thanks to Harold's timely intervention, she was quickly attended to in the emergency room.
After what felt like an eternity drifting in darkness, Laura slowly opened her eyes. Her vision wavered, everything blurred at the edges as she struggled to focus on the figure beside her.
Then, it cleared.
Harold.
Relief flickered through her chest the moment she saw him.
"You're awake," he said softly, a small, almost tender smile touching his lips.
Laura tried to respond, but no words came. Instead, she attempted to sit up. Only to wince sharply as pain shot through her body.
"Hey… easy," Harold murmured, his voice low and soothing. He gently reached out, his hand brushing against her arm, steadying her. "Don't rush it. Just relax… take a deep breath for me."
There was something in his tone. calm, reassuring, that made it impossible to resist. Laura nodded faintly and did as he said. She inhaled slowly, then exhaled, again and again, until the pain dulled and her breathing steadied.
All the while, Harold stayed close, his hand lingering just a second longer than necessary, as though letting go of her would somehow pull her away again.
After a few minutes, Laura felt a bit stronger. Her fingers lightly gripped his sleeve, almost unconsciously, as if grounding herself in his presence.
"I… I don't feel right," she managed to whisper, her voice fragile. She went on to describe the strange symptoms—the dizziness, the burning sensation, the sudden weakness that had overtaken her.
As she spoke, Harold's expression shifted. The softness in his eyes hardened into concern.
When she finished, there was a brief silence.
"Laura…" he began, "You didn't just fall sick."
Her heart skipped.
"You were poisoned."
Harold exhaled slowly, his gaze locking onto hers with quiet intensity. "There has to be a thorough investigation. Starting with the kitchen… the cook."
But even as he spoke, his hand tightened slightly around hers, as if silently promising that this time, she wouldn't have to face it alone.
When Daniel Edward finally arrived at the hospital, Harold met him in the emergency room with Laura.
After exchanging pleasantries, Harold left the room for them to have a private moment. Laura told Daniel about the poisoning incident, and Harold vowed to interrogate the cook to get to the bottom of the matter.
Later, when Daniel came home, he immediately called out for Gina.
He knew how deadly she could get when she's desperate.
Of course he'd known her for years.
When she appeared, he demanded to know how Laura had been poisoned under his roof. He was angry and assertive, determined to get to the bottom of the matter.
"I'm not the cook, Daniel. How could I possibly know?" Gina's voice was firm and unwavering, clearly indicating her annoyance.
Daniel's rage was evident as he bellowed, "Venessa!"
Gina had already taken care of the maid, she paid her off knowing that if she remained in the house, Daniel would uncover the truth. "She's gone, Daniel. It seems she ran away because she knows she's guilty," Gina replied confidently, pretending to be clueless.
Daniel caught a whiff of something suspicious, but he refused to let it slide as the cook was nowhere to be seen.
Laura had survived the poison. That was a relief.
Staring directly into Gina's eyes, he said firmly, "If I discover that you had a role in what occurred, I won't ever forgive you. I can be many things, but not a killer. I won't tolerate anyone dying under my roof."
Despite knowing that Daniel was already angry, Gina refused to be silenced and spoke up for herself. "Think and investigate all you want. I had nothing. Absolutely nothing to do with it."
Laura, still at the hospital, she firmly instructed Harold to contact her brother Bryan.
He wasted no time in arriving at the hospital, but he expressed his displeasure with the condition he found Laura in. "Tell me, what's going on?" he demanded.
She proceeded to recount the incident briefly, and it made Bryan furious. She instructed him not to inform their parents about it, and he complied with her request. Laura was apprehensive about the outcome if the news reached her father who had just survived a heart attack. She was not willing to take that risk.
"Bryan, I need you to do me a favor," she urged.
He sat up straight, his eyes fixed on her. "I would like to stay at your place for a while after I'm discharged. I need some space from all this," she requested. Without hesitation, Bryan accepted her request.
Before being discharged, Laura exchanged contact with Harold. He wanted to stay in touch with her to know how she was coping.
The next day, Daniel arrived at the hospital, expecting to take Laura home.
But Harold met him at the entrance.
"She's gone," he said calmly. "Her brother, Bryan, came for her."
For a split second, Daniel didn't react.
Then his jaw tightened.
He pulled out his phone and dialed her number. Once… twice… again. Each call rang out into silence.
No answer.
No message.
Nothing.
Across town, Laura stared at her buzzing phone, her heart raced as Daniel's name flashed across the screen again and again. Her fingers trembled… but she didn't pick up.
Not this time.
Let him call.
Let him wonder.
She didn't let it bother her.
But Daniel Edward wasn't a man who accepted silence.
Back at the hospital, his expression darkened as the call disconnected once more. Slowly, a cold, dangerous smile crept onto his lips.
"Run all you want, Laura…" he muttered under his breath.
"You can't run away from me."