When I Left, He Found His Way Back-Chapter 58: Moment of truth

Jessica’s POV.

Hilda wasn’t home when we got there. I called her a couple more times but no answer. Maddie’s phone has been switched off and my adopted mother couldn’t be reached.

My brows creased, and my anxiety shot high.

I didn’t even know I was fidgeting until Liam held my arm. Glancing down at his hand covering mine, on my thigh, my gaze moved to his face, and he smiled faintly at me.

"They’ll be fine," he assured.

My head bobbed, as if I believed that. But something told me they wouldn’t. Drawing strength from Liam’s warmth, my gaze darted to the window, watching the buildings zoom by.

I was lost in thought, and didn’t know how much time had gone by until the car pulled into the driveway to my adopted family’s house.

When the car stopped at the small gate, I immediately got out and rushed to the gate. I rang the bell, knocked, and banged the gate continuously, but no one answered the door.

My heart was restless. I couldn’t swallow properly. Even though I knew I shouldn’t concern myself with these people anymore, I couldn’t ignore them. My excuse was that I needed to know what orphanage they took me from, but deep down, it was more than that... call it stockholm syndrome, but I love my adopted family more than I thought.

"Jessica."

I glanced back at Liam, "Hm?"

"Your mom’s been admitted to the hospital. She was involved in an accident..." he said, taking his phone away from his ear.

"What happened!?" I didn’t notice my voice had risen.

"She was pushed down from the third floor of a building."

I gasped and my knees buckled, but before I could fall, Liam shot forward and pulled me into a hug.

"W– who would do such a thing?" I mumbled to myself rather than anyone else.

"Do you want to see her?"

Pulling away, I stared at Liam, I didn’t know what my answer should be. Do I want to see her?

Without waiting for my reply, Liam pulled me into the car and drove off. I didn’t even ask where he was taking me. The silence in the car only added to my anxiety, until he spoke, yet it got me panicking even more.

"She’s in a coma, and the doctors don’t feel confident in treating her," he continued.

...

The drive to the hospital was exceptionally quiet. When we finally arrived, my adopted mother was bandaged, an oxygen tube was fixed on her.

My fingers trembled as I reached out to touch her hand, which was wrapped in a cast. Liam stood beside me, his eyes fixed on my adopted mother’s pale face.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I gazed at her, memories of our time together flooding my mind, but surprisingly, they were the little good memories we shared.

She may not have been a good mother to me, but she was the woman I knew.

My eyes stung, and I blinked back tears, trying to hold myself together. "Who did this to her?" I whispered, my voice shaking with anger and sadness.

Liam’s expression was grim, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.

"My people are on it," he said to me.

I nodded. Just then, the doctor arrived and left with Liam. When he returned, he told me the hospital was helpless, and he needed to transfer her abroad for better care.

I felt a surge of worry at his words. "Abroad?" I repeated, my mind racing with the implications. "How soon can she leave?"

"As soon as she can be moved. But right now, she can’t."

...

On our way home, my mom called me. Seeing me on a video call everyday was a ritual.

But my face was ugly from worry. If she saw me looking so sad, she might be upset, or worse still, get uncomfortable.

Secondly, I couldn’t take the call with Liam beside me, as I’ve not told him my true identity.

He glanced at me, probably wondering why I wasn’t taking the call. After the second ring, I canceled the call and sent a message instead, telling my mom I was out on errands.

She replied to my text, stressing about how I should be careful and take care of myself.

After the text, I called Hilda once more but she didn’t pick up. Maddie’s phone was still switched off.

Frankly speaking, I didn’t know when we got home. I only felt myself being pulled to the apartment. Entering the house, Kristen was sitting on a couch and the moment we stepped in, he bolted towards me, but Liam stepped in front of him, "What are you doing?"

"Do you think I don’t know what you’re trying to do, brother-in-law?" Kristen asked.

Looking up at him, I could see him smiling at us. What was he talking about?

"Brother-in-Law?" Liam repeatedly.

"That’s right. You’re my wife’s brother. You paid those people to act like my wife and sister because you’re angry at me. Those ladies told me that before my accident, I hurt Jessica, and you were extremely angry," he paused for a moment, as he sidestepped Liam and came up to me. "Jessica, I don’t know what I did, but please forgive me." he went down on his knees, his eyes shining brightly with in shed tears.

"This..." I looked from Kristen to the three ladies who had their heads down, looking regretful.

"Jessica," Liam looked over his shoulder at me, "Go in. I’ll be there shortly."

I subconsciously nodded before stepping away from behind him and heading inside. I was already stressed and didn’t need anymore of that.

However, just after I turned a corner, my foot halted, remembering earlier that Liam told me that Kristen was faking his accident. Could he be right? Considering that a supposed dementia patient was able to coax those ladies to tell him the truth...?

As I stood there, listening to Liam and Kristen’s conversations, my eyes shook.

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