Chapter 443: Scratching Scars That Won’t Heal (2)

"About four years ago…" Angela began, her stare holding the side rail of Gael's bed. "I was at a club with some of my friends in the university. It was after midnight, and I…had a few drinks already. I wasn't feeling it that night, so I left my friends and told them I was going home.

"I left through the front door and waited for a cab…then this truck with our company's logo on the side was driving past me. I would have just ignored it and gone home. But then I saw Evan in the passenger's seat. He was on his phone, and he didn't see me as they passed by. At first, I was just…I thought I was drunk and was probably imagining things. After all, why would he be in that truck? It was very strange.

"My gut just told me that something was up. I should've probably called someone then, but I didn't have time to think, you know? So I got in a cab and told the driver to follow the truck until we reached the warehouse—our warehouse that was just a few blocks away." She ran a hand down her face, shaking her head, realizing how stupid that was of her because the alley was dark, she was slightly tipsy and wearing heels.

"I've been to that warehouse a few times in the past so I slipped in through another entrance around the building easily. There was no one around, and I was certain there should have been a guard. Anyway, I heard some voices inside. I couldn't hear them clearly even when I finally saw who were talking behind the truck. It was Evan, his father, one of the warehouse staffers, the guard, and another person I hadn't seen before.

"The stranger opened the back of the truck, and they hauled out several boxes like they needed to check something. Evan opened one of the boxes and pulled out some plastic-covered...cloths or fabric—maybe clothes. I couldn't clearly see from where I stood, so I decided to use my phone's camera to record and zoom in. At the bottom of the box, Evan retrieved a few blocks of white package that I didn't know what at first until he stabbed one of the blocks with a knife, stuck his finger in, and rubbed it in his nose. That's when I knew…"

"Cocaine," Gael muttered, the first time he spoke since she explained what happened that night. He didn't say it yet, but he was already certain who was behind all this. Morelli and Perry—the plastic-covered cloths was enough of a tell. Gael suspected they disguised the transported drugs as clothes from Perry's business—which was stupid. That could be traced back to Perry if the authorities busted the operation. That wouldn't be Gael's problem, though.

Angela nodded, then let out a sigh. "Then something crawled on my feet, and I made a noise. I ran out of there as fast as I could and hailed a cab. I didn't think someone saw me. The cab was already driving away, and I didn't dare to look back."

"You didn't tell anyone?"

"I was so scared. I didn't know what to do with what I saw. I could've gone to the police until I remembered that the Leos had them in their pockets. The more I thought about it, the more I doubted my family. What could I have done? At that point, I didn't know what to believe back then. Was my brother in on it? My father? If they were, that video I took…"

"So what happened then?" Gael probed when she was quiet for some time.

Angela sucked her bottom lip as she thought for a minute. "I was miserable. I was mad at Evan…at my family. I didn't tell anyone what I saw because I didn't know what to do with it. I had a hard time confronting my dad and brother because I was scared of what I would find out. So the next morning, I acted as if nothing happened. Then my father told Oliver to bring me with him to the Chos' wedding on the island. I wasn't sure why he forced me to go. But… Now that I think about it, my dad probably heard that Evan was in town."

"Wait." Gael tilted his head sideways, studying her face. "That happened before we met?"

She nodded. "The night before we flew for the wedding. It was last minute. Oliver wasn't happy about it because my dad expected him to babysit me…" Her voice trailed off, realizing that the same thing happened months ago when she was also forced to go to Hillberry Isle with her brother where she met Gael. Again. She huffed at the realization that her father had been playing cupid all this time. Clearing her throat, she added, "Then I met you at the wedding the next day."

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He was about to reach out for her hand when there was a knock on the door, and then a hospital staff came in to take away their breakfast trays, interrupting their conversation.

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When they were alone again, Angela's phone rang. It was Oliver. She braced herself before answering the call. She should have waited until this morning to tell them, but last night, while Gael was asleep, she decided to leave a lengthy voice message to her brother, recounting what happened. She was done keeping it from her father. There was no way they could keep it from him now anyway.

When she finally answered the call, her heart sank to her stomach. It was Charlie's voice on the other end of the line.

"Angela, are you okay?"

Her lips trembled, and she could only sniff because she felt too emotional to form proper words. Hearing her father's voice gave her a bit of relief.

"Angela…" Charlie sighed. "Princess, everything will be alright. We're coming back home as soon as possible. Your brother is still trying to get us a flight back to Mayne. There's congestion in the airport, so it could take a while. But we'll be there as soon as we can. How's Gael?"

Angela swallowed a painful lump in her throat, feeling so guilty for even doubting and being angry at her father for a long time when he was this kind and sweet. She could never take back the years she wasted thinking that he wasn't there for her.

"We're okay, Dad. He's…healing." She exchanged looks with Gael, and he squeezed her hand.

"That's good. That's good. I'll send someone to bring you clothes and food there. Do you need anything?"

"No… Actually… I want to go home, Dad. I don't want to be here."

"Is that so… Okay. Whatever you want. I'll send a private nurse to the house. They should be there when you get home. I'll phone Dr. Hubert to assist you with your discharge."

Angela didn't argue with her father. At that moment, she accepted his kindness. She didn't want to admit it out loud, but she needed her father too. "Thank you, Dad."

"I'll see you when we come back. And then we'll talk. Don't worry about anything anymore."

The phone call ended, and she faced Gael once again, unsure of what to say. "I was going to tell you first that I didn't want to stay here longer—I should have thought for a second. You still need to heal. Shall we stay?"

He shook his head. "No. I don't want to stay here either.. Let's go home."

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