More Than A Favor

A Favor 142

Ethan and Tessa had always treated me like family. The thought of suspecting them, even for a moment, filled me with guilt and unease.

Yet, Nora's hesitation-and her unspoken suggestion-planted a seed of doubt in my mind.

My heart felt like it was in freefall, plummeting from a towering height. Panic washed over me, but I forced myself to steady my thoughts.

"I have to," I whispered, more to myself than to Nora.

The more my suspicions grew, the stronger my determination became. I needed to find the truth-not just for my father's sake but also to clear Ethan of any potential involvement.

Nora, perceptive as ever, read the turmoil in my mind. She didn't try to stop me or argue. Instead, she offered quiet support. "I'm here for you," she said softly.

Her words carried weight, but they also revealed something else. Perhaps Nora had already drawn her own conclusions. But those were hers, not mine. I needed the truth, no matter how painful it might be. After leaving the emergency ward, I hailed a cab. As I waited, I spotted Ben lingering nearby, pacing as he spoke on the phone.

"Yeah," he said, his voice low but clear enough for me to hear. "She fiddled around with the screen. Said she was trying to play some music.'

A chill ran down my spine, despite the sun beating down on me.

It was disturbingly clear who Ben was reporting to. But why?

If there was nothing to hide, why would my actions in the car-even something as simple as touching the console-be worth reporting?

chaos, and I watched Ben until he disappeared from

me to Sky Sanatorium. I couldn't afford to waste time. If I delayed, I might lose the chance

was not an ordinary facility. As soon as

you here to see? Name and room number, please," one of the guards asked,

was looking for-Alfred Kramer-but I didn't know his room number. And even if I did, I couldn't risk using his name. If

I said, "My family sent me here for a

isn't a public facility. We don't

this was an exclusive,

nearby, trying to come up with a

the gate. The window rolled down, and I immediately recognized

who had led the group

Kramer," the man said, his

recognized him instantly and opened the gates without

my suspicions. This man worked for

connected to Alfred, then Alfred was undoubtedly the person Ashton had been investigating

Could Alfred also have been involved in

weight of all these coincidences pressed down on me. I hadn't even met Alfred yet, but the sight of the bald man-someone I'd already encountered in such a violent context-was

unease.

enter the sanatorium, I returned home, my thoughts tangled in a web of possibilities. On