~22~

"People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage, they will get their revenge, but if you cripple them, there is nothing they can do," Niccolo Machiavelli.

***

Diane's surgery ended well, and she was out of danger for the time being.

"Do you know who could have possibly done this to her?" The doctor asked.

"No, I don't know.," the man who notified Louise answered. "Someone else found her."

He adored Diane. In the house, she was the only nice person to him. She respected him and would sometimes help him take care of his kids since his wife passed away. Diane was a pure and happy soul. She always got along with people. Who could have done such horrible things to her?

"She lost a lot of blood. We're monitoring her and see if there are any changes," the doctor informed.

"Will she be alright?" asked Louise. "Does she need a blood transfusion?"

"We already took care of that. The patient's face has some deep knife cuts. I suggest surgery. Of course, she's not going to look the same but—think about it. And let me know your decision." the doctor said, giving them a comforting smile.

"Is she awake?"

"In a week, but we can't be sure. We'll let you know. Excuse me," the doctor said.

~~~

"Loulou, what happened?"

"Cyr," Louise cried, finding herself in Cyrus's arms, who drove to the hospital as soon as he got the news.

"The surgery went well, but she isn't waking up," Mr. Joe told him.

"I should have taken better care of her," Louise sobbed. "I told dad and uncle Ben that I would take care of her."

"It's not your fault. Aunt Diane is going to be alright. Do you want to go to the police station and report this?" Cyrus asked.

"Excuse me! These items belong to the patient," a nurse said, handing Louise a bag.

"Thank you," said Cyrus, who accepted it. "Are you going to see her?"

"I—why is it like that? What should I do?" asked Louise, sitting down and put her head between her legs.

"This isn't you. You need to have faith. She is going to make it."

"Yes, the miss is going to be alright," Mr. Joe added.

"You guys can go home. I am going to stay with aunt Diane."

"I'll stay. Miss, have your husband take you home," he offered.

"Mr. Joe, thank you for the blood transfusion," Louise thanked the butler. "Can I trouble you to stay with Diane tonight?"

Cyrus heard the butler referred to him as Louise's husband, but he felt like there wasn't a need to clarify, as, for her, she heard it, but she was overly worried about her aunt, so she dismissed it.

"I'll look after her, don't worry."

"Thank you," she smiled gratefully at him.

~~~

"Hurry up and drive back. You have class tomorrow," Louise said.

"I don't teach on Fridays."

"Thank you for coming."

"It's my duty as your partner," Cyrus said, ransacking the bag he got from the nurse. "YGJ1062."

"What is that?"

"I don't know. There's also a driver's license. Jamie Black," he read. "Know him?" Cyrus asked, passing it to Louise.

"No! Give me the paper. I'll have my cousin look it up."

~~~

"Sammy, how's it?"

"The car belongs to Jamie Black, who works with Si Security. Shouldn't you let the police handle it?" Sammy asked. "Forget it! Think about what you're going to do and let me know what you find."

"I just have a feeling that our family is involved—it doesn't look right. How could a stranger suddenly want to kill our aunt? We live miles away from Si Security. Jamie couldn't have known Diane. There has to be an instigator."

"I hope it is just a feeling. Tell me, once you find the bastard. I will come back home."

~~~

"How is she today, doctor?" Louise asked, two weeks after she continuously visited her aunt.

"Her vitals are normal. Everything's fine—"

"Why isn't she waking up?"

"We're not sure. According to our examination, the patient should have—"

"She should have, but she isn't. There must be something!"

"Loulou! Calm down," Cyrus said, trying to soothe his girlfriend, who looked frustrated. "Sit here! Let me talk to the doctor."

"We are doing everything that we can. The patient's surgery went well. Her vitals are normal. We aren't sure why the patient is not coming through," the doctor explained. "We run some exams. X-rays. CT and CAT scans. They all came out normal. "This is the result of her facial surgery."

"It looks nice," Cyrus smiled.

"We're trying our best. Please, explain it to your wife!"

~~~

"What do you think?"

"Not bad. It's better than I expected," Louise said, glancing at the photo.

"Don't glance at it. Look at it!"

"It's good. I want aunt—it's been two weeks."

"Let's be patient! Give her time. Aunt Diane has been through a lot. Don't you think she might be tired of everything and is simply resting?"

"Probably!"

~~~

"What are you going to do?" Cyrus asked, getting in the car with Louise.

"Don't worry. I am not going to do anything dangerous. I am going to pay a little visit to someone."

I am worried, alright. I know you're angry, but you can't just go—"

"I know. I am just going to ask a question. Look, I even bring money. I am not going to do anything dangerous. Trust me, okay."

"Would you at least let the police know so they can take care of it?" Cyrus sighed.

"I waited for two weeks to contact that person. "Not yet! Trust me, please. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize my or your life."

~~~

"Jamie?"

"Do I know you?" The guy asked. He was about 5'7 feet tall and was very muscular.

Louise and Cyrus looked him up and down. ''Overestimation isn't good. Let's avoid a fight with this guy at all cost,' Louise thought.

"Can we come in first? I don't think what I have to discuss with you can be said out here. May we?"

"Come in. What do you want?"

"How much were you paid?" Louise asked, going straight to the point.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me. I can hand the evidence I have to the police. Or, I can tell your job..."

"How do you know where I work?"

"I ask the questions."

"You got nothing on me," he said, sizing Louise up.

"Ah! I wonder how your driver's license ended up with the victim," Louise said, showing him the ID from a plastic bag.

"How did you get that?" He tried to snatch it from Louise.

"That's not how it is going to work. I ask the questions."

"What do you want?"

"Just tell me how much were you paid for the job?"

"500K, but I didn't kill her. I asked two people to send her back home," Jamie explained. Louise thought about it for a moment. How would the person who paid know he killed her if there was no evidence? It wasn't like he could go to the morgue and find a random faceless woman.

"How come she's in a coma?" asked Louise.

"I don't know."

"Well, let's do this. I give you a million for a name," she proposed. "Who sent you?" Cyrus looked at Louise. That didn't make sense. Why did she offer him money? He couldn't understand her intentions.

She pushed the bag towards Jamie. While the guy immersed himself in the money, Louise took the opportunity to check her surroundings, noticing that his gun wasn't on him.

"I only know his name is Shep."

"That bastard!" Louise mumbled, "Thank you," she smiled, a vague and complicated smile.

"Now, give back the driver's license," Jamie demanded.

"My insurance!"

'That woman is still in a coma. She doesn't know that I was the one—Anyway, I don't know if this man won't give it to the police to investigate me. If I kill them—'

He lifted his shirt from the back to check for his gun. Unfortunately, he didn't have it on him. 'Shit,' he cursed.

Louise recognized a change in his eyes; they looked murderous and alarmed. Without hesitation, she grabbed Jamie's hand and stabbed his palm through the coffee table with a knife she sneaked under her sleeve. "I've changed my mind. I want my money back."

Louise kicked him backward, taking back the bag.

"Ah, what the fuck, bitch?" He yelled as he painfully removed the knife.

"Darling, back up," she told Cyrus, who was standing by the door looking perplexed and shocked. "Darling!"

"The money could change my life," Jami shouted. "Why wouldn't I do it?"

"I will kill you!" He exploded. He marched forward, ready to storm her.

In a swift move, Cyrus pulled Louise back. "Be careful."

She pulled out a gun from behind, aiming it at Jamie, "Come, I blow your head out right there."

The guy glanced at where his gun was. Louise said threateningly, "Move, and I pull the trigger. Let's see what's faster. Don't. Try. Me!"

"My aunt didn't do anything to Lynn. She didn't do anything to you."

"I got paid."

"Say that again, and I shoot you," said Louise.

They went out cautiously and slowly. Louise's kept her eyes on him with the gun still pointed at him.

~~~

"Ask the question," Louise said, feeling Cyrus's eyes on her.

"Would you have killed him?"

"No."

"Is that even a real gun?"

"No," Louise grinned. "But, you can't tell if you're not standing close."

"You—do this often?"

"What?"

"Umm..."

"What are you asking?"

"I don't know. You look so comfortable stabbing that guy's hand.

"Am I suddenly a bad person in your eyes?" Louise got out of the car, slamming the door. Cyrus followed her. "Don't look at me like that! Please!" She shut her eyes. "I am not like that."

"If I didn't do that. Do you think we'd be walking out there alive?"

"I know, I believe you," Cyrus said, hugging her body. "Say, what if he had his gun?"

"I didn't think about that," Louise made a face, "But, he'd have killed us and took the money if I didn't do that."

Cyrus sighed. "You won't kill anyone today, right?" He was worried about her. He has never seen that side of her. He was worried that she'd lose control—

"Not today! Not ever—maybe. I hope. But I won't let anyone hurt me. I won't kill anyone, but that doesn't mean I can't defend myself," Louise said severely. "If I know someone is out there to get me. I will take them out first in a way that they won't be able to do anything."

"Don't look at me with those eyes again! Disturbing!"

"I am sorry."

"I need to sleep," Louise yawned. "I love you. Remember that! I know you wouldn't—"

"You know, I know," Cyrus said, covering her lips with his. "I love you. But, if you lose control, think about me, our future, and our family."

"Thanks! Thank you for being here—"

"It's my duty! Go to sleep. We'll visit your aunt in the morning."

~~~

"Aunt!" Louise exclaimed in joy, seeing her awaken aunt. "Aunt!"

"Dear," Diane hugged her niece. "Oh, I made you worried."

"No, I am just glad that you're awake. Thank you. Thank you so much. You have no idea how grateful I am. I am glad, thank you so much," Louise kissed her hand.

"Lou, I am fine, okay," Diane assured her. "Everyone!" She smiled. "Thank you for being here and took care of me."

"Why didn't anyone tell me sooner?" Claude asked.

"Mister!"

"Honey," he pushed his way through to Diane. "I'd have come sooner if I knew."

"It's fine. You're here."

"Do you want to eat something?" Louise asked, peeling an apple.

"She can't chew anything yet," a nurse informed. "We're going to change her bandages. I'd like for everyone to step out, please. You can visit tomorrow. The patient should rest."

"I'll come back later, aunt," said Louise.

"Cyr!" Diane called. "Take care of her for me, okay."

Cyrus smiled and said, "Don't worry. Focus on getting better."

~~~

"Who did this to her?" Claude asked. "Who's the bastard?"

"He said, Lynn!"

"Lynn? That so-called uncle of yours?"

"Unfortunately, yes!"

"Wow! Damn! The man's handsome, almost as good-looking as you. Shit! But he's like that? Your family matter; you take care of it."

"I am. Uncle, you liked Lynn?"

"A man can appreciate beauty, can't he? It doesn't mean I liked him. I mean, you're a fine woman, but I don't see you that way. Will you stop calling me uncle, already? People will think I am old. Claude grimaced, "I am only five years older than you."

"Habit! Blame it on you and my grandparents," said Louise.

"You kids, go home. I'll spend the days with Diane and drive her home," Claude said. "There's something different about you, niece. You're glowing," he smiled, "Should I prepare for a nephew or niece?"

"What?" Louise asked, mishearing what he said. "Preparation for your niece? I don't need anything."

"I hope it is what I think it is," he shook Cyrus's hand, who was packing their stuff from the hotel. "If it is. Man! Respect for you. I am pretty sure that's what it is," he laughed.

"What is he talking about?"

Louise shrugged.

"Call me to give me the good news," Claude grinned and went to his car.

"Is he okay? Are you sure he's your uncle?"

"We're not related. My parents told me he was my uncle," Louise said, getting up to help Cyrus, but she sat down as she was feeling dizzy.

"What's wrong?" Cyrus dropped what he was doing and rushed to her side. "Should I take you to the hospital?"

"It's probably lack of sleep."

"Come here!" Cyrus said, lifting Louise and placed her on the bed. "I am worried."

"I am fine," Louise said, who instantly fell asleep. Cyrus touched her hair, noticing that the back has gotten longer since the last time he helped her brushed it. She had nice and smooth skin, but she looked healthier and better.

"You look healthy; I hope nothing's wrong," he whispered, putting a light kiss on her forehead. "I love you."