Chapter Sixty-seven

Valerie turned her back to see if she could find anyone approaching the ward or looking at her. When she saw none, she walked gradually towards the machine. She paused and carefully scrutinized the machine. Her lips curled into a malicious smile as her gaze fell on the switch. Valerie moved immediately and turned off the switch.

She was shocked when she heard movements beside her. She looked at Aunt Mary whose face turned pale and was struggling for breath. Valerie smiled to her victory. 

" You ought to die. " Valerie said. " Seems you want to live. But, you can't. " Valerie proceeded to strangle her but she stopped on hearing footsteps. She quickly switched on the machine and ran out of the room, bumping a nurse in the process. 

The nurse flinched at her as she stood in shock. Valerie was lost for words. She only turned to the direction of the ward. The nurse followed suit and was shocked to see the patient struggling to live. She screamed and immediately rushed off to call the doctor. The others in the other ward heard the noise and ran out. They rushed into the room shocked to see Aunt Mary that way. Sofia rushed towards her but Albert drew her back. Three doctors rushed into the ward with some nurses and went immediately to save the patients life.

" Aunty! " Sofia screamed in tears. She had never been this shocked all her life. 

One of the doctors came to them and pleaded that they leave the room as the sight was not one to bear.

Clifford and Albert guided the Sofia, Lady Lily and Mira out of the room. The inner curtains were closed so that those outside cannot view what was happening inside. They all stayed outside the ward in the corridor as they waited for the doctors to come out. Sofia wailed and threw herself on the floor. Lady Lily and Mira were more comported. They sat down crying and begging Sofia to be calm. The two other men kept mute and tried to bring everyone under control.

A doctor, came out of the ward and was about to walk down the corridor to Heaven knows where, when Clifford stopped him.

" Doctor please talk to us. " Clifford begged him.

" I'm sorry but her chances of living is thin. " The doctor said and rushed off.

Clifford sighed deeply. Everyone was totally devastated, the current condition was one that no one prayed for. The way doctors and nurses went in and out of the ward escalated the fears that lay deep in the hearts of everyone. No one prayed for the deepest fears. 

Time was ticking very fast, everyone was praying inwardly apart from the ladies that were crying their eyes out. 

Valerie was in the comfort room panting heavily. Cold sweat broke from her face and she felt like choking.

" What have I done? " Valerie muttered under her breath as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She felt like she had finally turned to a demon. She couldn't believe that she almost killed someone. Valerie laughed out loud as she thought of more evil to do to Sofia.

" You made me do this. You must suffer for it. " Valerie said almost aloud and she laughed this time in a low tone.

...

...

The doctor handling Aunt Mary's case came out of the ward with a dimmed face. Everyone panicked at the look on his face. 

" Doctor, how is she? " Albert and Clifford asked in unison. 

The doctor sighed and asked to see either Clifford or Albert in his office. Clifford the doctor to his office while Albert stayed with Sofia to console her.

The doctor was so annoyed when he was discussing with Clifford. He pointed out some unusual things he noticed having examined Aunt Mary.

" Doctor. Please make things clearer to me. " Clifford said.

" Someone had tampered with the machine. " The doctor hit the nail on the head. 

" This is a serious case that needs to be handled with great care. " The doctor went further to list the law guiding different crimes in the hospital and decided to take up the matter.

For Clifford,all those things the doctor said were important but that wasn't what he wanted to hear from him. " So, how is she? " Clifford asked him.

" Thank goodness, we were able to bring the situation undee control. But we almost lost her. " That was all Clifford wanted to hear. He kept on thanking the doctor, before leaving the office.

Everyone waited for Clifford to come close. Their gaze flew to his direction as he drew nearer to them.

" She's fine now. " He told them and everyone sighed.

Clifford called Albert to a corner and began telling him all that the doctor said to him. Albert was surprised that someone could think of assassinating Aunt Mary. As he cursed and shrugged his shoulders to the discovery. His thoughts flew to something. Albert shook his head as he doubted the possibility.

" What is it? " Clifford asked him.

" I think i remember something. " Albert said and Clifford flashed him a quizzical look. 

" Valerie was here a while ago. " Albert said.

" What? You mean... " Clifford furrowed his eyebrows. He couldn't believe that his sister can be responsible for such a thing. Albert nodded and they turned to have a look. Valerie was no where to be found. Clifford pleaded that the issue be suspended for now and that they'll look into it later on.

Sofia was still crying when Albert came closer to her. " Why are you crying? " Albert asked her.

She shook her head and told him that those were tears of joy.

They were later on, allowed to see Aunt Mary who was still unconscious and they hoped that she soon regain consciousness.

...

...

Clifford left the hospital that evening for his friends's place. He alerted them of his coming and they waited for his arrival.

When he came to their house, he was welcomed and well served. 

" Hmmm. I hope you're not planning on killing me after this. " Clifford said as he ate like a hungry lion.

After eating, Harry and Freddie presented their problems to Clifford. Freddie told him that he had to fulfill his promise of taking him to meet Annie. Clifford laughed at him and even told him the breaking news. That he was living with them temporarily. He also told them that he was heading there after he leaves their residence. Clifford stayed a while with them and left for Eddie's residence but first, he promised to take Freddie to Annie the next day. So, he asked him to get prepared.

SMITHS RESIDENCE.

Valerie came back home that day. She didn't know what to do and guess that those at the hospital might have started suspecting her.  She however, decided to be strong and confident. She was going to deny all allegations leveled up against her. Her happiness was that Smith was her backup. So, she needs not to worry about that.

...

...

Eva and John had finished with their duties and as usual, they stayed in the kitchen for their romantic talks. They decided to go to sleep earlier than before so that they'll visit Sofia the next day. 

" Let's go then. " Eva said and they stood up. As they approached the door, John called Eva. Eva stopped and looked at him but before she could say anything,John grabbed her face and they ended up kissing. They kissed for a while before Eva detached her lips from his. She had turned red at that time and was shy to look at John in his eyes. John noticed that and laughed over it. He hugged her before they left the kitchen. Eva then locked the door and they left. As they strolled down the corridor, the saw Valerie walking and talking to herself. They hid and watched her pass them when her phone rang.

Valerie looked at the name that flashed on her screen. It was Master calling her. Valerie was totally pissed off and immediately answered the call. 

" Hello, Miss Valerie. " The master greeted. Valerie wasn't in a good mood that time, so she asked him to nail at it.

The Master expressed his unhappiness towards her behavior. Not even a message of appreciate from her sent to him. 

Valerie listened to the Master with anger boiling in her. 

" Who did you help me destroy? Is it the people who are recuperating in the hospital now, or the person that i almost destroyed. "

Valerie went ahead to yell at the Master exposing some hidden issues at the instant. She ended the call and walked back to her room.

Eva and John was lost for words with what Valerie had said. They planned to keep what they heard to themselves and talk about it the next day. With that, they crawled out of their hiding place and dispersed to their rooms.

EDDIE'S RESIDENCE.

Clifford returned to Eddie's residence. He came when they were eating dinner. Eddie wasn't expecting anyone and wasn't ready to explain anything to anyone. She only greeted Clifford and kept quiet after that.

" I'll sleep here tonight. " Cliffors said looking at Eddie. 

Eddie furrowed her eyebrows at the man. " Indeed shameless. " Eddie cursed before Clifford's resounded in her ears again. 

" You're not planning on ... " Eddie looked at Clifford and then Annie as they returned her shocked expression with a smile.