Troubled

{On their way to the ceremony, and hopefully, everything will turn out well. Right?}

_

The girls left the house in a hurry, thirty minutes before the event was to begin.

"Nervous?" Riel asked, a bit concerned, as Seon's Sedan sped off into the night.

"No! Why I would be nervous? It's not like I'm crashing my own wedding or anything..." Lily replied sarcastically, peering at Riel.

"Well, I'm honored to be driving this unbelievably unique bride," Seon remarked, giving a gentle smile.

Lily smiled back gratefully, then almost instantly, her smile again receded.

"Oh no..." Lily said, recalling something.

"What?" Asked Riel.

"I forgot to cancel the limo that was to drive me tonight!"

"Well, perhaps he'll read your note." Replied Riel, a smile tugging her pink lips.

"What note?" Asked Seon, curiously glancing at the two.

"Lily left a note at the door saying, 'I'm off to a canceled betrothal .'" Riel laughed.

"I don't know why but that's just hilarious to me."

"I left that in case Valerie—or anyone else— decides to pass by, which I know she most definitely will,"

Lily answered amid Riel's joyous laughter.

Just then, a phone call sounded inside the car.

Lily looked at her phone to find that it was Sebastian calling. She frowned in confusion, wondering what he could've wanted.

"Why's he calling?" Riel asked upon glancing at the caller ID phone from the passenger's seat.

Lily shrugged cluelessly before answering the call, an unpleasant feeling suddenly creeping into her chest.

"Hello, Seb? Is something wrong?" She inquired, feeling a bit uneasy.

"It's your assistant, Valerie." The graveness of Sebastian's tone over the phone, almost made her heart stop at that moment. "She was involved in an accident." Came the sentence that instantly made her drop her phone.

"Lily? What's going on?" Riel asked worriedly, seeing as her friend had disconnected from reality for a few seconds.

Seon glanced worriedly at her through the rearview mirror, slowing down and pulling over at the side of the road.

Lily was still trying to process what Sebastian has just told her. A lot of questions roamed her head, but as of now, she knew she had to get to the hospital ASAP.

"Seon, can you please drive me to Silver Lines Hospital? I'll give you the directions just please—" She asked expeditiously.

"Alright, just tell me where to go." Seon instantly replied seeing the desperate and pleading look on her face.

Lily gave Seon the directions, as she simultaneously called Remy informing him of the situation.

Lily barged, and almost ran into the hospital like a complete lunatic.

Riel and Seon were following close behind her, giving each other apprehensive glances.

Lily speed walked to the receptionist, ignoring all the weird looks people were giving her, assumably because of her attire or frantic state.

She was about to ask about Valerie when she almost instantly, spotted Sebastian in his white coat, a stethoscope around his neck, some documents in his hands, and a sedate look on his face.

"Is she okay? What happened? Where—"

"Calm down Lily. She hit her head pretty hard, and won't be conscious for some time. Other than that, she just has some minor scratches and bruises. She'll be alright." Sebastian tried to reassure her.

"What exactly happened?" Riel implored, directing her question to Sebastian.

Sebastian went silent, his gaze remaining on Lily. It was as if he was deciding on whether or not to say anything. Looking into her troubled eyes, he sighed inwardly, knowing he'd eventually have to tell her.

"There was a—" He was about to answer when,

"Doctor Ryhs, you're needed in the ER." A female voice interrupted.

A nurse came up to Sebastian, telling him with her eyes that he needed to follow her immediately.

"We'll talk later. You can go in, one person at a time, if you want to see her." He told them, before briskly walking off.

Lily didn't know why, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt. She felt as though Valerie's accident was somehow her fault.

Riel held her hand and gently soothed her back, trying to calm her even in the slightest.

Just then, Eve arrived and immediately ran up to Lily—who was now seated on a nearby bench— with Riel seated to her right, and Seon next to her.

"Oh my gosh, bestie! I heard what happened, are you okay?" Eve asked taking a seat to Lily's left. Eve put her arm around Lily's back, before knowingly or unknowingly, brushing Riel's arm off.

Riel frowned deeply, glaring at Eve, and would've retorted, if not for the current situation.

She instantly disliked the girl. Her gut told her that she wasn't to be trusted in the slightest.

Lily stood and finally decided to go see her friend. She was however first instructed by the receptionist to fill out Valerie's information, since she was the closest person to her that was present at the moment.

Lily couldn't help but mope, on recalling Valerie telling her that she was an orphan, who had grown up in a children's home, after being abandoned by her parents as a child.

Seeing Valerie's vulnerable figure laying on the bed, and the bandage wrapped around her head, was enough to make fresh tears pour from Lily's eyes.

She realized at that moment, that Valerie was more than just a good friend. She was the younger sister she never had.

Outside Valerie's room, Remy had arrived and was talking to Riel and Seon, completely ignoring Everlee, who was standing a distance away from the trio.

"Do you guys know what happened?" Asked Remy.

"Honestly no. And I'm not sure what exactly is going on. I mean, the police should at least be here right?" Riel perceived thoughtfully.

"Agreed. They should be investigating this so-called accident." Seon conceded with a bit of skepticism in his voice.

Riel and Remy nodded simultaneously, before agreeing to ask for police interference.

Back inside Valerie's room, Lily was seated on a small couch next to the bed, when the door suddenly opened, making her slightly jump in surprise.

"Calm down, it's just me," Sebastian said as he closed the door behind him, and began walking towards her.

Lily sighed in relief before turning her attention back to the unconscious girl.

"How long until she's awake?" She asked, her eyes never leaving Valerie.

"I'm not sure. It could take days, weeks, maybe even months..." Sebastian replied, stopping next to her.

"Listen to me, Lily," Sebastian said seriously, meeting her teary-eyed gaze.

"What happened to Valerie, it wasn't an accident." He paused, causing Lily's heart to miss a beat.

"Someone planted a bomb under the limo she was using."

❤️⏲️