The Hospital

After what felt like forever, he finally pulled over in front of the thirtieth-storey building. Brayden's heart almost stopped beating when he saw the crowd in front of the building.

Hastily he rushed out of the grey car without caring to park it at the designated place.

"Make way please," Brayden yelled and wriggled his way to the front.

His heart stopped beating for a moment when he looked around and saw neither Marley nor Monalisa around.

Even his secretary was nowhere to be found.

He finally got an update on what happened to them after asking over ten tenants about them.

The ambulance that arrived at the scene of the incident rushed the twins to the Outpatient Hospital.

If only he had known that the hospital he passed by on his way to the apartment was where the girls were, he wouldn't have made a futile trip to the apartment.

Since the distance from Daylight Apartment to Outpatient Hospital was only a ten-minute ride, Brayden got there sooner than the normal estimated time thanks to his skilful manoeuvre of the steering wheel.

"Which ward are Marley Ethan Lawrence and her twin sister hospitalized in?" Brayden asked the two nurses at the reception as soon as he got there.

"Marley Ethan Lawrence," The nurse with brown curly hair repeated, shifting her attention to the white screen in front of her.

"If I am not mistaken I believe they were rushed to the emergency room about fifteen to twenty minutes ago. Can you please hurry," The anxious guy urged the nurse who hadn't given her a response.

"What is your relationship to them if I may ask?" The brown hair nurse asked. She finally lifted her head to peer at Brayden's face.

"I am their uncle and legal guardian," Brayden gritted his teeth and answered the nurse's question.

Even though he wasn't very pleased with their interrogation, he knew that the nurse was only performing their duties.

The brown hair nurse was about to ask further questions when her partner moved closer and whispered a few words into her ears.

Although Brayden had no idea what the second nurse told the brown hair lady he noticed changes in the brown hair nurse after their quick conversation.

"Miss Marley and Miss Monalisa are currently occupying VIP ward 001. You will find them there," The brown hair nurse informed him. For some unknown reason, she didn't sound hostile like she did a while ago.

Brayden scurried away as soon as he got the information he wanted.

"Hey, why didn't you tell me earlier that his uncle is the director of the hospital? Were you perhaps hoping that I got fired after disrespecting a big shot like him?" The brown hair nurse scolded her partner sternly.

She heaved a sigh of relief, glad that she had no opportunity to mess up earlier.

At the VIP ward on the fourth floor, Brayden pushed the door open after he located the mentioned ward at last.

"Marl…"

"Sshh!" Jillian turned and gazed at the brown door with her index finger on her peach colour lips.

"You are here too!" The words escaped Brayden's mouth before he could stop himself.

"Boss, she is no stranger. She helped me to rescue Miss Marley and Monalisa. I don't even want to imagine what would happened to us had she not come to our aid the time she did," Prisca defended Jillian, thinking that Brayden was displeased to see a stranger in the room.

"How is it possible she was there to help you in the nick of time? Are you even aware of what you are saying?" Brayden interrogated the lady standing at Marley and Monalisa's bedside.

"I am sure of what I am saying, Boss. She was the only kind tenant who came up to our floor to assist me after hearing my cry for help…"

"Are you trying to say she lives at Daylight Apartment too?" Brayden half yelled, his bulging eyeballs fixed on Jillian's face.

'What is the possibility that in this vast city and world, Ashley's look-alike lives in the same apartment as the twins? Am I being paranoid or is there really more to these constant coincidences?' Brayden got lost in his thoughts.

He forgot to lower his gaze as he battled with his mind.

"And what is that tone and look for huh?" Jillian frowned, not pleased at the way Brayden gazed at her.

"Why do you stare at me as if I am guilty of some heinous crime huh?" Jillian challenged him unaware that she misunderstood the poor guy's stares.

"Are you surprised to hear that I live in the same apartment as you because you have already concluded on our first meeting that I couldn't afford to live in that kind of luxurious place?" Jillian accused, fuming.

"Miss…"

"I don't regret saving your kids and I won't because of what you said. Nevertheless, just a little warning from me… learn to treat people better because money is trash without the right attitude," Jillian said her piece. She stood up to leave but only for a tiny hand to hold onto her tightly.

"Please don't leave us, Mommy," a half-awake Monalisa pleaded. None of the three adults in the room knew whether she said these words from her sleep or not since her amethyst eyeballs were barely visible.

"I know you wouldn't believe what I said but I will still go ahead to speak my piece regardless," Brayden said. He moved closer to where Jillian stood contemplating whether to stay or leave like she wanted to.

"Since we met I have never looked down on you. Also, no words can describe how grateful I am that you were there to rescue Marl and Lisa. You don't know the huge favour you have done to the entire Lawrence family for this singular gesture of yours," Brayden said in a serious tone.

"Thank you. And if not for anything but for them, please stay just until they wake up. I don't even want to imagine how terrified they must have been back then. I am sure they will be much safer to have you by their side…"

"You are their father while I am but a stranger. Why on earth will they feel safe to be with me instead of you?" Jillian retorted, thinking Brayden trying to prank her.

"Give some thought about the title they have been addressing you with since our first encounter and you will understand what I mean," Brayden replied without going into details. He turned to Prisca afterwards.

"Let's talk outside," He commanded, his voice colder than usual.

Brayden was already at the door of the VIP room when Jillian unravelled the meaning behind his statement.

"But I am not their mother," She shouted. Brayden proceeded out of the room pretending not to hear her.

Just to keep an eye on the room and make sure that Jillian didn't seize his absence to leave the room, he stayed in the corridor and discussed with Prisca.

"What exactly happened at the apartment? I only told you to keep an eye on them for today since their nanny quit without any prior notice and not to set them ablaze along with the house. What explanation do you have for this incident?"Brayden asked coldly, his fierce eyeball fixed on Prisca's face.