Chapter 157
Victoria tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her breath slow and shallow as nerves gripped her.
The phone kept ringing, and each passing second made her more anxious. Just as she was about to give up, the call finally connected.
"Hello?" a man answered, his voice clear and smooth, not the elderly, frail tone she had been expecting.
Victoria froze, her heart skipping a beat. "Who is this?"
"Is that Victoria?" The voice was warm, tinged with a touch of amusement.
"It's Pete Helberg. Do you remember me?"
There was something about that voice that felt familiar. And as soon as he said his name, she remembered. "It's you!"
Pete chuckled softly. "Yeah, it's me. It's been ages. Didn't think you'd still remember me."
Victoria felt a wave of unease. "How do you have my grandma's phone? Where's she?"
Pete's tone turned serious. "Victoria, how long has it been since you've seen Ava?"
Her stomach dropped. "What do you mean? What's happened?"
Pete only let out a soft sigh.
"Just tell me! What happened to her?" Victoria's grip on the steering wheel tightened, and she tried to calm herself, forcing back the rising panic.
"She went up into the mountains to pick flowers for powder, but she slipped and fell. She's in the hospital now."
Victoria's eyes blurred with tears. "I... I'm on my way. I'll be there right now."
Guilt washed over her in waves. She hadn't visited Ava in ages, too afraid of being scolded for not going.
She quickly set the phone on speaker and placed it on the passenger seat as she started the car.
Pete's voice came through again, steady and reassuring. "Okay. This is your number, right? I'll send you the location."
"I'll be there soon." She tried to steady her voice, but the tightness in her chest made it hard to focus.
She was already on her way to the airport.
Ava lived in a small town in a neighboring city. The quickest way to get there was by plane.
Victoria bought the first available flight, feeling her heart race with anxiety.
"Don't worry too much." Pete reassured her. "Ava's in good spirits. Even in a wheelchair, she still makes the rounds, chatting with everyone. You wouldn't know it, but she's probably been more active than some of the nurses!"
He said this with a light tone, hoping to calm Victoria's nerves.
Victoria let out a small, forced laugh. "Yeah, Grandma's always been strong. She doesn't let anything slow her down."
Since Victoria's grandfather passed away, Ava had been living alone. Camille never bothered to visit, and Ava's youngest daughter was always overseas, returning only once in a while.
Victoria had spent the most time with Ava yet still somehow let her down the most.
Pete's voice softened, his words almost casual. "So, I guess life's been pretty good for you, huh? Married the man you wanted, had a kid... everything's perfect, right?"
Victoria's throat tightened. The bitterness in her chest seemed to creep up. She gripped the wheel harder, trying to keep her composure. "I'll be at the airport soon. Let's talk when I get there."
"Alright."
"Thank you for looking out for my grandma," she said, her voice sincere.
Pete replied, his tone gentle. "No need to thank me. Ava is always been kind to me. I'm just returning the favor."
After Victoria hung up, her nerves were on edge. She still had to wait at the airport, and just as she was about to board the plane, her phone buzzed again.
It was Henry. She glanced at the screen and instantly rejected the call.
The Hardwick family had just released a statement about finding their biological daughter, and the news spread fast. As soon as Grace heard, she immediately informed Henry.
Without hesitation, he called Victoria. But, just like that, she hung up on him.
Henry's gaze darkened as he stared at his phone, his expression serious.
His thoughts raced. He was worried that the sudden turn of events might be too much for Victoria to handle.
He couldn't shake the feeling that the reason she wasn't answering his calls was because she was struggling to accept what was happening.
"Track her location," he told Grace, his voice low.
"Yes, sir," Grace replied before heading off.
Henry continued to try calling Victoria, but this time, the phone went straight to voicemail. A chill of anxiety spread through him.
His mind was in turmoil, but all he could think about was seeing her, knowing exactly where she was.
It wasn't long before Grace returned.
"Sir, Mrs. Harrison booked a flight to Camoreham about half an hour ago. She's already boarded the plane."
Henry frowned. He suspected she was going there to clear her mind. Her abrupt departure told him how upset she must be.
A feeling of discomfort washed over him. Things were slipping out of his control, and he couldn't just sit back.
"Get me the soonest available flight to Camoreham," he ordered.
"Understood," Grace replied immediately, moving to handle the arrangements.
Henry didn't waste any time. He left the office and headed straight to the airport.
By the time he arrived, everything was set and within minutes, he was aboard, the plane taking off.
Jacob Draper, one of his assistants, sat next to him. Jacob was a tech expert, and he could track Victoria's movements in real–time, making sure they wouldn't lose sight of her.
Five hours later, the plane touched down.
Victoria headed directly from the airport to the hospital, the sky already dark.
But as she stood at the hospital entrance, she hesitated. She took a few deep breaths, trying to steady herself, but the weight of fear pressed down on her.
She wasn't sure she was ready to face Ava, not after avoiding her for so long, not after the disappointment she was afraid to see in her eyes.
Still holding the flowers and fruit she had bought, she took another breath, trying to push away the nervousness, and stepped forward.
"Victoria." The voice cut through the quiet night.
She looked up to see Pete. He was walking toward her with measured steps, wearing a simple white shirt and grey pants. His short hair was neatly styled, and his features were handsome, but there was something more refined about him now, his boyish innocence replaced with quiet confidence.
"Pete?" A faint smile tugged at Victoria's lips. "You've changed so much. I almost didn't recognize you."
"Same here." Pete chuckled, his smile warm. "If I hadn't looked at your pictures before, I might not have recognized you either."
For a brief moment, Victoria's heart tightened. She used to be full of life, her eyes sparkling with energy. But now, she felt like a shadow of that person, distant, reserved, and weighed down by a quiet sadness.
She blinked, then asked softly, "How is my grandma?"
"You'll see for yourself soon enough."
Without another word, he turned and led her into the hospital.
Victoria followed, clutching the flowers and fruit. The closer they got to the ward, the stronger the sense of fear gripped her. By the time they reached the door, she felt like running away, but she couldn't.
What they didn't know was that across the street, a man in a dark car was watching them closely.
Inside the car, Henry's face was partially obscured by shadows, his gaze cold and focused.
He had assumed she'd come all the way here for a date.