Niania ran into the hospital when they arrived. Thomas pulled over into a spot before joining her.

''Maa, brother Henry, how is my dad doing?'' Niania asked the moment she got to the emergency ward and saw them outside.

''Niania, you are finally here'' Mrs. Gu said, holding Niania's hand.

''How is dad? Why did he suddenly get a relapse?'' Niania turned to look at Henry.

''Aye, your dad always makes me worried. The tank was empty so he said he was going to turn the electricity on so that the water could be pumped out. He tripped and fell down, making his leg to dislocate. Aye, I told him not to do it. I was going to call Henry but you know how stubborn your dad is''

''Luckily, I was around the house when it happened, so we brought him to the hospital'' Henry explained and saw Thomas walking towards them. He looked at Niania and asked, ''were you with him?''

Niania turned to look at Thomas and nodded her head, ''mm, we were together when the call came so he brought me here.

''Niania, is he someone that you know?'' Mr. Gu asked.

''Yes, he…''

''Hi aunt Gu'' Thomas made a polite bow when he got to them.

''Oh, hi… you are…?''

''I am called Thomas, I am Niania's close friend'' Thomas stretched his hand and shook the elder woman's hand as he introduced himself.

''You are Niania's close friend? I thought my daughter was a loner. Niania, when did you get such a handsome close friend?''

Niania blushed, ''he is the brother in law of Alice and we are friends''

''Oh, I see. So you are the brother in law of Alice?''

''Yes. Alice's elder sister is married to my younger brother''

''Er, Maa, I also know him. I met him the last time I went to the City''

''Yes, hi Henry, right?'' Thomas curved his lips and forced a smile.

''Hi, Thomas''

Mrs. Gu noticed the tension amongst the two men and looked at them with a curious gaze. She pulled Niania closer and whispered.

''Hey, who is this man to you? Is he your boyfriend or is he chasing you?''

''Maa, he is not my boyfriend but…. I think that he is indeed chasing me'' Niania's face turned red when she spoke.

The door to the ward opened and the doctor came out.

''Doctor, how is my father doing?''

''He is in a stable state now; he can go home tomorrow. But, as I warned the last time he visited, he should avoid walking for long distance or lifting heavy things. He is already old, he should take care of his health''

''Thank you, doctor. I will make sure that father doesn't disobey your orders'' Henry spoke and Thomas looked at him. It was as if Henry had purposefully said that to irk him.

''Doctor, can we see him now?'' Mrs. Gu asked.

''Yes, but he is already asleep. You can visit him tomorrow before his discharge''

''Then, aunt, why don't you go with Niania? I will stay here and take care of uncle''

''But…''

''No buts, listen to me. Be good'' Henry said, touching Niania's shoulder. Thomas frowned and looked at him. He clearly taking advantage of Niania.

''Henry, you still have work to do tomorrow. You have already done a lot for us, we can't have you taking care of my husband. You should go back and take care of your own things. I will spend the night here in case Niania's father wakes up and needs something''

''No, aunt. You two are the women in the family. How can I let you sleep in the hospital?''

Thomas looked at Henry and furrowed his brows. He found his actions funny and annoying. It was like he wanted to prove a point.

''Okay, we will leave my husband to you for tonight. Niania, let's go'' Mrs. Gu held Niania's hand.

''Aunt, I will drive you and Niania home'' Thomas offered.

''There won't be a need for that. I will call a cab for them. Mr. Thomas, you already did enough by bringing Niania to the hospital. You can leave now; I will take care of things here''

''His car is more comfortable than a cab. Maa, you don't mind going with him, right?'' Niania asked. The way Henry handled the situation was starting to make her uncomfortable. She didn't like his attitude towards Thomas.

''Sure, you don't have to do anything, Henry. Since they are friends, it doesn't matter if he sends us home. We will come early tomorrow so that you can go and do your own things'' Mrs. Gu agreed with Niania.

Henry's lips tightened together and he forced a smile, ''sure. Good night, aunt. Niania, make sure you get some sleep''

''Mm, good night''

….

When they got to the car, Thomas opened the door for Mrs. Gu to get in first. Niania was about to join her in the backseat and she kicked her out.

''Aye, sit in the front seat. My legs hurt, I want to be able to stretch them well. You join your friend in the front seat'' Mrs. Gu said and closed the door.

Niania turned and looked at Thomas. She clasped her hands together nervously.

''Get in'' Thomas opened the door for her with a smile.

''Thank you''

Thomas smiled and got into the driver's seat. He started the car and drove them out of the hospital.

Sitting at the back, Mrs. Gu kept her gaze focused on the people in the front seat. She found them cute and suitable for each other.

Niania turned and saw her mother's intense gaze on Thomas and she leaned backwards and asked her, ''Maa, what are you doing? Don't look at him too much or you will scare him''

''Niania, you have eyes for good things. It's a pass for me''

''Maa, stop saying that in front of him. we are just friends. What if he misunderstands us?'' Niania whispered back.

''Don't worry, he won't misunderstand. He likes you''

''Maa, sssh'' Niania sighed and sat back properly. She shifted her gaze and looked at the steering wheel. Thomas' fingers were wrapped around it and he was playing with one hand. Hitting his fingers gently on the wheel as he drove.

His fingers were long and neat, a little fair. Tracing her gaze from his fingers to his arm and to his face, Niania flushed when she met his gaze. She quickly looked away.

Thomas smiled and looked at the backseat through the mirror. Mrs. Gu's eyes were closed and she seemed to be sleeping.

''I called someone from the City Hospital. He is a specialist. He will come and check your father tomorrow''

''You didn't have to do that''

''You could just say thank you. I told you, we are in this together''

Niania smiled. ''Thank you''

''You are welcome''

''Tomorrow, I will prepare a meal for you. You didn't get to eat tonight because of my family situation. I feel really apologetic''

''You don't need to be. Tomorrow, let's not eat at home. I will be going to Brokton for something. I will take you out when I return''

''You… you are taking me out?''

''Mm, make sure you dress prettily''

''Okay''

….

Next day….

Brokton….

''Shirley turned to Natalie and Mikael and spoke as she handed the binoculars to Wales.

''The house is surrounded by bodyguards. They are about 20 of them outside alone. I am anticipating there will be more people inside''

''Then, how do we get my mom out of there? Daniel must have made preparations for our coming''

''How about we go in together. We can say that I saw you hovering around and then brought you inside'' Mimi suggested.

''I think she has a point. It will make more sense if we saw you outside the house. Once we are inside, we can work a way out to get everyone in'' Shirley said.

''Mikael, I think that is the only way at the moment. Those men must be armed. We can afford to lose anyone of our members''

''Natalie, I already figured a way to get in. the last time aunt sent me to this place, I didn't use this route. We can use the southern gate. Not a lot of people know about it because it looks sealed''

''Right, the southern door. You can use that place to go in. It is underground and hardly noticeable. Mikael, if you guys take that route, you should be able to get inside the house by the same time that we get there'' Natalie said to Mikael

''Let's do it that way. Shirley, please take care of Natalie''

''Don't worry, nothing will happen'' Shirley assured Mikael.

Natalie's phone vibrated and she looked at it. It was a video recording sent to her by Daniel Song. Natalie played the video and her face changed.

Mikael took the phone and everyone gathered to look at it. It was a video of Solace shackled and locked up in a small room.

Another text message came next.

''Your mother will be just a dead body if you are not here today itself''

''That bastard. How could he treat my mother this way?'' Natalie bit her lips.

''We should go now. My father is paranoid. He would do anything once he realises something is amiss''