Carla had already got a change and removed all her makeup. Zayn passed the phone to her when she came over. "It's Randy and Josh."
Carla quickly collected herself. "Randy! Josh!"
"Mommy…" Josh broke into tears when he heard Carla's voice. "What happened to Venus? I'm so scared, Mommy."
"Everything is okay, Josh. Don't be scared." Carla's voice became gentle the moment she heard Josh. "Venus's just down with flu. She will be okay in no time."
"Mommy…"
"Give me the phone, Josh, " Randy interrupted, "Don't worry about us, Mommy. Mr. Thompson is here with us. We're all safe and sound. You, Dad, and Venus just need to get home safely."
"Of course, Randy." Carla felt like crying. "We will be home as soon as possible. You and Josh just stay at home these few days, okay? You don't have to go to school either."
"Yes, Mommy." Randy knew she was worried they would be put in danger.
"Alright, Randy. I need to go check on Venus already. Talk to you later?"
"Okay, Mommy. We will be waiting for you."
Carla ended the call and gave the phone back to Zayn before sitting down and staring at the light of the emergency room.
"She'll be okay." Zayn's voice rang beside her.
"I miscalculated."
Carla was overtaken by guilt. If she had noticed earlier that there was something wrong with Diane and if she had made watertight arrangements, all this would not have happened.
She had put Venus in danger twice. The first time was when Venus accidentally drank the poison Selena planted for her.
It was all her fault.
She blamed Zayn for it, but she knew deep in her heart that she was culpable.
"Don't overthink."
Zayn wanted to hug her, but he realized he was still drenched the moment he reached out to her.
"Go get a change. Venus wouldn't want to see you like this either."
"I'll be back in a bit, " Zayn said before leaving.
Carla's gaze was complicated as she watched him leave.
"Ms. Lierger, " Rogan's voice called her back to reality, "Roland said he wanted to see Diane. He will be boarding a plane to Coldbridge soon."
"Send someone to pick him up. Don't let anyone know where we are."
"Sure."
Carla glanced at the window and realized the rain had stopped. The sky was still bleak. It seemed like another downpour was brewing.
Carla felt a heavy burden in her heart.
How she hoped there would be light at the end of the tunnel.
The time of waiting was harrowing.
Hours passed by without any news.
Roland had already arrived, but the doctors were still trying to save Venus and Diane.
Roland was wounded all over. He had a bandage around his head and a cast around his arm. He could not even walk steadily. Carla wondered how he even made it to Coldbridge from Aymo City.
When he found out that Diane was still in a critical stage, he slumped to the ground and started crying.
"I've already arranged the best doctors to operate on her. They will save her, " Carla assured him.
"I'm sorry…"
Roland went on his knees before Zayn and Carla.
"Please don't blame Diane. It's all my fault. She did all this because of me. Please spare her. You're like a sister to Diane. She will rather die than to have you hate her."
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