Burning Passion

CHAPTER 151: SAVING NIKKI (Twenty-Four)

"SPECIAL CHAPTER EDITION"

* * *

Meanwhile, the next morning…

Elisha received the news from Maureen's mother that Nikki is in the hospital and bleeding badly. According to the doctor, Nikki smashed in the head. Can't take the news, Elisha had a heart attack which Maureen found out too late, Elisha lying down on the floor and not breathing anymore. 

Lucy mourns not only for the death of her mother, Elisha. She cannot attend her mother's funeral and be there during a cremation when her daughter Nikki doesn't wake up yet. And the day Nikki gained consciousness, she was screaming, and she won't talk to anyone. The Lindsey couple watched their daughter suffer a traumatic injury. Sometimes, Nikki remains to stare at a corner as she's not with herself. She doesn't remember why she was in the hospital or what happened to her or what she did that day or the reason she travels to Hanford City.

Seth sought to find out what happened to his daughter, and Attorney Andrew promised to help him with the investigation. Attorney Karl also talks to Maureen, who was in the White House when the brothers visited the place. However, Maureen only remembered Jeremy's name, and she didn't know their last name.

On the other hand, Harry is good about it. The girl shouldn't know the brothers' last name. It will be easy for him to hide the identity of his family, and he aimed that they would not learn about them. Harry requested Attorney Andrew to mention nothing about the Shang brothers to Lindsey's family until they didn't find out what truly happened.

Theo and Jeremy weren't waking up yet, while Nikki could not talk about anything when she was under a traumatic experience.

Further investigation, Karl gathers information before the car crash. The text message says the brothers accompanied a girl to file a complaint of an assault to the girl. The text added, 'the family you will fight against runs the Hanford City. It is better to stop because it was only meaningless.'

"Then? The reason they plan to kill my sons? I won't stop until I learn the truth, Attorney Andrew." Harry said firmly.

"I also studied that aspect of the case. But those who saw your sons and Nikki, they don't want to talk anymore." 

"What do you mean, Attorney Lawrence?" 

"A witness texted Karl, that your sons and Nikki went to the bureau to report an assault. It happened in the cemetery when Nikki visited her friend, Jonathan Hale. In my conclusion, the person who assaulted Nikki is the older brother, Brandon Hale, as he blames Nikki for killing his younger brother." 

"So, my son got involved because of that girl?" 

"According to my contact, Brandon Hale was in the city. But when we questioned Kevin Hale, he denied that his nephew was in the city. Said he is in the Island Resort that is owned by their family." 

"Who is Kevin Hale?" 

"Kevin Hale is a drug lord, and his group is always hiring to murder someone or massacre a family. The way your son was injured is how they killed their victims. Or cause a long time coma for years and lose their memories." 

Harry clenches his fists. He asks Attorney Andrew, "Can I look at Hale's images?" 

Karl places three photos on the table, and it shocks Harry.

"It's him. I saw him in the restaurant with Garry last week." 

Andrew and Karl looked at each other. It was Andrew who spoke. "Then, this may be about your family in conflict as well. But we can't accuse Brandon Hale that it involved him in the incident. Many saw him at Hanford Manor Casino after the whole incident. We can't file a case against him, nor accuse him. The witnesses that are willing to help us are now dead. We have evidence, but it's not solid without a witness." 

"Dammit! Now what? What is the stand in my sons' case?" 

"We can't point out Kevin Hale in this case. And no one would stand as a witness that Brandon Hale is in the city."

Harry calmed down and asked Andrew, "Have you mentioned anything to the girl's family? I don't want her family to know anything. It might compromise our plans."

"I studied the case. I came up with that. Probably I will use the incident when someone attempts to abuse their daughter in the cemetery. According to Nikki's cousin, your sons went to search for her, and someone saw them going to the bureau, to a convenience store, then the crash. We can point out they were chasing after them to help Nikki. However, no evidence would support who assaulted that poor girl. She can help us and become a witness, though I don't want her to get involved. She is a nice girl. Now she was in trauma."

"I want you to do something about that."

"Don't worry. My wife is helping the girl. I already asked a lawyer friend to help the family. It is our first step to open the case. We will lead the case toward the incident of assaulting the girl. Slowly, we will push the case about the car crash, and next, why your younger son found a burning house. More importantly, to know if it involves your cousin." 

Harry heaved a furious sigh. The witnesses are dead, the reason the other witness won't talk. The city force was Hale's men, and the girl is not with herself to talk about what happens that day… 

* * * 

PRESENT TIME, Zen City 

Harry gaping outside of his floor-ceiling window, watching the traffic below the Shang Empire.

The door of his office opened, and his wife entered inside, carrying two paper bags with the name of his Uncle's restaurant.

Casually, he observes his wife taking out the boxes and placing them on the table. 

How embarrassing, but he could not remember how old she is already. Sometimes, Nina would throw a big celebration of her birthday, and most of the time, he would arrive late, but only to talk with their business partners. And his secretary will choose a gift for her.

Nina is a woman of elegance. Well-breed, intelligent, and strong. And he would be honest about no idea he was of how this marriage survives till the present. All his time spent helping his father to run the family business and make it profitable all these decades.

Harry took a seat on his accent chair when Nina began pouring tea in his bowl. A question form in his head, he spoke. "Where is my assistant to prepare these meals instead?" 

"Oh. I told them to have dinner since it was late. I'm sorry if I did not ask for your permission." 

Harry could sense that Nina was panicked at his query. She's still the same. She would think he would get angry at her and conclude she made a mistake. Instantly, she will apologize.

One of many reasons he won't say a word or talk much when she is around unless it is about a business that it involves her company and family matters.

But that kind of Nina already disappeared a long time ago. He witnessed how she became the woman of today. He knew very well that being a part of the Shang household as a madam is not a simple task to remain a suited wife. It made him wonder if he gave her protection or support all those years. Because he can't remember they discussed anything other than business-related. The only bridge connected to their marriage is because of their son and Theo.

While they were having dinner, Nina's phone rings and Jeremy's name registering to her phone screen. "It was from Jeremy. Maybe they already have news about the girl." 

She told Harry before she answered the call and spoke with Jeremy for five minutes. Harry, who was eagerly waiting to hear the news. Once Nina put down her phone. She gapes at Harry with concern.

"What's the matter?" 

Nina breathes in before she shares the news with Harry. "I'm just worried. Theo and Chairman Crow's men are preparing to chase the ship that the Hale family rented to take them to Russia." 

"Is this person Brandon Hale?"

Nina nodded. She said, "He is the one who made their life miserable for ten years. Is your son taking revenge?"

"If that is the case? But it involves the same girl. It looks like we could not run or hide from our past." 

Nina peered at Harry and sensed that his words had meaning. But he is right. The past always bound them when one came back to cause trouble, and one is chasing his tragic past, which changes their lives. Theo is trying to save that girl again. It worries her if Theo comes back alive this time, or will the past repeat.

And as for them, the past remains hid to their sons. The day would come, and they have to tell Theo and Jeremy about the past.

Nina was contemplating when Harry sat up and headed to his desk. From his vault, he took an envelope and gave it to Nina.

"What is this?" Nina asked curiously. 

She opened the envelope and saw an old letter and a photo. She looked up and gave Harry a questioning gaze.

Harry has been hiding the letter and photos the nurse gave it to him ten years ago that were found in Theo's pocket. At first, he wanted to burn them, but maybe Theo finally woke up and will look for it.

"I think Theo got the photo from the White House. And as for the paper. The handwritten was Theo's, and the other one must be handwritten of that girl."

Nina gasped and felt awed. "Are you saying now, Theo and that girl must be like each other since before?"

Harry is uncertain, but he nodded.

"Oh. Wow. But how sad. They forget each other. Somehow, Theo's heart did not forget her but fell in love after they met again. I understand now," Nina's eyes sparks while reading the exchange message on the paper.

"Do you think so?"

"What was Theo's reason that he was staying in Mainland City? Besides, it was never him an enthusiast to handle a project. But now? He even turns the world upside down just to find a suitable girl. The girl in his drawings."

"Drawings?"

Nina nodded. "His first sample is that girl's image. Now, to look closely, she resembles a lot of her mother. Lucy was 16 years old in this photo. She ran away from home after her grandfather arranged her marriage. And Kristina just came back to the US, so we went out to introduce Lucy and Kristina to each other. We—"

Nina paused when she realized that Harry peered at her earnestly. She bit her lower lip and apologized in a lower voice. "I'm sorry."

Harry, who listens eagerly, heaves a sigh after hearing Nina apologized.

'No one can change the past, anyway…'