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Rubbing his palms together in glee, Chase reached out of his cutlery and immediately began to dice the meat in his plate.

After eating for a while, he took a sip from his glass of water before shifting his gaze to Wembley who had his glass to his lips, glaring angrily at him.

“I did nothing wrong so I'm not going to apologize.” He said, starting up a conversation.

“Are you comfortable with your current lifestyle?” Wembley asked, leaning towards him. He was tired and frustrated from repeating the same thing several times.

“Yes, why? Aren't you comfortable with yours? Don't ever think of committing suicide because if you do, I will personally dice your body into tiny pieces.” He said, pun intended but Wembley wasn't buying it.

Grabbing his cutlery, he started to fill his mouth with food, trying to forget all that was happening but it was impossible.

Chase on the other part had resumed eating. He was glad that Wembley hadn't pushed in with his request for him to return home.

“Since you don't want to return, I will stay here with you. I'm not going to let you out of my sight again.” Wembley said and with that, he pushed his chair backwards, scraping the floor in the process.

“Are you leaving already?” Chase asked.

“Uhm… I want to submit my application to several companies tonight. I need to write my resume…”

“What if I told you I have a plan?”

The look on Chase's face showed he was serious and so Wembley had no choice but to reclaim his seat as Chase filled his glass with wine.

“I want to open a pub.” He said.

“Why? Did they throw you out already?”

“Not yet but I feel they will do that soon. I need a back up plan so that whenever they decide to come for me, I won't be taken unaware.”

“Let's go for a restaurant instead.”

“I don't have the money to pull that. Fifty percent of my monthly income goes to Raven, her mother takes twenty…” he still wanted to go on, when Wembley stamped a black card on the table.

“Where did you get this from?”

“It was among your belongings that night so I slipped it out. Your money is still intact, I never used a dime.”

“Best friend forever right?” Chase asked and then went ahead to fill his glass again. “You keep saving my ass each time, I really need to repay you handsomely.”

“I already told you I don't need your money, just be alive and take what rightfully belongs to you, I'm content with that.”

Chase didn't say anything to this, instead, he began to run his fingers on the outline of the card as he thought of his next phase of action.

“Let's go for a restaurant, I will look around for a building to rent. You know what, leave everything to me, when it's time for you to step in, I'll let you know.” Wembley said.

“So… when should I be expecting your text then.”

“In a few days.”

Chase was about to say something when Wembley's phone began to ring. On seeing the caller’s ID, he pushed his phone towards Chase who immediately held his breath.

“She has been asking after you.”

“Don't tell her you have seen me yet.” He whispered.

Nodding, Wembley swiped to receive the call, “Mom.”

“Where are you? Aren't you coming home anymore?” Karen, Chase's mom asked with a soft voice. Hearing his mother's voice alone shredded his heart and at once his eyes began to water.

“I'm sorry mom, I found a job here. Don't worry, I won't let it distract me, the moment I find Chase I will inform Rocco.”

“Please find him and don't go missing too. I'm yet to accept that my Chase is no more, please bring him back to me as soon as possible.”

“I'll mom, stay safe.” He said and with that hung the call.

Pushing his hair backwards with a hand, he reached out for his glass with the other and then took a long drink from it.

“Don't let that woman die without getting to see her. Just in case you don't know, she is still hospitalized.”

Trying to act brave when he was breaking on the inside, Chase said, “Don't worry, she will pull through. You see, mother is a very strong woman, you need to stop underestimating her abilities.” He was wearing his smile now.

“Even if I have decided to cover up for you, I will not forgive you if anything happens to her. See you.” He said as he pulled himself up.

Checking his wristwatch, he added, “Don't keep late night.”

“Yeah. Text me when you get home.”

Before Wembley could take a step, Chase grabbed his hand and with a pleading eyes said, “Can I get mother's picture?”

“I don't have it.”

“You do, please don't deprive me of this.” He was digging his nails into his skin now.

“I’ll send you her contact.”

“Why are you acting this way? One minute you will be sane, the next minute you will become insane.” He scowled.

“She has just three years to live according to the family doctor, she spent the last two searching for you and now the last, she is on her hospital bed, hoping you will return to her side.”

“That bastard.” Chase muttered, biting his bottom lips with clenched fists. His eyes were blood red with anger and it was as if they would fall out the next minute.

“Whenever you make up your mind, I will return with you.” He said and after a slight bow, she patted his shoulder and then walked off.

With a heavy heart, Chase pulled his feet back to his seat and then began drinking glass after glass of wine, trying to drown his sorrows.

He was in this state when his phone began to buzz and when he picked it up, the caller turned out to be Raven.

“Hello.” He said, trying to sound like his normal self.

“Where are you?” She asked with a calm voice.

“I'm on my way home. I will be home in thirty minutes.”

“Can you make a u-turn to R Hotel and Suite?”

“Yes, I will do that right away.”

“Room number 184.” She said and then hung up.

Not knowing that to expect, Chase gathered his belongings and then hurried out of the restaurant. Fortunately, immediately he stepped out, a taxi pulled up in front of him and he immediately got in.

“Room 184, room 284…” he chanted as he walked through the alley of the hotel. He arrived a few minutes ago.

Since this was his first place visiting the hotel, he made his way towards the receptionist table and with a smile he waved at her.

“Hello sir, how can I help you?” She returned his smile.

“Room 284, which floor is it on?”

“Hold.” She scrolled through the laptop in front of her and after a while, she returned her gaze to him.

“You must be Chase Wilder, the Bernard’s son in-law.”

“Yes.” He replied.

“Room 184 rather and it is on the fifth floor.”

“Alright, thank you.” He replied and then took his leave not knowing what awaited him in room 184.