Chapter 78: Chapter 78 - The cost of love

"Go." Adrian told her as Jennifer opened the door, hesitantly. Jennifer came outside, locked the door behind her and went straight into her room. She started packing her bags, collecting her stuff. Once she was done, she went outside her room, dragging her suitcase behind her. She didn't have much clothes or belongings, so she was ready to go within fifteen minutes.

"Isn't he going to see me off?" Jennifer asked James when she saw everyone but Adrian standing in the main room to bid farewell to her. "He is busy with something." James made a dumb excuse for Adrian's absence. Anybody could tell that he was in the room upstairs, crying his heart out because his voice could be heard till here. "Don't lie for him." Jennifer said making James look down in embarrassment.

Joseph came forward and engulfed Jennifer in a big hug. "I am going to bring you home. I promise." He whispered into her ear as he pulled away. Anna and Hannah also came near her and gave her a bracelet. "The day you met us, we were making these bracelets. It was supposed to be grey and black with a chip to monitor your location. It is for the missions but for you, we customized it." They said handing her a turquoise bracelet, that matched her shirt she was wearing today.

Jennifer whispered a small "Thank you!" before hugging them both at once. One by one, all the members came and bowed in front of Jennifer. Some close ones even hugged her. "You'll be our queen even when you're gone. You can trust us to come to your rescue anytime." Jennifer had lived in the den for only one and a half month, yet she felt like home there. It was so heartbreaking to leave it and go. Once the farewell was done, Jennifer started her journey towards the bus stand. She kept on stealing glancing behind her in hopes of seeing Adrian. Maybe waving at her. Maybe, calling her to stop but no one was there. She had broken up with Adrian within less than a month of dating and was returning home to her angry father.

A bus arrived. Jennifer sat in it to reach her home. The William Mansion. Nothing had changed. It was same as she left it. Jennifer's mind traced back to the day she left it. Angry at her father who had fixed some imaginary engagement of hers. Hesitantly, Jennifer took baby's steps to reach the door of the mansion and knocked. The butler opened the door and was shocked to see Jennifer standing. He immediately brought her inside and told one of the maids to carry her luggage.

Jennifer was back to being the princess. The rich girl everyone wanted but was too scared to reach out to. Adrian quietly wept as he saw Jennifer enter her home. Honestly, the cost he paid for her safety was too much. Adrian felt like he was losing his sanity. The minute she stepped out of the den, Adrian couldn't help but follow her. He kept a safe distance and watched her as she made her journey back home. Every time she turned back, Adrian could see the hope in her eyes, wishing that he would call her back but he couldn't. As much as Adrian wanted he couldn't call her back. For her safety, for her happiness, he had to let her go.

Adrian saw Jennifer enter her home and felt like he had nothing else to do in this world. Nothing to look forward to. Nothing happy. Nothing worth smiling or living for that matter. He didn't know if he should go back home. For the time Jennifer lived in the den, he also didn't return home. Not that his parents worried about that anyways. They were more than happy when they received the news that Adrian was going to stay at a friend's house for some time. He didn't even receive a single text asking when he would return home.

Probably, Crystal would be sad that his stay at his imaginary friend's house ended. "What should I do now?" Adrian's mind asked him. "I don't know." Adrian replied. As Jennifer entered her home she looked here and there to find her parents. To her surprise, no one was at home. "Where's dad? Mom?" she asked the maids around. Most of the maids just stayed quiet and didn't reply to her. "What's wrong? Where are my parents?" Jennifer asked again. This time her voice was louder, with a hint of worry.

"Actually…." The maid's voice trailed off, she looked her and there hoping to see anyone come to her rescue. No one did. Jennifer raised an eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest. "I am asking something. Where is my mom?" she said with an attitude. "Mistress is sick. She's in hospital. Master is with her." The maid told Jennifer. "What!!!" Jennifer was shocked.

"When you left home, mistress was under a lot of stress. She cried a lot and fell sick. Nine days ago, she fainted in the bedroom. We called the doctor and he said that she needed to be hospitalized to stabilize her condition." The butler explained. "Oh no." Jennifer couldn't say anything more. In her anger, she had forgotten all about her mother. How much her mother loved her and would do anything to be with her.

"Which hospital? Take me." Jennifer said as she took a few steps towards the door until she stopped when she heard what the butler had to say. "The master gave clear instructions that you are not supposed to go to the hospital. He said he didn't want you around his wife until he was done with you." The butler looked down unable to say anything more.

"What does he mean? His wife is my mother too. I'm going. Either you tell me the name of the hospital or I'm searching every hospital in town until I find them." Jennifer was really angry. If her father wanted to hurt her, that's okay. At least he should allow her to meet her mother who is sick because of her in the first place. Jennifer pulled out her phone and dialed her father's number. He picked up within a few seconds.

"Where's mom?" Jennifer went straight to point. She didn't have the right mind or the right time for pleasantries. "Oh. So you're home. Stay there till I get back." Her father said from the other side of line and ended the call without hearing her reply. Jennifer's mind racing through a million options of what could happen now. "Hello Adrian. I'm home and dad's coming back. Something might go wrong. I'm not sure but his way of talking suggested that. Just sending this to tell you that of I don't come to school tomorrow. Come home." Jennifer sent this voice message to Adrian the minute her phone call ended.

Adrian was her only safe option. But before long she heard a car in the driveway and then her phone began blowing off with messaged from all the den members and a call from Adrian. "Jennifer, what happened?" Adrian's voice was panicky. "Nothing. Not until now. But dad is in the driveway." Jennifer said. "Adrian, I'm scared. He seemed angry. Mom is sick because she took too much stress when I ran away and you know how he can get when mom is involved. He loves her above anything." Jennifer was also starting to feel scared.

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