FORBIDDEN TO FALL IN LOVE

62. Endeavours

Valeda feels guilty for Celine for getting her involved in this. After speaking with Celine yesterday, Valeda was even more horrified by everything that happened. But, he had no other choice. He can't finish this alone. Valeda needs Celine who is smart and has a lot of friends to help.

"Then, what's my next move?" valeda whispered to himself. He sat up straight in his office chair while linking his thin fingers. He tried to think of ways to protect Daniel and his younger siblings. Valeda knows, this can't possibly end here.

"Is all this happening because of me? Daniel's stuck in this state, because of me?"

BRACKET!

Valeda's office door suddenly slammed open violently, leaving Valeda stunned from her seat. Celine appeared after. Celine's face looks pale.

Valeda got up straight from his seat. "What's wrong?" ask Valeda. She felt the news that Celine was about to say, was not good news.

Celine hurriedly closed the door behind her and walked quickly towards Valeda. Valeda became convinced that Celine would say a bad thing, after seeing Celine's face up close.

"Why, Cel?" ask Valeda again.

Celine bit her lower lip. Hands shaking. Sweat spots filled his forehead. "Val, um..." Celine did not answer.

"Say what's up!" bentak Valeda.

"Daniel..."

"What's? What happened to Daniel?" sambar Valeda's.

Celine held her breath. "She was attacked by a group of people" Celine whispered, as if the lines were unwilling to come out of her mouth.

"How attacked?" Valeda demanded a further explanation. He thought of the worst answer, but still hoped that was not what Celine meant.

Celine put her phone in Valeda's hand. Valeda can feel how cold Celine's hands are when they touch her skin. "Look at this," said Celine.

Valeda lowered her head, looking at the screen of Celine's cell phone. Daniel is in it. CCTV cameras clearly captured the figure of him walking towards his orphanage. To that extent, nothing strange. Daniel arrives at the gate of his orphanage safely. He opened the gate and nothing happened.

Valeda was about to ask Celine again, when suddenly her eyes caught something shocking.

A brick floated past Daniel's head. Daniel flinched and took a step back. Not yet Daniel looked back, the other bricks floated back. This time, the brick hit Daniel's right head. Daniel rolled forward and immediately collapsed on the ground. He's holding his head. Blood seeped from Daniel's fingers. Not getting there. Some people came over and kicked Daniel blindly. One of them took out a penknife, and thrust it once into Daniel's back.

Valeda smothered his mouth with his free hand. His feet were shaking. "Daniel!" valeda's voice sounded bitter.

"I've already sent some people there as soon as I saw this incident," Celine replied. He glanced at his watch. "I think Daniel is on his way to the hospital."

Valeda put Celine's phone back in her hand. "Send this CCTV footage to my email!" valeda's orders. He immediately grabbed his bag and walked quickly towards the bottom floor. Celine, who knew where Valeda was going, immediately followed him without asking much. He was busy with a cell phone in his hand, asking Kris to get ready with Valeda's car immediately.

As soon as he got to the bottom floor, Kris was already waiting for Valeda's arrival. Kris opened the back door of the car. "Please, Miss," Kris said as Valeda was nearing her sight.

Valeda did not answer, but went straight into the car. Celine came in from the other back door. Valeda's car is speeding up this time. Kris knows that Valeda doesn't want to waste time on the road. From the rearview mirror, Kris can see Valeda moving restlessly in the back seat.

"I have to make sure of it with my own eyes" Valeda replied coldly. He himself was shocked by his tone of voice like that. But, he can't lie. His heart was indeed troubled because of the incident he saw on the CCTV footage.

Valeda reached into his bag and pulled out a cellphone that had not budged. He opened an email from Celine, then went back to watching the tape. "Cel, do you feel like something's weird?"

Celine glanced at Valeda's phone. "About what?" he asked back.

"Look!" Valeda let Celine see the tape more clearly. "Isn't this the same person?"

Celine's forehead is wrinkled. "The same person as whom?" ask Celine again. He really doesn't understand what Valeda means.

"People are in jail!" valeda was impatient. "Look!"

Celine watched the direction that Valeda was pointing. "But, in the prison footage, their faces are not clear. Now, we can only see a glimpse. Are you sure?"

Valeda nodded quickly. "You don't focus on their faces! Look, look!" Valeda replayed the recording to the third minute, when someone thrust a knife into Daniel's back. Valeda pressed the pause button and pointed at the offender's hand. "That's it, right there!"

Celine squinted her eyes. "What's in there?" Celine still didn't catch Valeda's point.

"Good, Cel! Don't you see?" valeda Protest. "That guy only has four fingers!"

Celine brought her face closer to the screen. "What?" Celine focused her eyes. In the third second, he realized what Valeda said. "Why didn't I realize something this important?" hiss Celine.

"What are you talking about?" ask Chris from the front. "What footage? Who has four fingers?"

Valeda and Celine exchanged glances. "It's nothing" Valeda replied quickly, before Celine opened their cards. "Focus driving!"

Kris sighed hearing his employer's answer. This was not the first time that Valeda and Celine had hidden something from him. Kris can indeed be said to be close to Valeda, however, he is aware of the limits he must not cross. Keeping Valeda's privacy is one of Kris' priorities.

Valeda returned to Celine who was silent in her seat. "Investigate!" whispered Valeda.

Celine nodded in understanding. Although it would not be easy to find a person with four fingers on his right hand, Celine had to keep trying. At least, there is a bright spot in this incident.

Valeda sat up straight again. His hands were folded in front of his chest. His expression looked serious. He was determined to find that person, however he could. Then, he would ask what was the motive of his actions that made Daniel this way.

Valeda's heart was sliced every time he saw Daniel glum. His chest hurt and he wanted to hug Daniel. But, this matter could only be reserved in his heart, because of the contract he had made himself.

***

Thank you to those readers who are still waiting for updates.

Sorry, it's a little late. I am in a less than perfect condition.