Before Lena and Moody could reach for the door knob, Bena burst out of the room, panting.
"Sis! Come quick! Dad wants to tell you something important!"
Lena's brows furrowed.
"Important? What happened?"
"I don't know," Bena said, grabbing her hand. "He said it can't wait."
She turned back to Moody.
"Stay here. Don't disappear again." Since its emergency, I wouldn't want you to hear something things my dad wants to tell me.
' But I thought you said that he wanted to...'
'Moody! I know he said he wanted to talk to you, but this doesn't seem right. Please! hear me out and don't do anything messy. I won't take it easy.
Moody didn't reply, but his eyes softened slightly, his mind wondering what could be the reason for Mr Luke to call her in such a manner.
-----
Inside the Hospital Room
Mr. Luke sat upright this time, looking more serious than before.
Sela stood beside him, twisting her fingers anxiously.
"Lee," Mr. Luke began softly, "there's something I need to tell you. Something I should've said a long time ago."
Lena approached slowly.
"Dad… you can tell me anything."
He hesitated, struggling to find strength.
"This illness," he whispered, "is not… ordinary."
"What do you mean?" Lena asked, alertness sharpening her voice.
Mr. Luke took a slow breath.
"I didn't disappear because I wanted to. I left because I needed to protect you three from someone."
"Protect us?" Sela echoed. "From who?"
He closed his eyes, as though the name itself hurt him.
"Your mother."
The room froze.
Lena's heart dropped.
"Dad… what are you talking about?"
Mr. Luke opened his trembling hand, revealing a small folded paper.
"I found this in her things—before she kicked me out."
Bena stepped closer, gulping.
"Dad… Mom isn't a bad person. She just—"
"She has been hiding things from all of you," Mr. Luke whispered. "Things you deserve to know."
Lena took the paper and slowly unfolded it.
Her eyes widened.
"What… what is this?" she breathed.
A cold shiver crawled up her spine.
Sela peeked over her shoulder.
"Lee… is that… Mom's signature?"
Lena nodded, unable to speak.
It was a document.
A signed agreement.
A name.
A date.
A payment.
And one chilling line:
"Custody arrangement—transfer of all children to third party."
"What the hell…" Lena whispered, her hands shaking. "Dad… what does this mean? Who is this person? Why would she—?"
"She planned to give you away," Mr. Luke said, voice cracking. "All three of you."
Sela stumbled backward, tears instantly forming.
"No… Dad, no. Mom wouldn't—she couldn't—"
"She could," he said sadly. "And she almost did. That's why I left. I had to stop it."
The room filled with silence—hot, heavy, suffocating.
Lena stared at the paper, rage and heartbreak swirling inside her.
"Dad," she whispered, "why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"Because I hoped she would change," he replied. "But yesterday… I got a call. A call from someone that is helping me to solve this matter. She told me that your Mom won't stop. She knows I'm back and now she wants to take the matter to the court. Her lawyer informed me that once I have recovered, i need to represent myself before court."
Lena's heart stopped.
"She said Sela and Bena are the most important ones. If you want you can join them and if you don't, you can find yourself somewhere else."
Tears streamed down from Lena's eyes her left hand already clenched into a fist.
---
Outside the Room
Moody paced back and forth in the hallway, running a hand through his hair.
His thoughts kept replaying Brine's harsh words.
"They miss you… but not me."
He groaned.
"Damn it… Brine always knows how to punch someone without touching them."
As he leaned against the wall, his phone vibrated.
A message.
He read it—and stiffened.
Mom: "Moody… your brother told me he saw you. Please come home. Meenu hasn't slept since she heard you were nearby."
"Please. Even just once."
His chest tightened painfully.
He closed his eyes, whispering,
"Why now? Why all at once?"
Then he heard footsteps.
Lena walked out, pale and shaken.
Moody stood straight immediately.
"Lee? What happened?"
She didn't answer.
She simply walked toward him, slowly, quietly—until she stood right in front of him.
Her eyes glistened.
"Moody," she whispered, "can… can you stay with me? Just for today?"
His breath caught.
"Of course," he said softly. "What's wrong?"
She looked away, swallowing hard.
"My whole world," she whispered, "just fell apart."
Moody placed his hand gently on her shoulder.
"I'm not going anywhere."