"Zoey! Zoey?" Mia Perlman screamed her daughter's name multiple times but heard no replies. She didn't bother wasting her time calling Zoey's name again and decided to also go into her room.
Riley headed back down to the entrance while frowning. As no one was in the elevator with her, she bit her lower lip hard before she squeezed her eyes shut.
Soon the elevator arrived at the entrance, Riley opened her eyes slowly before strolling out the door.
Outside the apartment, She hailed a taxi while gritting her teeth as lines appeared in between her brows.
In the car, her eyes became teary and dull while she sniffled multiple times. The driver looked up in the rearview mirror with a smirk plastered on his face.
"Young miss, you know…. you're too young to cry over a man like that?" He looked up in the mirror again trying to see her expression, but Riley frowned and glared.
"Aya! Young miss don't misunderstand my words." He peered through the mirror and smiled slightly. "It's because I often have girls as customers. They cry a lot…. you know."
"Some of them even collapse or get drunk that I have to take them to the hospital."
"I really feel so sorry for them. Girls need care and attention, but they get the opposite, it's so sad."
While the driver was uttering these words, Riley felt disgusted as she raised her eyebrows with her face scrunched up.
"And with that by the way, why don't we stay in….."
"Then I guess you don't need your money." Riley cut off his words.
"Huh…. You... young miss? He peered through the mirror again, but he came across an expression that shut him up because Riley frowned and glared at him directly through the mirror.
"I… i'm sorry miss." He smiled sheepishly and apologized. She rolled her eyes and rest her back against the seat before crossing her arms under her chest while frowning.
The taxi pulled up in front of a large hospital building. Riley scanned the code to pay and opened the door.
"Young miss do have a lovely day." As the driver uttered these words while waving his hand, he regretted it at once because Riley rolled her eyes at him as she closed the door.
She walked through the entrance of the hospital in gentle steps, mindful of the patients around her. As her eyes lit up in a slight smile.
She pressed the button for fifth floor on the elevator. The elevator arrived at the floor few moments later and Riley strolled out gently. The fifth floor has a signboard hanging by the hallway indicating the psychiatric department.
"Riley? It's been a long time, so nice to see you again." Some of the nurses greeted her in chorus at the counter. They all looked up with smiles despite their busy faces.
"Yes, it's been a long time, I've been busy with my final project." She pouted and smiled after.
"Your mother made mention of that, she said you'll be graduating soon." The nurses added with smiles on their faces.
"She's graduating soon? How time flies, you used to be so little back then." The nurses laughed after one of them said in surprise. "Our girl is a grown up now." Immediately one of the nurses who looked like an adult among them uttered these words they all laughed and chuckled.
"We are rooting for you…. Always." They encouraged her with their words.
"Your mother is in her office; you can go on to see her." One of them confirmed.
"Thank you!" Riley's mouth curved into a smile as she bowed before leaving.
She's unlike other children who disliked the hospital smell and never liked to visit, she's different as she inhaled the scent while smiling. She strode to her mother's office down the hallway with smiles on her face. Even her dimples weren't invisible.
She knocked on the door twice before proceeding to enter the office. Only to see two women seated on a task chair chatting as laughter filled the room.
"Riley?" The women exclaimed in chorus as their eyes widened in surprise.
"Mom!" "Aunt Lucy!" She called them while running and smiling towards them as she hugged their necks. They were both seated facing each other, so it wasn't hard for Riley to hug them at the same time.
"I miss every scent from you mom. Same with you Aunt Lucy." Riley glancing and smiling at them.
"Riley, I've missed you too. We've been busy but I ask after you all the time." Mrs Lucy Gilbert replied with smiles.
"Riley, why didn't you give me a call, I was worried. I called multiple times but no response." Mrs Perlman asked with worry as her voice wasn't as cheerful as when her daughter came in. Her lips tightened while she massaged Riley's palm.
It's just now Riley remembered that she didn't check her phone for a long time now. She quickly whipped out the phone from her bag pack and gasped in shock seeing how many missed calls she has received after turning off the do not disturb mode.
"Mom, I'm so sorry, I forgot to turn off the DND mode after my presentation." Riley pleaded while rubbing her mother's arms as she blinked her eyes in a cute smile.
"More importantly, are you just coming back from your presentation? I thought you mentioned it wouldn't take much time." Her mother asked as her eyes narrowed.
"Actually… the thing is…" Riley hesitated while biting her lips as she glances between her mother and Mrs Gilbert. The women glanced at each other before facing Riley with their eyebrows raised.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Her mother dropped the cup of coffee she was drinking and sat up properly staring at her while her forehead creased.
"Riley? What happened?" Mrs Lucy Gilbert asked as she separated her crossed legs.
"Well…. I wasn't able to present my final project." Riley announced to them.
"What! Wh…. what happened?" The women stuttered at the same time as their eyes widened in shock.
"Is it because you didn't meet up on time? Did the professor say something about your design?" Mrs Perlman asked.
"No! No! it's none of that. The thing is my project file disappeared from the flash drive. And that's because Zoey drugged me to sleep and then deleted it from the drive." Riley frowned.
Mrs Perlman's eyes widened in shock as her daughter just announced the most disheartening news to her.
"Lilian, look, I told you those people were up to no good in the first place. Now our girl has to pay for it." Mrs Gilbert folded her arms with frown on her face. "If only you didn't accept them from the very beginning."
"Riley, I'm so sorry it's all my fault. Please don't blame them too much." Mrs Perlman pleaded with her daughter as tears filled her eyes.
"Mom, it's okay. It doesn't matter much because I was giving a chance to make up for the presentation." Riley smiled at both of them.
"What are you saying? Riley this is not just a small issue. What if you weren't given a chance? That automatically means you won't be graduating for the year." Mrs Gilbert uttered with a frown on her face.
"Your mother is just too soft for this world. This is not the first time they are doing this." Mrs Gilbert added. "You take care of them on behalf of your husband, and this is how they pay you?"
"Sometimes I really wish he's alive to see how bad they treat you and his daughter."
"Aunt Lucy, I'm really fine, I just have to do the program for two months that's all." Riley assured. "Besides, it's a good opportunity for me to be employed after I graduate. I just have to work very hard to be productive and recognized. I'm sure this chance is worth it."
"I'm always rooting for you. Please take care of yourself dear. I'm just…. really worried about you and your softhearted mother here." Mrs Gilbert rolled her eyes at her friend.
"What are you saying? I can take care of myself." Mrs. Perlman also rolled her eyes while replying to her friend.
"Wow! says someone who's been bullied at her own house." Mrs Gilbert scoffed.
"You…." Riley's mother flared up in a slight frown and sighed later.
Riley watching the both of them chuckled at their actions.
At that moment she realized her mother really has good friends who support and fight for her.
When the two friends noticed Riley was laughing at them, they smiled. Their worrisome feelings just wore off smoothly.
Riley's mother and Mrs Lucy Gilbert have been friends since high school days. They've always got each other's backs during tough times.
As the conversation went on between the two friends, Mrs Gilbert received an emergency alarm on her phone.
"Lilian, I have to go. A patient is seeking for my presence." Mrs. Gilbert stood up immediately and put on her coat.
"Oh, okay. Be careful. Don't forget what I told you to do for me." Mrs. Perlman reminded her.
"Alright, I'll call him tonight. See you later." Mrs Gilbert pecked Riley's cheek as she waved and strode off in a fast pace.