“I should have gone after them when I didn’t hear anything from them,” Francisca cried. Julian held her hand and kissed them.
They were sitting in the waiting area of the hospital.
“No one is to blame for this, dear; accidents are bound to happen.” He tried to console her.
“I’m just…” She turned to face him, “Isn’t this bad luck? Hours after they tied the knot, they get into an accident. Oh LORD,” her voice shook, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Baby, just calm down; the doctor already said they would be fine, just stop worrying, okay?” Julian rubbed her back as she lay her head on his shoulder.
“How? What could have caused it?” Julian frozen when she asked. Then he remembered his encounter with the Reliso family and Darken’s strange words about an accident.
Julian hissed and stopped his foot on the floor.
Patricia raised her head to look at him. “What happened?” Julian didn’t answer, but she saw an angry look on his face. The side of his head showed he was clenching his teeth to cage his anger.
“That son of a—arggh,” Julian grunted.
“What’s going on, Julian? Do you know something about this?”
“Darken and his parents are responsible for this.” He turned his face to look at his wife. 
Francisca frowned at her husband’s accusations. “What do you mean they are responsible for this?”
“It's them,” his voice filled with conviction. “Back at the house, I saw them whispering about something, but they stopped when they saw me approaching, and then Darken mentioned something about a failed break. It has to be them,” he accused.
“We can’t be certain they had something to do wi-”
“Where’s my baby?” Flora rushed in with Gary running behind her. “Where are they?” She stood in front of the couple. “Are they fine?” her voice above a whisper.
Her eyes were puffy from the tears she shed on their way to the hospital. Her head was wrapped in a scarf, and she wore a robe over her nightdress.
“The doctor said they would be fine.” Julian stood to his feet and shook Gary in acknowledgement. “Joan will be fine, just a bit of concussion, but Santiago is seriously injured, but nothing that couldn’t be handled,” he explained to them.
Flora breathed out a sigh of relief and hugged her husband, who caressed her back and arm.
“Thank you so much, Julian. Flora has been distraught since the news about their accident.” 
“Francisca here isn’t feeling good about it,” he points to his wife. “I am just glad it’s nothing too serious,” he breathes out.
“Thank you; can we see them?” he requested.
“Sure, but I need you to know this." Julian looked serious now. “Darken and his family are responsible for this,” he said when he got their attention.
Francisca jumped up on her feet, her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Don’t go about laying accusations you aren’t certain about,” she warned with narrowed eyes.
“I am certain about this. They took a grudge against us when we acquired their company,” he defended.
“Wait, what do you mean they are responsible for this?” Flora cuts in.
Julian faced her and sighed. “Darken mentioned something about their accident even before we got the new.”
“Doesn’t mean they are responsible for it,” Francisca defends.
“Those bastards,” Gray grunted with clenched teeth.
Julian narrowed his eyes at his wife. “Are you defending them?”
Francisca’s eyes blazed with anger, and her nose flared. “I am not defending anyone. I don’t want us pointing fingers till we get to the root of the matter.”
“We already got there,” he raised his voice.
Francisca glared intently at him. “I know you so well, Julian, and you can be irrational at times,” she accused.
“Irrational? Those rascals caused the accidents of our children, and I am being IRRATIONAL?!” his yelled.
“Please, stop yelling or we will have you all out of this place,” a nurse warned as she passed by the tensed parents.
Flora and Francisca apologized, and she rolled her eyes and then walked inside a room.
“Look, we all know Darken sometimes acts like he got some loose screws up there,” she points at her head. “But taking that foolish boy seriously isn’t worth it.”
“Doesn’t mean they can’t do that?” Flora spoke after a while. All eyes were on her, and she took deep breaths in “I know we shouldn’t point fingers till we are sure, but we can’t underestimate anyone. He has always wanted Joan for himself, and his biggest competitor married her; it will be so much for him to handle,” she sighed. 
“I know we have our doubts and currently disagree with some things, but our children need us now. We should be there for them. We will investigate this issue, but let us be there for them. They need us,” she said.
Gary’s hand wrapped around his wife, and he guided her to the chair so they could sit. 
“You are right.” Julian sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. “I will get to the bottom of this,” he said, facing his wife, then walked in the direction Gary and Flora came in earlier.
Francisca sighed and sat beside Joan’s parents.
…
“Is it done?” the woman in hooded clothing asked the dark-haired man. He nods in response, and she brought out an envelope, which she handed to him. “Weldone, give me updates about how things are going, okay?” she instructed.
"Sure, ma'am,” he nods, then turns to leave. He stopped himself and turned around to face her. “Why are you doing this? I know it’s not my business, but... why?”
“We will know soon,” she smiled. “Leave now, I need to get out of this outfit,” she told him, and he turned around and walked away from her.
She let out a sigh then turned to her right, in the direction of the parking lot.
“Stacy, how are you?” She jumped upon hearing the voice of a lady behind her.
Stacy turned to see Sara Ramona standing behind her with a questioning look on her face.
She recovered from her shock and smiled. “Oh, hi Sara. How are you?”
“What were you doing with that guy?” she ignored Stacy's welfare question.
Stacy’s brows furrowed, her eyes wide at alert, and her lips parted slightly. She looked away from Sara to compose herself and clear her throat.
“What guy?” She tried to plat it off cool and smiled so she didn’t notice her uneasiness.
Sara chuckled and walked closer to her. If it was you who did that, I will kill you myself,” she whispered the last part in her ear, then turned and walked away from her.
“Oh my GOD, she knows” Stacy shook.