Chapter 6

• The concrete floor beneath my feet feels heavy, like I am the one bearing its weight. I wish for the distance to Oliver's apartment to triple. I look behind me after I have entered the building. Quinn is still watching me. He should have drove off but he is still here, watching me.
• I square my shoulders. No matter how badly I try to look okay. I can't fake it. My clothes are tattered, my skin has several bruises and dry blood. I breath out and walk towards the elevator. I stand for a while before it opens. I am conflicted, I decide to take the stairs. I am just not ready to face Oliver. I can picture the devastation that he will wear. He should never bear any of my sins.
• The trip doesn't last long as I desire it to be. I find myself knocking on Oliver's door. I expect him to be asleep. However am wrong when he opens the door. He is dressed up like he has been awake for hours. He takes in my appearance and gulps. His expression changes from shock to anger.
• "Jesus christ!" He exclaims. "What the hell happened?"
• I walk past him and get in. "Long and funny story." I sit on his couch.
• "There's nothing funny with how you look. It is Quinn isn't it?" He questions.
• I feel like am about to develop a migraine. Just wish he would stop with the questions.
• "No. I was caught up in mug situation." I lie. "Why are you up so early?" I try to change the topic.
• "That is not going to work with me. You show up at my apartment five in the morning all battered up and you tell me you got mugged and expect me to believe you. No dear sister, I know that SOB, Quinn, has a hand in all this."
• "He did not hit me." I say.
• "He might not have but I know he had a part in what happened. I am going to deal with him, I will teach him how to treat women. "He throws a fist in anger and starts to shove his laptop and books in his bag. "Is he still outside?" He asks picking his bag up.
• I shake my head.
• "Then I am driving to every corner of this city until I find him." He Unhooks his car keys and reaches for the door and opens it. And the realization of how serious he is hits me. I quickly stand up.
• "He knows our real identity." I say. That works and stops him.
• "How did he find out?" He asks.
• "Apparently he had us under surveillance and one of his guy saw you visit his our parents grave." I say.
• He shakes his head, "But that is not enough to draw conclusion that we are Coopers. Anyone can visit any grave." He says.
• "I don't know how but he is very sure we are Coopers." I say .
• "Does that have to do with anything that happened to you?" He asks.
• "No." I say. "Please don't complicate thing further by going after him." I beg him.
• "Why are you always quick to defend him. Are you in love with him?"
• I make a disgust face, "Hell no. Never." I clarify.
• Oliver exhales in relief, "Good. I have to go." He says.
• "Where are you going?" I ask in despair.
• "School, I have several projects to turn in." With that he leaves and I slump back into the couch.
• I decide to rest a little bit and shower later.
• *** *
• I step out of a cab at St. Teresa Memorial hospital. I hope Andre's mother is still here, I have no phone so I have no other way to reach him other than through his mother. They both assisted me in hiding my identity and I need their help again now that Quinn knows and I have no idea what he is planning to do.
• "I am here for Tiffany Wayne." I say at the girl on the front desk.
• "Are you family?" She asks.
• I nod, "Niece." I swiftly lie.
• She looks up at me, her eyes bare so much fatigue. She contemplates for a second.
• She finally speaks, "Second floor, room 104." She says.
• I nod a thank you and leave.
• When I walk into her room. I find her asleep. The TV is on. I take the remote and reduce the volume. I watch her sleeping. It is like she never ages. She was a nineties socialite. Growing up the whispers I heard around my parents social circle were that she was just a trophy wife, an empty barrel and a pretty flower. However, after the death of my mother I discovered she wasn't just a trophy wife, she is very smart and calculating like her son, Andre.
• "What are you doing here?" Andre walks in.
• "Andre?" I say surprised.
• "You have to leave before she wakes up." He grabs my arm try to pull me.
• "Why?" I ask. His mother adores me, I don't see why she won't be glad to see me.
• "Andre?" His mother stirs in her sleep before she wakes up. "What is going on?" She looks around the room before her eyes land on me. They widen in utter shock. It is like she has seen a ghost.
• " You... You..." She points at me.
• "It is me. Cara." I try to explain.
• She is still in pure shock. She starts to shake like someone who is having convulsions.
• "Leave." Andre says.
• I am totally confused. I don't understand what is going on. The last time we talked at the Gala she was happy to see me. What changed? Or maybe she doesn't want me to see her in her current state . She has always experienced mental breakdown that got her hospitalized from time to time but they seem to get worse with time.
• "I will be waiting outside." I say at Andre. He doesn't spare me a glance. Just as I'm about to walk out I hit something hard. I stumble back as strong arms hold me before I fall.
• I look up to find dark eyes looking down at me. I immediately step back embarrassed.
• "Mr. Wayne," I call his name. I have always found him scary.
• "Do I know you?" He asks.
• "She is leaving, Dad ." Andre says as he shoves me outside. He is a bit rough and I don't understand why.
• Mr. Wayne gives me a final look before walking to his wife. I have met him less than five times in my life. He did not have any association with my family other than his wife being a close friend to my mother and that's how I met Andre. He rarely socializes with people. He barely attends most of the events the rich go to. He is rumored to be a serial womanizer. With several mistresses scattered all over the country and maybe the world.
• Andre draws the curtain when he sees me staring through the window. I don't understand what is going on. The last I checked we were in good terms. I am about to leave when Andre walks out.
• "Can you explain to me what is going on?" I ask .
• He ignores me and hands me his phone, "Oliver wants to speak to you."
• I am relentless to take it, I want an explanation from Andre but I am also curious to know why Oliver needs to talk to me.
• I the phone and answer. "What?" I shout after he grabs. "I am on my way." I say.
• "What is wrong?" Andre asks worried.
• "Apparently, Oliver fought with Quinn and vandalized his Lambo. He is at the Dean's office, they might suspend him." I speak as I start to walk.
• " I am coming with you." Andre says and follows me.
• "Great, you can tell me on our way what is going on with your mother."