âYes.â Abel glanced at Emmeline, instinctively lowering his voice. âWhatâs going on?â
âLetâs talk somewhere else,â Benjamin urged. âNot within Emmaâs earshot.â
Abel swiftly closed the ward door, passed the visitation area, and walked down the corridor. It wasnât until they reached the lounge that Abel broke the silence. âBenjamin, whatâs the situation? Why all the secrecy?â
âWho is Zahn to you?â Benjamin asked directly.
Zahn? Abelâs mind went blank. âWhat happened to him?â
âHe was driving without a license, involved in a hitâandârun, causing severe injury.â Benjamin explained.
âWhat?â Abel was momentarily breathless. That jerkâ¦.
âAbout half a mile from the scene, Emmaâs Focus was found!â Benjamin revealed. The authorities.
recognized the car and alerted me. Thatâs why Iâm here now.â
âHow did this happen?â Abel asked, stunned. âI have the car keys to prevent Zahn from doing something stupid!
âThe keys were duplicated, not the originals.â
âWhereâs Zahn?â
âHeâs still missing, but the police have identified him.â
âWhatâs our next move?â
âZahn faces over three yearsâ detention, and the car owner will be legally liable and prosecuted, Benjamin informed.
Abel cursed inwardly.
âAbel, are you even listening?â Benjamin prodded.
âYes,â Abel replied. âZahnâs involvement in car theft isnât my concern. Letâs follow the proper procedures for the rest.
âBut if itâs not classified as theft, Emma could be held fully responsible as the car was lent to an unlicensed driver, Benjamin cautioned.
âWe canât alarm Emma,â Abel said firmly. âTâll take full responsibility. Tell the other party not to press.
charges.â
âZahn drove without a license and fled the scene, Benjamin stressed. âThe insurance wonât compensate. You can bold Zahn fully accountable!â
âThatâs not possible, Abel sighed. âHis parents will be furious.
âThis is a real mess, Benjamin acknowledged.
âIâll return today,â Abel decided. âInform the authorities and change all of Emmaâs contact numbers to mine. Donât ask her anything.
Iâve already done that, Benjamin assured. âHurry back, and weâll work out a solution.â
After ending the call, Abel slumped into a chair, lit a cigarette, and took a few deep pulls.
âWhatâs wrong?â Brandon asked, entering the room. âYou look troubled.â
Abel explained the situation to Brandon.
âWhatâs your plan?â Brandon asked, frowning, âIâll head back first,â Abel murmured. Iâm counting on you to look after Emma.â
âDonât worry about her, Brandon assured. âBut what about the main issue?â
âZahn deserves the consequences for his actions, Abel replied. âI donât want to get too involved. Let his parents handle his recklessness.â
âThat sounds simple, but dealing with such a person might get messy.â Brandon warned. âOnce his family gets involved, it could become a headache for you,â
âAs long as it doesnât affect Emma, Iâm not afraid of anything.â Abel asserted.
Abelâs phone rang again. It was a call from Landon.
âIâm aware, Abel said before Landon could speak. âIâll return today.â
Landon asked, âShould I inform Mr. Steiner-â
âDonât involve law enforcement,â Abel instructed. âZahn needs to learn a lesson.â
âUnderstood,â Landon acknowledged.
Back in the hospital room, Emmeline sat by the bedside, reading a book on acupuncture.
Abel gently touched her face and informed her, âI received a call from Benjamin. Something is going on at the company, and I have to go back.â
Emmeline wrote on his palm. Itâs Benjamin, not Landon!
He took out his phone and showed her. Luckily, he had earlier deleted Benjaminâs call history. She looked displeased and pouted.
The next day, after an elevenâhour drive, Abel returned to Altney at eleven oâclock at night. Inside Sylvan Mansion, he checked his phone, noticing over twenty missed calls, eleven of which were from Adam.
Abel furrowed his brow, considering whether to return the calls when Landon arrived.
âZahnâs parents are in town, staying at a hotel,â Landon informed.
Abel nodded and handed a cigarette to Landon, lighting one for himself.
âLetâs meet diem tomorrow. Itâs late, and Iâm exhausted,â Abel said. âAny news about Zahn?â