His mood turned capricious. He was determined to get even with Ella first, then reward her for Jane.
"Samuel... Do you know that Catherine had died?" Chuck was worried. He gave Catherine first aid treatment the moment she was sent to his hospital. But her body had become cold. Even though he was a good doctor, there was no way for him to save her.
Keeping silent for a while, Samuel replied, "Yes. Put her in the ICU. I will handle everything as soon as possible."
"Ok. Call me whenever necessary. Although I don't have many resources in your field, I might be useful in some other areas." Finishing the last step, Chuck removed his surgical mask and sat beside Samuel.
Giving Chuck a friendly pat, Samuel said, "Thank you, bro. You've completely healed me. No more gaping hole. Please don't tell Ella, by the way. She'll only get uneasy. You know how she gets, an anxious mess of a woman!"
"Right." Chuck blinked. "Got it."
Samuel checked his emails on his phone because he was a busy city lawyer who never lulled or gave up on a case; if he wasn't so busy, Chuck would've asked him to hang out with him around the hospital, because Chuck was a truly lonely man. No-one ever hung out with Chuck.
Samuel demanded Chuck tell him what date to come back to change his dressing. When Chuck told him, Samuel said, "Great thanks," and left, not having looked up from his phone. Chuck sniffed to dispel his melancholy, and faced his cold computer screen again. Work was Chuck's only companion.
At eight o'clock, Samuel, Ella and Jame arrived back at their old home.
Samuel strode in and shot into his study, burying himself in work, while Ella was comforted by family members. She cried in the arms of Melody. "Grandma, I murdered someone..."
She was afraid of the moral implications, but strangely did not regret the killing.
"Oh, that's okay," said Melody stroking Ella's hair. This stuff happens. We'll help you out if you go to court."
Wiping away her tears, Ella replied through clenched teeth, "I'm fine. If I could do it all over again, I would still kill Catherine."
"I understand." Catherine deserved to die. She would have killed Ella if not.
"If I go to prison, please take care of the two kids, grandma..." Ella chocked with sobs.
Melody cried as well. She noticed that Viola felt the same. So she tapped Viola to take the two kids upstairs.
Vincent sighed, "Maybe Catherine's still alive?
But if she is dead, then the Shao Clan will surely make sure you're safe."
Samuel came downstairs shouting expletives into his Bluetooth earpiece.
Pulling Ella out of Melody's arms, completely oblivious to the last day of events, Samuel asked, "What's the matter with you?"
"I know we just saw her mutilated corpse, and I rode with you in the car all the way here, but I forgot to ask, did you hear what Catherine's condition is now?" asked Ella eagerly.
Samuel looked at her like she was stupid. "No Ella. She couldn't be further from alive. She's in the ICU, and she'll die there. I mean, come on."
Even if on the million-to-one chance that someone found out about Catherine's murder, and exploited that one death at the dismissal of literally hundreds of others, Samuel was confident he could help Ella win the case.
Catherine could hardly survive, Ella reasoned. After all, she was shot ten times.
"If something happens, don't offer help. I can handle it by myself, Samuel." Troubles would always be present, she reasoned. But they would never disallow her from doing what she desired.
"Stop worrying about it. Everything will be ok. Go upstairs, take a bath and have a sleep."
Saying goodbye to Vincent and Melody, Samuel walked back to the bedroom with Ella.
Noticing Ella was absent-minded, Samuel staved off torturing her for not revealing the truth. Samuel knew the truth now, but he didn't before, so Ella deserved to be punished.
On the second day of the new year, Samuel stayed in his study for the whole day dialing phone numbers, finessing the game, and making deals, trying to sort out the whole Catherine thing.
On the next day, a news reel was released that showed that Catherine had been apprehended for abduction, murder, and smuggling.
On the fourth day, Samuel invited several leaders who were relevant to the case to have dinner.
The day after that, news came out that Catherine was sentenced to death by execution.
The public was surprised that Catherine was sentenced in such a short period of time. They wondered whether she had offended someone important.
On the sixth day, Samuel canceled all his other cases to manage the aftermath.
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