Chapter 488 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“No. That won’t happen. Whatever you want to say to her, say it in front of me,” Jade said stubbornly as she dragged one of the seats beside the bed to the window.

Seeing that he didn’t have a choice, Jero lifted the oxygen mask again, “Thanks for agreeing to see me,” he told her slowly and replaced the mask.

“What do you want?” Candace asked impatiently.

“I wanted to see you one last time to say I’m sorry,” Jero said and took a deep breath.

“If that’s all you wanted to say, I will leave now,” Candace said, not interested in his apology.

“How is Jamal? Did you bring his photograph?” He asked before she could leave.

“He is fine,” Candace said coldly, and dug into her handbag for the picture of Jamal she had brought with her on Jade’s request.

“Although you don’t deserve this, but I will let you keep it,” Candace said as she dropped the picture on the bed.

Jero picked it up and looked at it for some time before staring at her, “Thanks. He has your stubborn gold curls,” Jero observed as he looked at the picture, and Jade who was listening to their conversation took a closer look at Candace and something seemed to click in her head.

“I was hoping you would visit me, but you never did. I left you a package with Bill,” he said and quickly replaced the mask when he started gasping for breath.

“What?” She asked with a frown.

“You will find out what it is when you see it. I was working on it before I was arrested. I was going to surprise you. I love you, Candace. I’m sorry I didn’t know the right way to expess it,” Jero said, and Candace’s frown deepened.

Of course she knew that he loved her, but this wasn’t the meeting she had been expecting. It seemed like something was wrong with him, “Is everything okay?” She asked hesitantly, and he smiled weakly.

“Don’t worry about me. Try to be happy. I want you to be happy. You can leave now,” Jero said to her before turning to Jade.

“Take her away.”

“Where can we find Bill?” Jade asked as she rose from her window side seat and approached the couple.

She didn’t know about Candace, but she was curious to know what Jero might have left her. Was it money? Documents to some secret property? Or maybe details of a trust fund account for Jamal?

“He will find you when everything is settled and deliver the package,” Jero managed weakly, and it seemed like the more he spoke the weaker he became.

“Don’t you think you should give us a clue as to what to expect in this package? What if Bill tampers with it?” Jade asked, wanting to bait Jero into telling them what it was.

“He can’t. Only her can access it,” Jero said, and Jade’s brows pulled together.

“And Andy? What about my sister? Is she safe with Cassidy?” Candace asked, and he nodded slowly as though he didn’t have the strength to speak again.

“Where is Cassidy headed with her?” Jade asked, and he shook his head before removing the oxygen mask again.

“I don’t know where. But I overheard something about a cargo ship,” Jero managed before replacing the mask and then he and closed his eyes to catch his breath.

“You mean they are traveling in a cargo ship?” Jade asked, and he nodded slowly without opening his eyes.

“He’s exhausted. We should let him rest,” Jade said to Candace who was watching Jero with a slight frown.

Jero opened his eyes one more time to look at Candace, “Don’t let them know I’m awake,” he said, looking at Jade.

“Why? Are you thinking of escaping from here?” Jade asked, and he smiled weakly.

“Whatever they’re giving me for pain makes me drowsy. I don’t want to sleep. I want to feel it,” Jero said before turning his face away.

“Let’s go,” Jade told Candace who was still looking at Jero with a frown. Seeing her reluctance to leave, Jade placed a hand over her shoulder and led her out of the room.

“What is wrong?” Jade asked when Candace abruptly stopped walking after they

“Something is wrong,” Candace said with a slight frown unable to shake off her worry, and Jade looked at her with a slightly raised brow.

“What makes you think so?” Jade asked curiously, and Candace shook her head.

“Jero would never let me go that easily…”

“Hold on a second, let me get something straight. You were worried that he was going to try to hurt you or something, and now that you have met him and he didn’t do any of that you’re worried about him?” Jade asked incredulously, and Candace shook her head.

“I know Jero. Something is wrong. Can we speak with the doctor?” Candace asked, ignoring Jade’s sarcasm.

“Candace…”

“Trust me, Jade. I know better than you how much I despise Jero. And I want nothing more than to see him die. But I can’t walk out of this place without knowing what is wrong with him. This is likely going to be the last time I see him, and I need to know what is wrong. He’s still Jamal’s dad,” Candace pleaded, and Jade frowned.

Jade shook her head incredulously, not understanding why Candace, who had been plotting to kill Jero suddenly seemed so concerned about him, “You forgot he was Jamal’s dad when you wanted to kill him?”

“I was going to kill him if I perceived him to be a threat not when he is being this way,” Candace insisted, and Jade sighed.

“Fine. Let’s go see the doctor,” she said as she led the way, and Candace followed her.

The doctor was busy attending to some other patients so they had to wait for a while before going in, and after Jade introduced herself and Candace to the doctor she gave Candace a nod to ask the doctor whatever questions she had.

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