On Our First Attempt

Chapter Seventeen

Valeria didn't realize when her phone fell off her hands in shock. At first she didn't know what to believe, so she went closer to Dr Hawkins and tried to get a better explanation from him.

"It's not true right? Kyle is fine right? He's in his penthouse sleeping now right?" She asked worriedly and Dr Hawkins just nodded while trying to lay the kids properly on the couch before standing up.

"But what are this people saying right now? I don't understand anything." Valeria said.

Dr Hawkins stood up and walked closer to her, trying to explain in a simpler language.

"You see dear. Kyle is fine, Kyle is very fine, if not I won't be here." Dr Hawkins said.

"Yes yes that's true, I need to go back and check how he's doing." Valeria said and was about to go out of the house when Dr Hawkins held her hands and brought her to a seat.

"Look Val, Kyle's in the hospital right now because he got into a minor accident after being drunk." He said.

"Oh no! It all my fault. I should have stopped when Carl said so but now look what I've caused." She said, crying.

"It's no one's fault Val, and like I said before this is not part of healing. Do you want to go back to the hospital again? Away from your husband and children?" He asked.

"No no, I don't want that, I don't wanna go back there." Valeria said.

"If you don't want to go back there then listen to me and stop blaming yourself for everything. Kyle will be fine in a few days and Carlos is making sure of that." He said, trying to calm her down.

"Ok sir, I believe you sir. So I want to see him." She said getting herself ready to leave.

"You don't seem like you believe me at all, because if you do, you would wait till tomorrow." He said.

"It's not like I don't believe you doc. It's just that I want to..........you know........... confirm his well being myself." Valeria stuttered from fear.

"You're not even stable now so how are you going to take care of him in this condition? Just do us a favor and rest at home today. Take your kids to their room and help them sleep comfortably then go to your room, take a cool bath and sleep, and most importantly stay away from the internet, then tomorrow I will personally take you to where he is." Dr Hawkins said and after several minutes of persuasion, she finally agreed and did exactly as she was told but the two things she couldn't do as told was stay away from the internet and sleep.

At first she tried, but when she realized it wasn't possible, she brought out her phone and began going through posts about his kid brother. She tried looking for pictures of his accident but it seemed that all related posts have been taken done for privacy reasons. She cried herself to sleep that night to the extent that she couldn't even wake up on time the next day and her boys had to do that. She had to pretend to be good for her boys as she hurriedly dressed herself and them up while they await Dr Hawkins's arrival.

She was surprised to see Dr Hawkins coming with Logan and Ariana the next day.

"You ain't even strong enough so why are you here?" Valeria asked Ariana worriedly.

"I might not be fine but one thing I know for sure is the fact that am hundred percent better than you are right now. I heard what happened to your brother and am here to take the kids with me to my place while you go visit him.

As said, Ariana and Logan left with the kids while Dr Hawkins and Valeria left for All Well Hospital.

SUN CITY, SUMMERLIN NORTH

Ariana and Logan brought the kids back home and in no time Dylan and the twin were already playing as they seemed to love alot of things in common. Ariana made sure to take care of the kids while Logan also helped her in anyway he could, just so she won't stress herself.

A sharp knife slitted Ana's nails lightly as she was trying to cut some fresh pepper to add in the lamb shank she was preparing. Logan quickly got the first aid kit and applied some bandages to it right after applying an ointment.

"Just stay in the living room while I make the rest. You never looked settled since you heard the news." Logan said but Ariana refused to leave.

"What do you mean Logo? Am fine, am totally fine, it's nor.....mal to......get cuts while........cooking." She stuttered.

"Is it because of her brother? Are you worried something bad might happen to him?" Logan asked in a subtle manner.

"What are you talking about? Why would I be worried about whatever the f**k happens to him? Am only worried for Valeria because I know she'd be very sad about the news." She fired at him.

"Now you're really getting me suspicious because if you were really worried about Valeria then you'd be worried about whatever the f**k happens to her younger brother." Logan mimicked.

Ariana got very angry for being caught over her cheap lies that she hit her knife hard on the table.

"Can't you just shut up big brother." Ariana mocked.

"Well you have to tell me if there's anything because I heard he was your boss and also the cause of your accident and am not planning to let that slide." Logan said, scaring Ana.

"Val told you that? Oh God! Look K.......oh shoot.......I mean Logan. You didn't know how things happened here so stay away from them and don't cause trouble, he's already paying for his crimes now." Ariana said.

Logan chuckled devilishly. "You must be so close with your boss to call him by his name. Why don't you tell me how things happened here so that I may know?" Logan asked.

"There's nothing for you to know Logan, as soon as am fully recovered according to Val, you're leaving." Ariana said.

"Do you think I will do that? You must want Dylan gone too." Logan said.

"Please don't bring Dylan into this. I'm going to talk with Hector and Val's gonna help me talk with Mom and Dad to let Dylan always spend sometime with me and when I'm finally settl......ed, he's gonna......live with me." Ariana said, not trusting her own words.

"And you believe that? When are you even going to get settled? I personally anticipate that day." Logan mocked, infuriating Ariana further.

She got angry and left the kitchen for him to do the cooking if he was going to continue pestering her but Logan forced her back but promised to be quite.

"Do you know how much I missed you when you left? There was no one to banter words with me anymore. It was very lonely." Logan said, this time more seriously.

"I'm sorry. I missed you guys alot too." Ariana replied in a calm and sorrowful tone.

"It's okay now. We're back together and this time around you're wiser." Logan complimented, patting Ana's head. While she just blushed away to the compliment.

ALL WELL HOSPITAL.

Valeria arrived at the hospital all tensed and worried but then, she needed to keep her calm if she really wanted to see her brother, as per Dr Hawkins's threat. Immediately she entered into Kyle's room and saw him laying on the bed with Carlos arranging his clothes, she dropped her bag to the floor and rushed over to kneel before his bed. "What is he doing here like this?" She asked, not expecting any answers back. Carlos walked to her and helped her stand before hugging her tightly to calm her down.

"Kyle's totally fine, he doesn't have much bodily injuries the doctor said he's just sleeping, trying to recover just the few blood he lost." Carlos said trying to comfort his wife.

"I knew you were hiding something from me when I called yesterday but I never thought of this, why didn't you tell me? I was there having a great time while my brother is laying helplessly here, now I feel responsible for his predicaments." Valeria said, crying.

"What were you going to do about it except crying and getting yourself worked up. Kyle is fine and he will wake up soon enough so quit all this crying and get a grip of yourself." Carlos scolded nicely as he brought her to a seat. They both stayed in the hospital until late before Carlos finally suggested that Valeria should go home while he stayed with Kyle. Though Valeria refuted for sometime, Carlos was able to persuade her to go. They were still discussing when Lucas came into the room.

"You both should leave for today, the guys will take turns in staying with him till he is discharged." He said. At first Val and Carl disagreed but after much persuasion and Dr Hawkins intervention, they finally agreed to go home together, but promised to come back as early as possible to takeover from him while Lucas stayed with Kyle at the hospital.

Carlos and Valeria made sure to drive to Ariana's place to get their children before going back home that night.

Very early the next day, Valeria came to the hospital after preparing breakfast for her husband and kids who were still sleeping and was surprised to meet Ariana standing by the door to Kyle's room. She silently walked up to her without her been aware. "If you're here to see him, why don't you just go inside?" Valeria asked in a whisper.

Ariana was surprised as she didn't know someone would already be here as she expected everyone to still be sleeping, but then she realized Valeria can't possibly sleep when her dearest and only younger brother is laying there, so she had to act unmoved by her question.

"Am okay here." She replied.

Valeria stood side by side Ariana in front of the door as they watched Kyle through the transparent glass door.

"Look Ana, I know my brother wronged you and am deeply sorr............." Valeria was trying to apologise in Kyle's stead when Ariana interrupted.

"You didn't do anything Valeria, so stop apologizing on his behalf. If he's really sorry for what he did then he wouldn't be laying there just like that, rather he'd come here and apologize to me himself." She said,tearing up. Valeria was also moved to tears too but they had to stop when Ariana noticed Lucas waking up. She tapped Val on the shoulder and gestured her she would be living to which Valeria just nodded and then went into her brother's room to check up on him.

Lucas was who just woke up, greeted Valeria and took his leave to give Valeria a chance to stay and talk with her brother.

"When are you going to stand up K? The doctors kept saying it's a minor injury but you're still like this, it's been four days already." Valeria said worriedly.

"Kyle! you also can't leave me here in this world. I know I was wrong but you were wrong first but then I still never wanted to see you like this, not been able to talk, eat, move or even argue with me." She added, tearing up as she held tight to his hands and her head relaxing on his palm.

"Look K, Ariana is alive and healthy and I was going to tell you when I come back from Puerto Rico but I couldn't because you are like this. Now you know she's alive so just stand up already............." She was still talking when she felt a slight movement. She raised her head up and saw Kyle conscious and trying to sit up.

"You shouldn't try so hard, just lay down and rest." Valeria said agitatedly.

"Is she really still alive? Are you tryna say am not a murderer?" Kyle asked curiously.

"Yes she's alive and doing well though still receiving treatments. Are you alright? Does your head or any other part of your body hurts?" She asked worriedly.

"You needn't get worked up anymore. Am fine now, totally fine but just really hungry." He said, smiling faintly. Valeria quickly unpacked the food she'd packed for him, arranged them on a plate and started feeding it to him.

"Have you been faking your being unconscious just to hear me say that she's still alive?" Valeria asked but Kyle was too hungry to give an answer so he just smiled to the question. It's been long he last had a chance to be this close to his sister since Ariana showed up in their lives and he wouldn't loose this chance for anything in the world. He waited until he finished his food before engaging Valeria in a conversation.

"Big sis." He called Val who was busy disposing the leftover food.

"What now! You only act this way when you want to beg." She said smiling, as if recalling old memories.

"Are we.....uhmmm......are we cool now?" He asked, stuttering.

Valeria stopped what she was doing and came back to her seat which was just beside Kyle.

"Not everyone is like that woman K, not everyone is as cruel as our mom. And Ariana, she far from being like her. She never abandoned her boy like mom did. She was only scared of been a bad mother to her adorable son that was why she left, though she still talked to him from time to time. She came to us because she wanted to go back home, because her boy threatened he'd never speak with her on phone if he doesn't see her physically and then she got scared and wanted to go home even though she was broken and stranded. She even worked as a house help and endured all your insults because she wanted to make enough money to go see her boy." Valeria paused to prevent the tears that were threatening to fall down her eyes.

"She changed you K, she helped you heal and made you do things you I'd have sworn you wouldn't do for anyone else except family. But what did you repay her with?" Valeria asked, finally tearing up.

"I'm.......I'm sorry sis. I didn't know anything. My anger took the better part of me and thinking about that woman made things worse." Kyle said also tearing up.

"It's fine. It's totally fine because it's all in the past now and most importantly, we're cool afterall you already got punished both physically and emotionally, and since you now know she's alive, everything is good even though you didn't find her as I said, which makes you totally incompetent when left alone." Valeria mocked, cleaning up her tears with her palms and also helping Kyle clean his.

"But I found her. I mean I found out you had her, I saw a person carry her from the road after the accident. I went to the twin's school to talk to you or Carl but someone else came to pick up them up, the same person whom I saw carrying Ariana after the accident. Then I came to your house very early in the morning but you traveled. I also saw the person who hitted her." Kyle explained.

"You mean you actually saw the person who caused Ana's accident?" She asked.

"Yes! I watched it." He replied.

"There were no CCTV's in that area, so how's that possible?" Valeria asked.

"I found an old car parked close by and I got the dashcam from the owner after paying a few bucks." He explained.

"Wow that's great. Did you find out who did this to her?" Valeria.

"Still working on it, though it was Cole White's car, he claimed his......younger brother.......drove it on the day of the accident." Kyle stuttered due to extreme anger as he talked about Cole and his younger brother.

"Conor White! H......ow co....uld he do...such a thing......he should have called for help if he was scared not run away." Valeria said. In her voice one could trace sorrow and anger but also pity as she talked about the teenager. "Where's he now?" She asked.

"Cole said to give him time to bring him to custody." Kyle said.

"Come to think of it, You believed him just like that? It's so totally unlike you." Valeria said mockingly.

"You said she changed me." Kyle said, covering himself with his blanket and turning to face the other side of the room.

Valeria was surprised by Kyle's response. Though she knew she actually made that statement buth then something still feels off. "Why do I feel this kid is lying to me?" She muttered to herself.

CANYON ESTATE, SUMMERLIN NORTH

Cole was exhausted as he came back from work that he decided to rest in his living room before going in to his room. He picked the TV remote and switched it on only to find the news talking about Kyle Kings again.

"When he f**k are they going to stop this stupid charade. He's even becoming more popular with his accident." He said smashing his remote hard on the ground. That was when he remembered he needed to find Conor on time so as to find out what really happened and he's indeed guilty, look for possible ways to lessen his punishment or even prevent him from being punished. For days he searched and also sent people to search for his brother but none could find him. Looking for Conor itself is exhausting but he didn't give up, he just rested and Kyle still didn't fail to remind him of his search even in his rest as he was being paraded on the news and his mother had also been breathing down his neck from wanting to speak to Conor but he had to keep on telling one lies after another which was already making him mom suspicious.

He staggered up and walked sluggishly to his room when his phone rang, disturbing his disruptive peace again. He was about smashing his phone to the ground when he saw that his brother was the caller.

"Conor! Where the hell are you?" He lashed at him but it wasn't his brother talking.

"If you know this boy, come get him because he's wasted. I will text you the address." The caller said and ended the call.

That's his call again, another set of busy and unplanned schedule. He quickly dropped his bag, ran back to his car and drove out of his compound before the text finally arrived. He drove as fast as possible to the bar on the address. On getting there, he searched around every part of the bat before he finally found him laying at one corner of the bar with a huge bottle of whiskey on his hand completely drunk and not even conscious of where he was.

"He's been here for more than a week now." A bartender said.

"How can you let a teenager drink at your bar, am going to call the cops on you." Cole threatened angrily.

"You'll only get him in trouble because he came in with a forged ID card." The bartender replied, throwing the card at him.

Cole picked it up and looked at it for a while before tossing it into his pocket and grabbing Conor by his collar.

"Come here you little prick." He said giving him a hard punch on his face and making his bottle fall from his hand. He dragged him to his car, cursing him as he did.