Collide

Chapter 6

One morning, just after Therese had finished her devotional and morning prayer, the quiet rhythm of the convent was interrupted by

the low rumble of a vehicle approaching the courtyard.

She lifted her head.

Through the window, she saw a dark vehicle come to a stop outside the convent.

Therese closed her Bible and rose from her chair. Curiosity tugged at her as she stepped outside her room and walked toward the

courtyard.

A woman was already stepping out of the vehicle.

Sister Amelita Garcia.

She was the chief nun of their denomination, a woman whose presence usually commanded respect and warmth from everyone

around her. But that morning, something was different.

Her face was stern.

Her eyes were strangely blank.

Therese slowed as she approached.

"Good morning, Sister Amelita," she greeted politely.

Amelita merely nodded.

Therese noticed the driver stepping out, followed by another nun who quietly stood beside the vehicle.

"You must be tired from the journey," Therese said with a gentle smile. "Please, come inside. I can have breakfast prepared

for you, the driver, and Sister—"

"Therese."

The quiet interruption made her stop.

Amelita stepped closer and lowered her voice.

"Let us talk inside your office."

Therese stared at her.

There was something in Amelita's voice that immediately unsettled her.

"Of course," Therese answered, though confusion had already begun to cloud her face.

She glanced toward the vehicle before looking back at Amelita.

"Is there something wrong, Sister? What's the hurry?"

Amelita didn't answer immediately.

Instead, she looked at Therese for several seconds, as though searching for the right words.

Then she spoke softly.

"We need to discuss something very important."

Therese's brows drew together.

"About what?"

Inside Therese's office, Sister Amelita closed the door behind them.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Therese sat across from her while Amelita remained standing for a moment, holding a sealed document in her hand.

Finally, she placed it on the desk.

"Therese, this is a summons from the Office of the Nunnery."

Therese looked at the envelope.

"A summons?"

Amelita nodded slowly.

"There has been a complaint filed against you."

Therese's expression changed.

"Against me? What for?"

Amelita opened the document.

"Misuse of church funds."

Therese stared at her in disbelief.

"What?"

"The complaint concerns the tithe collections."

Therese immediately shook her head.

"No. Sister, I don't understand."

"The records show that the amount of tithe collected by the church does not coincide with the amount remitted to the

diocese."

Therese's face went pale.

"They're accusing me of stealing the tithes?"

Amelita didn't answer.

She didn't have to.

The silence was enough.

Therese pushed herself back from her chair.

"I didn't do anything with the tithe!"

Her voice trembled with disbelief.

"I swear, Sister Amelita, I never touched the money. The church treasurer is the one who collects the tithe. I have absolutely

nothing to do with the collection."

"I know that, Therese."

"Then why am I being accused?"

Amelita lowered her eyes.

"Because you are the one who delivers the collected tithe to the diocese."

Therese froze.

"But I only deliver what they give me."

"That is precisely what has raised their suspicion."

Therese's eyes began to glisten.

"I don't even know how much is collected every time I deliver it."

Amelita remained silent.

"I never counted it," Therese continued desperately. "The treasurer gives me the envelope. I bring it to the diocese. That's all I

do."

Her voice broke.

"I have never opened it. Not once."

"Therese—"

"I didn't steal anything!"

Tears finally rolled down her cheeks.

"I have devoted my entire life to this place. How could they believe I would steal from the church?"

Amelita looked at her, visibly struggling to maintain her composure.

Therese wiped her tears with trembling fingers.

"Search my room."

Amelita's eyes lifted.

"Therese..."

"Search everything I own."

Her voice became firmer despite the tears.

"Search my room. Search my belongings. Check my bank accounts. Check every record. Interview everyone who handles the

money. I will cooperate with everything."

She stepped closer to the desk.

"I am willing to be investigated. I am willing to be searched. Whatever they need to do to prove that I am innocent, let them

do it."

Amelita's lips trembled.

"I swear before God, Sister, I did not take a single cent."

The room fell silent.

Amelita slowly turned her face away.

For a moment, Therese saw something she had never expected to see from the chief nun.

Her eyes were wet.

Amelita quickly wiped the corner of one eye before looking back at her.

"I know you, Therese," she whispered.

Therese stood motionless.

"Then believe me."

Amelita swallowed hard.

"I want to."

Her expression remained grave.

"Therese, there are evidences that have recently come to light."

Therese's brows furrowed.

"Evidences? About what, Sister?"

Amelita looked directly into her eyes.

"The evidences point to you as the main suspect."

Therese froze.

For several seconds, she could not find the words to respond.

"Me?"

Amelita nodded.

"Yes. And tomorrow, you will be summoned to the main parish. You will be given the opportunity to explain yourself."

Therese slowly straightened in her chair. Shock was beginning to give way to determination.

"Then I will go."

Amelita studied her carefully.

"You need to prepare yourself, Therese. This is not a simple inquiry."

Therese shook her head.

"I have nothing to hide."

Her voice was firm.

"My conscience is clear, Sister Amelita. Whatever these evidences are, I am ready to face them. I will prove my innocence."

Amelita's expression did not soften.

Instead, her next words came slowly and heavily.

"Then you should understand what is at stake."

Therese remained silent.

"If you cannot defend yourself tomorrow, the consequences will be serious."

Therese swallowed.

"What consequences?"

Amelita looked at her solemnly.

"You could be removed from your position as a nun."

The words struck Therese harder than anything she had heard that morning.

She stared at Amelita, unable to speak.

Her entire life had been built around her calling. Her vows, her service, the elderly she cared for, the people who trusted her—all of

it was suddenly hanging in the balance.

"Removed...?" she whispered.

Amelita nodded.

"Yes."

Therese lowered her eyes. She could no longer hold back her tears again.

She looked at Sister Amelita with desperation in her eyes, her composure slowly breaking apart.

"Sister Amelita, please..."

Her voice trembled.

"Help me."

Amelita remained silent.

"Please, Sister. You know me. You've known me for years. You know what kind of person I am."

Amelita's expression remained solemn.

"Therese, I know you. But all I can do for you is pray,"

Sister Amelita slowly stood from her chair. She looked at Therese for a moment, her expression still solemn.

Therese remained seated, tears still running down her cheeks.

Amelita gathered her things and walked toward the door.

"I have to go now, Therese."

Therese quickly stood.

"Sister Amelita..."

Amelita turned toward her.

"I will see you tomorrow at the main parish."

Therese nodded weakly.

"Yes, Sister."

Amelita gave her a final, solemn look before opening the door.

"Prepare yourself. Pray, and remember the truth. If your conscience is clear, do not be afraid to speak."

Therese forced herself to nod.

"Thank you, Sister."

After finishing her duties at the convent, Therese headed straight to Safe Haven Elderly Care Facility.

The moment she entered the familiar grounds, she was greeted by the elderly residents she had devoted years of her life to caring for.

Their warm smiles usually brought her peace, but that afternoon, she could barely return them.

She walked into the common room and sat among them.

For a moment, she tried to hold herself together.

But the moment one of the elderly women noticed the tears in her eyes, Therese broke down.

"Sister Therese, what happened?"

Therese covered her face with both hands and began to cry.

"I don't know what to do."

The elders gathered around her.

"Tell us, child. What happened?"

Therese wiped her tears, but they continued to fall.

"They accused me of something I didn't do."

Her voice trembled.

"Sister Amelita said there is evidence against me. Tomorrow, I have to appear before the main parish and explain myself."

The room became quiet.

"And if they don't believe me..." Therese struggled to finish the sentence. "I could be removed from the convent. I could lose

my position as a nun."

One of the elderly women gently reached for her hand.

"Oh, child..."

Therese leaned against her shoulder and cried even harder.

==========================

Vermont stood before the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of his office, staring down at the city far below.

The towering buildings stretched across the horizon, but he barely noticed them.

He was supposed to be working that afternoon. Contracts covered his desk, emails waited for his attention, and several meetings had

been scheduled.

Yet he could hardly focus on any of them.

He stood motionless, his hands resting loosely in the pockets of his trousers, his expression unreadable.

The door opened behind him.

Alex Forel stepped into the office, carrying a tablet in one hand.

Vermont didn't turn around.

Alex stopped a few steps behind him.

"Sir."

No response.

Alex glanced at the papers scattered across the desk before speaking again.

"The job is done."

Vermont remained facing the glass.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then Vermont's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes, sir."

Alex took a breath.

"Everything has been arranged. The evidence is in place, and it should be enough to put the investigation's attention on

Therese."

Vermont's jaw tightened.

He finally spoke, his voice low and controlled.

"Good."

Alex remained standing behind Vermont, watching him stare through the glass.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

But curiosity eventually got the better of him.

"Sir... may I ask you something?"

Vermont didn't turn around.

"You just did."

Alex hesitated.

"What is your relationship with this nun?"

Vermont's expression remained blank.

Alex continued carefully.

"I've worked for you long enough to know that you don't usually go this far for anyone."

Vermont finally turned his head slightly.

Alex swallowed.

"I'm not questioning your orders, sir. I'm just trying to understand."

He lowered his voice.

"I feel sorry for her."

Vermont stared at him.

"Sorry?"

"Yes, sir." Alex glanced down at his tablet. "From what I've seen, she doesn't even know why she's being targeted. She seems

completely innocent."

Vermont's jaw tightened.

"You don't know her."

Alex glanced at the tablet in his hand before speaking again.

"There's one more thing, sir."

Vermont didn't look at him.

"What?"

"The ten million we donated to the diocese."

Vermont remained silent.

Alex continued cautiously.

"That was part of the arrangement, wasn't it? Ten million in exchange for the favor."

Vermont finally turned away from the window and looked at him.

His expression was cold and indifferent.

"It's just a coin."

Alex stared at him for a moment.

Ten million dollars.

To Vermont, it was nothing more than pocket change.

"A coin, sir?"

Vermont picked up a folder from his desk and casually flipped through it.

"If ten million is enough to open a door, then it's cheap."

Alex was about to leave the office when Vermont's voice stopped him.

"Alex."

Alex turned around.

Vermont was standing now, facing him directly. His expression was cold and unreadable.

"Yes, sir?"

Vermont looked at him for a moment before giving his next order.

"Hire someone."

Alex frowned.

"Someone?"

"An undercover operative."

Alex's expression changed.

Vermont continued calmly.

"I want someone capable of infiltrating the convent without raising suspicion. Someone who can blend in, earn their trust,

and report everything that happens around Therese."

Alex nodded slowly.

"Understood."

"Have the operative handle everything I requested. The surveillance, the information gathering, and the people inside the

convent who need to be paid."

Alex hesitated.

"What exactly are we looking for?"

Vermont's eyes hardened.

"Anything concerning Therese. Who visits her. Who speaks to her. What she does. Where she goes."

Alex remained silent for a moment.

Then his curiosity got the better of him.

"Sir, what are you planning to do with all that information?"

Vermont's expression remained emotionless.

"That's not your concern."

Alex nodded.

"Yes, sir."

He reached for the door.

Then Vermont added one final instruction.

"And make sure the operative finds a way to place three discreet cameras inside Therese's room."

Alex stopped.

He slowly turned around.

"Inside her room?"

Vermont's gaze didn't move.

"You heard me."

Alex stared at him for a moment before nodding.

"I'll handle it."

He walked out.

When Alex finally stepped out of Vermont's office, he shook his head.

There was definitely something strange about his employer.

For almost ten years of working for Vermont, Alex had learned how to read him. He knew when Vermont was calm, when he was

angry, when he was suspicious, and when something was bothering him.

But this time was different.

Vermont was acting almost crazy over a nun.

Alex walked down the hallway, still thinking about the unusual orders he had just received.

He couldn't help but wonder what Therese really meant to Vermont.

Finally, he pulled out his phone and contacted the informant he had spoken to while investigating Therese before.

The call was answered after several rings.

"It's me. I need to ask you something about Therese Marshal."

The informant was silent for a moment.

"What about her?"

Alex leaned against the wall.

He hesitated before finally asking the question that had been bothering him.

"What's there between Vermont and Therese?"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then the informant answered.

"Therese Marshal was Vermont's first love."

Alex froze.

"His first love?"

"Yes. They knew each other long before Vermont became the man you know today."