Chapter 5

Bethany's eyes widened in horror as she gazed at Dean, the man clutching the pipe.

"Oh my God! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, her voice trembling.

It was Dean, and she accused, "Dean, you killed him!"

Bethany bent down to touch Fred's body, but he lay motionless.

Impulsively, Dean dropped the pipe and grasped Bethany's arm, storming off without answering her frantic questions. They abandoned Fred, unconscious in the desolate, abandoned place.

****

BETHANY'S HOME

Upon arriving at her residence, Bethany stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut, the sound resonating through the air.

Dean noticed her hostility, a palpable tension between them.

"What's wrong, Bethany?" Dean inquired, rushing toward her.

She recoiled from his grip. "What do you mean by that? Do i look wrong to you? ”

" Well... I saved you from Fred. God knows how he got to you! " Dean replied, his brows furrowed.

"Well, you don't know him! You hit him on the head. What if he's dead? I don't want to go to jail for what you did!" Bethany's voice escalated.

He widened his eyes. "So, what you're saying is that I shouldn't have saved you?"

Bethany shook her head in disappointment. " I didn't ask you to. You ought to be in your office! And how the hell did you find me?"

Just then, her phone rang, shrill in the silence. It was Chantel. Shit! she had forgotten the reason for her leave. Jason!

"Hey, Chantel, I'll be there in a few minutes. I'm sorry; I got stuck in traffic!" Bethany lied.

"Ok....Don't worry, honey. He said he doesn't want to go with a stranger; that we'd keep Freddie and I intact!"

" What....what ... Chantel! "

Bethany's rage boiled over; she threw her phone on the floor, the screen cracking. Tears streamed down her face, and she ran into her home, leaving Dean distraught and confused.

****

A DAY LATER

After calming her nerves and contemplating whether to scratch out his name on her son's grave – she hadn't made a decision. Truth be told, he was like a grave in her heart. He doesn't want to be near her again, nor remember her.

This was all Fred's fault, maybe he had forgotten her face after two years of disappearance from his life. Could that be so? She was his mother, she nurtured him, breastfed him, could he easily forget her just like her ex-husband?

It was time for her work, but still, Dean hadn't cut off the deal. He didn't cancel the meeting between them, so she had to cancel it. To make up for the free time, she would go to Chantel's office and confront her about the deal.

She wore a well-tailored suit, her hair cascading down like a princess, and rode off to Queen Entertainment.

Finally, she arrived at Chantel's company, summoning all the courage she could reach out to.

She stepped into the company and saw cameras rushing to another room.

"Oh, sorry!" She was fixing her hair as they swiftly brushed past her, their cameras tangling with her hair, until Chantel came to her, patting her on the shoulders.

Bethany flinched in fear, and not long after, Chantel held her by the arm and started walking with her side by side.

"What's going on?" Bethany asked, feeling confused.

Chantel exchanged compliments with some other employees without answering her question and finally pushed her into a room.

"Hey, what has gotten into you?" Bethany asked with a disgust look on her face.

Chantel's face was dread serious, with worry etched on her face.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Chantel yelled, shutting the door behind her.

Bethany scoffed and adjusted her bag in her hands. "You damn know why I'm here? Don't act all innocent. You ruined our deal!"

"What deal?" Chantel replied, putting her hands on her hips.

Bethany licked her teeth and shook her head in disdain. "You don't want to play games with me!"

Chantel's eyes flashed. "You see... Bethany, I begged Fred to let us come to New York. He didn't want to come because of you... your stupid attitude... narcissist attitude! "

"How dare you call me a narcissist? Chantel, I'm just here to get my son. Is that too much to ask?" Bethany's voice trembled with rage.

Chantel looked deep into her eyes with a sly smile on her lips and replied slowly, "I... can't... give... you."

"Are you afraid? Huh? Are you afraid he might come back to me if I have his son? He had sex with me..." Before she could finish her statement, Chantel cut her off by palming her mouth.

"Shut up... you bitch!" Chantel's voice was laced with venom.

Bethany pushed her away and Chantel continued, "I won't have you ruin my guest appearance on a famous TV show. You're bad news, so get the hell out of my company, or else I'll have you locked here!"

"Oh, I'm sorry... well, in that case... I will never leave until you give me my son!" Bethany yelled, her voice echoing through the room.

Chantel's touch sent shivers down Bethany's spine as she replied, "You leave me no choice!"

At that instant, Chantel bolted for the door quickly, with Bethany running behind her, but Chantel was quick to lock her inside.

"Get me out... argh!" Bethany yelled, banging on the door multiple times, but there was no response.

She took her phone in hope of calling someone, but there was no one to call.

She was like a lonely grass in a forest full of trees. No one she could call to her rescue. It was a dead end.

Minutes ticked by, and Bethany remained trapped in the room, her loneliness palpable

. Suddenly, the doorknob shook, and to her astonishment, Fred emerged, a small bandage on his forehead and a sly smile spreading across his lips.

Bethany's eyes widened in fear as she hurled her bag at him.

"Ouch!" Fred exclaimed, his voice laced with amusement.

"Stay back! You ghost!" Bethany shouted, her voice trembling.

Fred chuckled, his eyes glinting with mirth. "Oh, my God... you think I died from that little hit on the head? You possibly can't think that, Bethany!" He took a step closer, his movements deliberate and menacing.

Bethany retreated, her back pressed against Chantel's desk. Fred closed in, his hands trapping her against the table. Despite her fear, Bethany stood her ground, her determination to see her son driving her forward.

"You... don't scare me!" she declared, her voice firm.

Fred's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes burning with intensity. "Shut up! Who hit me on the head? Who is he?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing.

Bethany's heart racing, she feigned innocence. "I have no idea! Besides, What if it was a SHE? "

Fred's grip on her arm tightened, his fingers digging into her skin. "Tell me now, or face the consequences!" he yelled, his face inches from hers.

In a bold move, Bethany spat in his face.

" No....I won't! "

Instantly, a swarm of reporters burst into the office, their cameras flashing as they snapped photos of the dramatic scene.

Fred's eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with malice. "This is going to make the headlines..."