Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

Madam chuckled softly. It seemed like she knew her daughter’s habits very well.

“You really want to know, Lynn?” she teased, moving closer to Lara.

“Come on, Mother! Spit it out!” Lara urged impatiently. Her face was getting redder, but Lara refused to say anything other than a quick and straightforward command to reveal the location of her child.

Madam grinned, putting her sunglasses back on. The strong wind blew, bringing a momentary peace for her.

“He’s in-”

Before Madam could continue her sentence, the roar of engines thundered from above. A helicopter flew low, shaking the situation below.

“MADAM! Interpol is here! We need to go!”

“Damn it!” Madam looked annoyed and cursed under her breath. But she quickly glanced sadly at her daughter before running towards the helicopter, which now extended a sturdy rope for her.

“Lynn, remember the suitcase I left with you? There’s a key and an address, just go there. Everything you want to know is there,” Madam said, looking straight at her daughter. “Sorry, I have to go again, Darling. Your mother’s quite notorious.”

“W-what?”

After saying her farewell, Madam immediately jumped towards the extended rope in front of her. The helicopter’s engine still buzzed, and its strong wind swirled around.

“STOP!”

Shouts echoed from the iron door behind Lara. Shortly after, the sound of bullets pierced the air.

“MOTHER!” Lara screamed in fear as Madam narrowly avoided the gunfire. The bullets didn’t touch her mother’s body at all.

“You idiots!” Madam cursed as she soared upwards, to her perfectly planned escape route. Of course, the officers couldn’t chase a helicopter with their own two feet.

“SHIT!” Two male Interpol officers ran after the helicopter as it began to move away from the building. For a moment, they felt like they could catch up, but in the end, only regret remained.

“SON OF A BITCH!” They finally stopped for a moment. Frustrated with their unintended oversight. In desperation, the officers could only watch Madam from below with boiling anger.

Once again, the fugitive escaped.

Not long after, another team followed behind them on high alert, though ultimately in vain.

“Agent Stone! How could we lose the target under our surveillance?” the higher-ranking Officer asked, visibly annoyed. Sweat trickled between his vest and his cap.

“Someone tipped them off. Damn it! We need to dig deeper and find out who leaked that information,” grumbled Stone, putting his gun back into its holster.

His eyes shifted towards Andre and Lara, who were witnesses to the raid.

Knowing that their lives might be in danger, Andre raised both hands, standing in front of Lara to protect her.

“We don’t know what’s going on here, Sirs. But we really have nothing to do with your fugitive,” Andre explained firmly.

Agent Stone moved closer to Andre, followed by his colleagues. “Is that so?” he asked suspiciously. But of course, the police officers didn’t trust them so easily.

“Whoa!” Andre stepped back as the officers began to raise their weapons.

“We can’t be fooled that easily!” he exclaimed. But Andre quickly showed his identification card along with assurance that he had no intention of deceiving them.

“Andre!” Suddenly, a voice called out his name.

“Riko?!” Andre welcomed the call. The two black-uniformed officers immediately lowered their weapons and saluted.

“Commander!” they exclaimed in unison. Riko nodded and returned their salute.

“Sorry, Dre! There’s an emergency. An Interpol fugitive is suspected to be in this hospital. Are you guys okay?” Riko asked anxiously, looking at Andre and Lara alternately.

“We’re fine. Which Interpol fugitive, uh?” Andre tried to ask, though his gaze indicated that both he and Riko understood who they were referring to.

“Madam Xenia. She’s an international fugitive and has committed crimes everywhere. But-” Riko didn’t continue her story, but she whispered something to Andre’s ear.

Both of the doctor’s eyes widened, but he eventually nodded. “Got it.”

“Okay, then! Please, make sure things don’t escalate,” Riko said afterwards. Andre patted his friend’s shoulder firmly. He then turned to Lara. “Let’s go back,” Andre said softly.

“Okay,” Lara responded, gripping Andre’s arm tightly. The events this morning were so shocking to her. Lara didn’t even know whether to be scared, happy, or… miserable!

“Officer! We can return to headquarters. This joint operation will be continued another day. They’re just ordinary civilians, nothing to do with the fugitive!” Riko said firmly. Although her lifestyle was somewhat laid-back, Riko was a fair officer.

Being the son of a General didn’t make Riko act arbitrarily. Although, he couldn’t control himself when it came to women. But, Riko upheld justice and civilian protection.

With his rank as the Central Jakarta Police Chief, Riko truly became an exemplary officer. The level of public complaints and crime in the city had drastically decreased. Chief Riko became the talk of the town for his achievements.

***

“Ndre, do you think I should obey Mama’s words?” Lara finally asked, after they arrived in Lara’s hospital room.

“Ra. What suitcase is that?” Andre asked curiously. He had to make sure before he agreed or disagreed with Lara’s actions.

“A keepsake suitcase, Dre. It contains Mama’s belongings from when she ‘died’ before,” Lara corrected. Her eyes were now teary, recalling the wasted tears, hatred, and resentment she had kept all this time.

“I don’t know what that is, but it wouldn’t hurt to listen to your mom, Ra. Don’t you want to find your child?”

Lara nodded.

“Okay. After you’re discharged from the hospital, we’ll open the suitcase, alright?”

“Okay, Dre.”

Andre and Lara then smiled and hugged. Lara felt very calm with Andre by her side. She was no longer alone.

***

“Doc! Patient Mahya has regained consciousness!”