Chapter 443 - WAS ALL A DREAM: PART III

Lord Knightley returned to his office along with the rest of the family. The men were full of questions as each of them questioned the man. 

"Brother-in-law, who are those people she is speaking off?" General Zhao asked. 

"Don't worry, I've already asked Winston to check on them." He answered. 

"Boy, what is she on about a dream? Is she thinking we are only a dream? Could it be she was in a coma for more than a month. I mean, could she have been in a coma for more than a months but the people taking care of her couldn't take care of her anymore and decided to let us…"

"Honey, what are you saying?" Elder Lady Knightley was shocked by what her husband was saying. To think her granddaughter was in a coma for more than a month or so. THis could only mean she was in a vegietatade state and was able to wake up. Which could only mean it was a miracle she woke up. 

"I'm just saying. You all can see that her memory seems to be all muddle up. She speaks as if she was dead and if someone…"

"Killed her." 

Everyone was put to silent when the man continued what his father was about to say. It has been in his mind that someone did try to kill his daughter. The fact she was n.a.k.e.d when they saw her could mean she was checking herself for any scars or wounds. But seeing she didn't see any, means that what she speaks of could be a dream. 

"Could it be, that was all in her dream. If someone did kill her she would have a scar on her." Elder Chief Zhao mentioned as he pondered on things more. 

"Father right, she must have experienced something awful during the time she vanished. The people she must have made her encounter such awful memories which is why she started speaking of as if she is dead." General Zhao added. 

"But, what about the child?" Elder Lady Knightley said which brought silence again to the more. 

Before Elizabeth was put to sleep, it seems someone was taking something from her…

"She mentioned a name, what was it, Li-little, Little…"

"Athy." 

Again it was Lord Knigthley who finished the sentence. It seems he was paying attention to every detail that happened. 

"Could it be that they took Little Athy from her?" Lady Zhao looked at her husband with a question on her face, hoping her husband could enlighten her. 

"That I don't know. She did mention two guys' names, they could be friends and who know if Little Athy is indeed a child. Maybe it's just a name and the person who is actually a grown up but Lizzy is older which is why she calls the person Little Athy." 

His explanation was quite assuring them and they felt it was the right answer. Since no one can provide any proof of the facts at the moment. They have no choice but to conclude that everything the man spoke of is the truth. He was someone who is widely versed about the world and knows more secrets than the rest of them. 

"Then, what should we do? I mean, she is going to wake up soon?" Elder Lord Knightley asked. 

"It's best we all not show up in front of her and allow her to take time to adjust. It seems her awakening shocked her and brought the truma from her past. Let's allow her to take the initiative to approach each one of us. If she looks for us then we will come forwards. However, no one is to tell her what has happened. We must allow her to slowly adjust and let her figure out everything." 

"You mean, not to tell her she has been gone for 4 years?" Lady Zhao said. 

"Yes, no one is to mention to her about what happened all this year.. From what I can see, her memory seems to be muddled up at the moment. All she recalls was the time she was in China and why she vanished she does not know as well. Inform everyone who we know that she might contact to avoid saying unnecessary things to her. Inform all the staff to avoid speaking to Elizabeth as well."

"Rob, are you sure this is the best solution?" Lady Zhao looked pitiful at her husband, upset that they were deceiving their daughter.

"For now, this is the best we can do. I'll have people search for the people he mentions. As we know, she mentioned two name and both of them seems to be in China as well." 

"Ah, she mentioned about the Feng earlier. But I don't recall the Feng family ever having someone named Xiaotong." General Zhao added hoping it could solve some of the questions they all are curious about. 

"You're right boy. Also, the Yuns? Do the Yuns' even have a son. As I recall they have a daughter?" Elder General Zhao said. 

Everyone was left puzzled again… Seeing that both names are unknown to the two generals which means the search for the two men whom Elizabeth mentions has reached its conclusion. Those men do not exist for they must have not told Elizabeth their real name. 

"Still, we'll continue the search for them in case one of those names does exist." 

"Then, will you also look for Athy?" Lady Zhao inquired. 

"Hmm, I'll have people search for her as well. She might be Lizzy's close friend during the time she was away and might be able to help us understand what happened to her this past year."

After they all finished discussing what needed to be done. Both Elder Knightley went to inform the staff of the palace and their close friends and relatives of the situation. At the same time, both generals as well have informed their family back in China of the news. They have asked Zhao Xinyi to go investigate the two men Elizabeth has mentioned. 

Lady Zhao and Lord Knightley were left all alone in the office.

"Darling, no more secrets, tell me, where did you find her?" Lady Zhao asked.

"I didn't, she was brought to me." 

"What do you mean?"

"I received a call from someone telling me to go to this place. I ignored it at first and let it be… But then one day the person sent me a picture of Elizabeth."

"So then, you went to the place then?" 

"I did and when I got there it was a hospital. I asked them who brought her there and they said another hospital transferred her for better medication." 

"And then?"

"So I investigate… Until I found out she was transferred to a couple of hospitals before I found her. It seems the person who was taking care of Elizabeth does not wish to be known at all." 

"Do you mean, Elizabeth has been in a coma for more than months before she's been with us?" 

"It seems so, she has indeed been in a coma for more than a month because she was in the hospital for more than a month as well. Including the time she was being transferred. It seems she only stayed in the hospital for a night or two before she was transferred." 

"Does that mean there is a record of who paid for her bills?" 

"Not at all, all the hospitals were told to take care of her. Once her family finds her, you'll all be paid. That's what the hospital directors of each hospital told me."

"So, we are left with nothing till the end then."

Lord Knightley got up from his chair and went to embrace his wife. He kissed her on her forehead as he continued to comfort her. "Don't say that, we are not left with nothing for we have our daughter back." 

"Rob, what do you really think happened to Elizabeth during the time she vanished?"

"I fear she was with people she shouldn't have been with. People that we don't even mingle with." 

Lady Zhao's expression pale from what she just heard as she pushed herself away from her husband. Such ideas of their daughter being with those people brought such fright to her. She can now understand why her daughter would say such words. "Do you mean?"

"Yes. This would explain everything and as to why no matter how hard I looked for her we couldn't find her at all."

Lady Zhao lost balance of herself and was caught by Lord Knightley. She was all shaking as she thought of all the awful experiences her daughter must have gone through. They have protected her so well and in the end, she has met such doom. It made Lady Zhao wonder what their family has done for them to be cursed with such bad luck.