Mommy, Where Is Daddy? The Forsaken Daughter's Return novel Chapter 96

"I'll give you everything - my shares to the company, my wealth! Just give me the cure!" Ethan demanded, slamming his hands against the table.

Steven just laughed at him in his swollen and beat-up face. He sighed and leaned forward to say, "Ethan. Ethan. Didn't I give my conditions already?"

"We will not file charges against you as you have requested!" Ethan shot back at him with his eyes narrowing.

Still, Steven wound up laughing. He was at it so hard that he thought he might choke. Clearing his throat, Steven reminded, "My requirements remain unchanged, Ethan. My last condition includes sleeping with your wife and I will make sure, I get her pregnant!"

"Ahh! Fuck you, Ethan!" Yet again, Steven received a punch from Ethan.

Ethan grabbed the collar of his shirt and said, "You are never going to touch my wife! That will never happen!"

"If you are not going to give me the cure, then I will invest all my money in BNU pharmaceuticals! It won't take long." Ethan thrust Steven's body. He took heavy breaths before closing his statement, "I will use all my power and money to find the cure no matter what it takes!"

As he strode his way outside the interrogation room of the military's holding facility, Steven screamed, "You'll never find out, Ethan! Because I am the cure! Don't you get it! Haha!"

Ethan could only clench his hand into a fist, thinking about his suggestion. He thought, 'How the hell can a person be the cure?'

***

"What do you think he meant by... he is the cure," Samantha probed before turning to Ethan.

After two hours of trying to negotiate with Steven, Ethan wound up returning to the hospital with no results.

When Samantha asked what conditions Steven required, Ethan reluctantly told her the truth.

"I don't know, Sam. I think he is just making an excuse to." He gulped, not wanting to even imagine the possibility.

Sitting on her hospital bed, Ethan caressed Samantha's face. He leaned over to kiss his wife, but Samantha turned away. She said, "Don't Ethan, I'm worried you might get this."

He lay next to Samantha and pecked on her cheek instead. He said, "I won't get it and... I'm not afraid."

Ethan let his wife rest on his arm and he embraced her tight. He swore, "I won't let this affect us. I'll use all my resources and fund Dr. Perry's research on this illness. We will get the answer that we need soon."

Samantha buried her face into Ethan's chest and revealed, "I would... I would rather die than stay in the same room as that man, Ethan."

A tear fell down her cheek when she told, "I'm glad you did not agree - sending me into another man's bed."

Pecking on her forehead, Ethan said, "I would never. If a small company like Sawyer and Sons can find the cure, I'm sure an experienced doctor like Dr. Perry could figure it out... We will get through this, Sam... We will."

***

Across the Pacific Ocean.

In a small town of Tuk Chhou in Cambodia, where many settlers live off on farming and fishing, Connor and Dr. Shannon Perry finally arrived at the house of the first reported victim who had been cured of the Kannareth disease.

For the past few days, Connor and Dr. Perry had been traveling on land to reach their first destination.

They were both welcomed in a humble home, near the rice fields, and settled in a bamboo sitting area.

Along with them, a local had to guide their way, serving as their interpreter.

Dara, the first reported victim in their provincial hospital, came out of the bedroom, together with her one-year-old child.

"Good morning, Dara. Thank you for seeing us," greeted Shannon. "We have a few questions for you, regarding how your illness suddenly went away."

Connor then presented gifts from the city, along with an envelope full of cash to ensure her cooperation.