Master of Lust

Chapter - 263 The distant wail of sirens grew louder as the emergency services rushed to the scene. Rick sat in his car; his eyes fixed on the rising smoke from where Jed's truck had crashed down the mountain. The noise of ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars filled the air, their flashing lights casting an eerie glow over the darkening landscape. Moments later, Rick watched as a group of emergency responders carefully lifted his father onto a stretcher. His father was still unconscious, his face pale, and his body limp from the shock and pain of the crushed toes. They strapped him down securely, checking his vitals before loading him into the ambulance. Despite everything, Rick felt a small pang of conflicted emotion as he watched his father disappear into the back of the vehicle. He deserves it, Rick reminded himself, pushing aside any traces of sympathy. His father had brought this upon himself, and Rick wasn't about to let any guilt surface. As he refocused, several emergency workers approached his Range Rover, trying to pry the door open. They fiddled with the handles and switches for a few moments, and finally, one of them succeeded in unlocking it from the outside. The door creaked open, and a rush of cool air from the car's AC mixed with the night breeze. Rick stepped out slowly, his legs stiff from the tension. His expression remained blank, carefully crafted to appear like he was in shock. He didn't want to answer any questions—didn't want to deal with anyone right now. The situation was still too raw, too dangerous. "Sir, are you okay?" one of the paramedics asked, his voice soft, yet urgent. "Can you tell us what happened?" Rick ignored the question, his eyes glazed over as if he hadn't even heard them. Another worker approached, concern etched on their face. "Were you in the car when the crash happened? Is there anyone else we should know about?" Rick continued his act, barely reacting. He gave them a vague glance, his lips pressing together as if he was too traumatized to speak. The responders exchanged glances, unsure how to proceed. "Sir, we need to know if you're injured or if there's anyone else involved," the paramedic insisted, but Rick simply shook his head weakly, as though the shock had taken its toll. He was convincing, even to himself. Just stay quiet, he thought, avoiding any unnecessary attention. He gave them the impression that he was too overwhelmed to respond, barely acknowledging their questions. They eventually backed off, assuming he was in no state to answer. The sterile smell of the hospital filled Rick's nose as he stepped out of the examination room. The doctor had just finished a thorough check, ensuring there were no hidden injuries from the crash. Physically, he was perfectly fine, which was no surprise—thanks to the system, the worst of the danger had passed without a scratch. But now came the tricky part: navigating the aftermath. As Rick walked down the corridor, he spotted Inspector Yumi Marcels waiting for him, her demeanour calm yet sharp, as if she were carefully piecing together the puzzle of the night's events. She approached him with an air of professionalism but also concern. "Rick, are you alright?" she asked, her voice steady. "Can we talk for a moment?" Rick gave a nod, forcing a faint smile. "I'm fine," he replied, trying to keep his tone steady. Yumi glanced at him, searching his expression for any sign of distress. "I'm glad to hear that. But I need to ask you a few things," she began, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You were involved in a pretty serious accident tonight. Your father, Mr. Smith, is currently unconscious, the truck driver is dead, and you seem to be the only one who's... well, perfectly fine." Rick feigned concern, his brow furrowing as he leaned slightly forward. "My father... is he okay?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice. "I haven't had the chance to visit him yet." Yumi's expression softened for a moment. "He's probably just fainted from the shock. According to the doctors, he doesn't have any major injuries except for two crushed toes. He'll be fine soon, and he's expected to recover very quickly." Rick let out a breath, he acted as if he was relieved as he nodded slowly. "That's good to hear." She paused before pressing again, this time her voice carrying a more formal tone. "But Rick, I still need to know what happened. What can you tell me about the accident?" Rick sighed softly, gathering himself before answering. "It was just a... bad accident. Everything happened so fast." He kept his voice even, as though still processing the chaotic events. His heart, however, was racing beneath the surface as he tried to keep Yumi from digging too deep into the truth. Yumi's eyes narrowed as she listened to Rick's response. Her usually calm demeanor became a little more pointed. "It wasn't just a mere accident, Rick," she said firmly. "The driver of that Ford Raptor, Jed... he's the same man who tried to run you over with a truck earlier. This is more than just an accident. There's a motive here, and with someone dead, this case is going to be transferred to the police. I'm just trying to help you. If there's anything you can tell me, I promise I'll make sure you won't have any trouble with the police." Rick paused, glancing at Yumi with a helpless and slightly embarrassed expression. He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a soft sigh. "At the time of the truck accident, I didn't know much," he began, his voice tinged with discomfort. "But later on... I found out Jed wasn't really after me. He was after my father." Yumi raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Your father?" Rick nodded, his tone becoming quieter as if he was revealing a personal embarrassment. "Yeah. Apparently, my father had an affair with Jed's girlfriend. That's why he was targeting him. I guess... that's why all of this happened." Yumi's expression shifted as she processed the information. She went quiet for a moment, her thoughts spinning. "That must be why he tried running over your father instead of you," she muttered to herself, more to make sense of it. "Maybe he missed and thought your father was driving the car instead of going after yours specifically..." But as she continued, a flicker of doubt crossed her face. She looked at Rick again, her voice softer yet probing. "But, Rick... I thought your father wasn't with you in the car during that last accident. Wasn't it just you?" Rick waved his hand dismissively, trying to play it off casually. "Maybe Jed couldn't see inside the car clearly. Or maybe he just assumed my father was driving with me. You know how it is. People make mistakes when they're angry or obsessed with something." Yumi nodded slowly, still deep in thought, though the doubt lingered in her eyes. She wasn't fully convinced, but for now, she let it slide, offering Rick a way out of the conversation. Rick felt a wave of relief wash over him as he saw Yumi deep in thought, seemingly convinced by his story. He gave her a small nod and began to take a step toward the hospital exit, eager to slip away before any more questions could arise. But just as he was about to leave, Yumi's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Rick," she called out, her tone calm but authoritative. "You should expect to be contacted by the police soon. I might also reach out regarding the case if anything new comes up." Rick forced a tight smile and gave a half-hearted wave. "Yeah, of course. I'll be ready for it." He turned again, his pace quickening as he moved toward the exit, feeling like he had narrowly avoided a trap. But just before he could reach the doors, Yumi spoke again, her voice casual but laced with curiosity. "Rick... aren't you going to check on your father before you go?" Rick froze for a moment, his mind racing. He turned back toward her, keeping his expression neutral. "Well," he began, "as you mentioned, he's still unconscious, so there's no real point in staying with him. Besides, there's someone waiting at home, a lady... she doesn't know what's happened, and she must be worried sick by now. I need to get back and make sure everything's alright." Yumi nodded, seemingly satisfied with his response but still watching him closely. "Alright, take care of yourself," she said. Rick offered her a quick nod and turned, finally making his way out of the hospital. As Rick stepped out of the hospital, the cool evening air hit him, but it didn't do much to clear his racing thoughts. His mind was still tangled in the web of lies he had spun inside, but at least he had managed to walk out without further suspicion. Then, just ahead, he spotted Sharon. She was seated on her Harley, her expressions tense. ******