The Devil's Sweetheart

The night Ruth aimed a gun at Leena, she gave a hint to Heather. At that crucial moment, Heather was only concerned about her daughter's safety, so nothing mattered except rescuing Leena. But Ruth planted a seed of hope in Heather's heart. She couldn't properly sleep for the entire week, knowing that someone out there knew the truth about Leena's biological father.

The cruise ship investigation had not worked in her favor either. Considering the number of people boarded, Heather found it complicated. If Francis had helped her, it's not a big deal to find Leena's father with his influence. But he is blocking her investigation instead of helping her because the man's jealousy has reached Everest. She thought of asking Devin, but without a beat, he will tell Leena. So, she chose Kurt and pestered him until he agreed.

Back to the present, Heather stared at Ruth's pale face. Doctor Craig has done an excellent job in inducing a hypnotic trance in Ruth perfectly. Given a knife and asked to kill herself, Ruth would do it without a beat. 

 Although the mere sight of this woman disgusted her, Heather spoke up in a voice, melody to her ears. ''You know Leena's biological father, isn't it?''

''Hmm..'' Ruth slowly nodded her head. 

''Can you tell me what happened on that night?''

Ruth started. ''I got the news that Heather would be returning from Germany to attend a party. I wanted to take revenge on Francis for forcing me to marry Juan. So, I planned on targetting Heather because she is his triggering point. At the same time, my son had a fever, so I couldn't personally attend the party. Instead, I sent Won-Shik to kill her. But things didnot go as we planned. On the last day, everybody was completely drunk, including Heather and Francis. So it became a mess.''

''What happened after? How did Francis and Heather got separated?'' Heather demanded. So, these two dumb people purposefully separated us? Psycho's, she muttered. Heather remembered the kiss. Heck, they did more. Flirting, teasing, and slowly the alcohol had intoxicated them entirely until they forgot themselves.

Ruth shut her mouth without speaking a word.

Impatiently, Heather lifted her hand to knock this woman, but doctor Craig stopped Heather. He shook his head, in a way telling Heather to be patient.

With his index finger pressed on her forehead, doctor Craig gently lifted Ruth's hand. ''Ruth, you are going to listen to whatever I say. Will you?''

''Yes,'' Ruth replied.

''Take a deep breath for a couple of times.'' 

Like a puppet maneuvered by the puppet master, Ruth breathed in the exact number of times the doctor told. 

''Let's go back to the night on a cruise ship again.'' Doctor Craig convinced her that he had control over her completely. ''Shall we?''

''Hmmm..'' Ruth replied.

''So what did you tell Won-Shik? What did he do to Heather and Francis?'' He pressed his index finger on Ruth's forehead. ''Try to remember. The more your try, the more you will remember...you can do it, Ruth..''

Ruth fluttered her eyelids for a while and then started. ''On that night..'' She paused and continued again. ''Won-Shik saw Francis carrying Heather to his room. He couldn't go inside as the door remained locked.''

''Later?''

''Won-Shik gathered two people for his plan, a man working in the deck department and a laundry steward girl who does housekeeping. He promised a hefty amount if they helped him. When all the guests went inside their rooms, they unlocked Heather's and Francis's room using the spare key. By that time, it was already dawn. Heather and Francis were naked, sleeping together.''

''Won-Shik thought of a plan. Max was on the cruise ship. Francis suspects Heather loves Max. It would be an opportunity to break them apart completely. So, with their help, he shifted Heather to his room secretly.''

''The laundry attendant pulled out an act of sleeping next to Francis, and Won-Shik took their pictures. Since Francis forced me to marry a womanizer, I wanted his love to suffer in front of his eyes as well. When Heather was pregnant with Francis's child, I hired a professional to edit the pictures. I sent Francis naked pictures to Heather so that she would hate that man for eternity.''

Heather let out shaky breaths as the shock sank in. She almost collapsed from the chair if not, Kurt supported her. So, my Leena is Francis's daughter!

She can't believe this. If she hadn't seen Francis's naked pictures with a woman, she would have thought of the possibility. She desperately wanted to see him right at this moment. ''I_I need to go.'' She said, getting up from the chair. Happiness was dancing within her. 

''Wait!'' Kurt shouted, but Heather was already out of the room. 

Kurt immediately went after Heather. ''Aunt Heather, wait! You need the pass to go out of this place.''

''Oh. Yeah.'' Heather came back running. ''Sorry..I am just... never mind...Take me out.''

Kurt found a different angle in Aunt Heather. She is like a child who has learned how to walk for the first time. He could understand her fleeting emotions. Even he was jarred by this news. The man who has devoted his life to protect a little girl was his daughter? He still can't believe it. 

Kurt signaled Craig to take care of Ruth and led Heather outside.

''Thank you, Kurt!'' Heather thanked him, her eyes filled with sincerity. He has taken a big risk. She doesn't know how else she could appreciate.

''Pleasure is mine.'' Kurt smiled. ''Are you going to Uncle France's company?''

Heather eagerly nodded her head. ''Don't tell Leena. I will surprise her.'' 

Kurt nodded. 

The moment Heather was out of his sight, he unlocked his mobile. Like Heather's words didnot enter into his ears, Kurt stared at Leena's contact name for a couple of seconds. [Narcissit Leena: I learned a big secret today. Guess what it is?] He sent her a text. Immediately he received a response.

[Sweedish Butler: That Dora is still five years old?]

Kurt's face twisted like he had swallowed a bunch of sour tart cherries. ''She is too alien for the earth,'' Kurt muttered before returning to the prison.

....

Just finished with the meeting, Francis made his way to the office room. He opened the door. An earsplitting scream scared the daylights out of him. 

''Francis!'' 

Francis's heart missed a beat. Seconds later, he calmed down, knowing that it was Heather. ''Are you planning to kill me?''

''Not yet.'' She embraced him into a bear hug. ''I am very happy today.'' Never she felt this happy. A little sadness in her heart was that both didn't remember their first time. That can be ignored in a bundle of happiness.

''Care to share?'' Francis hugged her back. He wondered the reason for the sudden happiness.

''I will tell you later.'' Heather released herself from the hug and pulled him out of the room. ''You are free for an hour, right?''

''Yes..but where are you taking me?'' Francis watched Heather drag him to the private elevator. Without answering him, she pressed the ground floor button.

''Drive to Langone hospital.'' Heather said to the driver after they stepped into the car.

''Why? Are you not well?'' Francis checked her forehead for fever. But she was perfectly alright.

''I am fine, Francis.'' Heather smiled, her heart warmed by his sweet gestures. ''You are going to have a blood test.''

''What? Why?'' He asked in surprise.

''Health check-up.'' She shrugged. 

Francis didnot object. A yearly health check-up is good for the body. Leena used to drag him to the hospital before, and now it's Heather. His life has turned like a rainbow filled with colors. After reaching the hospital, Heather directly took him to the lab. Francis has to undergo a series of blood tests under her supervision.

Are they turning me into a vampire? Francis muttered under his breath as he watched the nurse close the cap of the sixth tube. Post the blood test, Heather gave an apple to Francis. ''Eat this. You need energy.''

Francis gazed at the tiny apple in his hands. A little apple after emptying his blood? ''Apple is not ample. I am craving something tasty. Let's have lunch outside_''

''No, you can't_''

''They have taken six bottles of my blood, Heather,'' Francis complained like a child. ''Don't I deserve good food?''

''B_ottles?'' Heather stared at him without blinking her eyes. ''It's a tube, Francis.''

''Whatever. Both are the same.'' He grumbled, opening the car door when they reached a restaurant.

''Don't tell this anywhere. People would laugh at you.''

Francis mimicked her with equal enthusiasm and kissed her cheek.

After the sumptuous meal, Heather ordered the driver to turn the car to the office since Francis had an important meeting in the afternoon. 

Before Francis stepped out of the car after they arrived, Heather stopped him holding his hand. ''I want to tell you something, Francis.''

''What is it?'' 

''I met Ruth_''

''You what?'' He shouted at her carelessness. ''Are you out of your mind? She tried to kill you thrice. Why did you meet that_''

''I found Leena's biological father,'' Heather revealed, interrupting him in the middle. Now he will shut his mouth, Heather thought.

''What?'' Francis felt his world crashed again, watching the excitement on his face. So, this was the reason for happiness.

''Leena's DNA exactly matches with him. I found his address and called him in the morning. He agreed to meet me the day after tomorrow.'' Heather leaned her head on Francis's shoulders. ''Let's meet him, Francis.''

Francis's lips twisted wryly. She did everything on her own, and now she dares to talk about the man who made her pregnant and left the child in her care? His hands itched to kill that bastard.

''I am not coming. I have work.'' Francis got down from the car immediately. He closed the door with a loud bang. 

''Take her home.'' He ordered the driver. Without saying goodbye to Heather, he strode into the office.

''Look at his jealousy.'' Heather suppressed her smile. ''I am so in love with his cute, envy face.''

.....

For two days, Francis didnot even step into the bedroom. He gave a stupid excuse and spent his time in the study room. Heather played along with him, which irked him more.

On the day Heather was supposed to meet Leena's father, Francis could practically see Heather's happiness floating in the air. His jealousy reached Everest. Without having breakfast, Francis started to the office. 

''Francis, breakfast.''

''I will eat in the office.'' But he halted, thinking that Heather would coax him to eat. But nothing he thought has happened.

''Alright. Bye.'' Replied Heather, pressing her lips to control her smile. ''I have put a snack box in the car. Don't forget after you get down.''

Francis left without replying to her.

''Ah! He is so cute.'' Heather smiled, watching his retreating figure. ''How will he react to the news? Will he hug me? or a kiss?'' Heather covered her face in shyness. Pushing the thoughts aside, she got up, to get ready for the official meet.

.....

Francis didnot have the zeal to attend the meetings. Also, he was losing concentration in his work. ''Who is this bastard.'' He knocked on the table in vex.

Throwing the file aside, he took the snacks box to fill his stomach, at least. Without opening, he felt the box emptiness. To his surprise, there was nothing except a white-colored paper cover folded in three folds to fit into the box. ''What is this? Did she misplace the food cover?''

Francis unfolded the cover neatly. 'DNA report' was all written on the outside. That was all it took. His blood boiled like molten Lava. ''Is she mocking me?"

 ''Let me see the name of that bastard.'' He tore open the cover hastily. He read the content. [Child: Leena. Alleged father: Francis. The alleged father cannot be excluded as the biological father of the tested child. Based on the analysis listed above, the probability of paternity is 99.9998%]

As his brain sank the last words, he froze, feeling like his heart stopped beating.