AN: Thank you once again for such great reviews. I will try my hardest to update regularly. Please keep reviewing and let me know how you like it. :)
Mike, Ben and Boss were creating their next strategy. However, Ben and Mike constantly wondered what prompted their boss to go after Frank Hardy.
Boss also knew that his two henchmen wanted to know why he wanted Frank Hardy to pay. Maybe it was time to tell them why. Maybe then, they will understand.
"Boys, I think you need to know why I want Frank Hardy to suffer."
Mike and Ben were both stunned, but they listened attentively.
"This happened three years ago. I had a family. My beautiful wife Beverly, my six-year-old son Bobby, and my three-year-old little princess Nicole." A single tear slipped out of the corner of his eye.
"I had a wonderful life. I was a very successful businessman with a wonderful family. But then, one day my life turned upside down and it stayed that way. I suffered a huge loss in business and nearly lost everything. But I managed to pull through it. During the course of my financial recovery, I was pulled into various illegal things. It was the only thing that kept my family going. I didn't tell them what I was doing because I knew that they wouldn't approve of it. But I had no choice. Things were working out well. My family did not know about what I was doing and neither did the police. But then one day, I stumbled upon something I wasn't supposed to. The people that were giving me orders ordered me to kidnap a young girl for ransom from a rich philanthropist. They threatened to kill my family if I didn't cooperate. I kidnapped the girl and was holding her hostage in an abandoned warehouse. It had been two days and my superiors were coming in to get the girl. But the next thing I knew, the warehouse door was being broken down and Frank Hardy barged in with a handful of cops. His brother came around the back but that didn't matter. Frank Hardy pointed his gun at me and told me to stand down. I raised my hands and got down on my knees. Two cops arrested me and Frank Hardy brought the girl out of the basement where she was being held and took her outside. I tried to tell him that my family would die if he takes the girl. But he didn't listen. He took the girl and I was arrested. My family was killed; I was sent pictures of their dead bodies. But I managed to escape jail, and I created a new identity for myself. Before, I was James Cortez, a successful businessman; now I am Andrew Chase, a wealthy man with a goal, avenge the death of his family by making Frank Hardy suffer. I won't harm his family because they do not deserve my wrath. But I will make Frank Hardy beg for death after I am done with him." Andrew finished, his eyes gleaming with rage and determination.
Back at the Hardy house…
Fenton, Laura, and Chloe, who was asleep on Fenton's shoulder finally made it home. Laura quietly unlocked the front door and Fenton slipped in after her, taking Chloe into their room and he gently tucked her into bed. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of the adorable little girl who was sleeping with her thumb in her mouth. He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead before turning off the light and joining Laura in the kitchen.
Laura was quietly making coffee in the kitchen, deep in thought. All she could see was her baby unconscious and in pain. Every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Frank, his eyes closed and his body cold and dead. She was shaken out of her thoughts when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Fenton standing there, his eyes also watery, tears threatening to fall. This did it. Laura's brave face façade crumbled and she let out heart wrenching sobs into Fenton's shirt. Fenton held her tightly in his arms and let his own tears fall as well. Both parents were silently praying for the angels to watch over their son and bring him back to his family.
At the hospital…
Nancy was sitting outside of Frank's room with Joe and Vanessa waiting for the doctor to finish checking on Frank. The doctor stepped out and the trio stood up.
"Is everything alright Doctor?" Joe asked.
"I'm afraid Frank is still in the same condition. There hasn't been much improvement yet. However, if he does show signs of waking up in the next couple of days, there is a high chance that he will fully recover." The doctor stated, trying to give the distraught family some hope.
The three Hardys were upset when they learned that Frank's condition had not improved but they still tried to keep their hope up.
"Nan, why don't you sit with Frank for a bit?" Joe asked.
"Actually, I was going to call Laura and see how Chloe was doing. You go on ahead. I'll catch up in a minute." Nancy walked off before Joe could say anything else.
Vanessa, however, saw right through to Nancy and silently went after her. She saw Nancy slip into the ladies room and followed. As she was about to open the door, she heard loud sobs coming from inside. Trying to hide her own tears, she went inside and quickly pulled Nancy into her arms.
"P-Please Van, tell me h-he's going to be alright."
"Shh shh. He will be fine. You know that Frank will never leave you. You'll see, Frank will be alright and then we can all spend Christmas and New Year's together like we always have." Vanessa said, desperately trying to keep her voice from cracking. Her family was broken and suffering. She also knew that if Frank didn't make it, then the Hardy family will never be the same; especially Nancy, Chloe, and Joe.
In Frank's room…
Joe slowly entered Frank's room and made his way to his brother's side. He sat down in the chair next to the bed and grasped Frank's hand.
"Hey bro, you there? Listen, you have to wake up ok. We all need you to wake up. Nancy and Chloe are a wreck without you and the rest of us aren't doing much better. I know that you're still in there. Please Frank, wake up. Remember what we promised Chloe? We promised her that we would let her say hi to Santa Claus on Christmas Eve when he brings her presents remember? You are going to sneak her downstairs towards the Christmas tree and I am going to dress up as Santa and eat the cookies and milk. I need you there with me to we can keep our promise to Chloe. Please bro, I need you. I need you so much." Joe begged, tears leaking out of his eye as he finished speaking.
Frank did not move an inch.
But this did not discourage Joe. He continued quietly speaking to him and continued to hold his hand until he heard the door open. He turned and saw Nancy and Vanessa standing there, both with red-rimmed eyes. He gave them a half-hearted smile and stood up. He walked over to Nancy and gave her a tight hug.
"He'll come back to us," Joe whispered in Nancy's ear.
Joe and Vanessa left the room, giving Nancy some alone time with Frank.
Once Joe and Vanessa were away from Nancy and Frank, Vanessa pulled Joe aside.
"Joe, don't you think that Nancy is acting a bit different? I mean I know it's normal to be this worried but I've always seen Nancy be so strong for everyone else. I just can't help but think that maybe there is something else she is hiding from us. We all know that Frank has been in tough situations before. But never has Nancy been this distraught."
Joe thought about this for a minute. Then he shook his head.
"Van, you're just being paranoid. Frank's literally in between life and death. Of course it's going to affect Nancy much more than usual."
"Maybe you're right." Vanessa conceded, though she was still a bit suspicious.
Joe just gave her a small smile and led her out towards the waiting room.
Unknown Location…
Andrew Chase had left the room after he told his story to Mike and Ben. But what he did not tell them was that his plan was in fact, much more sinister than he explained.
An evil grin came upon his lips as he imagined Frank Hardy suffering the way he had. He let out a maniacal laugh when he imagined Frank Hardy just begging for death. Yet he had to wait. He had to wait for the perfect time. Fortunately, it was coming right around the corner.
He slowly left the warehouse and walked up to his car. He put the gear in drive and drove towards Bayport, towards the hospital, and towards his revenge.