367: Chapter 367

Chapter 367

Dahlia waited until around six when the cook finally arrived with her dinner. The cook was relieved to see Madam Grant in good condition. He really thought that he would see a bloody scene the moment he entered the ward.1

The cook closed the door behind him and pushed the food trolley to the bed, "I'm glad you're able to protect yourself, Madam. When I saw Marlon Grant with his men, I thought he'd finish you off."

Dahlia chuckled. 

She returned the knife to the cook and said, "It will take him much more than that to kill me. I'm more resilient than you thought."

The cook nodded.

Honestly, he found it impressive that Madam Grant could still maintain her sanity after being unjustly thrown into this mental hospital and trapped in this small prison, completely isolated from the outside world even though she was not insane at all.

She was also thrown out at the worst time possible because she was still grieving her son's death.

That's why the cook finally agreed to help the old woman, thinking she deserved to be happy and safe.

"I'm sorry that I can't be much help, Madam. All I can do is ensure you don't get poisoned."

Dahlia smiled. She stared at the young man in front of her. 

He looked like an honest young man, probably got this job to fend for himself. 

He also had a good heart, seeing that he would rather take Michael and Dahlia's side rather than follow a blind order from the head of the mental hospital. 

"Tell me your name, young man," Dahlia asked with her kind smile.

The cook was caught off guard, "Uh, m—my name is Howard, Madam…"

"Howard, I see…" Dahlia maintained her smile and composure despite knowing death was looming behind her. "Howard, I know it sounds sudden, but could you get me out of the mental hospital?"

Howard's eyes widened, "What's wrong, Madam? Do you need anything? I can give it to you tomorrow if you need something."

"No, I don't need anything. But I need to get out of this mental hospital because Marlon threatened to kill me," Dahlia said.

Of course, Marlon didn't say such a thing in front of her. But Dahlia already guessed that Marlon must've dispatched his men to assassinate her at night.

So she couldn't wait any longer if she wanted to live. 

"He will kill me before midnight, and you are my only way out, Howard," Dahlia said firmly. 

But Howard began to hesitate.

He agreed to help Madam Grant because he pitied her fate, but this might be too much for him to handle.

"I—I don't know, Madam. As much as I want to help you, it is very risky…" Howard said. "What if they are coming after me after I take you out of the mental hospital?"

"That's why I will offer you a new job," Dahlia said. "I will run away to my private villa in Michigan, and I want a close confidant and cook. I will pay you about one million dollars annually for your service."

Howard gulped.

The offer was very tempting. He had been living paycheck to paycheck in the mental hospital, to get one million dollars a year was a great way to escape poverty and have a comfortable life. 

Howard was almost convinced, but he still had one more question;

"Madam, if… if I agreed to help you escape the hospitals, would you mind protecting me in case I got attacked by your husband's men?"

"Oh, don't fret about that. If you helped me escape this hellhole, I will reward you and bring you under my protection," Dahlia assured. 

Howard didn't know if it was because of the money or because Madam Grant was too convincing. Howard finally nodded, "Alright, Madam. I will help you escape, but this is our only chance, so please cooperate with me, okay?"

Dahlia nodded, "I have nothing to bring, so don't worry. Let's leave now before anyone notices."

Howard began to help Dahlia by throwing all the food into the toilet and putting the dirty dishes on the trolley.

He told Madam Grant to sit at the trolley's lower compartment, covering it with a dirty curtain so nobody would suspect anything as Howard left Dahlia's room.

He continued pushing the trolley, talking to a few nurses, security guards, and fellow cooks on his way to the pantry while Dahlia sat inside the food trolley. 

It took an hour until Howard raised the curtain and whispered, "Madam, we can leave after all the cooks have clocked out. I will give you the ID card of an absent cook, and you can use it to pass the security. Don't forget to wear a face mask."

Howard helped Dahlia to hide in the storage room while all the cooks were still busy, but before Howard left to pretend that he was still working, Dahlia asked.

"I need to contact Michael. Give your phone and let me call him," Dahlia said. 

Again, Howard hesitated at first but still gave in. He unlocked his phone and called Mr. Eckermann's number.

"Please wait in here for a moment, Madam. It'll take another thirty minutes before all cooks finish their shift."

Howard finally left Dahlia alone in the dark storage room, the air was uncomfortable, and the narrow space was suffocating.

But Dahlia wasn't scared. 

This place was much better than the ward she used to stay in for the past seven months or so. 

Her mind had never been clearer as she was determined to save her son, daughter-in-law, and her grandchild.

Dahlia called Michael with Howard's phone, and Michael picked it up in about thirty seconds.

—

"What is it? Did something happen to Madam Grant?" Michael's solemn voice was like a relief for Dahlia. Because she knew from this point onwards her escape was guaranteed.

"Michael, it's me," Dahlia said.

"M—Madam Grant?! How did you—"

"I have no time to explain, but tell me about Katherine's condition first. Is she alright?"

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