Chapter Three

A sick patient with a drip attached to his wrist walks passed Priscilla Armitage steadily down the glistening white corridor of the hospital. She gives the patient a sad look as she waits for her husband, Jackson, to return from the doctor's office. Jackson has been complaining of chest pain more often so they came to the hospital to get a check up. She hopes this is nothing and just something that medication can cure. She turns on the screen of her phone and it's a wallpaper of she, Jackson and Francis smiling. She really hopes he is doing well in Melissa's family.  When Francis told her he was getting married to Melissa, she was glad her son had found someone he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. But when she met Catherine the first time, her authoritative manner made her question Francis and Melissa's relationship. Reluctantly, she and Jackson had give their blessing but it was a tug of war before Catherine agreed to let Melissa get married to Francis.

She has met Catherine twice. Once, when Francis wanted to introduce she and Jackson to Melissa's family and lastly, on the day of the Francis and Melissa's wedding. Her guts told her she was making a mistake in letting Francis and Melissa get married but she ignored it hoping she was wrong. Not until to visit her own son became hectic. The maids conveyed Catherine's dislike for visitors especially people of the low class. Since then she has not visited Francis but she longs to see her son. Now, today is Catherine's birthday but she has no idea of what to send as a gift but she's not bothered because Catherine has everything.

Jackson walks out of an office in the corridor. He is dressed in a hospital's wear. He goes and sits beside Priscilla on the foamy bench near the wall. Jackson has been her husband for over twenty years and she still loves him as if it's the first time they saw each other when both their hands reached for the last copy of a detective novel. Their ever blossoming love for each other gave them Francis, their only child.

​"What's on your mind? You look so pale." Jackson senses Priscilla's dullness.

​"Are you done with the check up?" Priscilla asks, changing the topic.

​"The doctor had an emergency to attend to. The nurses told me wait that I will be called soon." Jackson had changed into the hospital wear and was about to go for an X-ray before the doctor was called for emergency, that another patient was having a cardiac arrest and he was needed.

Priscilla nods. She arranges a scattered region on Jackson's grey hair.

​​"I called Francis." Priscilla rests her hand on her lap. She fists her black long skirt. She knows Jackson is going to get angry. After the insult gotten from Catherine's maid, Jackson said they should not disturb Francis to avoid getting him in trouble and that involved also calling him.

​"Why did you call him? What if you disturbed him?" Jackson says, frowning. Jackson feels so regretful that he allowed Francis to get married in the Viva family. Catherine finally showed her true colors after his son got married to her daughter. How painful that he can't even visit his own son. He remembers when Francis told him that Catherine would give her permission for him to marry Melissa if he lives with them. He found it absurd. He knows there are families where the husband and wife keep living with either of the family but he wished Francis and Melissa left after their wedding but they went back to the lion's den.

​"Can't I speak with my son again? Ever since he married into that family, they have snatched him away from us. You always handle everything calmly." Priscilla snaps.

​"Francis is married now. I know that when Francis has time, he will come to visit us." Jackson says.

Priscilla scoffs, "Jackson, I don't think..."

​"Mr. Jackson Armitage?" A nurse standing at the doctor's office calls out.

​"Coming." Jackson says loudly, "This discussion ends here." Jackson tells Priscilla before he heads to the doctor's office.

​​The bullet train pulls into the subway station. The platform is crowded with people and luggage waiting for their ride. The train doors slide open. Catherine and Louis walk on the smooth, ochre tiles. White spotlight glistens on the tiles. Sam, Catherine's bodyguard, tall and athletic, always dressed in black suit hurries to Catherine and Louis. He takes her luggage from her hand. Sam has been Catherine's personal bodyguard for over five years. She's pleased to have him because he has never failed in doing his job for her, even the difficult ones.

​"Welcome, ma." Sam slightly bows his head. Melissa walks from behind Sam and gives her mother a warm hug. Melissa is Catherine's first child. A beautiful woman, tall and naturally blond which she gets from her father. She follows her mother's orders both at home and in the company whether she likes it or not. The only time she proved stubborn to her mother was during her relationship with Francis that was because she loved him but now she can't tell if it's hatred growing inside her anytime she looks at Francis or she feels pity for him because it's her fault that Francis has been turned to a maid in their home and she can't do anything about it. She has to please her mother if she is to become the next president of Viva Food Company.

​"Welcome, mom. How was the conference in New York?" Melissa pulls from the hug.  

​"Worth it. How was everything when I was gone?" Catherine asks. Catherine knows Rose did her job well while she was gone if not what is she paying Rose.

​"It was like you hadn't left." Melissa replies. Melissa knows that Rose reports everything to her mother so there's nothing to hide.

​"That's good to hear." Catherine just wants to make sure Rose isn't lying.

Melissa looks at Louis who returns a smile. Catherine looks at Louis and back at Melissa.

​"This is Louis Hapkins. He will be staying with us for some time. I hope you both get along," Catherine says, gesturing at Melissa, "And Louis, this is my daughter, Melissa."

Louis extends his hand for a shake, "Nice to meet you, Melissa."  Louis gives Melissa his heart throbbing smile. So this is Melissa, Catherine's daughter. The one he must to fall in love with him.

Melissa politely shakes his hand, "Same."Melissa feels the instant pull the moment his firm hands grabs hers gently. She must remember that she's married anytime she sees Louis.