Chapter - [ 3 ]

[ Charlotte ]

I had no idea where my feet were leading me. I left him but I still had a silly hope, maybe he’d realise his mistake and chase me but my hopes died down with passing hours. I roamed aimlessly on the busy streets until the dusk appeared in the sky, enveloping everything in the early darkness. I had no place to call mine in this big city. I had no friends of mine except Liam but I couldn’t go to him or it’d only concrete Sebestian’s doubts on our friendship.

My stomach grumbled. I hadn’t eaten anything since morning and this little life growing inside me needed nutrition. I shuffled my handbag and found only a little amount of money. My pride reborn in a very bad time. I refused to take anything from him when he generously offered me anything I desired for. I could had at least taken some money to survive for a few days.

My phone vibrated in my handbag and my heart leaped thinking it could be Sebestian but when I saw the caller id, my face fell. It was Liam. I wanted to talk to him but I coulnd’t let him know about what Sebestian had done. I ignored it and kept sitting on a corner bench of a park which was mostly deserted and closed my eyes to think about my future without the shield of my husband Sebestian. I gave up my dreams and accepted the role he wanted for me because I loved him blindly and it was my punishment. My future was misty.

I couldn’t go back to my father and step-mother. They cut all their ties with me when Sebestian refused to feed their greed by his hard earned money. I was unwanted in everyone’s life.

“Please, help me. I..I..can’t..breathe.”

I heard a painful whimper and it forced me to look around and spotted an old man sitting on the other bench, he was clutching the left side of his chest, his face was covered in sweat and he was breathing with difficulty. I wasted no time to rush in his direction.

“Hello, Sir. Do you need any help?” I asked him and mentally cursed myself. He was begging for help.

He raised his head to look at me and his eyes widened for a flash of second before he clutched his chest again and his eyes rolled back. He fainted there but I held him before he could fall. Panic travelled through my blood. I quickly called an ambulance and took him to the nearest hospital.

“What is your relation with the patient?” The doctor asked me once they shifted the old man in the emergency ward. He was looking at me suspiciously so did the rest of the hospital staff.

“I found him in the park. He was in the need of urgent medical attention so I called the ambulance because he was all alone there.” I told him the truth but he didn’t look convinced.

“Do you know who he is or you’re just pretending to be an angel for him?” the doctor asked me and I finally lost my patience with him. Instead of treating the old man, he was interrogating like I was a wanted criminal.

“Excuse me but you should be focusing on the patient rather than questioning my humanity instinct. No, I do not know him personally.” I said with a pointed look.

“If you’re claiming to save the richest man in the country then you’re indeed an angel. You helped a man who can change your life forever. You should wait for him to wake up so you can tell him that you just saved him from a minor heart attack which might be life threatening for him if you didn’t rush him here on time.” He said and it was my turn to get shocked. What did he mean by the richest man of the country? I pressed my mind and tried to remember his face. He looked familiar. I had seen him in the business parties from afar.

“Don’t press your brain, Miss. He is the great business tycoon Mr. Carlos Montgomery.” The doctor said and in the next few seconds I saw many guards surrounding the area.

“I can’t believe. It feels like a dream.” I ran my fingers through my hairs. The day started with me finding out about my unexpected pregnancy when the doctors told me that the chances of me getting pregnant again were very less but I conceived the token of our love, accused by my husband of adultery and signed divorce papers. I was homeless when I bumped into the richest man of the country.

Just great!

I didn’t want any more surprises.

“Who brought Mr. Montgomery in the hospital?” A nurse walked out the ICU asking about me.

“It’s me.” I waved my hand and she navigated her way towards me.                                       “He has gained his senses and he’s asking for the girl who saved him and I assume it’s you, Miss?’ She gave me a warm smile.

“He wants to see me?” I asked her in shock.

“Yes and he wants to see you right now.” She informed me.

My heartbeats rose. I helped a man in need and the God was paying me back like this. However, with anxiety brewing inside me, I followed her inside the private ward after the security team gave me a green signal.

The old man who had a regal personality, was laying on the hospital bed. He looked tired but still radiated power.

“How are you feeling now, Mr. Montgomery?” I asked him very cautiously as I couldn’t take the risk of displeasing him since I knew who he was.

He opened his eyes and looked at me. A warm smile stretched on his wrinkled face when he saw me.

“Come here, my dear.” He gestured me to come near him and I found myself obeying him quietly.

“I need a moment alone with this young lady.” He said in a authoritative tone to the doctors and nurses.

“Sure, Sir. We’ll be back to check upon you when you’d be done with your private talk.” They said and left.

I shifted on my spot awkwardly.

“I can’t believe it’s really you, Charlotte, my sweet Lottie.” He addressed me with a nick name I never heard in my entire life and what did he mean?

“Do we know each other?” I blurted out without thinking twice.

“Yes and no.” He replied but it confused me even more.

“I don’t understand, Sir,” I said truthfully.

“Please come and sit here. We need to talk and I want you to stay calm when I tell you how we’re related to each other but I am glad that my search is finally over. You are here, in front of my eyes.” He lifted his shaky hand and placed it over mine.

I felt a connection, a warmth filling me instantly.

“Charlotte, you’re my granddaughter, my only daughter’s child and my heir. I had been looking for you since your mother died and your father seemed to be vanished from the earth’s face but you’re here and I’d not be letting you go away again. From this moment onwards, you’re my legal heir, the owner of a trillion dollars empire.”

As soon as these words left his lips, I was left flabbergasted.

Holy Jesus! I became the richest person in a blink of a moment.

“You’re really my biological mother’s father, my grandpa.” I gasped.

“Yes, Lottie, I am your grandpa and you’re not alone in this world. Your grandmother is waiting for you at our home in our hometown. I will take you away from this place where that bastard of your husband lives. I know what he has done to you and your unborn child. You have my words, Lottie that one day he’ll regret his actions.” He patted my hands but his eyes reflected wrath he had for Sebestian but I was more shocked to learn that he gathered all information including my baby in less than a few hours from a freaking hospital bed.

“Don’t stress yourself, dear and focus on your future. You’re going to lead the Skylark Group in next two years when I’ll take official retirement.” He declared.