Chapter 4

“Sorry for the loss.” 

“Thank you for coming.” Bastian greeted people, seeing them off to the entrance of the bereavement center.

He curtsied his head and watched the influenced people walk away. He turned back and saw Patricia and William walking towards him. 

Immediately as William sighted Bastian, he separated his hand from his mother and ran toward Bastian.

Before William got to Bastian, Bastian bent down and widely opened his arms.

“My boy!” He said, rounding his arms around William.

Bastian carried William from the ground and put him on his shoulder, walking closer to Patricia. 

“Sweetheart,” he called and placed his arm on her shoulder. “It’s good to have you back in this city. Welcome back.”

Patricia wore a sour smile, looking down. “It's heartbreaking. I couldn’t make it back in time. I wish to see the chairman’s face again before he passed away.” She remorsed. Her heart filled with regrets and guilt.

It's been over five years, with some months, since Patricia has traveled out of the country a month after she gave birth, so it’s been a long time since she last saw chairman Jackson.

Bastian was with her when he received an emergency call that the chairman had cardiac arrest, and had been rushed to the hospital and she wanted to come back with him, but couldn’t because of William’s school, hoping to come immediately there's a holiday.

Whenever she called Bastian to ask about the chairman's condition, he told her he was responding to treatment, and assured her he would be fine, only for her to receive the death news last week.

Bastian grinned and rounded his arm around her neck. “It’s fine, dear. The old man died with no regret,” he consoled. He understood Patricia well and always has the perfect words for her moods. 

“The chairman died, but you still have a brother who will never for once forsake you,” He uttered to put her mind at rest.

Patricia smiled discreetly. He stared into his eyes and remembered how supportive he has always been to her. He was by her side when she was passing through the hardest moment of her past, and even when she traveled out of the country with her infant. 

“You have me and I will support you.” He promised. His schedule was always tight, busy running the companies’ affairs on her behalf, but he still set five days aside to pay her a visit every month.

“Thank you, Bastian. Thanks for everything. Thanks for being the best brother in the world. Thanks for always being here and there for me.” She appreciated him.

Bastian frowned his forehead, displeased. He has warned her countless times to stop appreciating him. “Stop this, we are family. It's my responsibility as a brother to help my sister,” he made a point. “I will do anything for you, sister.”

Patricia beamed, but said nothing. Instead, she raised a question, changing the topic. “When is the funeral starting?” 

“Soon. We’re just waiting for some family before we start.” He explained.

“Dad,” Williams called, asking, “can we still visit all the beautiful places you told me about? I want to go to the beach in this city?”

“Sure. We will go with mom after the funeral,” Bastian assured. He put Williams down and held his cheeks in his palms, gazing into his eyes. “What have you eaten?”

Williams shook his head. “Nothing, dad.”

Bastian withered his face, disturbed, raising his gaze to look at Patricia’s face. “Why hasn't he eaten yet?” He queried. “Do you want to starve my son?”

“Dad, it’s not mum’s fault,” Williams spoke for his mother. “I told her I don't want to eat until you are back. I want to eat with you.”

“Oh,” Bastian sounded, resorting his gaze to Williams. “We will apologize to mum later,”

He held William's shoulder with his left hand, patting his head with the right hand. “Williams, dad is busy now. You should eat with your mom.”

Williams withered his face, unhappy. He hated eating alone when Bastian was around. “Dad…” he called in a low, sluggish voice.

Bastian looked at Williams, mimicking his facial expression and tone. “Son…” he called, asking, “what do you want to eat?”

“Okay, since you are busy now, chocolate will be fine. We will eat together when you are free,” Williams opted, beaming. “I have a gist of Henry from my school.”

“Okay, go inside with mom. I will get you a chocolate.” Bastian said.

“No,” Williams refused, stating, “it’s boring staying with mom. I don’t want to stay with her. Let me go with you, dad.”

“Please, let-’ Bastian intended to persuade Williams as always, but without waiting for him to complete his statement, Patricia grabbed Williams’s hand.

She dragged Williams to her side, saying, “you can go get the chocolates, he will stay with me.”

“Hmm.” Williams sounded displeased, trying to release himself from his mom’s hand.

Patricia grasped Williams and widened her eyes to give him a reprimanding stare. “Come with me. Okay?”

“Hey, woman,” Bastian said, pointing his index finger at Patricia. “You don't talk to my son like that. Okay?”

Bastian stared at Williams, smiling. “Prince, stay with mom for a whole. I know she is boring, but please, endure it for dad. Okay?” 

Williams nodded and grinned. “Okay, dad,” he obeyed Bastian and looked up at his mother's face. “The king has spoken with the prince. I will stay with you. Let’s go.”

Patricia looked at Bastian. “If there is anything I can help with, let me know.” She offered.

Bastian nodded, comprehending. “Sure.”

★

★

“Williams!” Patricia called in a high voice, looking left and right as she walked around in a hurry.

She left Williams sitting inside the hall when she went to use the toilet, and she returned to see the chair emptied.

The hall was on the last floor of Ivy’s hotel and she had been looking around for over twelve minutes, but William was still nowhere to be found.

She saw a room and pushed the door open in a hurry, hoping to see Williams inside, but she saw a male and female staff cuddling. “Oh!” She exclaimed.

“I’m sorry.” She apologized and quickly walked out.

She has been dialing Bastian’s number to ask if Williams was with him, but it’s not reachable.

“Williams!” She persistently shouted.

While running without looking at her front, she stumbled onto Bastian's secretary, Ailee.

Ailee bent her neck. “Good day, ma,” she greeted, showing concern. “Is everything okay?” 

“Williams…” Patricia uttered and paused. She was in a panic and couldn't complete her statement at once. 

“I left him inside the hall to go and use the toilet and I couldn't find him when I got back,” she explained. “It’s been over fifteen minutes since I've been looking for him.”

“Your son? I saw him on the second floor,” Ailee reported. “He-”

“The second floor?” Patricia repeated, amazed, interrupting Ailee’s explanation.

“Thank you.” She let out, and without listening to the details, she ran out of Ailee’s sight.

“Ma.” Ailee tried to call her back.

Patricia slightly pushed people out of her way and ran into the elevator.

★

★

Patricia checked the second floor, but Williams wasn’t there. 

“Where are you Williams?” She whispered, looking around.

“I should check the ground floor.” She decided and rushed into the elevator.

She walked out of the elevator and set her gaze at the entrance to see Williams standing beside a man in a suit, with their backsides turned at her.

“Why does this man look familiar?” She said silently in her mind. She shook her head and without having much thought about it, she paced closer to them.

“Williams.” She called with a few steps remaining to take closer to them.

“Mom.” Williams shouted, excited. He quickly turned backward, and the guy turned along with him.

“Why did you-” the guy wanted to throw a question, but raising his head to see who was standing in his front, he paused.

His eyes dilated and his mouth opened in surprise, but no words came out.

Seeing the person Williams was standing with, Patricia was startled. Her eyes enlarged in shock and she pulled a word out of her ajar mouth.

“Cohen!”