Joyce was a bit shocked. Not that she didn't expect him to say something like this. Of course, any father would do so after the mother displayed such a level of incompetence. What she didn't expect was for Dylan to decide to take Derek home immediately. "But, he's still unconscious, Dylan" she protested, walking gently towards him. "That's even the more reason we should take him home now. When he wakes up, he wouldn't find himself in a hospital, which is depressing enough, and also having to see his failure of a mother. I can only imagine how much he must detest her. "I'm not letting my son see such a woman at such a crucial time of his life. He needs all the reassuring signs of love he can get and that is only possible at our home in Cross Estate, his rightful home" he finally concluded. Chelsea saw his point of view. But she was concerned about the wellbeing of Derek. "But moving him in his state, don't you think it'll be a bit risky?" she asked. Dylan turned to her and smile
Chelsea had never seen someone so authoritative and defiant as the woman before her. As Joyce had rightly said, Clara was a crazy woman indeed. She had no respect whatsoever for Joyce's age or position. She simply spoke to her like they were mates, or worse, like she owned Joyce. "I said, where is my son?" she asked again, her tone becoming more impatient and infuriating. "Madam, please can you lower your tone? You'll disturb the patients in other rooms" one of the hospital's security personnel said to her. She turned around sharply and shot the man a mean stare. "Don't you dare open your mouth to utter a word while I'm talking. I can wreck your life in less than a minute. All it'll take is one call" she said in a threatening tone. Joyce chuckled. "You still haven't changed, have you, Clara?" she asked rhetorically. "Still being boss, still threatening, still thinking you can pull all the strings you want. You think of yourself as the princess of Miami" she added with a sad smile
Clara turned back and smiled. "I see someone still hasn't changed a bit. You still have that murderous, monstrous personality inside you. The same personality that cost you your son in the first place. You're still the same, Dylan. I'm sure you remember how this went down the previous time?" she asked in a taunting tone. Dylan's expression and gaze didn't change a bit. It was clear that Clara's words had no effect on him. "I hope you also remember what happened to your lover the last time you saw me like this. The only difference is that this time, you'll be the one on the receiving end, not another lover" he said, his tone as grave and serious as previously. Clara scoffed. "Are you threatening my life, Dylan?" she asked. Dylan maintained his calm demeanor. "If you put it that way, it's equally accurate. Like you said, you already know that I'm still the same. I don't mind proving how true your words are" he said, his hateful eyes still on Clara. "I dont want to be involved in
Clara left the room silently, without any further words or protesting attitude. She had been both defeated and threatened. And she knew this time that the tables had turned and they were not in her favour. She simply took a long look at Dylan who kept his eyes fixed on her as well. When she was done, she left the room. "Dylan, what was all that?" Joyce asked immediately the door slid shut. She walked to Dylan and looked him in the eye. Dylan exhaled. "All what?" he asked. He suddenly looked a bit tired and slowly walked back to the chair, sinking into it. "All that about Derek being malnourished and passing out in school. All that!" Joyce pressed. "What about it? You didn't hear her deny it, did you? Or you think I made it up?" he asked right back. Chelsea believed him when he said it. She could hear the pain in his voice as he confronted Clara about it. The pain wasn't one of anger towards Clara. Rather it was anger that his son had to go through that despite the status of his fa
Chelsea was still for some seconds after hearing those words from him. She didn't expect it. Not in a couple of days, not in a couple of weeks, not even in a couple of months. It was just so sudden and unbelievable that she froze for some seconds. It was expected of her to freeze after all. Dylan had portrayed a very hard and defensive attitude all the while they were together. It was never easy for her to understand him. His automatic switch of demeanor, his never ending mood swings and his seemingly split personalities made it impossible for her to know who he really was. He had shown her different sides of his person. He had shown her love, he had shown her resentment. He had shown her care and he had also shown her unconcern. He had shown her several opposite and conflicting shades of emotions and she had come to accept it as his way of life. She had known he had feelings for her. But he never acknowledged them or even spoke about them. Whenever they got near the topic, he switc
Joyce's eyes immediately gave way to tears. All the pent up emotions deep inside her poured out intensely in a flood of tears. She immediately fell to her knees beside the bed and took hold of Derek's hand. She gently squeezed it in hers and looked Derek in the eye. "Grandma, why are you crying? Why is dad here? Where am I?" the little boy asked question after question as his eyes darted around the entire area around him. Dylan gently walked towards him. He didn't give way to tears or break down. That wasn't to be expected of him anyway. He simply walked to the bedside and gently caressed Derek's hair. His eyes were full of affection. That was one thing he couldn't mask. "What do you remember, Derek?" he gently asked. It felt awkward though that the first words he said to his son in a long time were a question targeted at his memory. He was definitely going to win that Worst Father of the Year award. "Uhm..." Derek tried to recall his last moments of consciousness. Then his eyes sh
Dylan was surprised at his son's sudden declaration of his taking a liking to Chelsea. And this was just their first meeting. Chelsea's words must have charmed the young man and instilled a measure of approval in him. And Derek wasn't someone who easily liked someone else. He had seen firsthand how Derek had rejected the company of many of his friends and even most of the staff members of his company. Back when they were together, he had taken Derek to Cross Enterprises for a tour of the company and Derek literally rejected the gestures of almost all the staff members in the company. He didn't let any of them touch or carry him. He had to be stuck attending to him all through the tour of the company. It was only when his former secretary, an elderly woman offered to carry him did he oblige. Why Derek chose to let that woman, of all the other staff members, carry him still remains a mystery to Dylan. Now he was expressing that he had taken a liking to Chelsea and so fast? It wasn'
The awaited facility from New York finally arrived at the hospital. Derek was discharged and the medical bills were forwarded to Dylan's official personal mail. They exited exited hospital building and walked towards the parking lot. They all stopped between the two vehicles. Dylan shared them to the two vehicles. "Chelsea will come with me and Hugo. Ma, you'll take Derek with you in the SUV. There should be just about enough space for him to lie down there. We'll settle some things at a meeting and join you all at the mansion later" he assigned them and walked to the driver who would be delivering the facility to the mansion. "You'll be following the SUV to the estate. No prying gazes in the estate or unwarranted detours along the way. For your own safety. Just deliver the facility and exit the estate, all the while following the instructions given you by the security personnel. Understood?" he concluded. "Yes, Sir. Understood" the driver replied affirmatively. "Alright" Dyl