“What is in this for me?” Ramon asked as he stared at his father and brother through the screen of his computer.“No… how long have you known?”“That is why you should have waited to hear everything before you rushed back to that fucking country because you heard her child is sick,” Mateo hissed distastefully.“Answer me, how long have you known?”“It’s been a long time. Three years? Four… or, five?” He asked rhetorically.“And you never thought of telling me?!”“What do we do when you are overly dumb for your own good? Even now, I would not have told you if not for Father. I don’t trust you, Ramon. You could snitch on us for all I know.”“I am not like that,” Ramon hissed.“Are you not? Still, I don’t trust you.”“I want to ruin Zeke as much as you want to,” he sniffed.“Because he seems to have a better chance at winning the woman you love than you?”“Because he does not deserve her!”“And you do?” Mateo asked, his lips tugged upward in amusement.“Yes.”“Oh?”“I was with her all th
“Elena,” he finally moved over to them and watched as Zeke slowly leaned back in his seat rather comfortably.“Ramon,” Elena exhaled and dropped her eyes on him.She thought he was mad at her. She had thought she was unnecessarily harsh on him that day and had beat herself to it quite a bit.Seeing the man with a slight smile on his face, she smiled back.He was no longer mad, she thought.Ramon was the nicest man that she knew and she was glad he was the type of person who did not let things of the past hold him back.She stood up, moved over to him, and then he hugged her gently.“Are you okay?” He asked her and she nodded her head.“I am sorry I have not come over since then. I just… I…”“No, it’s fine,” she shook her head and he smiled.“I should be more careful with my choice of words, really,” he said and she chuckled loudly.“I know, right?”“How is Natalie?” He asked and slowly settled on the chair, totally ignoring Zeke who sipped his soda gently.“She is sleeping… and doing
“Just let him be,” Zeke said and then glanced at the boy who wrapped his arms around his leg.He could not miss the displeased look that Raymond Baskerville and Ariana were giving him, instead, he only focused on Elena and Nathan.Ariana had arrived at the hospital earlier with Nathan and had told them that Nathan’s homeroom teacher had advised that the boy stay back home as his focus was not on school at all.There, Elena was asking and literally scolding him as to why he was not concentrating before he had butted in by saying she should let him be.“He should be in school!” She exclaimed, her brows snapped together.“Even as an adult, I could not concentrate at work. What do you expect from him? He’s just a boy and his twin is sick,” Zeke said.Elena inhaled and swallowed hard. He was right but a month plus was too much for him to miss school.She watched as Zeke bent down slowly to face Nathan and then glanced at her father who tore his eyes away with a scoff.“Are you okay?” He as
“Don’t choke my son!” Zeke snapped and hit Jeremy’s arm.Jeremy grinned and pulled away gently, before pulling out the empty chair beside Nathan and then settled on it.“Don’t choke your son?” He rolled his eyes.Ryan settled on a chair beside Zeke and then clasped his hands together.“How did you know I am here?”“We saw Elena. She said you were probably at the cafeteria, or that we should call you,” Ryan answered.“God, your father in law is so…!” Jeremy stopped halfway as he turned to look at the boy who was still eating and then shook his head.“Cranky,” he whispered.“Why?”“Why?! He literally tore us to pieces. Me especially. Why? Because I am your brother,” Jeremy rolled his eyes and Zeke nodded his head.“Did grandpa hate you too?”Nathan’s sudden question made them go mute and then exchange glances.“W… what?” Jeremy stuttered.“Grandpa. Did he hate you too? He hates my daddy so much,” he said.“Nathan, you should…”“Hate me?” Jeremy burst into laughter, cutting Zeke short.“
“Congratulations, ma’am.” Elena dropped her eyes on the two awards that the woman pointed at her and she sniffed. “I… I won?” She raised a brow at Marvella and then the lady nodded her head. “I wished you were there to receive them by yourself. I would gladly give my all to watch the happiness on your face while you were called on stage,” she grinned as Elena finally collected it from her. Grabbing the two awards in her hands firmly, she smiled softly and sniffed back the tears that were going to drop. Not to lie, she had assumed that she was not going to win this. She literally took her mind off it too because she didn’t want to be hurt when the result finally came out. Not only one award… but two. She shook her head and then smacked her tongue. “I am speechless.” “You deserve it,” Marvella grinned. “Oh, my God! Sis!” Ariana finally left where she stood with her parents and then rushed to hug her sister. “Congratulations, Elena!” She exclaimed while she hugged her
It was early morning, and time for surgery.The doctor started by greeting the family and reassuring them that the surgery was going to go well.After, it was time for Zeke to follow him.Zeke moved over to Elena, ignoring her father, and then dropped his hands on her shoulder.“It’s alright.”She nodded her head and forced a smile.Glancing around to look at her family, and then Chloe, Jeremy, and Ryan who had arrived so early that morning, she nodded her head again.They were enough to keep her going till the surgery was over.As soon as Zeke turned away from her to leave, she exhaled, and called out his name, her hands subconsciously grabbing the hem of his clothing. “Zeke.”Eyes fell on her, but she ignored them and only raised her head to look at Zeke who turned back to look at her.She moved her hands away, picked on her fingers, and then exhaled.“I… I checked online…” she stuttered.“It is not a painful surgery.”“I know,” Zeke nodded his head.“It… it won’t give you any side
“So… how are they? My daughter and… and the donor?” Elena asked.“Rest assured, they are doing well. However, the donor… Mr Zeke. The anesthesia wore off during the surgery and he was aware during the entire procedure. Although it is highly unlikely for a person to wake up during the surgery, as the anesthesia is designed to keep them in a deep sleep state. Still, it is not impossible. It is a rare case, but it still happened with him.”“So? Is it going to be a problem?”“Not really. We made sure to adjust the anesthesia levels to ensure he was comfortable and pain-free. He will be taken to a recovery room soon where he will be monitored as the anesthesia wears off completely, but he may experience some discomfort, pain, or nausea… oh, and difficulty sleeping. But be rest assured, all of these can be managed with medication,” he informed.“Oh, God,” Elena palmed her mouth and then sniffed.“He is out of danger, Ms. Baskerville, I assure you. And your daughter too. The surgery was a s
“Are you sure? If it were up to me, I’d suggest that you stay here for a few more days,” Elena said, worry plastered across her face as she watched the man who did his shirt button.It was early the next morning and Zeke had already asked to be discharged even though the doctor had suggested that he should spend at least a day more.He insisted that he was good already and that he had no other complaints and if he did, he'd let the doctor know.“He does not listen,” Chloe who stood beside Ryan rolled her eyes and hissed.“I don’t like it here. I could not sleep well in that bed,” Zeke snapped his brows together as he glanced at the bed.“As if you’ve ever slept well in any bed,” Ryan rolled his eyes.Zeke swallowed, moved over to Elena, and then dropped his hands on her shoulders.“I am fine. I promise.”She exhaled, nodded her head, and then sniffed. “You better let me know if anything goes wrong again.”“I promise. Now, we gotta wait till Natalie gets discharged, right? The surgery
Before he stepped out of the car, he dialed Jeremy’s number first and then waited for the man to pick up which he did after the call was almost ending.“I hope you are calling for something very important. It’s so early in the morning, dang it,” Jeremy hissed.“There is a problem,” Ryan exhaled.“Good, I love to hear that. What is wrong?”“It is Zeke. You need to leave everything you are doing and come over here, right now. Please.”“What is wrong with Zeke?”Ryan glanced out to look at his friend before he answered Jeremy and a long silence ensued.“Share me your location,” he said and then dropped the call.After he ended the call, he placed a call across to Chloe too, and then explained the situation at hand before he finally stepped out of the car.He moved over to Zeke, palmed his forehead, and then dropped his other hand on his waist.“W… what in the name of madness is this?” He moved to his front, leaned down, and then lifted his chin up with his hand.Staring down at his frie
“Is he truly outside?” Karina rushed to her husband as he entered the room and he swallowed, entering fully.“I have told him to leave. He is leaving already,” he answered and then looked around the living room.“Where is Ramon? I ran into him outside the door here.”“He has gone to see Elena,” she replied.“Was he truly on his knees?”“You worry too much, Karina.”“Answer me, Raymond.”“Do you think that man has what it takes to do that?”He knew so well that his wife would not agree to the fact that he had left Zeke on his knees outside their mansion.“Honey, I really think you should stop interfering in their business.”“Whose business?” He feigned ignorance and settled on the chair.“Elena and Zeke. Raymond, they are not children.”“You are not honestly rooting for them again, are you?”“I am in support of whatever Elena chooses. I can’t make decisions for her and you need to know that too.”“In the past, you were against their union! I should have listened to you.”“That was beca
“Who did you say is asking for Elena?”“A Zeke Russo, sir.”Ray drew his brows together and turned to look at Karina who sat on the couch away from him.“Don’t let him in.”“Raymond,” Karina called him softly.“Let him return to wherever he is coming from or you will be losing your job!”The gateman bowed and then rushed out back.Delivering the message to the man in a rather harsh way, he closed the gate and returned inside.“Something happening?” His partner asked him as he returned inside his quarter.“The man outside. Boss said he does not want to see him in this compound or I will lose my job.”“Wait, really?”“I am telling you,” he exhaled and then settled on the chair in front of the big screen.“W… what is he doing?” He stuttered as he watched the screen.The other man rushed to him, drew his brows together, and then parted his lips.“Is that what I think it is?”“He is on his knees?” The gatekeeper asked rhetorically and then stood up hurriedly.___________“Hey, are you craz
“Take, one more spoon,” Elena patted her daughter as she took the last spoon of her food and after the girl collected it from her, she cleaned her mouth with a handkerchief and then leaned back.“Are you full?”Natalie nodded her head and then turned to look at her plate where Nathan had dropped a piece of meat in.She raised her brows, smiled gently, and then picked it up.“Thank you.”Nathan watched her sister chew it completely and then asked. “Do you want more?”She shook her head and then instead pulled off her cap. “See, my hair is starting to grow.”Nathan stared at her head where he could barely see a strand and then chuckled. He pulled off his cap too, bowed his head, and then showed her his. “Mine too.”“But…” Natalie tilted her head. “I can’t see any hair there.”“Same. There is no hair on your head either.”They dropped eyes on each other, and Elena pressed her lips, thinking Natalie had taken offense at his comment when her facial expressions literally went unreadable.Sh
“So, you’re not going? Really?”Zeke ignored Ryan totally, his head buried in his laptop and the man shook his head. Ryan exhaled and collapsed in the chair opposite Zeke and palmed his face.“Your daughter… Natalie is getting discharged today and you really are not going there?!”Still, he was mute. Maybe if Ryan peeped to check what Zeke was typing continuously on the keyboard, he would see that the only word he kept typing was ‘Natalie.’“You know, you are an asshole, right?”Still, he was mute.“She is leaving the hospital today. It means she is hale and healthy already. It means she can move around freely and you can meet her as you please, you know?” Ryan reminded him.When Zeke did not answer, he leaned closer, pushed the laptop shut, and then hissed.“What are you planning? I can swear that you are not busy and you were typing shit right there.”“C… could you see them home safely?”“Dude, that is your duty, not mine!” Ryan snapped with creased brows.Zeke nodded his head, exh
Elena looked out of the door for the umpteenth time and then sighed before she returned to stab a piece of apple in the bowl in her hand.“Give up. He’s not coming,” Ariana breathed out.“Who?”“I know you are waiting for Zeke.”“I am not!” She denied and Ariana nodded her head.“Besides… how did you know he is not coming?” She asked.“It’s been almost a week. He left without telling you and has not returned since then. He didn’t call you either.”“Something… might be wrong with him,” she shrugged her shoulders off.“Something like? Chloe was here and she didn’t deliver any bad news, so, what something?” Ariana asked.Elena sniffed, bit her lower lips, and then turned to look outside again.She did not want to admit that she was worried, but deep down, she knew she was.He was supposed to be here…He had promised he would be by her side till Natalie got discharged.He left that morning and had not returned since then.He didn’t even call her!She suspected so strongly that her father
“Did something happen?” Ryan asked Zeke again. This time, he had pulled the car gently into his compound and had followed him out of the car.Zeke had kept mute the entire time in the car and even though he and Chloe had thrown random jokes, or started random conversations with the hope that he was going to join, he kept mute still.Still, Zeke said nothing and made an entrance to the big door of his house.“No, I am certain something happened. What is wrong? You said you were going to stay for a while. You said you wanted to see your daughter.”“Ryan…” Zeke finally exhaled and swallowed.Entering the living room fully, he turned around, dropped his eyes on the couple, and then palmed his forehead.He was keeping his feelings bottled up. He felt like he wanted to cry.But, he was a man and he should not cry, right?But, fuck that.He had little regret in his life, but this…?He would forever regret it.It was something he could have controlled. He did it anyway. He thought it was the
When Ray suddenly burst into laughter, Zeke’s eyes fluttered as though he had said something very funny. He tilted his head and then sighed.“Sir?”“Is this some movie show?”“You asked…”“How much do you want, Zeke?”“I have answered you.”Ray shook his head, “My daughter is not an option.”“Everything I did is for my family, father.”“I am no father of yours and they are not your family either.”Dumbfounded, Zeke nodded his head and then smacked his tongue. “Sir.”“I am grateful to you for what you have done for our family. For my grand daughter.”“It is my responsibility as her father.”“You have no responsibility to fulfill, dear,” he chuckled rather sarcastically.“So, see her as much as you want to while we are still in the hospital. Elena included. I can assure you that will not happen again after she has been discharged.”“Fath—”“You can’t have her again!” He snapped and then palmed his forehead.“You don’t even deserve her.”“I will make myself worthy of her again,” he said.
“Are you sure? If it were up to me, I’d suggest that you stay here for a few more days,” Elena said, worry plastered across her face as she watched the man who did his shirt button.It was early the next morning and Zeke had already asked to be discharged even though the doctor had suggested that he should spend at least a day more.He insisted that he was good already and that he had no other complaints and if he did, he'd let the doctor know.“He does not listen,” Chloe who stood beside Ryan rolled her eyes and hissed.“I don’t like it here. I could not sleep well in that bed,” Zeke snapped his brows together as he glanced at the bed.“As if you’ve ever slept well in any bed,” Ryan rolled his eyes.Zeke swallowed, moved over to Elena, and then dropped his hands on her shoulders.“I am fine. I promise.”She exhaled, nodded her head, and then sniffed. “You better let me know if anything goes wrong again.”“I promise. Now, we gotta wait till Natalie gets discharged, right? The surgery