CHAPTER 147

Kyle King

 

I tried to open my eyes, but the pain surging from my head made me close them immediately. There were voices. A familiar one I hadn’t heard in awhile. No. It couldn’t be her. I was probably dreaming, or the blows to my head had done more damage to my brain. I tried to stay awake to listen to the voices, but I slowly lost consciousness. 

I felt a calm hand on my wrist and slowly opened my eyes. The room was bright, and I squinted to adjust my eyes to the light. There was a face looking expectantly at me. Mom. No, not Mom. She was truly here, and I wasn’t dreaming. Tessa.

‘Finally, you decided to wake up. We thought you were enjoying the unconscious stage.’ Tessa said, smiling.

I tried to get up, but the pain at my side made me rethink my decision. ‘You’re really here. I thought I was dreaming.’

She smiled, holding my hands. ‘Xavier showed up at my office and told me what happened about a week ago. I couldn’t leave immediately because of work activities and the kids, but I am here now, and that’s what matters, right?’

I nodded, enjoying the feel of her hands. ‘Thank you, Tessa. You said a week ago? You mean I have been in a coma for a week?’

‘Not a week, but two weeks if we add today. The doctors predicted more than that, but you have put them to shame. How are you feeling?’

‘Wow, that’s a long time.’ I replied, amused by what she said. I didn’t know blows could make one go into a comatose stage. ‘My body hurts and my head bangs like they are playing soccer in there. I feel thirsty too.’

She smiled, giving me a cup to sip from. ‘Do you remember what happened to you? Xavier thinks you were attacked as you arrived home. You couldn’t give much information when you were brought here.’

I sipped the water, trying to remember what happened, but my memory was cloudy. I knew there was a sports car parked in my driveway as I stepped out of it, but I couldn’t recall the colour or plate number. 

I shook my head. ‘I can’t remember what happened, Tessa. As I dropped from my car, I was focused on my phone, and the shadow came, throwing blows at me. I couldn’t defend myself because of the suddenness of the attack. Who found me?’

‘Your mother and bodyguard. They were inside the house when they heard noises and stepped out. They say you are lying near the car, unconscious and bleeding from every corner. They couldn’t find anyone around the premises.’

I shrugged. ‘The person would have fled after attacking me. I think it was more than one person, though, because I heard laughter as the attacker assaulted me.’

She nodded. ‘Your mother thinks so too. There were the footsteps of more than one person, according to the cops. They are still conducting their investigation and waiting for you to give an account of what happened.’

‘I don’t have anything that can help them.’ I paused, thinking about the sports car. ‘There was a sports car in my driveway when I arrived home. It was hidden on the treeside, so one would have noticed it, though. That’s all I remember.’

‘Alright, I think that can help the cops. You don’t remember the colour?’

I shook my head. ‘No, I don’t. My memory is cloudy at the moment. Maybe I will remember something later.’ I looked around the room; it was large, with a nice television and couches around the place. I must be in a private, exclusive room. I trust my mom to do something like this. Where was she anywhere?’ 

As if reading my mind, Tessa replied. ‘Your mom wanted you to be in one of the safest rooms in the hospital. She believes the attacker might try his or her luck again. She’s at home, retsing. She was here throughout yesterday. Xavier is outside with the kids. You want to see them?’

I nodded, smiling. Hope and Nicholas. I had missed my kids. ‘Yeah, bring them in. I have missed them so much—not Xavier, though. That guy's a pain in the ass.’

She laughed, ‘And yet, he was the first person you requested to see when you became conscious a few days again. He’s been here since you arrived at the hospital and is still watching over activities in your company. I appreciate your best friend, okay?’

I scoffed. ‘You are supporting him because he is always on your side, Tessa. Anyway, Xavier is the best friend ever, but don’t tell him I said so. He won’t let me hear the end of it.’

She stood up. ‘I won’t, I promise. I will get the kids and him. Are you hungry?’

My stomach grumbled. ‘Yes. I want hamburgers and nice milkshakes, please.’

‘You are such a teenager, Kyle King. Grow up, okay?’ She chuckled, closing the door with a silent click.

I smiled, replaying the incident in my mind, and the only person I could suspect who was capable of this foul play was Avaline. After the little incident in my office, I was certain she would have done everything to get back at me. I would leave the cops to do the investigation, of course, but I would ensure that she paid dearly for what she did.

I looked up as the door opened. The kids run towards me, giggling my name. They immediately started talking at once about everything I had missed and reminded me about their birthday, which was in less than three weeks. I promised them I would be there and would bring gifts too. I groaned loudly when Hope jumped on my bed. Tessa quickly took the message and escorted them out with a promise to buy them ice cream.

‘Kyle, I never thought I would say this in my life, but I was scared. I thought we were going to lose you. Welcome back, brother.’ Xavier smiled, walking towards me. 

He had stood in the corner of the room watching the kids, and I gisted. Smiling and observing.

I replied, grinning. ‘You finally admitted that you have feelings for me. Thank you for your genuine concern, baby brother.’ 

He chuckled, shaking his head. ‘You would never change. How are you feeling? Better? Sore?’

I shrugged, holding a pain that shot into my shoulder. ‘The body still hurts, but I will be fine. What’s the update on the cops?’

‘Nothing yet. I guess Tessa has already told you that they need your statement, right?’

I nodded. ‘I don’t know if I will be able to help with their investigation, but you can let them know I am conscious now.’

‘Alright. I need to return to Planet O before your executives fly in here with their troubles. I wonder how you deal with them. They're venomous and draining.’

I laughed, wishing him good luck. We talked a bit about the King’s company and the new branch and promised to return immediately. He dropped the latest update on my health. 

I fell asleep as soon as he left. Seeing the kids had made my day more than I expected.