04

A man could be seen, pacing around his room. Anger and worry evident on his face.

A woman walked in, carrying a tray of food. She kept it on the desk beside the bed and went close to the man.

“Honey, are you still bothered about Morgan ?” She asked softly, making her voice as coquettish as it could be.

“Why did that asshole choose to come home at this period ?!

What made him change his mind so suddenly?!. I can't believe he would go back on his own words”

“Whether he comes or not, I'll make sure Klein's industry becomes mine. I worked hard for it, while he was abroad, living an extravagant life.”

“Morgan I'll make sure you regret coming home!” Xavier swore through gritted teeth.

“Morgan can't possibly take over Klein's industry, Father-in law trusts you now and your mom won't let that happen.”

“Now come and eat, the food is getting cold” she smiled and dragged him to sit on the bed.

Xavier is Morgan's step brother.

After Morgan's mother died while giving birth to him, his father married Cecilia, his secretary, who happened to be pregnant with his child after a one night stand.

Xavier was the product of that night, he was a few years younger than Morgan, making Morgan his elder brother.

Morgan was nursed by one of the nannies employed by his mother, not until Cecilia was married into the house. She fired the nanny, leaving Morgan to cater and take care of himself, even though he was barely three years old.

Cecilia did everything in her power, in order to gain Gilbert's favor, so as to make Xavier the next heir to Klein's industry, but Gilbert knew better than that.

He sent Morgan abroad to study there. While Cecilia and her son remained in the Philippines.

Cecilia was happy with Gilbert's arrangements, thinking he left them in the states, so Xavier could know more about the affairs of the company.

But all of that seemed to be her illusion, when Morgan graduated from college, and Gilbert asked him to come back so as to take over the company since he was Mentally capable.

Cecilia was so angry, that her hard work all these years to gain Gilbert's favor was all in vain.

Things changed when Morgan turned down his father's offer, refusing to come back to Manila, neither did he agree to take over the CEO's position.

Morgan's refusal to Gilbert's request was the best thing that happened to Cecilia, she was so overjoyed while making more plans in order to make her son the next CEO to Klein's industry.

After some years, Gilbert fell sick making it impossible for him to take care of the company's affairs alone. He already decided not to discuss the company's affairs with Morgan nor did he bring up the CEO's topic again.

While he was sick and was admitted to the hospital, Xavier became the temporary CEO, managing the affairs of the company while his father was sick.

Deep inside of him, he did not just want to be the substitute alone but the CEO himself wanting the position to belong to him and only him alone.

Not long after he became the CEO, Morgan came back home.

His sudden arrival caused anger and murmur between Xavier and his mother. They least expected him to arrive, at least not so soon and sudden

Olivia was glad that she didn't meet anyone, while she went to get their belongings from her father's house. She was sure to gather all important stuff belonging to them.

Back in the hospital, Olivia went back into her mother's ward. The pale woman was still asleep.

She stared at her mom's face, after a long while she smiled and made space for herself and laid down.

******

Morgan strode out of the car, with Nicholas next to him. They walked majestically into City hospital.

It was Morgan's first time visiting his father after all those years he went abroad.

Knowing the particular ward his father was in, wasn't a big deal all thanks to Nicholas who took time to find out and get the room card.

He had an aloof and an unreadable expression, as he walked past the reception and went into the elevator.

Finally getting to his father's ward, he stared at the metallic door, a glint of tenderness appeared in his eyes, but it was quick to disappear.

He swiped the card and the door opened. Morgan walked in and Nicholas followed suit, although he didn't want to get in-between the father-son discussion, but he had to greet the middle aged man.

Morgan's dark gaze darted around the large and luxurious room, it was more a room than a ward.

One needn't be told that the room was reserved specially for VIPs and Gilbert Klein was one of them.

Morgan's gaze stopped on his father's body. His gaze trailed slowly from his head to his feet, which was covered with milky quilt.

After all these years, he father didn't seem to change at all, if not for the exception of his slightly aging pale face and his thin body.

Nothing else seemed to change.

He drew out a chair and sat down, still observing his father's face. Although he couldn't point it out, something seemed off about his father's illness.

The old man seemed to notice their presence, he abruptly opened his eyes and stared around the room then it stopped on Morgan, who had a mischievous grin on his face.

Gilbert widened his eyes in surprise as he stared at Morgan's face. His face filled with shock and bewilderment.

“Matandang lalaki” Morgan said, a proud smirk forming on his lips. He pulled his chair closer to the bed.

(Matandang lalaki means Old man in Tagalog.)

“You! What are you doing here?” Gilbert spat out angrily, suddenly looking away from Morgan's face.

“You're about to die, to take over the company of course” Morgan smiled broadly, staring at his father's angry expression.

At this moment Gilbert felt he wouldn't die from his actual illness but by Morgan's harsh and mean words.

His face turned purple as he fumed with intense anger.

“Are you here to watch me die ?, After all these years, you finally decided to show up just to watch me die. What kind of son are you ?”

“ A filial and generous son. I wouldn't let you die here, not now. You still need to hand all your documents over to me”

“And why would I do so ?”

“It's simple, because I'm your son,” he said and flashed a mischievous smile at his father.

“Get lost!” Gilbert yelled and closed his eyes in anger.

“Don't you think you're overacting ?" It might not be good for your health. I don't want you to die yet, not when I don't have access to your properties yet.”

Gilbert shot him a glare and looked away.

Morgan grinned proudly, knowing how well he irked his father and how well the old man's falls for it.

Cough! Cough! Cough!

Gilbert wiped his lips with the milky coloured napkin he was holding.

Morgan saw a few drops of blood on the napkin. Suddenly his face darkened, but returned to normal just immediately.

He opened a bottle of water and handed it to him.

“Drink up” he muttered.

“Rest more, I'll visit you some other time. You look pitiful and miserable” Morgan sneered and got up to leave.

“Morgan…..” Gilbert's voice trailed off. His voice was laced with a hinge of tenderness and yearning.

“Don't be a cry baby and miss me already. I would visit you again. Just make sure to take your medication daily as instructed”

With that said, he nodded to Nicholas who was mute during the discussion. They got up and left the ward.

Outside the ward. Morgan paused in his steps and glanced at Nicholas.

“I want all the medical reports before Dawn. Don't forget about the doctor handling it.” Morgan ordered, his voice was cold.

(Tagalog is the language used in the Philippines by Philippine's citizens)