His Return: Revenge Of The Rejected Son-in-Law

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

“Mom! Mom!” Geraldine cried, clutching the phone as chaos unfolded outside their company.

“Geraldine? Why’re you calling at this h—” Sierra’s voice cut off.

“Government officials are here. They’re locking everything down. It’s on the news! Shareholders are pulling out fast.”

“What?!” her mother gasped. “How is this happening?”

“That’s not even the worst part. A man named Peter Raymond claims he owns the company now. He even has the real documents, Mom. I don’t know how he got it.”

Two days had passed since their failed plea to Alexander. He refused to help unless they confessed publicly.

Geraldine hadn’t told him about the pregnancy, afraid he’d think she was manipulative after claiming the baby was Ethan’s.

Ethan hadn’t contacted her in days too. Now, with the company collapsing, fear gripped her.

“What do we do now?” her mother whispered, panicked.

“Do you think Gilbert—Alexander, is behind this?” Sierra asked, turning on the TV.

She expected updates on the company’s crisis as Geraldine had said, but the headline that flashed across the screen stopped Sierra cold.

> BREAKING NEWS:

Ethan Dalon, heir to the Dalon Group and fiancé to Geraldine Brook, was involved in a fatal car accident earlier today. Witnesses reported he was completely drunk and was driving when he collided with a truck. Ethan survived and is currently hospitalized in critical condition. Doctors say his chances of survival are slim.”

The remote slipped from Sierra’s hand.

“G-Geraldine… Ethan…” she stammered.

But it wasn’t sorrow she felt, it was fear.

If Ethan died, the alliance with the Dalons would collapse. Their family’s legacy would be in ruins.

“Oh God… why is everything falling apart?” Geraldine sobbed over the phone.

“What do we do now?” Sierra whispered.

Was the only option left… doing exactly what Alexander demanded?

“I don’t know what to do anymore, Mom,” Geraldine whispered, brokenly. “I’m exhausted. If I’d known things would end like this, I never would’ve treated Gilbert that way. Maybe I’d be his wife now… carrying his heir… not stuck in this mess.”

Her voice broke. “I’ll do whatever he asks—even go to jail. Maybe I deserve it. But first… we’ve to meet at the hospital. If Ethan survives, there’s still a chance.”

Sierra wiped a tear, clutching the phone. “Alright. We’ll meet and figure things out.”

But what neither of them realized was that they were not alone.

From the shadowed hallway just beyond the door, two figures watched, Uncle Ryan and Diana, Geraldine’s younger sister.

Diana crossed her arms, a cold, cruel smile playing on her lips. “Let the game begin… Uncle,” she murmured.

Ryan’s low chuckle echoed softly in the quiet room. “So your mother and your sister thought they could cheat us… and walk away free?”

“They have no idea,” Diana said, sharply. “No idea how wrong they are. Buckle your belt uncle because this's gonna be a ride.”

They high fived each other, sharing a kiss.

*****

Upon arrival at the hospital, Geraldine found her mother and Ethan’s parents already waiting anxiously. She collapsed into her mother’s arms, sobbing.

Sierra held her, whispering, “It’s going to be fine,” though Geraldine doubted it.

Turning to Ethan’s mother, whose eyes were red and puffy from crying, Geraldine asked, “Have you seen the doctor attending to him?”

Ethan’s father, Jasper Dolan, responded instead. “Yes. He said we can’t see him yet as his condition is… critical.”

Then, with a hollow stare, he added, “The strangest part of all this is, my son doesn’t drink. He never has. He avoids alcohol like the plague. He only likes being alone, never intoxicated. Something about this doesn’t add up.”

A heavy silence fell as doubts grew.

Geraldine suddenly felt dizzy and weak, sinking into a chair. Her head throbbed. Could Alexander be behind all this? Could he be so heartless as to risk innocent lives for revenge?

“Are you okay?” her mother asked gently.

Geraldine forced a smile. “Yes, I’m fine.”

The doctor emerged from the ward. Jasper hurried forward. “How’s he?”

The doctor shook his head gravely. “His condition remains very critical, as I mentioned earlier, but we’ve managed to stabilize him, for now.”

He paused, then continued. “There is a risk he could slip into a coma. The glass that pierced his head has caused severe brain trauma, and even if he survives, his brain function may never fully recover.”

A hush fell over the room.

“But the most difficult part,” the doctor continued slowly, “is that his right leg has been badly damaged. It'll need to be amputated.”

Gasps rose. Ethan’s mother sobbed quietly. Geraldine reeled.

Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through Geraldine's abdomen. She doubled over, clutching her stomach, blood dripping from her mouth.

“Geraldine!” Sierra cried, rushing to her side.

Sierra gasped as she saw blood pooling beneath Geraldine. The doctor and nurses rushed over and hurried her to a ward. The burning pain spread through Geraldine’s body, each wave worse than before.

A final spasm shook her, and though she tried to scream, only blood came out.

Then, darkness took her.