One True Heir

Chapter 5

It was a flaming hot afternoon in Luckham, the capital city of Glazzaton. Mr. Robinson Osborne was sitting in his penthouse, inside his lucrative compound when he heard footsteps approaching from behind.

“If you're not here with news of my son then get out," he roared without looking.

“Sir, I came to inform you that Usman is bringing the young master as we speak. They're close, I'm sure they'll be here soon," the guard said from behind. There was a loud car horn from the main gate.

Robinson Osborne jumped to his feet with a huge anticipation on his face.

“It seems like they're here, sir." The guard announced, and Robinson Osborne ran out of the house to welcome Jake.

Outside the compound, Jake darted his eyes in amazement as a shred of unshed tears hung in his eyes. “Home sweet home," he muttered, fighting back his tears.

The gate went wide open, and they drove into the large compound. Jake widened his eyes with his mouth open agape as he admired the beauty of the compound.

Everything seemed new to him, whereas, in fact, nothing had changed.

Clearly, he missed home so much. They drove past several mansions with large gardens till they arrived at the penthouse.

Robinson Osborne came out of the house and saw Jake standing right outside. He couldn't believe his eyes. The joy on his face as he stared at Jake was priceless, but Jake couldn't return the same.

Memories from his old-time kept crawling back. He kept remembering how his father maltreated him and his mother till her untimely death.

“I can't do this,” he whispered to Usman quietly.

"I just can't. I can't forgive him. Staring at him alone makes me wanna punch him in the face,” he said, and Usman sighed deeply.

"Trust me, son, your father knows that. He is not expecting you to forgive him so quickly. It's a process, and we'll get through it.”

Seeing the situation, Robinson Osborne came further with his eyes fixated on Jake. “My boy!" He muttered with a sobbing voice.

"I'm sorry for everything that you've gone through because of me, son. I know life hasn't been kind to you. I pioneered your hardship and suffering, but if you give me a chance to right my wrongs, I promise that I will never fail you again.”

Jake was dumbfounded. Tears gathered in his eyes as he stared at his father.

“Why didn't you listen? She would be alive today if you had listened to me.”

“You’re right, son. I would never forgive myself. My actions that day hunt me even till this moment, and it will haunt me till my time on earth elapses.”

Jake gasped softly and retreated a little.

"Just so you know, I blame you for the death of my mother, and it's never gonna change. As long as I'm concerned, you killed her," he growled and clenched his fist in anger.

A security guard came forward to intercept them, but Robinson Osborne shunned him and pulled Jake into a warm hug.

“I'm just happy that I get to hold you again, Jake. You're my son. For that reason, I've decided that from today henceforth, you will handle everything I have in my name. What's mine is yours, for you, are my One True Heir.”

Jake stood in amazement, his gaze fixated on his father's as he tried to understand his motive. He couldn't believe that his father's action was genuine.

A round of applause followed suit from the Usman and the security guard on the scene. Jake had never felt so important. He darted his eyes around, and his gaze met with different expressions.

One thing was sure, they were all happy for him.

“Come, let's dine together,” Robinson Osborne interrupted. He led the way with Jake by his side, and Usman and the guards followed closely behind.

***

At exactly 4 pm the same day, Georgina had closed for the day. She decided to stop by the hospital and check on Jake.

As she drove her brand new Mercedes Benz to the hospital, the thought of Jake being awake struck her like an imagination, but she waved it aside.

When she arrived at the hospital, she went directly to his ward with a red flower she had gotten for him as a gift.

As she pushed the door open, her gaze fell on the sick bed, but to her greatest shock, there was no one there. She paused with a puzzled expression like she had seen a ghost.

“Oh my goodness! What happened here? Where could he have gone?" She muttered, immediately a nurse walked into the ward with a file in her hands.

She stopped when she saw Georgina standing over the bed all by herself.

“Excuse me, can I help you?" She asked, and Georgina chuckled.

“Of course you can. You see, I'm looking for a patient who has been staying here for the past three months. I mean the accident victim."

“Oh! You mean Jake?"

“Yeah, Jake. Do you know what has happened?"

“Yeah, of course. I'm surprised that you didn't hear. I mean the story is all over the hospital and beyond," the nurse said.

“What story?" Georgina asked with so much curiosity.

“A fleet of expensive cars came to pick him up yesterday. My gosh! You need to see the kind of scene they caused here. I don't know who that guy is, but he surely is someone powerful. Maybe a president or someone close to the president.”

Georgina scoffed and rolled her eyes in disbelief. “I'm talking about Jake!" She said, raising her voice at the nurse.

“I mean, Jake is a nobody. He can't be the one you're talking about. Surely, there's a mistake somewhere. You know what? Forget it. I'll just talk to the doctor instead,” she said and walked out of the room.

Outside the hospital, Georgina stood next to her car with her face buried on the floor. She gasped as she began to imagine what the doctor said to her after she left the nurse earlier.

Several thoughts crossed her mind, and as much as she would like to discredit the nurse's testament, she heard the same from the doctor. For that reason, she found herself believing every word of it.

Confusion and Uncertainty engulfed her as she stared at the ground in silence. After a short time, she entered her car and drove away.