Scars before his crown

Chapter Seven

Lewis scratched his head, unsure how to answer.

Madam Sarah gestured to the chair beside her. “Sit down.”

Lewis nodded and took a seat.

She smiled warmly. “What’s your name?”

“Lewis, mom,” he replied.

A joyful expression lit her face. The name stirred something in her memory—but there was something else that made her smile. “Wait… did you just say ‘ma’am’?” she asked.

I said my name is Lewis,” he said, trying to be clear.

Sarah shook her head slowly, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “No, not that— the word you said right after your name.”

“Mom?” Lewis repeated, a flicker of surprise in his voice.

She smiled through tears, wiping them away gently. Then she looked at him, her voice soft but steady.

“You know, I have a son too—his name’s Lewis. If he were still here, he’d be just like you by now. It’s been years since anyone’s called me ‘mom.”

Lewis nodded, sensing the pain behind her words. Then he asked softly, “What happened to your son? And what do you mean, if he was around?”

Sarah sighed deeply, her eyes filling with tears. “I lost my son...” She paused, her voice breaking.

Shaking her head, she tried to compose herself. “Let’s change the subject. Tell me—why were you in that condition yesterday?”

Lewis hesitated, then shook his head. “I don’t think it’s right to talk about it. I don’t want to trouble you.”

Sarah looked at him, her eyes soft yet firm. “If I were your mom, would you say the same? Or is it that you don’t want to share because I’m not?”

Lewis shook his head quickly. “No, no, that’s not it. Life’s just been tough lately.” He then began to tell her everything—his run-in with Sasha, getting kicked out of class, the job hunt, and finally, the attack.

Sarah listened closely, her brow knitting with concern. “They disrespected you just because you’re not rich? Is that how people treat others now?” She frowned. “What about your parents? Where are they?”

A bitter smile flickered across Lewis’s face. “They’re dead and gone.”

Sarah sighed deeply, her eyes full of sympathy. “Oh my, that’s heartbreaking. What if I gave you enough money for yourself? You could start a business—one million dollars wouldn’t be too much.”

Lewis swallowed hard, the weight of the amount catching in his throat. Who just hands a stranger a million dollars? And he didn’t know a thing about this woman—Sarah.

“No, thank you. I appreciate what you’ve already done. That’s enough.”

Sarah chuckled softly. “I had some clothes bought for you last night. Let me get them. We’ll deal with the money later.” With that, she stood up and walked off.

As soon as she left, Lewis looked around in awe.

“Damn, this is what people mean by wealth. Just this room alone,” he muttered. Then a thought hit him.

“Oh sh*t, David and Jude must be looking for me since I didn’t come back yesterday,” he realized. He pulled his phone from his pocket and tried to turn it on, but the cracked screen made it hard to see.

“My phone’s damaged too. Guess I’ll have to find a way to get a new one,” he muttered, slipping the phone back into his pocket.

Within minutes, Sarah returned to the hall, carrying two gift bags in her hands.

“These are for you—take a look,” she said kindly.

Lewis nodded eagerly and picked up the first bag. When he opened it, he froze, stunned. He looked up at Sarah, almost speechless.

“Lu... Lui... Louis Vuitton,” he stammered, disbelief in his voice. Inside was a complete Louis Vuitton outfit.

Sarah smiled. “Yes, it’s yours. Now, open the next one.”

Lewis swallowed hard and reached into the second bag. He pulled out a box, handling it carefully before opening it.

To his amazement, a pair of red Louis Vuitton shoes lay inside, the price tag still attached.

“Wow!” Lewis exclaimed. He’d never worn anything so expensive—and he was genuinely grateful.

Caught up in the moment, he reached out and took Sarah’s hand. “Thank you, Mom. I really appreciate this.”

Sarah smiled warmly in return. Just then, a lady entered. “Madam, the food is ready. Please come to the dining area.”

Sarah nodded and turned back to Lewis. “You must be starving. Come join me in the dining room,” she invited.

Lewis eagerly agreed—he was starving. He followed Sarah to the dining area.

Once there, Lewis was shown to a seat, and Madam Sarah took her place beside him. The room was elegant, the table set with impeccable taste.

The attendant began serving, bringing out a feast of exquisite dishes: thermidor, lobster, truffle risotto, and beef Wellington. The aroma was irresistible, making Lewis’s stomach growl. It had been ages since he’d enjoyed a meal like this.

As the meal went on, a bottle of the finest Leroy Musigny Grand Cru was brought out. The red wine was poured into crystal glasses, its rich scent filling the air. Lewis studied the label, realizing this was no ordinary wine.

“Enjoy yourself, Lewis. Feel at home,” Sarah said with a gentle smile.

Lewis nodded happily and began to eat.

Just a few minutes into the meal, the calm was broken by the sudden entrance of the man who had gone to fetch the prescribed medication. He burst into the dining room, clearly out of breath.

Sarah turned to him immediately, her expression shifting to concern.

“Asher, what’s wrong? Where are the drugs? And why are you panting like that?” she asked, her brows knitting together.

“President Sarah, please—I need to speak with you. It’s urgent,” Asher said, his voice tense.

Sarah sighed, visibly annoyed. “Can’t you see I’m eating?”

“I understand, President,” Asher replied, nodding quickly. “But this is serious. You have to come now.”

Sarah glanced at Lewis. “Please, go ahead and enjoy your meal. I’ll be right back.”

Lewis nodded and continued eating, though the exchange had stirred his curiosity.

Sarah followed Asher into a quiet corner of the hallway, irritation flickering across her face. “Asher, seriously? Can I not eat in peace? What is it this time?”

Asher looked like he’d seen a ghost. He swallowed hard. “Madam… the tracker—it’s active. Your child is nearby.”

Sarah froze. Her eyes widened. “What? Where? Take me there now, before we lose track again.”

Asher didn’t move. His face twisted with something between disbelief and fear. “That’s the thing. The signal… it’s coming from inside this house.”

She stared at him. “What?”

Asher nodded. “I triple-checked. It's here, Madam. Someone under this roof is the person we’ve been looking for.”

Sarah’s heart skipped. Her tone sharpened. “Are you saying we’ve had them here this whole time—and no one noticed? Did you even check properly?”

Asher nodded, his voice firm despite the tension. “Madam, you know the computer department—we’ve got skilled people. That’s the data I received, and when I followed the signal, it led me right here.”

Sarah blinked, trying to wrap her head around what she was hearing. “Are you serious?” she muttered, shaking her head. “Call one of them. Now.”

Asher didn’t hesitate. He pulled out his phone, dialed quickly, and pressed it to his ear. “What’s the current location now?” he asked, his voice low and urgent.

A voice crackled on the other end, calm but firm. “Butler Asher, you’re right there. Just take a few steps—you’re close.”

Sarah’s breath caught in her throat. She turned sharply to Asher, her voice rising with urgency. “Call the number. The one we linked to the tracker. Call it now—let’s see who answers.”

Asher nodded and quickly ended the call, then dialed another number.

The moment he pressed the call button, Lewis’s phone began to ring.

Question: Who do you think Lewis really is?