THE HEIR'S VENDETTA

CHAPTER 008

Alphonse had hoped for fairness, perhaps a chance to tell his side of the story, but reality had other plans.

"But I didn't—" he began, his voice tinged with desperation, trying to find some understanding in the manager's eyes, but the manager simply raised a hand, cutting him off.

"The decision is final," the manager stated, a note of regret in his tone that did little to soften the blow,

 "You need to leave now."

At a nearby table, Vivian and Geoffrey shared a look of victory, their scheme having worked flawlessly. 

The other customers started murmuring, their voices a mix of sympathy, judgement, and indifference.

"Can you believe that?" whispered one customer to another,

"Thrown out just like that."

"I heard he was causing trouble," someone else chimed in, eager to spread the rumor.

A woman shook her head, whispering to her companion, 

"Seems harsh. Didn't even let him explain."

And from a corner, a man muttered to his friend, 

"Drama's always good for business, eh? Makes the day go by faster."

Feeling a storm of emotions; anger, humiliation, but most of all, injustice, Alphonse forced himself to relax his clenched fists and took a deep breath. Without responding, he turned and left, his departure heavy with the weight of unfairness.

As he walked away, the boutique's chatter picked up once more, the incident quickly dissolving into just another tale in the day's ongoing saga.

With nowhere else to go and feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders, Alphonse decided to visit his sick mother at the hospital. 

As he made his way through the bustling streets, the sky darkened, and a heavy rain began to pour, drenching him to the bone. 

He barely noticed the rain; it seemed like just another stroke of bad luck in his already terrible day. His heart was as heavy as the rain, with the downpour, blurring his vision.

Unbeknownst to Alphonse, a sleek SUV and a limousine had been trailing him from a distance. Lost in his thoughts and despair, he didn't notice the vehicles or their significance,

Even if he had, the idea that they might be following him for any reason would have seemed ludicrous.

Just as the hospital came into view, a figure stepped out from the limousine, blocking his path, Alphonse stopped abruptly, his eyes widening in surprise. The man before him was dressed in an expensive suit, the kind of attire Alphonse had only seen from afar in the boutique. The man bowed slightly, a gesture of respect that seemed completely out of place, na Alphonse blinked his eyes with a scrunched forehead as he stared at the man,

"Please, sir, you must come with me. You're soaked through," the man said, concern evident in his voice.

Alphonse's brows furrowed in confusion and suspicion,

"I... I can't. I'll ruin your car," he protested, looking down at his drenched clothes, the water dripping onto the pavement.

The man dismissed his concerns with a wave of his hand,

 "Nonsense. The car can handle a bit of water. Besides, I'm here on behalf of a friend of your mother's."

"My mother?"

 Alphonse echoed, his voice laced with disbelief. His mind raced. How could his mother, struggling to pay for her surgery, know someone who rode in limousines? 

"That... that doesn't make any sense."

The man, sensing Alphonse's hesitation, softened his expression,

 "There's a lot you don't know. Please, let me explain everything. But not here, in the rain."

Alphonse clenched his fists at his sides, the rain soaking him to the skin making him shiver, his eyes darted between the car and the way that lead to the hospital.

He gritted his teeth, torn between suspicion and the desperate hope that somehow, this could help his mother. 

After a moment's pause, he reluctantly nodded, following the man to the limousine. The warmth of the car enveloped him as he entered, a stark contrast to the cold rain outside.

"I'm Peter," 

The man introduced himself as they settled into the plush seats, 

"I work for Jake Edmund. He's... your father."

 Alphonse couldn't help but let out a loud, disbelieving laugh,

 It sounded absurd, completely out of the blue. The rain was pouring down harder now, the sound of it hitting the roof of the limousine filling the silence that followed his outburst.

"You're joking, right?" 

Alphonse said, the laughter dying in his throat as he saw the serious look on Peter's face. His brows knitted together in confusion, a frown forming,

"How is this possible? My father rich?"

Peter simply smiled, a calm, patient smile, and replied, 

"I understand your skepticism, Mr. Alphonse. But I assure you, I am quite serious. Your mother, Hannah, has been a friend of Mr. Edmund's for a very long time."

At the mention of his mother's full name, Alphonse's heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened slightly, a spark of interest lighting up in them. The skepticism that had been etched into his features began to waver, replaced by a growing curiosity.

"How... How do you know her name?" 

Alphonse asked, his voice quieter now, tinged with a mix of hope and suspicion. He leaned forward slightly, his fists clenched on his knees, the earlier humor fading away.

Peter, noticing the change in Alphonse's demeanor, leaned in as well, lowering his voice as if sharing a confidential secret,

"Because, Mr. Alphonse, I've been keeping an eye on your mother's situation for quite some time. I care deeply for her, and by extension, for you."

Alphonse's jaw tightened, his teeth gritting together as he processed Peter's words. This was a lot to take in, and his mind raced with questions.

 He felt a strange mix of emotions, anger for not knowing about this mysterious benefactor earlier, hope that perhaps his mother's situation could improve, and an overwhelming sense of confusion about how he fit into all of this.

"Why... Why now?"

 Alphonse managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper. He felt his body tense, the muscles in his arms tightening as he tried to brace himself for whatever was coming next.

Peter reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Alphonse's shoulder,

"Because now is when you need to know the truth," he said softly.

 "And I'm ready to explain everything. But not here. We should head to the hospital. Your mother is waiting."

Alphonse looked into Peter's eyes, searching for any sign of deceit. But all he found was sincerity. He nodded slowly, the decision weighing heavily on him,

 "Okay, let's go," he said, his voice steady but filled with a mix of apprehension and a flicker of hope.

As the limousine pulled away, Alphonse sat back against the plush seat, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind. 

He looked out of the window, watching the rain blur the city lights, the droplets racing down the glass in a chaotic dance. 

Despite the warmth of the car, a chill ran down his spine, the enormity of the situation settling in. He was on his way to see his mother, and possibly meet the father he never knew he had.