THE RETURN OF THE DEAD HEIR

ART PIECE.

0007:

Philip asked, with confusion boldly embedded on his face.”My parents ?”He wondered how the divorce issue he had just shared with her was related to his parents.

He started to feel like he was giving too much information to a stranger. The question is was she a stranger?

Clarissa remained quiet, making herself invisible because she felt they were having a serious conversation. But Lady Margaret didn't mind; she was like family after all.

Clarissa's mother used to be Lady Margaret's caretaker for years, but now that her mother has passed, she decided to stick around and help out despite the number of maids in the huge mansion.

She was fond of her, and Lady Margaret adored her. She watched Clarissa grow into the woman she has become today and supported her and her mother endlessly.

Lady Margaret asked, “Are they alive?”

“No, madam. I'm an orphan” Philip answered her.

“Oh, I see.” She became quiet, letting out a faint smile, “But you should have known them ?”

Philip explained,“ Back then when I was brought to the orphanage, I couldn't remember anything from my past. I don't even know my parents' names, talkless of what they look like.”

She sat, turning her back to Philip, bringing her hair to her neck, all the strands tilted to her left shoulder. Touching her neck, she said, “This birthmark looks just like yours.”

Taking a closer look, he fazed out and mumbled in awe with his pupils dilated. She was indeed correct.

Philip recognized this exact birthmark. He had it on him for as long as he could remember, almost resembling a moon-shaped symbol.

He was shut of words as he tried to make sense out of everything.

He glanced at the wide portrait in the living room, which he didn't pay much attention to before.

He saw a painting of a man that looked very similar to him and it baffled him. As though a mirror was placed before him and he could see a reflection of himself.

Could Philip be the young boy the Williams family had been searching for?

Long ago, on Lady Margaret's grandson's tenth birthday, the Williams family went to the beach to celebrate him.

Everything was going smoothly and tranquil until the little child was nowhere to be found.

They searched for him everywhere but he wasn't found. Freddrick and his wife did not give up; they didn't stop looking for him.

They wanted his body found either dead or alive. But years passed and they kept getting sorrowful news no matter the agencies they hired to find him.

Some reported to them that he had been kidnapped and others said he most likely drowned on his birthday.

So Freddrick, declared his son dead. He and his wife lost hope after trying countless times.

But what if he wasn't dead?

“Uh wow, God really did create us in two. I must say, We look extremely alike.” He said, marveling at the sight of the painting.

Lady Margaret moved closer to Philip and said, “That necklace. Where did you get it?”

Philip glanced at the gold jewelry with the crescent moon pendant in his fingers, he smiled faintly as though the he was reminded him of a good memory.

As he said, “ My guardian at the orphanage gifted me this necklace on my fifteenth birthday.”

Her eyes flew open, her heart jumping out of her chest as she spat,

“How come? I gave my grandson this jewelry on his tenth birthday. The crescent moon symbol represents protection and growth. It is a treasured and highly valued piece of the Williams legacy which was passed down to me and inherited from my mother.”

“ There is only one design of this jewelry in the whole Lebanon city.”

Clarissa began to sob, “Oh dear, it's him. Is that you Sparky?” She questioned.

Clarissa's childhood was spent in the Williams villa because her mother worked for Lady Margaret.

She spent a lot of time with Lady Margaret's grandson. She even gave him the nickname Sparky, because they were best friends.”

Letting out a joyful sigh she screamed, “ It's a miracle?!!” Sparky is alive!”

Philip's gaze wandered; it was a mixture of confusion, shock, and disbelief. How could this be true? “Is this a dream ?” He thought in his heart.

A part of him wished all of this was real, he always wondered what it felt like to have a family. But it couldn't be.

“Sparky?” His green eyes glistened with awe, and he let out a lengthy sigh. “My name is Philip, not sparky, please! “ His voice dashed though the room.

“Your name is not Philip; your name is Cedric, Cedric Williams." Lady Margaret said.

She was no longer doubting her hypothesis anymore, she was so certain that Philip was her grandson.” Her instincts tinged her.

“How could this be true? There must be a misunderstanding somewhere!” He said, baffled. Finding it hard to believe that all these years he had a family.

A cloud of sadness hovered over Lady Margaret's shoulders, her body shivered at his words as her eyes withered away with pale hope.

“Let's leave it in the hands of science! Clarrisa, dial Doctor Grey's number now! Philip, you are doing a DNA test.” She uttered authoritatively.