CHAPTER 7

It was Marianna. 

 

The boy-looking woman was also his sister. He was older than her but her physique made him scared. He thought she was the lady of the house.

 

“What the hell are you doing? Arthur is your elder brother.”

 

“So what? We don't know who he is for years and now he makes an appearance. Who knows if he is even an imposter!”

 

“What?!” 

 

Diana walked in too standing right beside her sister. Graciela who was seated all along also stood up.

 

“You were here all along yet you allowed him to touch our father? What if he was here to kill him?” Marianna shouted at his sister who jerked backwards in terror.

 

“I am as good as dead. Arthur is my son. Can't you see the resemblance?” The father answered, forcing himself to keep up with the conversation. 

 

The three girls were his headache.

 

“You don't look alike, Father. He must be an imposter. We should send him away”, Diana suggested, folding her arms around her bosom. Marianna was still glaring at Arthur.

 

Trying to summon up enough courage, Arthur looked away from her threatening gaze and moved towards his Father. They had cut short their crying moment.

 

“Where the hell do you think you are going, you scumbag?!” Marianna yelled, storming forward to grab Arthur.

 

Arthur dodged and ran to his Father’s side. The old man coughed, raising a hand up to stop his daughter. When she wasn't obeying him, he tapped on a red button on his side desk which rang out, making the room go silent immediately.

 

A second passed and a pin drop could be heard as a result of the silence.

 

Suddenly, the door opened and two guards rushed in. Father pointed towards Marianna and her sisters. “Get them out of this room this instant.”

 

Arthur could tell that his Father wasn't the type of Father who would raise spoilt brats like his sisters. From his firm yet weak voice, he could tell he was a disciplinarian when he was healthy.

 

The girls protested except for the older one, Marianna who wouldn't stop glaring at Arthur angrily. It made Arthur feel like an intruder. And unwelcomed.

 

He didn't expect that kind of hospitality.

 

“Why are you scared of her? She is your younger sister!”

 

Arthur didn't know what to say so he just nodded and smiled, hoping their Father wouldn't have to melt out punishment to any of them because of him.

 

“Sit”, he muttered weakly, holding his hand. 

 

Arthur sat beside him and they watched each other in complete silence.

 

With the same black curly hair. The same green eyes. The same straight jawline. And the same expression.

 

When he smiled, Arthur smiled too.

 

“Welcome home, my son”, he patted Arthur’s back, resting his head back on the headboard and closing his eyes. Arthur saw a flash of regret the moment he flickered his eyes open. “I know you have been through a lot and I am so sorry for that. I didn't mean to keep you away.”

 

“I know”, Arthur said sharply, wanting him to get rid of those regrets etched deep in his heart. 

 

He was forgiven and it was time for him to forgive himself too.

 

His Father smiled.

 

Of all the questions he was hoping to ask his parents whenever he met any of them, Arthur asked what he never thought he would ask. “Did you love my Mother?”

 

It caught the man off guard. He remained silent for a while before nodding. “I did.”

 

He tapped on a blue button from the side desk from earlier and someone entered. “Get me the documents”, he told him.

 

The guy bowed and went towards a drawer, dragged it forward to reveal a safe. He pressed the passcode to the safe before opening it. Minutes later, he stretched the documents at Arthur.

 

“This is Jim, my right-hand man and the second trusted person aside from Uncle Derrick. Jim will be your Personal Bodyguard and Personal Assistant and he will tell you every single thing you need to know about the companies, shares and properties that belonged to me which will become yours as soon as I pass on.”

 

Arthur shook his head.

 

He was just getting to know the man but he was already talking about death.

 

He didn't want him to die.

 

His father smiled at his reaction. “Don't let Marianna or any of her sisters get to you. Don't let whatever they say hurt you. Don't let them make a fool of you. You are my son, my first fruit and the only heir to the empire of the Craigs. Henceforth, I want you to stand your ground and take up your role just as you should have a long time ago. Marianna is your younger sister, and so is Diana and Graciela. If any of them disobeys you, punish them.”

 

Arthur didn't know if he could do that but he nodded anyway.

 

“Put everyone in their place but he is kind. Be generous. Be humble and the sky is just your limit.” He closed his eyes and opened them again. He looked extremely tired and worn out. “I should rest a bit. Can we talk later?”

 

“Yes, Father”, he mumbled, pushing back the choking tide of panic in his throat. At the thought of losing his Father and also at the thought of what the future had in stock for him.

 

If his Father was gone, how was he supposed to face everyone else? How was he supposed to act? Would he be able to behave like a Craig? Would he be able to take up the responsibilities his Father was tasking him?

 

He was terrified of it all.

 

He watched Jim help his Father back on the bed and he fell asleep almost immediately.

 

Jim led him out and he followed till they got to another room. When Jim opened it, the first thing he noticed was how spacious it was just like the room they just left.

 

“This is your room, my Prince”, Jim informed him with another bow which made him uncomfortable.

 

“I would prefer you call me Arthur and stop bowing”, Arthur chuckled, hoping they could be friends.

 

Jim smiled back. “I'm sorry, I can't call you that. It is against…”

 

A piercing shout reached out, cutting Jim short as he rushed out, Arthur followed. Marianna was seen running up the staircase while Diana was crying on the landing.

 

When Marianna saw Arthur, she raced towards him, yanking at his dirty shirt before slapping him across his face and yelling. “You killed him.”

 

Confusion sets in.

 

He didn't know what she was talking about but he knew he didn't kill anyone. In just a few moments of knowing Marianna, he knew she was one desperate bitch and would do anything to have him thrown out.

 

Perhaps, it was a set-up.

 

She might be lying about him killing someone so he could lose his Father’s trust and be thrown out.

 

Remembering his Father’s word about not letting her get to him and standing his ground, he yanked her hand free from his shirt before replying firmly. “I killed no one.”

 

Diana got up and stormed towards him too. “You son-of-a-bitch! You poor fellow! You think you can appear from nowhere and kill him so you can get it all?!”

 

Jim was quick to stop her from attacking Arthur. He turned to Arthur and whispered. “It's the Prince. He is not breathing.”

 

“What?!” Arthur exclaimed loudly, thinking he misheard Jim.

 

Without a word, he ran past Jim before heading to his Father’s door. When he kicked the door open, lying there was his Father whom he had a conversation with a few minutes ago, all pale and breathless.

 

Pain struck his insides and he screamed out. “No!”