The Illegitimate Heir

Chapter 4

“Please, let me have your number, and here is my card too. We need to talk soon.” The lawyer told Adrian before leaving as well.

Still reeling from the unexpected event, guilt stabbed into Adrian's chest when he realised he only had a few minutes before the visiting period ended.

He held the now-lukewarm food and ran towards her wing, earning disapproving looks from the nurses and others.

He patted the hand cream in his pocket. Though it had burst during the beating, there was still enough in the tube to be used.

The nurses knew him, so they didn't bat an eye as he headed to her door.

He knew he had to be fast, though, or someone would come to send him out soon.

Two years. It's been two years since she had slipped into a coma from an incident no one would admit was Daniel's fault.

Two years that Adrian had committed to caring for her and staying by her side while others had seen it as a waste of time.

The doctors had said having relatives around who could talk to them and bring familiar things had been known to help coma patients in the past.

Daniel had scoffed and called it a load of bullshit.

His father had said the company was at a crucial time and sparing such time beside someone was out of the question.

So Adrian had stayed.

The incident had happened on the night he decided to finally cut ties with his family, but after what happened, he stayed.

For her.

Adrian hurriedly opened the door. He was already opening the bowl of wonton, smiling as the fragrant smell wafted out.

“Familiar sounds, touch and smell are what she needs,” the doctor had said two years ago.

He had always ensured he bought at least one of her favourite meals when he was coming,, so that the scent would fill the room while he massaged the stiffness out of her limbs and talked to her.

“I am sorry that I am late today,” he started talking even before looking at the bed.

He placed the wonton on the table and turned. “You won't believe what happened to…”

He paused in his stride as he saw the empty bed.

Fear clutched at his chest as he looked around wildly.

A look towards the far right corner brought relief flooding into his panicked heart as he saw her.

“Mum, you are awake!”

A rare full-blown smile kissed his face as he rushed forward eagerly.

“Why did nobody tell me you are awake?” he asked excitedly as she turned her head from the window to him.

Like ice-cold water splashed on hot coal, the excitement in him died away as he saw the look on her face.

Disdain.

Stern-faced, straight-backed, and blue-eyed, piercing Adrian like he was a fly that dared to enter her territory, Patricia Lenning’s mouth turned down as her voice rasped out.

“You? Why should anyone tell you anything?”

Why is it that no matter how thick-skinned you train yourself to be, some barbs still find a way to lodge into your throbbing flesh?

That was the question in Adrian's mind as he muttered, “Mum?”

“Why are you the one here? Where is Daniel?”