The Rise Of Nicholas Hensaw

Chapter 19

"What?" Linda was stunned. She turned to Nicklaus and asked, "You know what you're rejecting, don't you?"

"Yes, I do, and I'm not interested. I didn't help treat your grandfather to receive a favor from you, sir. The business you're offering has many problems—you're not doing me a favor but yourself. Once it's back on track, I'd be cast aside," Nicklaus said, causing the old man to look down thoughtfully.

"You're a smart young man, son," the old man said, attempting to stand.

Old Man Fin had never planned on being so generous; he wanted the company restored to profitability, and as Nicklaus had correctly identified, Nicklaus would be doing him the favor.

"Son, would you consider taking my name?" the old man asked.

"No," Nicklaus said firmly.

"It would be your middle name, and you could pass it to one of your sons so all your concerns would be addressed," the old man explained.

"Everything would be documented legally. You'd be in charge of the hospital and medical aspects of my properties," he added.

Nicklaus paused momentarily, considering the offer. "I need time to think this through," he finally said, and the old man nodded.

"I should go now," Nicklaus said, turning to leave, but the old man stopped him.

"Very well, son. I'll wait for your response," the old man said before Nicklaus departed.

When Nicklaus arrived at the hospital, he saw his sister being wheeled out in a wheelchair.

"I'm sure your brother is behind bars now for whatever he's done. You have no reason to be here—this place isn't a charity," Gabriel declared.

Nicklaus was stunned, thinking everything had been resolved.

He spotted Stella beside Gabriel. She wasn't trying to stop him; instead, she was patting Rita on the head mockingly.

"What are you doing? What's happening here?" Nicklaus demanded, shocked and unprepared for this scene.

"What does it look like? You're lucky you didn't get arrested," Stella said, placing her hand on her hip.

"Stella, what do you mean? Why are you acting this way? This is the last behavior I'd expect from you," Nicklaus said, but Stella narrowed her eyes.

"You'd better believe it," she replied.

Nicklaus shook his head in disbelief. As if cheating wasn't enough, now she was humiliating him publicly—this was the final straw.

"You know what? I think I've tolerated your behavior long enough," he said, walking over to where his sister sat. She was so weak she could barely stand.

He placed his hands on the wheelchair's handles and began rolling her away from the hospital. With no money for a taxi, they'd have to walk.

"Wait, wait! What do you think you're doing? Did you buy that wheelchair? Come on, carry your sister and leave the wheelchair behind," Stella said angrily. Gabriel stood with his arms crossed, watching her berate Nicklaus.

Nicklaus was quiet for a moment, unsure what to do. Stella had betrayed him before his very eyes, and everything still felt like a nightmare.

Nicklaus swallowed hard and rolled up his sleeves.

"I can walk, brother. You don't need to carry me," Rita said weakly.

Nicklaus didn't respond. He simply lifted her—she was light because she'd barely eaten properly in weeks.

"Wait, are you leaving just like that? I hope you're not planning to go to my house," Stella said with a frown.

Nicklaus paused and raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?" he asked, frowning, but Stella just laughed and narrowed her eyes.

Suddenly, a car pulled up where they were standing outside the building, and a tall man in a black suit got out.

"Took you long enough," Stella said when she saw the man.

He approached Stella, carrying a stack of white papers.

"Here are the documents you requested, ma'am," he said, handing the papers to Stella.

After reviewing the papers briefly, she stepped forward with a cruel smile and handed them to Nicklaus.

"What is this?" Nicklaus asked, taking the papers.

"Why don't you see for yourself," she said curtly.

As Nicklaus flipped to the first page, his eyes fell on the words: "Divorce Agreement."

"Divorce?" he asked, and she nodded, slowly removing her wedding ring.

"This cheap ring you gave me—I'm always embarrassed to wear it, especially around my friends," she said, throwing it at Nicklaus.

Nicklaus looked down at the ring. This was the ring his mother had worn before she died—it was the only valuable thing she'd owned.

He picked it up from the ground and brushed off the dust that had collected when it fell. He put it carefully in his pocket.

He looked at Stella one final time and said, "I need a pen."

Stella scoffed in disbelief. "You ungrateful bastard! After everything I've done for you, you won't even beg me not to divorce you?"

Nicklaus responded with silence.

"You know what? I don't think you deserve anything from me. I was planning to give you some money as divorce compensation, but you're not worth it," she added, expecting Nicklaus to plead with her, but he didn't.

"May I have a pen?" he asked again. The lawyer handed him one, and without hesitation, Nicklaus signed the papers.