I checked on Marcus through the window. He was sound asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily with each breath.
Once I ascertained his safety, I picked up the call. “Hello, may I know who’s calling?”
A familiar voice drifted through the receiver. “Ms. Stanhope.”
I knew without a doubt that this was Anthony.
His tone was unique, cold like the lakes in late autumn with an inexplicable charisma. It was easy to recognize.
Ironically, his call felt like winning the lottery. I didn’t expect someone as powerful as him to call me voluntarily.
I collected myself and calmed my nerves. “Mr. Featherstone, how can I help you?”
“I have the results of your paternity test with Gregory. I’ll send someone to pick you up.”
I noticed that I was already used to his concise manner of speaking.
“You’ve caught me at a bad time. I’m at the hospital.” I turned around and checked on Marcus once more. “My friend is alone in the hospital, and I can’t just get up and leave. Can we reschedule?”
Anthony seemed to completely ignore my request as he talked over me impatiently, “Ms. Stanhope, do you know how many thousands of people are employed at the Featherstone Corporation?”
“Huh?” Surprised, I nodded though he couldn’t see me. “I’ve seen it on the news. Why?”
“To accommodate a change in my schedule, thousands of employees will have to change their schedules as well. Ms. Stanhope, are you sure you want to be responsible for a change like that?”
My jaw fell open at his statement. What was I thinking? That I could outmaneuver a businessman at the top of his field?
In the end, I could only tell him the address of the hospital.
He hung up immediately after I ended my sentence.
Impatient jerk! What a rude b*stard!
I was left staring at the call log of my phone. I decided to ask the housekeeper to come and take care of Marcus.
Marcus woke up just as I pushed open the door.
“Did I wake you?” I asked apologetically.
“No.” He shook his head weakly. He looked even paler after his short nap.
After some hesitation, I said, “Marcus, I’m leaving for a while as I have some things to attend to.”
Marcus’ half-awakened eyes promptly lit up, and his inflection elevated a notch. “To see who?”
I replied with a stutter, “It’s…”
He did not wait for me to finish. “Go ahead if you want to, but be careful. There may be something more to the traffic accident than meets the eye.”
His tone was calm, but his words discouraging.
I nodded. “I understand. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
With that, I poured a glass of water and left it within his reach. “Rest up first. Mrs. Kingsley will be over soon.”
“Okay.”
……
I left only when Mrs. Kingsley arrived.
I was about to hire a ride when a black van honked at me.
Its number plate was not unfamiliar to me. Anthony had once unloaded from this vehicle when he moved in next door to Marcus.
I instinctively reached over for the handle. When the door to the rear seating opened, there sat Anthony.
Cautiously, I withdrew my hand. “Mr. Featherstone?”
“Get in.”
Anthony spoke briskly and without much emotion, so much so that I was unsure whether I had imagined hearing him.
I caught a glimpse of his fingers rapping upon the armrest ever so often. Their movements were casual yet confident. Only then did I understand that he had been waiting for some time, so I promptly lowered my head and entered without a fight.
The soundproofing inside the vehicle was excellent as it was relatively quiet even while we traversed the bustling commercial district.
I was first between us to break the silence. “Have you found out the results of the paternity test yet, Mr. Featherstone?”
“Not yet.” Anthony’s lips lifted somewhat patronizingly before he went on to light up a cigar for himself.
My body had been subsisting on medication and supplements during this period and was more sensitive than most. I cupped my nose inside my knuckle against the smell of tobacco drifting toward me.
In the next moment, the windows to the side steadily lowered.
When I turned, I saw that the freshly lit cigar was now resting quietly inside the ashtray. With the inside of the car completely ventilated by the night breeze, the scent of the tobacco quickly dissipated.
I felt warm inside and pursed my lips as I regarded him and his considerate gesture.
Anthony’s gaze was directed forward and unwavering. The calmness that was also reflected in his gaze made him hard to decipher.
Shortly, the car rolled to a halt.
Joseph came up to open the door. “Mr. Featherstone.”
It would appear that he, too, had been waiting for a while as well. Upon detecting my presence, he bowed in greeting. “Ms. Stanhope.”
He then walked himself to Anthony’s right and whispered into his ear as he led the way.
I followed behind in silence with a clamminess inside my palms.
Even though it was conclusive enough over on Marcus’ end, I could not help but hope for some luck and some surprises going in.
We did not have to wait very long before the doctor arrived with the paternity test report in hand. A bunch of the specialized terminology was broken down and explained, but it was all Greek to me.
Anthony must have noticed my unease. He stretched out his legs and said staidly, “Be concise.”
The doctor immediately closed the file and replied solemnly, “Ms. Carlette Stanhope and Gregory Hall are not biologically related.”
“No?” I could not mask my disappointment. Could it be that Marcus was right while Emery and the rest were mistaken about this?
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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