4.
1666 Words
Chapter Four – Determined.
Seeing his wife he loved so much, shoot him daggers at him was enough to break Dominic’s heart. And his sons were hiding from him?
Why exactly were all these happening?
“I said, I’m Dominic Thales and I recovered from the coma. Can you stop acting this way in front of our sons?” his voice wasn’t very audible.
“Did I hear you say ‘our sons’? You're retarded, young filth!” Lady Allen rose from the car. “How dare you address my grandchildren as yours…”
“Rebecca! Just shut up! I’d engage you when I’m done with Brielle!” Dominic scolded her immediately, using her first name.
Brielle was stunned and looked from her mother to the man. Did they know each other?
Security ran towaeds Dominic held unto him before he could resist.
“Brielle, it’s me. It’s really me!” but he slapped across the face by a security man.
“Even if you’re her husband, you don’t have a place here. But you’re obviously not! Don’t you protesters tire of pranks!” Lady Allen yelled.
Pranks? Protesters? Was it what they thought he was? Had people claimed to be him in the past? Was that Lucian called him ‘bad people’.
Many thoughts ran through his head as he was dragged by security. His heart grew heavier than it had been when his wife was taken from him.
At the moment, she had rejected him herself, and in front of their sons.
He was thrown out the building. His fragile body laid there sprawled unable to move, having no will to either.
With the glass frame of the building, he looked again at his sickly frame. Was it because he looked this unrecognizable?
After all, she had never seen him unhealthy and only knew him for a year plus.
“No!” he forced himself up. “That isn’t enough reason for her to say those words to me!”
His eyes stung and tears threatened to spill. If a man claimed to be her husband, all she had to do was ask certain questions and know the truth.
“It just felt like she didn’t want it to be true.” He muttered. Had she not be anticipating his return like he had been anticipating their reunion?
His legs didn’t want to move from where they were but Dominic forced them up with strength from his pride.
He was Dominic Thales, heir to Thales empire! Brielle may be confused but if he got back on his feet then all shadow of doubt will be cleared.
“I need to find to get back my wealth or I’d get sick from not feeding properly.” He mumbled.
With slow steps and slumped shoulders, he returned to a dark and eerie incomplete building, which he called home while hoping the good Samaritan might have dropped another meal.
“I don’t deserve this.” he sighed, when he was before the building and it seemed to hate him for being more pathetic than it was.
He kicked the door opened and rushed inside. Maybe he should lay down his aching body and things would fall into place by themselves.
“What if all these were a dream? And I’m still in a coma?” He paused, asking himself out loud.
“No, sir. You’re in reality.”
Dominic jumped, almost crashing on the wall on hearing a strange voice. He raised his fists, turning to the stranger.
A tall man with neck-long hair and lifeless eyes was seated on the ground, legs folded. “Nice to meet you, Young Master Dominic Thales.”
Dominic took down his hands. The man could recognize him? It felt like ages since he’d been called 'Young master'.
“Do I know you?” he asked.
“No, you don’t. You only knew my father.” The stranger left the ground. “My name is Jamie.”
Dominic shook his outstretched hands, still watching him carefully. “So what’s up, Jamie?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to awake. Actually, I stopped waiting but it’s good you woke up.” Jamie held up a contract. “My family has been serving yours for the past twenty years. I’m the last generation according to my grandfather.”
Dominic stretched his neck to peek at the contract. Saunders Family, till the twenty-first generation, butlers to Thales Family.
The reason wasn’t quite clear but Dominic suspected it could be related to good deeds his predecessors did.
Also Dominic’s last butler was a Saunders so he knew the family. Jamie took out an ID and picture. “The contract binds me to take over my father’s role as your butler. This is my ID to show I’m who I say I am and this, a picture of my father and I.”
Fond memories filled Dominic’s mind as he saw Mr. Saunders, the man had been nice to him and taught him soccer. He was like an Uncle figure.
“How’s your father doing? He must have felt bad about our family falling to ruin.” Dominic looked down.
Jamie paused, then exhaled,. “My father was killed, along with your grandmother.”
Dominic’s shot up quickly. “What? Killed? Why! How? Didn’t my grandmother commit suicide?”
“It’s not clear and that’s what autopsy says, but it could have been tampered with.” Jamie replied with a frown.
Dominic took steps back, refusing to believe his grandmother was killed? That’s assassinated? Just like his mother?
Jamie continued. “Would it be sensible for your grandmother to kill herself while having Lucas and you in a hospital? My father’s death was definitely set up and it seems hers, as well.”
Shivers ran down Dominic’s spine. Had every death in his family been set up? His fists clenched so tightly it hurt him.
Who’s after his family fiercely? And why were they after them? His mother and grandmother were both assassinated? And then Lucas was left alone.
“Did he really abandon us?” Dominic asked.
Jamie nodded. “He ran away for his life, very shameful. I’m sorry to bombard you with all these information now but…”
“It’s fine.” Dominic slowly slid to the floor. “I didn’t really feel much while in coma. I like being able to feel all these pain.”
Jamie looked away, then around his vicinity, he noticed the empty pizza box and smirked. “That was a family size. Did you finish it in one night?”
Dominic looked and followed his line of sight. He gasped. “By any chance, where you the one who bought it for me? The good Samaritan?”
“That’d be my sister. She washed the rag cloth too. She’s a lawyer, currently fighting for the last 15% of wealth under the Thales name.”
There was only 15% left? Dominic remembered Lucas informing him that 85% was lost. “How did our company fall?”
Jamie exhaled. “Best find out yourself. Also, if my sister retrieves your wealth, the world will know you’re awake again. Even your enemies.”
Unknown fear gripped the Dominic. “Make her stop. I’m not at full health and can’t start running the company. Also, I need a plan.”
His wife and children could be targeted next by whoever was doing this. Things would move quickly the moment he’s announced alive.
“Very well. I had been searching for Lucas. He will be brought back by next week.”
Brought back? Dominic frowned. “Will it be that easy? Wasn’t he adopted …”
“No, the family returned to their country and dropped him at an orphanage. He’s been treated badly for being a Thales.” Jamie explained.
Dominic frowned. Why did the world resent his family so much even when they had fallen so low. “I understand.”
“I’d adopt him under my name until it’s revealed you’re alive. And to conclude everything, you’d be staying with my sister to regain your health. I’d work on the investigating the deaths and your accident.” Jamie said.
“My accident?” Dominic repeated. Was there a mystery behind his accident? Hadn’t it just been an accident?
“Don’t tell me you think it’s a normal accident?” Jamie chuckled. “C’mon, think smarter.”
Dominic frowned. Indeed, he wad about being CEO of Thales group before it happened. Thales group died months after.
That’s not an accident but a set up. “This changes everything. My life is really at risk.”
There was three seconds of silence between them before Dominic exhaled loudly. “Allen group.”
A ghost of a smirk came on Jamie’s face. “Yes, they’re the first suspect. Brielle Allen had taken millions from the Thales account before it fell.”
Brielle Allen? “Did she change her name?”
“She divorced you too. I don’t blame her, your marriage was for convenience and short-lived anyway.” Jamie sighed.
“Excuse me?” Dominic snapped. Did he just mean that their marriage was never based on love? Like an arranged marriage?
It mirrored what Lady Allen said and it bothered Dominic. Was that what the world thought of his marriage with Brielle?
Memories of the embarrassing reunion he had came back to him. Was it a convenience to Brielle too? She gave up on him quite quickly.
Noticing Dominic’s turmoil state, Jamie sighed.
“Let’s head to my sister’s apartment for now. I’d get you a smartphone and you check what she’s been up to. She’s basically a celebrity now.”
Dominic inhaled and exhaled deeply, leaving the building feeling heartbroken and unbelievably shocked. “Brielle doesn’t want me back.”
His legs felt weaker but he held unto a wall. The only thing he could do was get back his rightful position. He’d get back to her after that.
- Writer
