It was a dark rainy day and like always, Angela had no where to stay. People snickered as they passed beside her while they were under their umbrellas. Sobs escaped from her mouth as she thought of how much she was suffering. Her parents died at birth and she was brought up in an orphanage home. As soon as she was of age, she was sent out of the orphanage with nowhere to take shelter in.
She had thought her life would be better since she could still live in the orphanage but unexpectedly, she was sent out of the orphanage one sunny afternoon after she saw an extravagantly dressed woman walk into the orphanage.
Ever since she had left the orphanage, life hasn't been easy for her. She had tried doing menial jobs, but when she thought things were going smoothly, she'd be tossed out back into the dump she came from.
Angela watched as people took shelters under their umbrellas and ran into their house.
She wished she had an umbrella to keep her from the rain. She knew that after the rain ceases; she would not have it easy because she was going to have a fever that'd take a week to relapse.
Angela staggered on her steps and collided with a couple.
"Are you blind? Yes, your life is miserable but don't make our lives also miserable," the husband of the wife the collided with yelled as he glared at her.
As expected, his wife had a look of disgust on her face as she stared at Angela like she was an incurable disease.
This wasn't the first time she was receiving those looks, but she still felt pained. No normal human would want to be given that look of disgust.
Angela was oblivious to the pair of eyes trained on her from afar. The person stared at her deeply wanting to dig a hole in her body.
"I.. I'm sorry," Angela apologized as she bowed her head repeatedly. Her voice sounded groggy and was like the voice of a serial killer. The couple who had opened their mouths to scream at her fled as fast as their legs could carry them as soon as they heard her voice.
Angela smiled as she saw them flee. On normal occasions, if such a thing happened, she'd always be bullied but now, she was thankful that her voice made them run. This time, she was thrilled about the rain.
She didn't notice that there was a vehicle heading straight at her. Just as she raised her head to look at the source of the noise she was hearing, she was flung five meters away from her former position and she landed on the floor with a loud thud!
Blood spilled out of her mouth as she used her last bit of energy to touch her stomach. She felt immense pain in her stomach the moment she placed her hands on it.
Her eyes became blurry, but she could still hear the footstep of someone walking towards her.
'I hope I die so I can leave this miserable world. Mum, Dad I'm coming to meet you'. Angela mumbled as darkness took over her.
"Hey! You carry her gently. We are heading to the hospital". The voice of an old man who was pointing at his driver rang out in the silent street.
The driver remained motionless as he scrutinized the man pointing at him. Was this really their boss? Their boss never cared about things like this, but that didn't mean he was a wicked man, neither was he nice.
"Jude! I'm talking to you!". The old man yelled as he slammed his walking stick on the floor, making his driver, who was called Jude, flinch.
He immediately ran towards the fragile-looking girl and did as he was told to.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the hospital closest to their location and they took Angela into the emergency room.
Jude watched as his boss stared at the door of the emergency room unblinkingly. He had never seen his boss show an interest in outsiders. What was special about that girl? He mumbled as he stared at his boss unblinkingly.
"You're going to bore a hole in my head if you keep staring at me that way," the words of the old man snapped Jude back to reality. He smiled sheepishly as he looked anywhere but at his boss.
The loud ringing of a phone was heard in the silent hallway. Thinking it was his phone, Jude immediately searched his pocket. He knew that the old man hated noises, but now an unfortunate being had to make his phone ring so loud. He stared at the doctor's and nurses who were working in the hallway and silently prayed for their souls to rest in peace. He knew that the old man was a short-tempered man and the fact that the owner of the phone ringing didn't answer the call wasn't something he was happy about.
He scrutinized the pockets of the people passing by, looking as if he wanted to know whose phone was ringing. Hold on.... why did the ringtone sound so familiar and why were these people staring at him?.
Jude had a question mark on his face as he raised his left eyebrow at the people staring at him.
"Sir, please answer your call and if you don't want to, kindly switch it off. This is a hospital and not a place you can do as you please," a nurse stood before Jude and glared at him.
Meanwhile, Jude had the same reaction anyone in his shoes would have. His mouth was agape as he stared at the daring nurse.
"Answer my call? What do you mean?", Jude asked. Confusion was seen on his face, but the tired nurse was having none of it. She was about to open her mouth to speak when the old man beside him butted in.
"Would you close your mouth and do as she asked? This is a hospital! Answer your call or you switch your phone off," the old man said calmly, but Jude was no fool. Behind that calm facade was the devil's son. Jude was confused. The incessant ringing of the phone made patients come to look at the source of the noise.
Seeing that he was under different scrutinies, Jude had no choice but to bring out his phone from his pocket. Then he showed the blank screen to everyone silently passing the message, 'you damn people! It's not my phone'.
The moment he did that, everyone eyed each other, wanting to find the culprit. Suddenly, the nurse who stood Jude, brought her face closer to his, then moved her ear towards the source of the sound. As she did so, she didn't realize that there was a change in temperature until she came face to face with a pocket. Slowly, she raised her head and the owner of the pocket came in her line of sight.
It was none other than Jude's boss, the old man who was glaring at the nurse. The nurse froze and awkwardly stood straight. Jude noticed the change in the countenance of the old man and realized something was wrong. He had been working with the old man for over ten years and he was aware of everything about him. Currently, his boss's expression was that of awkwardness.
Something suddenly struck in his brain and he realized that the reason for his boss's awkwardness was because it was his phone that was ringing.
The old man coughed awkwardly and brought out his phone from his pocket while avoiding the piercing gazes of everyone. Seeing this, Jude wanted to laugh, but as a driver and bodyguard, he had to do his job.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you guys. I apologize on his behalf". Jude apologized while bowing.
Minutes later, the hall was free of people and everyone had dispersed, but Jude was bothered about the incessant ringing of the old man's phone. Why is he not answering the call? He was about to ask this when he saw the old man click on the green icon on his phone and the ringing stopped. But....
"What! The reporters! Those people can't put their asses in a particular position. They really love interfering in my life! Fine! Let the bodyguards come. What I'm doing is none of your business, hmph!". The old man harrumphed and immediately hung up without listening to what the person on the other lying was saying.
Jude was familiar with the old man's behavior and, judging from the tone he used, the caller was his daughter-in-law or his second son.
Jude could make out the things the caller said from the old man's response. The reporters had sniffed that he was in this hospital and they were packed outside and now, the old man needed bodyguards to guard him against those damned people.
Sure enough, as soon as he thought of this, he felt a tap on his shoulder and saw the hold man looking deeply into his eyes. Jude raised his eyebrows, looking confused.
"Get ready, those nosy people are back again," the old man answered Jude's silent question and Jude nodded his head in understanding.
"Sir, it's been three hours. I know you'd be hungry? What would you like to eat?". Jude asked, looking expectantly at the old man. Like always, the joy of the old man telling him what he wished to eat was crushed when he threw a glare at him.
Jude took his seat, not daring to offend the old man again.
"I'm going outside to address those rats. Come along,"the old man said as he stared ahead of him.
Jude turned and that was when he realized how crowded the entrance of the local hospital was.
"Sir, you can't go outside yet. There aren't enough guards to protect you". Jude argued and once again, he was ignored by the old man who had begun walking towards the crowd of reporters and journalists.
He had no choice but to follow behind the stubborn old man.
As soon as they opened the door, flashed of light flashed and the shuttering of cameras resounded everywhere. Jude immediately spoke up on seeing how uncomfortable the old man was because of the blinding light.
The reporters and journalists dared not go close to the old man. Though he was old but his history could never be forgotten. They didn't want to be one of his scapegoats, so they stood in their lane, not daring to bombard the old man.
"Please switch off the lights of your cameras or it'd be ceased". Jude spoke up coldly. The reporters and journalists immediately did as they were asked but still kept on taking photographs of the old man.
"Mr. Brown, we would like to know the reason for your visit to this hospital. Are you sick?", a bold reporter asked loudly, making other reporters speculate.
"Hmmm, good question.... I'm not sick and neither is any of my family member sick. The purpose of my visit is best known to me, so I'd like it if you'd not disturb the patients and doctors in this hospital with your noises, ", the old man said with anger laced in his voice. He turned to walk into the hospital as soon as he said this. Both the reporters and journalists all went back to where they came from dejectedly.
Jude sighed in relief and followed behind the old man. Jude watched as the patients and nurses stared at the old man in awe. Yes, this was the legendary Mr. Brown, who built his business empire at twenty. Brown's empire was the richest industry in the country and in some other countries. They had different branches. They ignored the stares as they continued walking.
They had just gotten to where they formerly sat when the door to the emergency room opened. Two doctors and two nurses sighed tiredly as they walked out of the ER. A doctor stopped before Jude and Mr. Brown.
"Were you the one who brought that lady in?". The doctor asked as he stared at Jude. Jude immediately nodded his head while stylishly staring at the Old man brown.
"How is she?". Old man brown asked coldly as he glared at the doctor who ignored his presence. Was he invincible? Hmph!
"She's lucky you brought her in as soon as possible. If you had taken longer to bring her, she'd be long gone by now," the doctor said, not minding the glare old brown was throwing at him.
Just then, a group of bulky men dressed in black suit ran towards them. The doctor visible swallowed hard as he sized them up. They looked so terrifying, but why are they here?
"Who are you guys?". The doctor asked, trying to sound brave. All he got was a blatant snort, and they all bowed to the old man, who had been glaring at him. Who was this man? His question was answered when he heard a guard call out to the old man.
"Mr Brown, no I mean Sir Brown... I'm sorry I meant Old Brown, your grandson asks you to head home". The guard stammered as he bowed deeply. No one noticed the small smile hanging on his lips. He had intentionally taunted the old man cause it was fun seeing the old man get mad at his grandson.
The old man didn't get annoyed, but smiled at the guard as soon as he raised his head.
"Hmmm, I'm going home soon, ", the old man replied as he stared at the fragile-looking lady lying unconscious on the bed in the ER (emergency room).
The doctor starred at old Brown wide eyed and mouth agape. To say it surprised him was an understatement. So, this was the legendary old Brown? He was the man he ignored! The doctor inwardly slapped his head times without numbers while biting his lower lip. If only time could be reversed, he'd definitely greet Old Brown properly.
The doctor snapped out of his thoughts when he realized they had caught him staring. To cover up his awkwardness, he forced a cough out of his mouth while covering his mouth with a handkerchief.
"I'm taking her along with me". The old man said curtly while using his chin to point towards Angela's frail figure.
"I'm sorry but the patient is not...", The doctor immediately stopped talking when Old Brown coldly glanced at him.
"Haha, don't mind me. I'll prepare everything she needs for her discharge," the doctor said while scratching the back of his neck.
Thirty minutes later, Angela was pushed out of the hospital and placed in a white van. It looked like an ambulance, but the difference was that this van didn't have a siren.
The van began moving, with rows of vehicles and jeeps following closely behind.
They arrived in city H in no time and they immediately took Angela to the best hospital in city H, which was owned by the Brown Empire.
Angela groaned as she tried opening her eyes. She couldn't move any part of her body, which made her think she was paralyzed. Angela grew agitated and forced her eyes open while groaning loudly. As soon as she took in her surrounding, she heard a voice....
"Could you please marry my grandson?".
Unknown:
"Ma'am, everything has been set in stone".
"It looks like that foolish old man is about doing the unthinkable", a woman's shrill voice was heard which could give anyone goosebumps.
In her left hand was a picture of a girl smiling brightly.
"Sister....as you did to me, I'll also do to your offspring", she said as she squeezed the photo.