Javier was growing concerned as he waited for Elvis to return from his phone call. He hoped that Elvis hadn’t left because of Carlo’s hurtful comment. Javier’s eyes darted around, but he couldn’t shake his restlessness. Finally, he decided to go outside and see for himself.
As soon as Javier stepped outside, he realized that Elvis was nowhere to be found. He searched the garden, but there was no sign of Elvis. Suddenly, he spotted one of the employees walking by and stopped him.
“Have you seen Elvis?” Javier asked the employee, who kept his head bowed.
“Yes, boss. He left a little while ago in his car,” the employee replied.
Javier nodded and dismissed him, waving his hand. He sighed and quickly retrieved his cell phone from his pants pocket and began calling Elvis. He called Elvis repeatedly, but Elvis never answered any of his calls, which was unusual for him.
Javier knew that no matter how angry Elvis was with anyone, he never took it out on him. He always found comfort in talking to Javier, which made Javier realize that Elvis might be upset about Carlo’s comments about him. This made Javier sad, and he could clearly see it in Elvis’s eyes. The tears were visible, and Javier quickly concluded that this was why Elvis had left.
Just the thought of seeing his best friend in tears made Javier furious, and he stormed into the mansion to confront Carlo and give him a piece of his mind.
The entire family was chatting and laughing loudly when Javier entered the dining room with his fist clenched.
“Why did you make that comment about Elvis?” Javier asked sternly, looking at Carlo.
“Are we still talking about that poor orphan…”
“Correction, Carlo, he has a name!” Javier angrily slammed his fist on the table, causing some plates to fall and break on the floor. However, Javier paid no attention to the broken plates as his gaze remained fixed on Carlo, who trembled slightly at Javier’s sudden outburst. “I thought you had matured, but it’s disappointing to see that you still have that childish behavior in you.” Javier yelled, poking his finger at Carlo’s chest.
“Javier, please calm down,” Helen interjected, aware of Javier’s anger, while Pa Inder and Reyes watched the boys in silence.
Javier let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. “I should calm down?” He turned to his mother, questioning her. “I’ve been calm ever since we were kids, putting up with Carlo’s childish behavior. But not anymore. Because of him, Elvis left this house angrily for the first time,” Javier yelled.
Carlo scoffed loudly. “He knows he doesn’t belong here. He might have gone to meet his dead…”
Unexpectedly, Javier’s hands flew through the air, as if to slap Carlo, but he stopped himself midway. His chest rose and fell with rage, trying hard not to slap his brother in front of Fabby.
“Fabby, go to your room. Come downstairs when I call you,” Javier ordered. Fabby stood and ran upstairs without complaining.
Once Fabby was out of sight, Javier turned his angry gaze back to Carlo, who had a flash of hurt in his eyes. But Javier didn’t care. As long as it involved Elvis, he didn’t give a damn about anyone’s feelings.
If I hear any more negative words about my brother, I will send you back to wherever you came from,” Javier threatened, his words filled with conviction.
Carlo was stunned, his jaw dropping in disbelief. “You want to kick me out of this house because of that orphan…” Before he could finish his sentence, a powerful slap landed on his cheek, silencing him. He stared at his brother with bloodshot eyes, holding his throbbing cheek, unable to comprehend that Javier had raised his hand against him for the first time, all because of Elvis. “You slapped me because of him? You’re choosing a complete stranger over your own brother?” Carlo demanded, tears welling up in his eyes as he held his cheek.
The rest of the family was in shock, unable to believe that Javier had taken the situation this far. However, they remained silent, not daring to intervene.
“Please leave, Carlo. Your presence here is unwelcome, both to Elvis and to me. I suggest you leave immediately, and thank you for your well wishes for my upcoming marriage. I don’t want to see you here when I return,” Javier stated angrily, walking away and ignoring his mother’s pleas.
*****
Natalie stood outside her home’s gate, waiting for a cab to take her to the hospital to see her mother. Soon, her phone rang, and she checked the caller ID to see that it was Kate.
“Hello, Kate,” Natalie greeted as she answered the call.
“Are you at home?” Kate asked.
“Yes, but I’m on my way to the hospital to see my mom. You can come if you want to see me,” Natalie replied before quickly ending the call as she spotted an available cab approaching.
She hailed the cab and got in, informing the driver of her destination. The car swiftly drove off, and within two hours, they arrived at the hospital. Natalie paid the fare, bid the driver goodbye, and entered the hospital.
As soon as she stepped in, she saw Mira. Mira rushed over and pulled her into a tight hug, and Natalie reciprocated, curious about Mira’s joyful demeanor.
“Why are you so happy?” Natalie couldn’t help but ask.
Mira chuckled softly. “I’m getting married, Natalie!” she exclaimed excitedly, hugging Natalie tightly again.
“Wow! That’s great news. Congratulations! I’m really happy for you,” Natalie replied.
Mira continued giggling like a child. “And the most exciting part is that my fiancé got me a nursing job in Canada. So, I’ll be leaving New York soon,” she revealed, still giggling.
However, upon hearing that Mira was leaving, Natalie’s once happy mood turned into sadness, and Mira quickly noticed. She held Natalie’s hand and asked in a calm voice, “What happened, Natalie?”
“Who will take care of my mother if you leave? You know I don’t trust anyone here,” Natalie said, tears welling up in her eyes as she tightened her grip on Mira.
Mira sighed softly, feeling sorry for Natalie. She didn’t know if she should reject her fiancé’s job offer or go to Canada, but she genuinely wanted to help Natalie. “Have you managed to raise any money for her surgery?” Mira asked, reaching out to wipe away Natalie’s tears.
“No, I lost my job,” Natalie revealed.
“When? How?” Mira exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock.
Natalie calmly explained everything that had happened because she trusted Mira so much. Mira had been like an older sister to her ever since she brought her mother to the hospital. Mira’s constant words of encouragement had kept Natalie strong, preventing her from breaking down due to her mother’s critical condition.
“So, Javier did all that because he wants you to marry him?” Mira asked after listening to Natalie’s story. “Have you tried finding out why he wants to marry you, even though his marriage has already been arranged?” Mira added.
Natalie shook her head, “I don’t care about his plan or silly intentions. All I just want from him is to stay away and let me raised the money for my mother’s surgery peacefully.” She let out feeling frustrated already.
“Do you know how long it will take you to raise such huge amount?” Mira inquired.
“Are you underestimating the power of handwork?” Natalie said. “I will pay for my mother’s surgery with my earned money, in that way my self respect and that of my family will be intact.”
Mira chuckled the moment she understood where Natalie was driving at. “So all these revolves around your self respect. You don’t want it to be compromised in and way, then you why don’t you struck a deal with him. You will marry him base on your own terms and conditions.” She advised.
Natalie scoffed, “One thing I know for sure is that Javier and I can never agree to one thing. It’s either he brings his term and condition and I reject or I bring mine and he reject. It’s just that way… please I want to see my mother I will talk to you later.” Natalie bid her farewell and stride towards the direction that lead to her mother’s ward, as she has already made up her mind not to let anyones opinion change her mind.
She saw Douglas emerge from her mother’s ward and quickly approached him, keeping her hand behind her back. Although Douglas tried to avoid her, Natalie ran in front of him and stopped him.
“Good day, Doctor!” Natalie greeted with a smirk, staring into his eyes as Douglas fearfully avoided her gaze.
Uncomfortable with her presence and feeling guilty, Douglas tried to walk away, but Natalie held his arms and turned him back to face her. “We’re not fighting, are we?” she asked, still smirking.
“I have some patients to attend to. Please excuse me,” he said, walking away.
“You know I could sue you for this. And believe me, Javier will abandon you to rot in jail… because you are worthless to him,” Natalie yelled after him, determined to give him a piece of her mind that he wouldn’t forget.
Douglas halted without turning to face her, the moment she mentioned Javier’s name. He was shock wondering how she got to know he got involved with Javier. “I-I don’t know what you are taking about.” He sputtering, refusing to turn around.
She released a loud chuckle, as she walked toward him and grabbed his arm and turn him to face her. “I’m so disappointed to even call you a Doctor.” She spat, scrunching her face in disgust, “Because how can a professional Doctor like you, who swore to save people lives, end up collecting bribe to let people die. You are a disgrace to other Doctors out there and mark my words I will make you all pay if anything happens to my mother.” She threatened and walked away leaving him in his thoughts, as she pushed the door of her mother’s ward and walk inside.
Douglas felt fear crawling on his skin, as he tried as much as possible not to be threatened by her words. But damn it, the cold and seriousness that were visible in her eyes was making his chest beat loudly. He hastily ran to his office to call Javier.
Natalie felt relieved when she walked in and saw her mother not looking pale anymore. She sat beside her and held her hand smoothie them softly.
“I will get you out of here mother in good health condition.” Natalie muttered, suddenly her phone began to ring loudly and she checked the caller, it was an unknown number calling.
“Hello, Natalie on the line.” She spoke out gently letting of her mother house.
“Hello Natalie, where are you. A massive fight broke out in the market and your shop is in a mess, you need to be here as soon as possible. Some thugs are destroying shop, your paintings tools and designs. You have to be here, because they ain’t hearing our pleas.” The caller cried out before disconnecting the call without giving her a chance to speak up.
“Hello! Hello!” Natalie screamed, as she felt tears run down her cheeks. She couldn’t believe all this are happening to her not after she thought that she had overcome Javier and have find another means to earn a living. She hastily stood up and ran out of her mother’s ward to go save her shop