The ambulance finally arrived. I could no longer hold on and fainted in my mother’s arms from exhaustion. Before losing consciousness, I vaguely saw my mother’s face, contorted with anger and worry.. She didn’t know where to place her hands. Surrounding us were Theron’s henchmen whose faces were filled with confusion, disbelief, and fear.
When I woke up again, it was a day later. The pain in my body had lessened significantly due to the medication. My arm was in a sling post-surgery, and I was wrapped up like a mummy. Theron and his four henchmen were still kneeling in the VIP ward. Opening my eyes, the first thing I saw was my mother’s tired but loving gaze.
“Mom,” I whimpered, my lips trembling as tears threatened was about to fall.
“Sweetheart, Mommy’s here,” she reassured me.
A voice interrupted, “Karolyn, I didn’t know you were Katarina’s daughter. This is all a misunderstanding. For the sake of us becoming family soon, can you forgive me?”
I looked towards the voice. Theron and his henchmen were kneeling on the ground, their faces as pale as paper. My mother glanced coldly at them before turning back to me with love in her eyes. “You’ve been unconscious for as long as they’ve been kneeling here. You decide how to deal with them.”
I nodded and replied to Theron with a cold smile, “A misunderstanding? Forgiveness?”
From his position Theron couldn’t see my expression clearly. He mistook my words for leniency and spoke eagerly, “I’ve always looked forward to reuniting with Katarina’s daughter. If I had known we were family, I would have cherished you even more.”
Family? I silently repeated the word in my mind. How ridiculous!
” old man, please don’t say so. That make me uncomfortable. We are not family and never will be,” I said coolly, looking at him and his trembling henchmen.
Theron’s face stiffened momentarily at being called “old man.” He was only five years older than me! But given the circumstances, he had no choice but to accept it.
“If you kowtow to me fifty times…” Before I could finish my sentence, the sound of heads hitting the floor filled the room. I swallowed the rest of my words with a smile: “I still won’t forgive you.”
When they finally lifted their heads, their foreheads were swollen with red bumps onit. Looking at Theron, I sneered, “When did I ever say that your kowtowing would earn my forgiveness?”
A flicker of terror crossed Theron’s eyes as he realized that without my forgiveness, marrying my mother might become impossible. Desperately, he crawled to my mother’s feet. “Katarina, I know I’ve done wrong. Don’t abandon me! If I can’t be your husband, I’ll be glad to be your lover!”
My mother remained silent, crossing her arms and watching his pathetic display with amusement.
Normally, my mother was a gentle and elegant CEO. When she wore a cold expression and stayed silent, she exuded an oppressive aura that that made the atmosphere suffocating.
Theron must have never seen her like this before; he continued pleading with a tearful face: “I know I’m wrong! Truly wrong! I deserve to die!”
He cried while slapping himself across the face. Surprised by his actions-Theron had always struck me as a vindictive man with an inflated ego-I watched him hit himself until his face was swollen.
Seeing that they no longer had the strength to continue hitting themselves, I mercifully spoke up: “Mom, I don’t want to see them anymore. Can you make them leave?”
My mother simply waved her hand dismissively.
They scrambled to their feet and fled in terror.
I leaning weakly against my mother’s shoulder, tears streamed down my face: “Mom, I’ve remembered everything.”
“I remember how Dad died and who should be responsible for that”
“Mom, you know it too, don’t you?”
She stroked my hair gently and nodded: “Yes, sweetheart, it was Theron’s family who killed your father.”
“I’m sorry for not protecting your father or you,” she said softly. “But I promise you : those who hurt you will be brought to justice.”