Marcus was restless, pacing back and forth as he repeatedly shook Javier and Elvis. “Javier, Elvis, wake up!” he shouted their names.
“I found them drunk at the club where I work,” Bruno explained in a sympathetic voice, standing to his feet. “I had to drive them home myself because I couldn’t afford to let them drive in a drunken state.”
A wave of relief washed through Marcus’s body, calming his nerves. He turned towards Bruno and stretched out his hand for a handshake, which Bruno gladly accepted.
“Thank you so much for bringing them home safely,” Marcus said.
Bruno shook his head. “It’s nothing, sir. I can do that any day, anytime.” He smiled, his eyes wandering around the building in awe. He couldn’t believe he was sitting in the living room of the well-known billionaire in the country.
It still felt like a dream to him, because everything seemed just as people who had visited before had described. The mansion was like heaven on earth, starting from the estate gate down to the building. Everything was made of gold, sparkling everywhere, even at the late hour.
The house interior was jaw-dropping, with designs he had never seen before in his entire life.
He couldn’t help but get lost in the beauty of the house decorations. His gaze helplessly averted to the dining area, and this was something he had only witnessed on TV. Now, seeing it in reality was as if he had won the lottery.
The largest, longest dining table, with numerous, flourished golden seats beside it, left him in awe. He sat there, as the rush of adrenaline rushed through his veins. He just couldn’t contain his happiness at finally witnessing the beauty of The RAYES mansion.
Marcus glanced at his nephews and slightly shook his head. He couldn’t seem to wrap his head around it, wondering why Javier and Elvis would ignorantly drink to the point of stupor, letting a stranger drive them home at such late hours.
He gently roamed his gaze at Javier and noticed that he was neatly dressed, without anything looking amiss or suspicious; the same went for Elvis too. His shoulders dropped when he saw that both their wallets and phones were placed on the table, and he was indeed grateful that they were brought back home in one piece, without anyone taking advantage of them in their drunken state.
His gaze finally settled on Elvis, and that was the moment he noticed beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He hurried towards him and placed the back of his hand on his forehead to feel his temperature, hastily removing his hand because of how hot he was burning.
“Elvis has a fever. He’s burning hot,” Marcus muttered, turning to Bruno, who nodded his head.
“Yes, I noticed that too, when he vomited at the club, due to excessive drinking,” Bruno fabricated smoothly, blinking rapidly. He tried as much as he could to avoid anyone suspecting him.
Marcus sighed. “Alright, I’ll take it from here. Thanks once again.” He offered a handshake again, which Bruno accepted before leaving the house at 4:00 am to prepare for work and Marcus didn’t find anything off about him.
Instantly, Helen ran down the stairs with Kate slowly trailing behind her. “Where are they?” she kept screaming while running down the stairs.
“Here they are,” Marcus responded, pointing at them on the couch.
Without hesitation, Helen raised her hand and smashed Javier in the face. Javier almost jumped off the couch, rubbing his sleepy eyes with the back of his hand.
“Where am I?” His drowsy gaze kept staring around as if he had been brought back to a strange place. “Water… I need water.” He demanded, feeling his throat dry and threatening to split apart if he didn’t take water.
Kate, who had been standing there silently, went to the kitchen to get him water. Helen scoffed and turned to deliver Elvis his potion of slap; however, Marcus was quick to intervene, standing in front of Helen and blocking her. She sent him a murderous glare, urging him to get out of her way; however, Marcus shook his head in refusal and pleaded with his eyes.
“You-”
“Elvis has a fever. He’s burning hot,” Marcus quickly interrupted her, explaining.
“I don’t care,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. Although she was fighting the urge to go to Elvis and feel his temperature, and give him medication, her anger was getting the better of her.
“You can’t possibly scold them in this condition,” Marcus pleaded. “How would they listen to you and acknowledge their wrongs?” He added, stepping closer to her.
“How can they both stay out late, drunk?” she lamented, sharply turning to Javier, who was already gulping down his water, to hit him again. However, Marcus intervened again, spreading his hand to stop her.
“How could he leave his wife all by herself, when he clearly knew she was pregnant?” she scolded, trying to reach out to him.
Javier choked on the water he was drinking but quickly composed himself. “Pregnant? For who?” Javier exclaimed, with a dropped jaw, as his drowsy eyes cleared instantly the moment the words left his mouth.
“Did I get her pregnant myself?” she asked him back, rolling her eyes.
‘How?’ Javier’s thought reeled. ‘We haven’t had a proper kiss yet. Is she cheating on me? Does she have another boyfriend?’ So many thoughts jumbled in his mind.
He hastily got up and ran upstairs to confirm what he had just heard. Helen and Marcus stared at him in shock, at the way he also looked surprised, as if he didn’t know about his wife’s pregnancy.
“You will get used to it soon,” she muttered and turned to Elvis. She rushed and sat down beside him, and her furious gaze instantly melted down the moment she felt his hot temperature with the back of her hand.
“Gezz… he’s burning hot,” she said and turned to Kate, who was standing closely. “Get me a bowl of cold water, together with a hand towel.”
She instructed politely and turned her tender gaze back to Elvis. She raised his upper body and rested it on her lap.
“Marcus, can you head to Carlo’s room and ask him about the remaining fever medication my husband brought for him when he was sick last month?” she asked.
“Aunt, what’s the matter?” Carlo’s voice rang out, while he strode down the stairs. Helen sighed in relief when she sighted him.
“You came right on time,” she smiled.
“They are finally back?” Carlo muttered when his gaze averted to Elvis. “What happened to him?” he asked, stepping closer.
“They both came back drunk… and Elvis is having a fever. Can you give me your remaining fever medication, your uncle bought for you?” she requested and stretched forth her hand to collect the bowl from Kate.
Carlo’s shoulders dropped. “The medication has finished, Auntie,” he muttered softly.
“Then let’s give Doc Ronnie a call. He can also run a quick test on him, to know what exactly is wrong with him,” Marcus suggested.
“You will do no such thing!” Olivia voiced out, stepping into the building, and all gazes turned to her.