Tonight
, After dropping Lucia off to work, Ezekiel went straight to the office. He had a few things to do before taking his leave away from his family, his love. He ringed his lawyer and instructed him to prepare a ownership transfer of all his properties, including the company.
He also called a number and when the call was connected, he briefly said. ” Meet me at my private Villa by the beach tonight.”
Arriving at the office, he called his secretary to give him a few instructions.
” I have transferred ten percent of the company shares to your name. I am resigning and never coming back. Please be here to guide the person who will take over after me and probably when my heir finally succeeds, support him too. Take care of yourself and your young madam while I am away.” Ezekiel instructed his secretary to widen his eyes in astonishment.
” Boss, are you going anywhere? Why don’t you let me accompany you?” He asked. After working with Ezekiel for years, he had gotten used to him. Their relationship was More than Boss and subordinate, they were More of friends.
” I might be going to a place of no return. Your task is here so please stay. That’s my only request to you.” Ezekiel said in a begging tone.
” Okay.” The secretary finally conceded. He didn’t Know why he felt like this was the last time he was seeing his boss. And what did he mean going to a place of no return? Was it what he was thinking? He hoped not.
After meeting with his lawyer and getting everything solved, Ezekiel drove to the mall and went directly to the children section. He was planning on buying clothes and other necessities for his daughter. He also wished for her to feel his presence even in his absence.
After buying literally the whole Mall, he gave the address for delivery and instructed the delivery to be made tomorrow. He finally drove to their house and picked a few necessities and packed them. He was planning on going away and never turning back. He then wrote a letter addressed to his wife. After placing the letter at a conspicuous place where she could easily it, he drove to his parents house
He had already communicated with his father and told him to inform his mother about his visit. Arriving at their home, he was warmly welcomed by his mother by pulling him to her arms. He savoured the warmth of his mother… Maybe for the last time.
The family then had dinner together before Ezekiel mustered the courage to reveal his condition to his mother.
” Mom, I have something to discuss with you.” He started successfully gaining his mother’s attention.
” What is it son? Have you decided to hold the wedding Sooner.” Mrs Greene asked, excitement clearly written on her face.
” No, it has nothing to do with my wedding. I am sick and wouldn’t live much longer.” He announced and silence ensued in the whole dining house. The silence was so severe that one could even hear the sound of a pin dropping.
” W.. what a.. re you t.. talking about?” Mrs Greene stuttered. ” Can you stop pulling my legs?” She added not quite believing a word from her son’s mouth.
” Am a serious mom, as for the details, you can ask your husband.” Ezekiel said and without waiting nor saying anything, he strode away leaving his father cursing him for selling him out and leaving him in a difficult place. He didn’t want to see his mother breaking down because of him.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
Ezekiel was tired but still struggled to drive to his Villa. He knew that in a few days time, he would be completely blind and useless. Upon arriving at his house, he found his cousin Tony anxiously waiting for him at the entrance.
” What happened to you? You gave me a scare with your call?” Tony asked.
” Let’s talk inside.” Ezekiel was in no mood to answer his cousin’s countless questions but he knew that it was inevitable.
After explaining everything to his cousin, he added. ” That’s why I asked you back. I don’t have time and you are the closest to a brother to me. I want you to take over the company as the CEO. I already made the arrangements and delegated someone to assist you. The company will be in Lucia’s name but you are a shareholder. I trust you to help her manage it until my child comes of age.” Ezekiel said.
” I don’t believe you. You are definitely lying to me. I saw you less than a year ago, how could you be dying the next time we see each other. I refuse to believe that.” Tony was so emotional that he couldn’t control the tears in his eyes. How could it be possible? He was just fine the last time they met so how could his health deteriorate so fast?
” But it’s the reality we have to accept. We can’t change the fact that I am dying.” Ezekiel said sadly, hoping the reality of his life will sink in his cousin’s mind.
” I have one final request, Tony.” Ezekiel said seriously.
” What is it? Tell me and I will do anything in my power to fulfil it.” Tony replied earnestly.
” I want you to marry Lucia.” Ezekiel dropped the bomb exploding in Tony’s mind.
” What?” He couldn’t help but scream. He couldn’t believe what his cousin was requesting of him.
” All my life I never asked you for anything in my life, this is my only request please. I beg of you.” Ezekiel pleaded, holding his cousin’s hands.
” How can you ask me something like that? I can’t.” Tony refused. Although he never met Lucia, he saw her as his sister in-law so how could he marry her? That was simply impossible.
” I beg you please Tony. I can’t bear to leave her alone.” Ezekiel pleaded.
” So because you can’t bear to leave her alone, you want to transfer her like she’s some kind of a property. You can’t treat her like that Kiel. She’s a human with feelings and I can’t do that to her.” There’s no way Tony would be agreeing to his cousin’s request. Anything but that.
Ezekiel finally gave up on convincing him since it seems that no words could change his mind.
Meanwhile Lucia was almost closing up but was yet to receive a call alerting her of his arrival to pick her up from work. It was like a tradition ever since she got pregnant. Kiel would drop and pick her later, not allowing her to drive.
Everybody was packing up one by one before bidding her goodbye. Her secretary offered to drive her home but she politely finally decided to give him a call, maybe he forgot or got caught up in something. After the third unanswered call, She finally gave up and decided to book a cab home. Along the way, she could feel fear and anxiousness creeping in her heart and bones. It was the first time her call went unanswered. It was the first time she learnt to feel anxious over a mere phone call. Countless questions flashed in her mind but she didn’t have an answer for a single one of them. Despite the situation caught up in, Ezekiel would always try to answer her call. A bad premonition started flooding her mind. After paying the cab fee and tipping the driver, she took hurried steps to the house. Her heart was palpitating as she felt her blood pressure rise and fall rhythmically.
The door was closed so she used her keys to unlock it before sauntering straight to their bedroom even without remembering to remove her shoes. For some reason, Lucia felt that she would get something after visiting that room. She could feel that some kind of revelation would be made in that room. She was still hopeful that everything was fine and her heart and emotions were playing with her but she could still not ignore the dread she was feeling in her heart.
Flagging the door open, everything seemed in order and neatly arranged. The bed was also Made with clean sheets. But wait… The wardrobe.
Matching to their wardrobe, Lucia anxiously opened it and only then did she realise that some of Ezekiel’s clothes were missing. Most of the missing clothes were the clothes personally designed by her or either bought by her. Then her dread heightened. Walking back to the bed, she spotted a neatly folded letter addressed to ” My Queen.” With trembling hands, she opened it and read.