"Wife," Jacob whispered when he saw his wife lying face down on the floor. He quickly ran towards her.
"Wife, what happened?" Jacob looked at Freya's cell phone. "Did someone call her?"
Jacob carefully lifted Freya. He walked towards the direction of the bed and gently put her down. His attention turned to Freya's cell phone when it suddenly rang. Jacob frowned. "Unknown number," he said. The cell phone rang for a long time before he answered the call. He didn't speak at first.
["What happened earlier? Are you okay? I'm here in front of your Tito Ramon's house. Where are you, Freya? I'm coming to see you."]
Jacob's hair almost stood on end when he heard who was on the other end of the line. He pressed the mute button and looked at the unconscious Freya. "Is that why you passed out because of him?" he whispered then unmute the call again.
["Son of..."]
Jacob's eyes widened as he confirmed his hunch was correct. "T-Tito Ramil?" he exclaimed.
["Freya, speak up. Dad misses you so much. I was in the hospital for several years, daughter. When I regained consciousness and recovered, I immediately found out if you and your mom survived. Someone told me that both of you survived the fire, so I left immediately to find you and your mother. I'm sorry, Freya, it took a while before daddy woke up. By the way, my dear daughter, I can now walk. The man who helped me was very kind. Sir Marcus was very kind."]
Jacob's jaw almost dropped from what he heard. When he noticed that one of Freya's fingers moved, he immediately ended the call. He stood up on the bed. He breathed one after the other while adjusting himself.
"Ythan is playing with the couple? He didn't let Ramil die even though he was a rival for Rhea's heart? What is his motive?" Jacob looked up. "I can't…" He didn't notice that Freya had woken up.
"Can't what?" Freya said softly as she slowly got out of bed. She held her forehead and rubbed it.
Jacob immediately faced Freya. "How are you feeling? Are you okay? Is something hurting you? What happened? Why did you lose consciousness?" he asked one after the other. The truth was, all he wanted to ask was if she heard everything from what he said earlier.
"You have so many questions. Get me some water first," said Freya. She frowned when she saw that Jacob was holding her cell phone. "Why do you have my cell phone?"
Jacob quickly looked at the cell phone he was holding. "Ah, this? I just picked it up from the floor. I was going to put it on the table before I come back to your side," he excused himself.
"Ah, is that so?" Freya held out her hand to take her cell phone.
'She will see the call log history! She will know that I rummaged over her phone,' Jacob thought.
"Jacob, give me back my phone," Freya said. Her hand was too itchy to call the number again when she was called before she passed out.
Jacob secretly pressed the shutdown button on the side of Freya's android phone. "It's battery is running low, wife. Let me charge it first and then I'll get you some water." He silently prayed that Freya would agree to what he wanted to do. He tapped his left foot when he saw her eyebrows furrowed...as if she's thinking why it became drained while in fact, she charged it on the plane.
"Its battery is running low… Alright, charge it first. Thank you." Freya smiled. The thought of having her father by her side when she comes back to the Philippines makes her heart flutter.
Jacob walked towards the door. He only stopped when he remembered that his father wanted to talk to Freya. He cannot contact her in the call and chat so he went to the hotel where the two of them would stay.
"Wife, if you feel okay...can we go back to the hospital? Papa's already awake. He wants to talk to you," Jacob said.
"No problem. I also want to talk to him too," Freya said with a smile. When Jacob left, her face suddenly became serious. "There is only a small chance that senior will live for a long time. It was my chance to ask him about his son's sin...and why he covered it up before," she whispered.
~~~~~~
"Where is the couple?" Don Vandolf asked Set.
"They went to the hotel first, senior. Sir Jacob has already followed Ma'am Freya because he cannot get a hold of her earlier," replied Set.
Don Vandolf looked up at the devices attached to him. "I'm really close to death," he whispered.
Set couldn't help but be emotional. "Senior, don't say that. As long as you fight, you will live for a long time," he said.
Don Vandolf smiled. "Don't worry, Set. I already accepted it. Now, I'm just trying to hold on because of my daughter and sons...daughter-in-law and grandson," he said.
"Don't you want to do anything for yourself?" Set asked.
"I want to be a good father and grandfather to them. That's my goal before I leave this world," Don Vandolf replied.
"You are a good father and grandfather, senior. There are no perfect parents," said Set. He looked up quickly to stop his tears from falling. "You've been so good to me too, senior...even though I'm not your son," he continued.
"Stop being dramatic, Setyembre." Don Vandolf took a sip. "By the way, I want to thank you for everything that you've done for me and for my children. I know that money can't match your honesty and hard work but please don't refuse what I'm going to give you before death comes to me." Don Vandolf looked away from Set. He stopped his tears from falling.
Set laughed out loud. He felt his boss' sadness so he tried to change the mood even though he was already crushed from the inside.
"You’re really kind, senior. I have already saved a lot for myself. You give me too much salary and benefits. Just give it to your children or grandchildren," said Set.
Don Vandolf shook his head. "They all have a trust fund. Also, my lawyers and accountants are starting to transfer my assets to them. They advised me that they will do it when I die but I refused. I don't care how much tax that I have to pay to our government. It will cost a lot to transfer my wealth to them. I prefer to make sure that the right thing will be given to my children and grandchildren as well as to you," he said.
Set sighed.
"Excuse me. It's time for the patient to drink his medicine. I will also check his vitals," the nurse said while closing the door. Her eyes darted on Set. She wanted him to get out of the room.
"Is it necessary? I'm his personal bodyguard." Set walked towards Don Vandolf.
"I'm sorry, sir, but you have to get out," the nurse replied while smiling.
"Set, it's only for a moment. Go ahead," said Don Vandolf.
"But senior, Sir Jacob instructed me not to leave you—"
"Set, no more reasons. The nurse needs to do her job." Don Vandolf smiled at the nurse wearing a white face mask.
Set did nothing but obey his master's orders. He suddenly felt thirsty so he walked to the hospital canteen. He accidentally overheard a conversation between a doctor and a nurse.
"John Vandolf Gray's condition miraculously gets better after the operation," the doctor said.
Set jumped at what he heard but his happiness didn't last long either.
"Go to his room and relay my message to him. Also, send me his vitals after you help him drink his medicine. Tomorrow, I will conduct another set of tests on him," the doctor said.
Set stopped drinking water when he heard it. "The doctor is with the assigned nurse to senior. If that's the case, who is that nurs.." He was unable to continue what he was going to say. He dropped the bottled of water and quickly ran back to Don Vandolf's room.