Amidst the flatter and praising compliments from her colleagues, Roxanne made her way out of the mall. Today's outing was quite eventful for her, she had gained an new friend unexpectedly. Her heart couldn't be more joyful than it was especially when she knew she would go home to review more good news.
At the thought of good news, her phone began ringing. She checked the caller's name and a broad smile took over her lips.
"Hey Daddy, you couldn't wait to share the good news right?"
"Roxanne! ome home quick! Your father... Your father, he collapsed!" Came Suzy's frantic voice
Collapsed? What??
Roxanne could almost not stop herself from exclaiming in shock but at last she hide her anxious look and forced a delighted smile.
"Okay, I'll be home soon" she cut the call immediately after saying that.
"Ayy Roxanne, your dad must have called you to break some more good news to you right?"
"don't be stingy, tell us the good news"
"Why don't we just go and Celebrate with you at home!" Her friends urged but how could Roxanne agree to their request. She had truly planned to throw a huge party if the deal was signed in stone but now there was going to be no party!
"Not today girls, I promise we'll... I'll take you out to celebrate some other time"
"you better keep your promise okay!"
She hurriedly sent her friends away, even dismissed her assistant before hoping into her car and driving like a mad person back home.
...
On getting home, the mansion was in a state of disarray. Servants ran helter-skelter like headless chickens.
In the sitting room, Grandma Andres and Suzy stayed cooped up with the man laying unconscious on the sofa.
Worry and deep concern hung on their faces like curtains, as well as despair and fright.
"Grandma what happened?!" Roxanne asked hurriedly as she looked at the man that showed no signs of moving
"Oh Roxanne dear, it's your father!"
"Dad!" Roxanne joined the in their rocking war. Gently rocking the man like a baby cradle, trying to get him to wake up, still no matter how she shook him, his eyelid did not bulge not even for a second. After an amount of time, An elderly man in white coat walked briskly following a maid into the building.
"Bro Allen quick check on him" grandma Andres frantically dragged the man to begin his diagnosis on the still unconscious Raoul. Everyone else gave some space to ket the doctor do his work.
Pulse, blood pressure, heart rate and whatever could be checked was checked with immediate effect. Raoul was tugged ther and pulled here before the doctor eventually finished his test.
The elderly man's eyes were furrowed. He stood up straight and informed "Patriarch was really lucky this time, he almost had a cardiac arrest"
"cardiac arrest?!" The family exclaimed surprised. Grandma Andres lost her footing and slumped to the floor.
"Grandma!" Roxanne immediately helped the woman steady herself. The last thing she wanted was having another family member passing out.
"Sister you have to be careful with your health" the warned the old lady in a cordial tone. This elderly doctor happened to be the old lady's junior brother. He helped his sister sit down before continuing his explanation.
"Nephew must have gotten a huge shock. He almost had a heart attack but thankfuyhe is stable now. I'll give him a few drugs when he wakes up, make sure he takes it, also don't let him think too much as it may be bad for his heart. Call me if there's anything when he wakes" The old man did the rest of his job and said farewell to his sister and her family. He could vaguely sense there was an issue with his sister's family and honestly he did not want to be involved even in the slightest.
Now that the family were left alone, they could only sit with heavy hearts as they aited for thee Patriarch to awaken. Each had the same question to ask.
'why did he faint?'
Raoul had received a call just few seconds before he passed out. No doubt he must have received some news. Was it good news or bad news?
They were all curious to know these but since the main victim was unavailable to answer their questions at the moment, they were left to make speculations of their own. Being that today was the fourth day, they had all been effortfully waiting for, they all had the speculations, but that was just what it was speculations.
The building remained in the stale mood like this for hours. The three women did not leave the sitting room, even the servants who had been sent back to their rooms had their ears perked on their walls and doors waiting to hear what had transpired. Eventually, when the sun settled down, Raoul opened his eyes.
"Son!"
"Father!"
"Husband!"
Three if them rushed to him. Relief on their faces were so much they almost broke I tears. The thought of losing the Patriarch had plagued their minds all day long and they couldn't help but fear how bleak their future would be if that happens. Tragic, but now of them had wished for hus recovery because they could not bare to lose him but because they could not bare to decline in status after losing the one and only male in the family.
Gingerly, they helped him sit up and waited till he had eaten and taken his medication before they gave him questioning looks.
Like he was in a dazed state, Raoul stared at the phone quietly sitting on the glass table. A flicker of disbelief, regret and anger played in his eyes.
"Son, the Dr said you almost had an heart attack. You scared all of us" Grandma Andres started lightly before adding " what happened? Who was on the phone the other time?"
Raoul looked angered and frustratedly, he clutched his chest and almost fainted again from just thinking about it.
"Father calm down, you don't have to say anything if you don't feel like it" Roxanne consoled soberly. She bit her lips to push back the fear and despair in her heart. All of them had similar expressions to Roxanne. They kind of knew what the issue was already.
Grandma Andres stuttered "The... The deal? Did it fall through?"
It would have been acceptable by him if it was merely not approved, at least he could boast of making an acquaintance with the corporation but... but...
"It's all a lie!" Raoul roared agitatedly. To calm his palpitating heart, he picked up the cup on the table and gulped the water in one mouthful.
A lie?
Roxanne, Suzy and the old lady looked like they had been struck by lightening. Their face grew pale by the minute.
"How is that possible? You signed a contract didn't you? How do you know it's fake? Did they give you a call? What exactly happened?" The old lady continued to ask in a hurry. The others said no words but their faces showed their bulging anticipation to know the answer to her questions.
"I was duped!"
This as even more heartbreaking to hear. Grandma Andres sank into her chair, while Roxanne slumped to the ground in despair.
All her hopes and imaginations were falling right before her eyes. Few hours ago, she was a heiress receiving favourable treatments from others but now everything she thought she had turns out to be a lie?
How was she supposed to explain to others? How would others treat her now if they knew her family had no collaboration with MX corporation? Did she have to go back to being ignored and treated like a nobody?
No!
She was not willing to live like that anymore. After having tasted what it was like being treated like a goddess why would she go back to being a pauper? Would she even survive living as a pauper?
Her father had spent the last of his saving trying to secure that deal, she too had spent the last of her savings on clothes and accessories this past four days. Was she supposed to start begging now? Selling her branded properties was also not an option! People would mock her if they found out she was selling things.
"Father what do we do?" Roxanne urged.
"Can't we sue that headhunter to court?" Suzy contributed only to be stared at angrily by her husband.
Raoul growled "Are you dumb?!"
Not only was that headhunter a scammer so they wouldn't be able to find her against but he would get arrested too if he reported having met her in an underground illegal gambling club. Not only that but wasn't reporting to the police a way of telling the whole world that they were broke now.
That was absolutely a no-go option.
The family thought like this so they each looked at the middle aged woman displeased before totally ignoring her.