Dr. Derrick let out a long, shaky sigh as Don Pedro shut the door behind him. The soft click of the latch sounded like freedom. His shoulders slumped, and he ran a hand down his face.
Every meeting with Don Pedro felt like sitting across from death itself calm, polite, but always ready to strike. It was less a conversation and more… a suicide appeal.
For a moment, he just sat there, staring at the desk. His thoughts were heavy. Why did I save his daughter? he wondered bitterly. Saving a life should be a blessing… not a death sentence. Yet here he was, tangled deeper in the Don's web with every passing day.
Then a sudden knock at the door jolted him upright. His heart raced, cold sweat prickling the back of his neck. Please, not him again… please not him.
He forced himself to call out, "Come in."
The door opened, and relief washed over him when he saw the nurse in charge of Regina.
"Sir, the scan result is out," she said respectfully, placing a thick file on his desk.
"Thank you," Derrick replied, his voice calmer now. He waved her away, eager to be alone again.
When the door shut, he stared at the file for a moment before opening it. His eyes moved across the medical images and notes, and his lips tightened. "Whatever was used to hit this lady's head…" he muttered under his breath, "…was hard enough to send her straight to the grave."
He sat back, shaking his head. Regina's survival was a miracle in itself.
Flipping through more pages, his eyes froze on one line of the report. "Eighty percent chance of full memory recovery… if exposed to familiar triggers." He whispered the words like they were dangerous.
He leaned back in his chair, tapping the page with his finger. "This is supposed to be good news," he said to himself. "But not for Don Pedro."
The memory of the Don's stern voice echoed in his mind, whatever she knew in the past… is worthless.
At that moment Derrick closed the file and sat in silence. The weight of the decision pressed hard against his chest. His oath as a doctor told him to do everything to help his patient recover. But another part of him the part that had seen what the Don was capable of, knew better.
He rose from his chair and walked slowly to the small bathroom attached to his office. His reflection in the mirror looked back at him tired eyes, drawn face, and the shadow of fear in every line.
He set the file on the sink, pulled out his lighter, and flicked it. The small flame danced in front of him, casting shadows across the tiles.
For a brief moment, he hesitated. This is wrong… this is against everything I stand for.
But then he heard the Don's voice again in his mind, low, cold, final: I'll trust you not to be a fool.
He touched the flame to the edge of the report. The paper curled and blackened, the words disappearing into smoke.
"There's no need to dance with the devil," he murmured, watching the ashes fall into the sink. "Burning even the slightest evidence… will save my head."
The last page caught fire, and the smell of scorched paper filled the room.
"It's his daughter," Derrick whispered, as though convincing himself. "So whatever he says… that's their business. My life is more important than this."
***********
"You've always loved the garden view right from time!" Don Pedro's deep voice broke the stillness, startling Mabel. She had been lost in the gentle sway of the flowers, drinking in the rich colors and the fresh scent that drifted in the evening air.
She turned quickly, a warm smile lighting her face. "Sorry, Father! How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to see how much you still love nature," he said with a small smile, his eyes softening.
They both chuckled lightly. For a moment, the tension that often surrounded the Don seemed to melt away.
"I'm glad you've been able to pull through these past weeks," he continued, stepping closer. "It shows the mansion still gives you its warmth."
Mabel nodded. "I have to be strong for you, Dad. I've seen how much you're doing to make sure I'm okay." Her voice carried both gratitude and determination.
Don Pedro's eyes glistened faintly as he pulled her into a gentle embrace. Mabel rested against him, but then she noticed something his hands were trembling.
She pulled back slightly, her eyes narrowing in concern. "Dad… is everything okay with you?"
He quickly withdrew his hands and clasped them behind his back, trying to still the shaking. He hated being seen in any moment of weakness. "Yes! Everything is fine," he said briskly, then added with a softer tone, "I'm just happy to finally have you back after… one year."
She studied him for a moment, unsure if she believed him. But before she could press further, he gestured toward a wrought-iron bench in the garden. "Come, sit with me."
They settled into the seat.
"Regina martins," he began, using her full name. "You've always been a smart lady, and I've never doubted how capable you are. Your mother prayed and hoped for this day."
At the mention of her mother, Mabel's smile softened, and her eyes grew distant for a second.
Don Pedro reached inside his suit jacket and pulled out a thick file, placing it carefully in her hands.
"What's this, Dad?" she asked, curiosity sparking in her tone as she took the file.
"That," he said with a hint of pride, "is the document of all there is to know about one of our family company. one of the companies your mother and I built through sweat and sacrifice. Your inheritance… as our only child."
Mabel's breath caught slightly. Slowly, she opened the file. Written boldly across the front page was the company name: Global Investment.
The name stirred something deep inside her, a strange flicker of recognition. It was as if she had seen it somewhere important before, but the thought slipped away as quickly as it came. Well, of course it's familiar… it's my family's company, she reasoned silently.
Don Pedro's voice cut through her thoughts. "Regina Martins," he said with deliberate emphasis, "it is time for you to take over the family company as my heiress and next of kin."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Take over…?"
"Yes," he confirmed, his tone firm. "I want you to resume as soon as possible, as the acting CEO of Global Investment."