Burning Passion

CHAPTER 87: OUR ENTANGLED LIVES: SECRET and LIES

*

*

*

Ben came back with an envelope in his hand. He gave it to Jeremy and waited for his answer.

"Although my family is the major investor of this hospital, there is a board of investors who must know about this case. You should also mention this to them and explain."

"Okay. I'll talk to them."

"The blood type they needed. Did Miss Lindsey find someone already?"

"Not yet. It's a rare blood type. Nikki has been searching for months, but she always failed to find one."

"I see. I will accept this, but other investors should say yes also to avoid issues." 

"Thanks for considering. Although I fear, I'm hoping you won't use this situation to take advantage of Nikki." Ben gives a meaningful stare at Jeremy before he goes on. "She is a nice girl. She's doing everything for her mother."

"I could tell."

Jeremy takes out the inclusion photos. It surprised him upon recognizing the place. "Alright. I will look up to this property. It looks a beautiful place."

"I will tell Nikki the good news soon?"

He nodded. "I want to take a rest now. My head throbs. I wasn't acting all the time."

"Sure. It would be best if you rest more than work. Then?" Ben sat up from the chair. "I will take my leave. Call me anytime."

Jeremy nodded at Ben, watched him walking toward the door until it swallowed him.

Now he badly wants to be alone. He heaves long and hurls his deepest sigh. Jeremy rested his right arm on his forehead, then mumbled.

'What a small world for us all... Our Entangled Lives.'

* * *

Remy Town.

Is the place Harry and Kristina met.

She is Theo's mother.

Fresh graduate from Leroy Collins University, Theo was 22 years old by then. He went straight to Mainland City after hearing he would undergo surgery and another set of therapy after... Theo wants to show his support and love. Thus, he encouraged Theo to escape to see more places before his surgery. He wants to enjoy his life while he can.

Being the oldest, 27 years old. He cannot go anywhere but take up his college at Mainland University while he has treatments and his mother hires the best tutors online.

And that day, he urges Theo to go to Remy Town as his graduation gift since it was Kristina's birthday.

Kristina has a painting of the town from a higher place. Theo has wanted to see that place for many years already.

According to their father's assistant, now retired Mr. Hans… Harry and Kristina meet in front of that church.

So then, the first place they went to was the church. They asked the priest they were looking for a highland area with a perfect view of the entire town, and they were to point out to a direction above a hill, and it brought them to a White House.

From that hill, Kristina painted the ocean, the town below: the church, and the nearby park.

And the place Theo is looking for— is Nikki's grandparent's property.

The exact property Nikki is selling right now.

After the accident, he pretended not to remember many things. Yes, he acted and lied.

Because the person who will most get hurt is his mother.

Nina Shang didn't know it was the first place Harry and Theo's mother met. What she only knew they met in Switzerland when the affair began.

All these years, Theo blamed himself for the accident.

All these years, he has no courage to talk to his father about the accident. Because even Harry didn't say, he blames him for taking Theo to that place that almost lost his life... their lives actually. It's not only Theo who almost died that day.

And since Theo has remembered nothing, he kept everything yet as a secret for now.

"Jeremy?"

A knock on the door, it was Theo.

He quickly gathers all the documents and photos of that place, then puts them back in the envelope and hides them under his blanket.

"Come in…"

"Hey… How are you?" asked Theo, gradually walking toward his brother's bed.

Jeremy pushes a smile lazily and replies. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. I will take a rest for days."

"Okay, you need to... I will tell Erika and Roland to go home."

"You should too, but let Erika accompany me."

"All right, I will tell her to stay with you. Do you need anything else?"

"Ah, yes. Can you take over my meetings for the next few days?"

"Sure, no problem."

Theo stayed for a while before he went home to review some important documents. He raises his fist. Jeremy stared at it for three seconds before he raised his own and met Theo's knuckles… it is what they always do ever since they were younger. It seems Theo forgets everything, but there are important things left, and his body is familiar with it.

He watched Theo's back leaving his bedroom. The moment Theo disappears, he closes his eyes and murmurs…

"I'm sorry, Theo…."

***

SHANG Mansion

On the poolside, Roland joins his master in drinking beer.

"Here, Master. Miss Erika made them this morning."

Theo took the bowl and began eating the potato salad while sipping his beer.

"What are you thinking, Master?" asked Roland. Curious if there are things that trouble his master.

"Hmm? What should I think about?"

"Like your girlfriend!" Uh-uh, it looks like I made a mistake. His master only heaves a hopeless sighed.

"She's not my girlfriend yet."

Hearing this, Roland feels excited. He changes his sitting position, now faces his master.

"Then, hurry and pursue her, master!"

Theo glanced at Roland. "How should I do that? Some men surely like her. And I also wonder if she already has a boyfriend."

"So?"

"Can I even have a chance?"

"Then?"

"Hey! Are you mimicking me?" he remembers their last conversation?

"Hehe…" Roland smiled. "Well, master! If you want to win Miss Nikki's heart, be a man! A brave man wins the battle!"

Theo shook his head but smiled. His assistant really knows this stuff.

"Looks like I should start pursuing her seriously."

"That's right, Master!" Roland cheered. "Anyway, have you sent Miss Nikki a message?"

"Not yet."

"Eh?" Ah, his master is so slow. "You should hurry, you know!" he advised. He needs to push his master. He's very conservative. How can he make him aggressive? Well, he's passionate already, but he has to be bold toward the person he likes.

Meanwhile, Theo fell into deep thoughts, contemplating. 'Roland is right.' He thought.

He won't get any result or achieve anything if he won't start moving soon, or else he will lose everything before losing Nikki. He needs to pursue her with no delay.

However, he has been too busy in the past few days. Jeremy takes a long rest, and he needs to replace him for the weekend meetings.

Before he went home, he stopped by the hospital. He's walking towards the elevator when he sees Nikki taking the lift. He wants to run to the elevator and take the ride together with her, but he does not know what to say to Nikki when they will be alone inside.

'Ahhh!' Theo climbs the stairs. Reaching the 7th floor, he's bathing with sweet. He breathes in, breathes out.

Who's an idiot flying the stairs? If Roland learns this, his assistant will ridicule him. Anyway, he just wanted to see Nikki. Just a real quick glimpse of her.

Theo looks around. The nurses on duty tonight are on their rounds. There's only one nurse at the station, and so he casually passes the lobby. He sneaks in toward Lucy Lindsey's room.

He peeks in the door window, and he sees Nikki and her mother Lucy conversing. But he heard footsteps, and so he hid.

'Ah, shot!' His phone rings. He quickly answers the call.

"Master, where are you? Why do you suddenly disappear?"

Roland went to park the car, but as he saw Nikki, he followed her.

"I need to hurry to… ah— to a washroom!"

"Hm? Why are you whispering?"

"I was inside a cubicle! What do you expect me to do here? Singing?"

The other line laughs from his sarcasm. "Ahh— right! Okay… have fun, master!"

"What—" then Roland hangs up the call. "What the—? How dare he hang up on me?" he mumbles.

A door slam opens, and someone comes out from one cubicle in this lavatory. He hides inside, but not inside in a cubicle. Theo bowed to the older man and waited for him to leave. He waited for another five minutes. Then he stepped outside.

He casually walks in the hallway, passing Lucy Lindsey's room. He peeps one more time. Lucy seems now sleeping. He looks around, and he sees how Nikki wipes her eyes.

Theo clenches his fists. Reaching his chest, he presses his palm on it. It throbs with pain.

"Nikki… you're crying again."