Contrary to his expectations, Richard answered his phone. He had thought he might not be willing to talk to him at all. Seeing that he answered, Patrick said “Hello”
He doesn't know what to say next, before it would have been hello uncle. But now, he is not interested in calling him father and definitely not uncle.
“Hello Patrick” Richard replied, his tone relaxed. In his tone, there's nothing in it to indicate that he was still upset with his son.
“I was hoping we could meet up briefly sir” Patrick suggested. He is pushed to the point where he needs to talk to Richard, otherwise he would never have called him.
He'd also learn something from this whole incident ongoing: we're not self sufficient. We all need each other at some point in our lives.
“I'm afraid not. I'm busy. Is there a problem?” Richard asked flippantly. He was going on a business trip. He might not be back until a few days.
“Yeah, there's a problem. It's about Adrian” Patrick stuttered. For Adrian to be missing, it only meant that there's a big problem in the lives of every one of them that loves him.
“What about him?” Richard asked. Did he also notice that Adrian was missing? He can't remember saying anything to anyone but he doesn't trust that his father didn't do so to Aurora.
And as it is, Patrick seemed to be with Aurora. They probably are dating. But he wished it didn't go that way, that Patrick gets himself another girl not Adrian's ex-wife. It's a pure humiliation to Adrian.
“I know he'd been missing for days now. I'm also aware that you were searching for him. I did the same and I can affirm to it that Adrian is not in New Jersey.
I want to know if you have a clue where we can find him. I want to work with you in finding out about Adrian's whereabouts…” Patrick explained.
“Thanks for being concerned about Adrian. But don't get involved here. You've already created a wall of partition between yourself and him when you choose to be with his ex-wife.
And I think we might find him soon because Clem found out the identity of the idiot who sponsored the scandal. One Ray Grimard in X-city…” Richard was saying when Patrick blurted:
“Ray Grimard? That bastard?” He gnashed his teeth. Why hadn't his heart gone to him? Why did he not think he is one of those senseless admirers who had a crush on Aurora.
“Yeah, you know the dude right?” Richard asked, surprised that he sounded furious. Is he being jealous again, over Aurora?
“Yes. He's a friend of Aurora's brother and the family. He has a crush on her and wants her to be his girlfriend…” Patrick explained briefly.
“This sounds interesting. Aurora has become one of the hottest women in town. I had only thought you are the only one who can't wait to own her, so there's another?” Richard smirked.
How can things go this way? Now, Aurora's crush spread such lies on social media, why? Was it because of Patrick, was he afraid she would prefer him?
“Please sir, I don't have anything to do with Aurora. She's a friend that I got to know from Adrian. Besides that, we're business partners now. Whatever I said were mere words to hurt Adrian.
Aurora and I have a pure relationship between us. She can't humiliate Adrian to that degree by choosing his friend over him. And I can't backstab my friend for the sake of a woman.
Discard that opinion. I do hope I can see Adrian and explain the same thing to him. And if you want, you can ask Aurora the same thing” Patrick explained.
“When you find Adrian, explain things to him and I do hope he believes you. In the meantime, I'll hang up now” Richard declared and hung up. He doesn't know what to believe anymore. His sons turned their backs against each other.
Three months passed.
Within the cold prison walls, Anna was informed that someone wants to see her. Now, things aren't going well with her anymore. It seemed that she was recovering faster than she expected but her blood pressure had risen and it couldn't get stabilised.
She stepped out, eager to see if Adrian finally came around to see her after a few months but instead, the one she saw was her ex-husband.
Anna glared at him, fury surging within her, fear crippling her thoughts. He doesn't look alright, she hoped he hadn't come to see her because something had happened to her son?
“How are you doing,Anna?” Richard asked, his gaze so distant. It's been months since he set his eyes on his ex-wife. In fact, he hadn't come to see her from day one, what would he be coming to see her for?
They're divorced and Adrian is an adult. But now, that adult son of theirs was the reason he came to see her. He desperately hopes she would have answers, positive ones for him.
“Why are you here?” Anna snapped at him. How can he be asking her how she is doing? Did he think she would be fine, locked up and confined within walls?
Richard sighed. He swallowed hard and answered “You know why I came to see you, don't you?”
“How would I know, can't remember having the gift of a mind reader. Just speak and get out of my sight” she bellowed. After what Adrian told her, a few months ago, she now despised Richard.
If he hates her, it's understandable. She wouldn't be surprised about it, but not Adrian, their son. How is he responsible for his birth? If they hadn't conjugated, how was he supposed to be conceived?
And last that she remembered, she'd never raped him. Can she even do it, with her fragile bones and his muscular figure?
“I'm here because of Adrian, where is he?” Richard asked, throwing caution to the air. He'd come to see her to get the answer to that singular question.
“Did you ask that question while under the influence of alcohol or are you in your right mind, Richard Lester? Have you lost it?” Anna bellowed.
Is he alright upstairs to ask her such a question?
“Do I look drunk to you?” Richard snapped at her, his eyes flickering up with displeasure. What temerity of her to ask him if he was drunk?
Which man in his right senses gets drunk in the morning?