96 Book 2 : Chapter 22

"Wealth?" I asked her back, thinking I had not heard her correctly.

Hazel furrowed her brows, giving me a look of disbelief.

"Yes. Your inheritance."

"What are you talking about?" I stared at her, half-expecting that she had just misconstrued me for someone else.

"The Grey Inheritance."

I scoffed and looked into her eyes. "Haze, remember, Grey is Sean's family name, not mine."

"I know," she replied as if what she was saying was just a simple matter. She took a sip of her coffee, wiped her mouth, and stood up.

"Where are you going?" I got upset. Had she really no idea that I was already dying of suspense?

"Go with me, Dr. Red," she gestured with her hand, expecting that I could not refuse.

I stood up like a puppet, picked up my bag, and followed her to the door.

"I have booked a tour package for the two of us, Dr. Red, so that you could also go sightseeing. Our first destination is a full day tour at Australia's Blue Mountains. Then we'll move to Featherdale Wildlife Park and view their native animals. Next—"

"Haze, I'm not in the mood for sightseeing. So, just please tell me everything you know."

She turned to me with a wide grin and sparkling eyes, showing her excitement instead. We were both strangers in this country, and to go to their famous destinations was every tourist's wish. Seeing her that way made me feel guilty, so I didn't have the heart to turn her down anymore.

"Doc, you should divert your thoughts from those depressing things," she said, "for the sake of the baby."

"Alright," I conceded; she was right anyway.

I sauntered towards the hotel's entrance, where the shuttle would be picking us. Hazel was also too kind and patient to have adapted to my pace. She did not pressure me with the departure's schedule or made me feel guilty for having other guests to wait for us.

Before I reached the lobby, I saw Sean waiting for us by the couch. My heart leaped in excitement to see him again, but half the part of me reminded how he deceived and betrayed me.

I glanced at him, trying to look indifferent. He still stood out among those men in the lobby. Even if there were stress lines around his eyes, he still looked appealing and stunning. He walked towards us and stopped when we were a few feet away from him.

As expected from her, Hazel stepped ahead of us, giving us some moments.

"Hello," I said, pursing a smile.

"Babe," I know it's cruel to ask if you're okay. But I still hope that one day you'll understand that I am still the kind of person you used to know. If I had made some lies, it's because I didn't want to hurt you."

"Sean, stop. I don't want to hear any of that. Trust is like glass; once broken—"

I didn't finish it. Sean is an intelligent person. I didn't have to elaborate everything to let him see where did our relationship go wrong.

"I can explain," he insisted. I stepped aside to go, but he blocked my way.

"Let me go. Nothing can make me change my mind."

Sean pulled a sigh and made way for me. He knew better that it was not the right time to insist.

I strode toward the entrance, trying to hold back myself from breaking down. Half the part of me was angry, but half the part of me wanted to find comfort on his chest. I was not the only one who needed it, but my baby. Folks even had it that whatever craving a pregnant woman has should be provided. Or else, the safety of the baby would be at risk. I may not believe such superstition, but I really felt bad that I have it to deny myself.

A sleek, black sedan stopped in front of me the moment I stepped out. The window on the passenger's seat rolled down, and Hazel's smiling face greeted my eyes. She opened the door, and I slid inside, trying my best to avoid looking at my back at him.

"Are we ready, Dr. Red?" a familiar voice called out to me from the driver's seat.

I looked up, and the driver's face popped in between two backrests.

"Philip?" my voice hoarsened in surprise.

"Yes, Dr. Red."

I stared at him a confused expression, wanting to get the answers to the questions that suddenly piled up in my mind.

"You're also here?"

"Philip is taking his vacation leave," Hazel butted in, answering for Philip.

"Does Sean know you are here?"

"I don't know. The truth is, I have resigned from being his assistant."

"Oh, why?" I couldn't help but ask. The succession of surprises delved the sense of curiosity within me.

"It's a long story, Dr. Red."

"You'll have a whole day discussing the reasons why he resigned," Hazel chuckled with a triumphant look on her face.

"I'm really surprised. Sean could not seem to move by himself without you."

"He must be feeling crippled," Hazel again answered for him.

I noticed that Hazel moved to the passenger's side beside Philip, and her face glowed every time she looked at him. I was dying to know the apparent answer, but I always knew that not every question should have its answer the way we want it.

I kept silent as we go, but my senses were sharp to these two. As we turned to the highway, I fixed my gaze to the scenic view outside. Plains rolled by, complimenting those different kinds of massive infrastructures along the wayside.

"Dr. Red, have you seen those establishments?" Hazel broke the silence and started out a conversation.

"Yes."

"All of those industrial and recreation centers your eyes can see belongs to Thomas and Albert Group of Companies."

"Oh," I gasped. Those were not simple buildings only, but high towers.

"The hotel where you stay, and all those chains of hotels in this city, is also owned by TAG Group of Companies."

"Is that how rich and powerful Sean is?"

"Yes, but these buildings are just a few of his assets."

"Really?" I faked an exclamation. I'm never interested in material wealth, but I was awed to Sean's capabilities.

"All these and the rest of those assets belong to the Grey inheritance. What can you say, Dr. Red?"

"Grossly amazing!"

"Indeed, and all these belong to you."

"Belong to me?" My eyes widened again as I stared at Hazel without blinking.

"Yes, because you are Sir Thomas Grey's biological granddaughter and Albert Grey's only daughter."

"What are you talking about? I am a Nelson, not Grey."

"Had your father told you who his family is? He hadn't, right?"

My world seemed to stop spinning for a moment, as my heart threw some painful thuds. Hazel was right; we were all blind to his family background.

"Your father fled when he learned that Sean's mother seduced your grandfather into giving the inheritance to Sean. He could not accept it, so he fled and changed his identity into Albert Nelson."

"What?!" was all I could matter.

"Think hard, Dr. Red. What could be the reason why Sean wants you to become his wife while flirting with another woman?"