Chapter 10 Ten

Darius placed Gemma's hand back beside her, stood up from his seat, pecked her forehead, and left the room. He was met by Leo immediately he stepped out.

"Uncle's here, I directed him to your office." Leo uttered, looking skeptically at his brother expecting his predictable negative reaction.

Darius never liked their uncle. Jacob Anderson, their paternal uncle was very close their parents but even as children, Darius and his siblings never liked him.

They found him too controlling and authoritative. Since their parent's funeral a month ago, he hasn't contacted any of them or make a visit.

"And why is he here? It's too early for this." Darius asked with a frown.

Leo just shrugged with no audible reply indicating that he does not know the purpose of their uncle's visit. Darius adjusted his tie, walking off with his cold face. Leo watched his figure disappear before he looked away.

He walked to the door leading to the room where his sister lays unconscious. When his hand landed on the door handle however, he hesitated.

Should he go in or not? A few seconds was what it took for him to decide that he is not going in, he couldn't.

The mere sight of Gemma laying in that bed and in that state always breaks his heart. Particularly because in some way, he felt he was partly at fault for what happened.

Their parents unfortunate incident was unexpected and couldn't have been prevented but as for Gemma's, it could have been avoided.

She wasn't supposed to go on that God-forsaken trip with their parent and she doesn't even want to go. Leo was the one who was supposed to accompany them since he volunteered initially.

However, he found out that his girlfriend and his friends had arranged a surprise birthday party for him so he had to persuade his sister to go in place of him.

And that was how his parents were murdered right on his birth date. All this took a toll on him and every single day, he's left with the reminder that he could have been able to save his parents from being murdered if he had went with them and Gemma wouldn't even be in the state that she currently is.

*** *** ***

Darius entered his office and was met with the sight of his uncle, who was standing in front of his late parent's portrait, facing away from him with his hands tucked in his pocket.

Darius shut the door and walked straight to his desk, taking his seat. His eyes fell on the portrait too and he smiled at the sight of the infectious smile gracing the late couple's lips. They were everything a good parent should be, and he was glad that they were his even if they were no more.

"I still can't believe they are gone." Jacob asked, finally looking away from the portrait and facing Darius.

"Have a seat, Uncle." Darius spoke.

Jacob walked to the seat across from Darius and sat down.

"How have you been?" Jacob asked.

"Good." Darius gave his usual short reply.

"Gemma?"

"Still there." Darius replied again.

"Heard you spared a girl from the Scott's family." Jacob said, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

"Yes, I did." Darius clarified without hesitation.

"The families are not happy with that. They all vowed to make sure those involved in your parent's death face the utmost punishment, so they were not pleased to hear that you spared the family of a man who spearheaded your parent's attack." Jacob explained.

"I don't need anyone to avenge my parent's death for me. The girl is innocent and I saw it fit to let her go so who dares to object my decision?"

"Innocent? I heard you got rid of her brother. Her brother was innocent too, wasn't he? Considering the fact that I heard he wasn't even involved with his father's business?" Jacob asked.

Darius remained quiet, not bothering to answer his uncle's question.

"Well, do you know that the so-called innocent girl is currently on her way to meet with the police officers with your picture in her grasp?" Jacob asked, expecting a surprised expression on Darius' face.

Darius, however just leaned back in his seat, unfazed. He studied his uncle's face for a while before speaking.

"What did you do?" Darius asked.

"I sent some men to shut her up." Jacob replied and Darius looked displeased.

"The girl. I want her alive and unharmed." Darius demanded.

"I told you I already gave the order to-"

"Uncle. I want her alive and unharmed." Darius repeated.

He then stood up, gave a departing nod to his uncle and left the office.

Darius doesn't owe the Scott family anything nor does he feel that they should be spared from their sins. However, he has never intentionally harmed an innocent and he wasn't about to start. The world is complicated enough and unfortunately, no one has the power to choose what family they would be born into.

When he arrived at that scene then, all he could see is the strong bond between siblings who were caught up in the abominable act of their parents and had to share in the consequences.

Life is unfair after all, but at the end, everyone gets both sides of the coin.