Chapter One – Coma.
The feeling of being betrayed by your own.
With fallen shoulders, Dominic Thales walked out of the hospital. He boarded a cab heading to his family house, the Thales Mansion, his eyes glued outside the window watching how places changed since he last went out.
The taxi stopped and the driver asked to be paid. He paid, even though stunned how taxi rides had increased since the last time he took one, which was ten years ago going on a jolly ride with friends.
He turned immediately to the mansion, the Thales Mansion, which he'd call home, but his legs froze immediately when he found himself before a hotel.
What's happening? Where was his home? There was no way what happened to the Thales group wouldn't affect his home!
"Excuse me?" he ran to a security, panting heavily. Could it be what he thought? "Isn't this the Thales Mansion? Where's everybody?"
By everybody, he meant servants and butlers who were loyal to Thales, he wasn't expecting his grandparents anymore.
The security laughed. "Did you come back from a time travel? Or you hit your head somewhere?"
Dominic began panting heavily. Time-travel? Had everything changed that much? Had his family home been a hotel for a while already? "Tell me what's going on. I am..."
"Newbie! What're you doing with the lunatic!" a tall man yelled at the security and stomped over.
The security ignored Dominic and went back to his post. Dominic wondered for a moment if he was the one being referred to as lunatic?
"Is this the Thales Mansion? Who did this to it? Tell me everything..." but Dominic was pulled by the collar.
The huge man yelled. "Get lost, there are no crumbs for you here. I'm done doing favors for you homeless folks."
Crumbs? Dominic felt insulted. He never asked for crumbs from anybody but then he was tossed to the ground.
The force he fell with sent pain to his sick body which hadn't recovered from all he was suffering.
"What is wrong with you!" he shouted back. "How dare you touch me! Do you know who I..." he trailed off.
Who was he again? Hasn't his empire been trampled upon? A kick was sent to his stomach and he felt like throwing up.
"Who you are? Okay then, who are you? Nothing more than a filthy beggar!" the huge man ranted.
It was no use. Dominic knew that much. He wasn't as powerful as he used to be so he'd better clear the scene as soon as he could.
His physical appearance didn't resemblance that of before.
No one would believe he was the Young Master Thales anymore. Nor even a common rich man at that.
He scurried away from the man while wondering who'd dare sell his family house. Does it mean he had no home?
Where's the money paid for buying the house? There was nothing in the bank account, nothing left. The company's building was under lock and key and there was no one he could call.
For that split moment, he felt alone in the whole world. Where was his wife? Where was Brielle?
His mind went back to four years ago at the hospital, while he was laid there, helpless.
"This rude infidel isn't worthy of your wait! Why are you breaking your mother's heart, Brielle!"
Those were the words of Lady Lillian to her daughter, Brielle. The body of Brielle's husband, Young master Dominic Thales laid besides them. He had an accident four months ago and fell into a coma.
Brielle clenched her fists and pointed at her mother. "My husband isn't an infidel! Watch your mouth!" she pointed at her mother.
Her father leapt from where he sat and scolded immediately. "Brielle, how dare you point at your mother because of this trash? You were told to only marry and get pregnant for him. Don't fall in love with him!"
"I never agreed, father!" Brielle barked.
Her mother yanked her arm, turning her face to hers. "Those kids you carry, do you want a selfish conceited man to be their father?"
"But you sent me out for marriage to that selfish conceited man! Now, I love him and I realized he isn't that!" Brielle replied.
She received a thunderous slap on her face from her father, shutting her up.
"That's enough, Brielle. You won't shame the Allen's family than you've already. Your marriage to the Thales was a formality for you to be an in-law and get the benefits of it. That's all." Master Allen cautioned, pulling his daughter away. His wife followed with a sorry look.
Brielle couldn't move her lips, she was dragged away by her family.
In the ward, the body of Dominic Thales went cold. He heard everything his wife and in-laws said about him.
He was trapped in his own body and consciousness. He couldn't break free but his emotions were still intact.
Why did his mother-in-law hate him so much? He had helped their company become one of the leading fashion industry in the country and worldwide.
She used to be nice to him before but her true colors were showing now he'd been in coma for fours years. Had they really set him up with their daughter?
He remembered seeing Brielle at his best friend's party and falling in love, unlike his usual playboy self.
Was their marriage was just a formality to her family? Dominic felt very confused. And that was when everything went down hill. His little cousin telling him that his grandmother committed suicide. It was enough for him to wish to remain in the coma than live in a world where his beloved grandmother wasn't in. His father had committed suicide as well then, leaving the scar on Dominic.
And then, he was told how his little cousin would be sent to an orphanage as they was no one to take care of him. It wouldn't be the worst decision his grandfather would be taking against his orphaned grandson.
And then yet another news that prompted him to break out of his coma.
"The news said Thales group lost 85% of our worth in a failed business. With you still here, it's safe to say we're doomed."
Dominic could hear the broken voice of his little cousin saying those news.
"Ah, and so it wouldn't be only bad news you get, Aunty Brielle gave birth to twin boys. They have your eyes." Lucas added.
Those were the last words he ever said to Dominic before his sudden disappearance.
Dominic looked to the sky still standing outside the building. "Where would I start from?"
Chapter Two:
A car drove past with blinding speed, catching Dominic's attention. He stood up to watch where it was headed. A protest was ongoing.
The car drove stopped besides the open place where the protesters were.
"Pay your workers, Allen Group! Pay your workers!" the protesters raised placards. It was a peaceful protest, no one attacked any one.
Until, the driver of the car stepped out and there was a cold air in the environment. It was a master Allen, leader of the Allen group.
The protesters didn't speak under his intense glare.
"Arrest them! Beat them up!" master Allen commanded and the officers dived at the protesters and began attacking them.
Dominic hid behind a bill board watching this. The situation turned to a fight and more policemen were called.
Dominic left the scene before it escalated. "The Allen group keep on making enemies for themselves." He mumbled under his breath.
He had to do what he can to rise back to the top. It was unfair. He couldn't keep living like this.
Thankfully, he secured a job at a local diner under the name Sylvain Savage, a nickname from his old friends.
Since he awoke, his body hadn't recovered from malnourishment and muscle atrophy. His once vibrant blue eyes were a shade of blue.
His long hair had been cut to a punk and lost it's bounciness. His muscular stature had become a bony structure with flesh at some parts.
From a vibrant young man to a disheveled lean poor nothing. How'd it get to this?
He only handled part of the company so why did the company fall with him? Why did his family get disoriented after his coma?
Why did his in-laws do that to him? He needed answers and fast. Perhaps he'd need to see Brielle, maybe she wouldn't have given up on him and he'd get to see his boys.
"Mr. Sylvain! Could you please help me here?" a coworker called out to him from the kitchen.
"I am coming, Mary." He responded and ran into the kitchen. He'd remain low-key till he'd find trusted alliances.
He had exhausted all his money on finding Lucas and his new family. If he had his cousin, then he'd be encouraged to take on many steps.
He needed to find their old butler too, surely not all of the Thales group wealth was gone. And his mother's inheritance he was entitled too?
His mother came from the legendary Duncan family. He had no wealth from there? Surely they'd be something to hold unto.
Returning home from the diner by evening, Dominic noticed cars speeding past him.
They were black and looked like convoys, only they weren't following any car. They seemed to be searching for something, someone.
"Can I have bread, please?" Dominic said to the baker, pointing at the bread he intended to buy.
He turned to the cars perambulating then leaned towards the baker, "Did something happen?"
The baker looked up at the cars and shrugged. "It happened again. The Allen twins. Stubborn boys. They must have ran away again."
Dominic raised a brow. Allen twins? Did Brielle's elder brother finally get married and have children? A lot had really happened.
He turned again to the cars and saw tiredness on the faces of the drivers. They weren't making much effort to find the children.
"Last time, they were nearly kidnapped by a man claiming to be their father who claimed to be their father." The baker continued.
A smirk came to Dominic's lips. Brielle's brother might not be the actual father to the kids then or why else will someone try to claim then.
He faced the baker, took his bread and dropped a dollar note. "Well, they won't be lost for good."
Rich children could be really stubborn, he'd know. He wished to find a way to contact Brielle but those drivers looked uncooperative.
Deep down, he didn't want to face his wife or his in-laws in his current state of owning nothing.
Alley dogs barked angrily at him as he walked down to an incomplete building he called home.
"Hey there!" a hoarse voice called him out. He fastened his steps, knowing who it was but the person's steps quickened, as well.
A kick went to his back, making him fall face down. He swiftly placed his newly purchased bread under him and coiled himself.
"Oh, that's how you want to play, right?" the man grinned before kicking him repeatedly.
Dominic pressed his lips together, enduring all the treatment if it meant to have something to eat for dinner and breakfast.
"Nothings like you shouldn't have been born!" the man barked while hitting him. Dominic smiled painfully in his heart.
When he was born, there had been a feast and many wished they were him, a small helpless baby born to a billionaire family, Thales, and son of Lady Diana of the legendary Duncan family.
There was no 'nothing' attached to his person, the only 'nothing' was, 'he lacked nothing'.
The man soon tired out and left him alone. Dominic stayed there sprawled on the ground, having no strength to move.
If he stayed long enough, he could sleep past dinner and just have the bread for breakfast and lunch tomorrow. Or the alley dogs would have it.
His eyes closed, tired of seeing the miserable world. When they opened again, he saw the miserable walls of the incomplete apartment.
He summoned the strength to sit up from the soft bed he laid on, he had to buy a soft bed or else he wouldn't sleep.
"How did I get back home?" he walked around the house. "There's no way that bully would have brought me home out of pity."
A box of pizza, laying on his table, caught his attention. He hurried towards it and tore it open. It was filled.
Surely, a good Samaritan had brought him home and left him something to survive starvation.
Finally feeling hope in his situation, Dominic decided to meet with Brielle with or without a wonderful status.
She married him because she loved him, that's what she said at the hospital. If she was truthful, then she'd accept him and help him get the Thales group up and striving.
Chapter Three:
By the next day, Dominic hastily prepared to move out. It was the day – the day he'd meet up with his lovely wife and kids.
No matter what his family had become, he was still her husband and father of her kids.
He wore the shirt and shorts he owned, the exact ones he wore during the accident four years back, the most expensive clothes he currently owned.
As he left the building, he sighted the door mat, a small ragged cloth, washed and kept to dry on a wall. Was it also done by the good Samaritan?
A smile came to Dominic's lips and he marched to the Allen's company. "I'd recover all. Brielle, for what you've been through, I'd get back enough money to wipe your tears."
Passing a glass door of a shop, he stopped to look at himself. Would she recognize him? His voice now sounded scrawny like twelve year old's.
Shouldn't she have known he was discharged? Why didn't she come to pick him up? Questions and doubts were filling his head and he left the glass door and hurried to Allen's company.
The building was a four storey-building. Huge men on black suits stood in front. He tried walking past them but was stopped.
"Don't go in from here, use the other door. Or do you have a card?" one of them asked, his voice gruff but polite.
Dominic tried putting his hands in his pockets before realizing that he wasn't still a VIP and didn't have a card. That was the VIP entrance.
He glanced at the other entrance which he'd never used or thought he'd use. This was a harsh way for fate to humble him.
Also the VIP entrance led directly to the Managers and CEO quarters while the normal entrance would lead to a receptionist to get an appointment.
He didn't have the time – but he couldn't protest either.
A small gathering of people forming as two small cars rode Allen's company. Dominic watched the gathering, wondering if it was another protest.
The cars drove to the back of the building, the garage. Some people tried running after them, throwing stones and sticks.
The security immediately held them back and the place became disoriented.
"The public is enemy with Allen's family. That would come to my advantage when I'd destroy them." Dominic muttered, while sneaking past the security and towards the garage.
Whoever was inside the car would be an Allen family member, and he can lay his complains.
However, his eyes widened and he paused when a lady stepped out of the car. He knew she was his wife, Brielle, but she had changed.
Brielle stepped out from the car, adorned in a gaudy display of jewelry, wearing a skin-tight red dress that screamed for attention.
Her aura was cold and not a single streak of smile or friendliness was on her face – and that was what worried Dominic the most.
Had she been worried about him that she became that inexpressive? The passenger door was kicked open. A blonde boy ran out of car, gasping for breathe.
Dominic recognized him as Brielle's younger sister's son, Jake. The boy was still five when his mother died and Dominic fell into coma.
Dominic exhaled and with calculated steps, approached them, feeling quite out of place within their sophisticated aura.
Someone else stepped out of the car and Dominic stopped his walk.
"Jake, next time, don't ride with your mom and I. We have important things to talk about." It was Lady Allen, Brielle's mother.
A rush of anger ran through Dominic and he felt the urge to hit her. She and her husband had taken his wife and his sons.
They also had the guts to insult him when it was his influence that made their company see the light of day.
"Jake, always ride with me. Your brothers bicker and are too rowdy so let them stay alone, okay?" Brielle immediately countered her mother.
Jake smiled and ran over to the other car. Dominic was glad Brielle and her mother still didn't see eye to eye.
"Dorian, Lucian! We're here." Jake peeked into the tinted glass. "Lucian, what're you doing? Put on your shoes!"
The car door was opened and a three year old boy with long hair flew out of the car.
Dominic tilted his head. The boy turned towards him and his face became clearer, he had sharp blue eyes with a stoic face expression.
Dominic went back, the boy looked a lot like him! Was he his son? He had been in coma for four years so his sons should be at that age.
He always thought they'd be much smaller.
"I want to stay barefoot! The shoe isn't my size anymore!" Lucian shouted, then stomped to his mother.
Another three year old, same size as Lucian but with shorter hair and slightly taller, rolled out of the car. He nearly landed on his head but hung.
"I'm hungry, mommy! I want to... ahhhh!" he fell on his back. Jake sighed, while pulling him up to prevent him from soiling his milk white sweater.
Dominic smirked, beaming with pride, seeing his sons. They were really his boys if they were that rowdy and outspoken.
Realizing he was yet to introduce himself, his heart began to race. He took a deep breath and marched confidently towards them.
At that moment, he locked eyes with Lucian. The boy's stoic expression released and he looked curious. But suddenly, he hid behind his mother.
"Bad people." He muttered.
"Bad people?" Dominic repeated.
"Who are you?" Brielle immediately asked, also noticing him. She looked defensive as Jake and Dorian came closer to her.
Dominic looked at them confused why they were reacting that way when he wasn't close yet. Lady Lillian had an annoying disgusted expression.
"It's Dominic. Dominic Thales, your husband!" he said, not as confident as he wanted.
There was silence between him and Brielle before she spat her next words. "Get out before I call the police!"
Shockwaves ran through his body. His eyes widened, "And why? But it's me! I recovered from the coma.."
"Are you mocking me?!" She clenched her fists. "I said out before I do destroy your sick body and you'd never recover!"
Dominic's shoulders slumped.
Why was she yelling at him? Why were his children looking at him like he'd hurt them?!