One True Heir

Chapter 3

As Jake walked down the lonely road, his mind drifted back to the day he first met Georgina. After the demise of his mother, he relocated to Burutan to begin a new life far from his family.

2 weeks after he arrived in the city, he ran into a pretty college girl sobbing by the bridge.

He approached her and she told him about the financial crisis in her family that was about to hinder her education.

Jake fell in love with her instantly. He was 3 years older than her and had just graduated from college before he left home.

With the money he had saved while at home, Jake promised to send her to school.

He sponsored her education and her family's financial crisis, thereby abandoning his initial plan of setting up a workshop for himself.

A few years after her graduation, they got married and became one of the youngest couples in Burutan.

How could he have known that a day like this would come? A day when Georgina would forget all the sacrifices he had made and move on with a rich fellow.

***

Without looking at his path, Jake walked across the road absent-mindedly.

A squeaking wheel sound pulled him out of his thoughts, and when he regained himself, the vehicle was right before him.

He tried to save himself, but it was too late. Before he could make a move, the vehicle knocked him to the ground. When the driver saw what he had done, he kick-started his engine and ran away.

A few passers-by who had seen the incident rushed to the scene, and when they got there, Jake was covered in blood with his bag of clothes scattered across the road.

Immediately, they lifted him and rushed him to the hospital.

***

Back in Georgina's residence, she rushed out to the sitting room with Rebecca chasing behind.

“I'm talking to you, child. How dare you walk out on me?"

“Mom please," Georgina whispered tiredly and settled on the sofa, facing the opposite direction.

Rebecca stopped and raised her hands in the air, expressing her frustration.

“Don't tell me you're in support of what he did. I'm telling you that your useless Ex-husband beat the hell out of me before leaving the house, and all you can do is tell me to let it go. Well, I can't do that.”

"Do you even care one bit about me? I'm your mother, Georgina!” she yelled in a sobbing voice, her eyes filled with unshed tears.

At this point, Georgina couldn't ignore her anymore. She sighed deeply and turned around. “How can you say that Mom? You know I love you a lot."

“But you're not showing it," Rebecca protested and a tear dropped on her cheek. Georgina rushed further and pulled her to her chest.

“I love you, Mom. I do. But Jake is gone, and I don't know where to look for him. I don't even know how best to punish him. I feel like I pushed him too hard, Mom. He didn't deserve what we did and you know it.”

Rebecca frowned and shook her head disappointedly.

“This is not you, Georgina. It's not difficult and you know it. You just don't care. It's alright, I'm at your mercy after all. If you want you can kick me out of your house," she frowned and walked away but Georgina chased after her.

“OK, Mom. I'll put out the word and have people find him. I promise to deal with him mercilessly if that will make you happy,” she said, and Rebecca let out a tender smile.

Early the following morning, Georgina had dressed herself for work. She looked elegant in her red long gown. Seating confidently on the bed, she dialed Jake's number for the umpteenth time, but there was no response.

A loud knock on her door startled her, and she sighed. She quickly picked up her bags knowing it was her Mom. The door opened, and Rebecca walked in.

“Hey hun," Rebecca greeted with a beaming smile on her lips. Before she could get talking, Georgina rushed further and pecked her cheeks.

“I'm running late, Mom. I'll see you in the evening. Be sure to take care of yourself, ok?” She urged with a smile, and Rebecca nodded.

It was a regular day at work when Georgina drove into the company. She alighted from her car with every eye on her as she walked towards her office.

As she entered the office, she was feeling reborn. Finally, she was single again. A smile crossed her face as the thoughts of marrying Maron crossed her mind.

Her beautiful imagination was interrupted by a loud knock on her door.

“Who is it?" She asked, and a young black lady walked in.

“Hi, best friend,” Georgina moaned sexily, and the lady spread her arms wide open. They fell into a warm embrace that made the room feel warmer.

The lady was Agatha, the Chief Operating Officer of C&C Global Company Ltd, and Georgina's best friend at work.

“What are you up to?" Georgina asked, and she sighed.

"Haven't you found out?" Agatha whispered in her melodic voice, and Georgina shook her head.

“Your Ex-husband. He had a terrible accident last night after he left your house. I was trying to reach you, but I couldn't. I was live on the scene, and I'm telling you that it's not looking good.”

Georgina swallowed hard and threw her handbag to the table, showing her concern. Her breathing quickened, shallow gasps of air escaping her trembling lips.

“What are you saying, Agatha?" She asked with curiosity all over her gaze.

Without further explanation, Agatha pulled out her cell phone and searched through her photos.

“I even heard that he is in a coma as we speak," she announced and handed the phone to Georgina.

Georgina gasped in shock, seeing Jake lying in a pool of blood. Fear engulfed her. Her face paled, and a look of shame washed over her features.

“Which hospital is he receiving treatment from?" She inquired curiously. Tears had gathered in her eyes.

Agatha sighed. "I can't be so sure, but I think it's St George's Hospital downtown.”

Before she could complete her statement, Georgina rushed out of the office with her car key.

All the staff stared at her, wondering what had happened as she speedily left for the garage. In a few minutes, she was in the hospital.

“Excuse me," she said to the nurse walking ahead of her. "a man was brought in last night. He was involved in a car accident. What room can I find him in?” She asked, and the nurse raised her brow.

"Uhmm that should be room 57, ma'am.” She quickly left for room 57. When she got to the room, she was already panting heavily due to exaggeration.

She pushed the door open and stormed the room. Her eyes fell on a patient on the sick bed, his whole body was covered in bandages. She plodded towards him with fear in her eyes.

She was sobbing in silence, hoping it wasn't Jake. As she got closer, she returned her gaze to the bedside, and her eyes fell on Jake's phone and the broken diamond necklace.

She gasped and collapsed on the ground. “Oh my goodness! She exclaimed and burst into heavy tears. “This is my fault, Jake. I'm so sorry," she cried out.

She couldn't hide the tremor in her voice as guilt consumed her from inside. “What have I done?” She sniffed hard, but she couldn't stop her tears. It was as if her whole world was spinning against her.

“What am I gonna do now?" She inquired, darting her eyes around in confusion.