The Art Of The UnderDog

Chapter 4

"Please place your finger here," one of Tyler's Grandma's guards instructed, gesturing towards a biometric scanner. Tyler glanced up at the guard, his eyes narrowed with a mix of skepticism and curiosity, his eyebrow arched inquisitively.

"Here," the guard clarified, pointing towards a sleek briefcase. Tyler turned his gaze back to his newfound grandmother, seeking reassurance. She nodded, her expression conveying a sense of affirmation, and her smile held a touch of uniqueness that resonated with him.

"I don't have time for this. I just want to go save my mother right now. Please!" Tyler pleaded, his voice filled with urgency, as he stood up from the couch, tears welling up in his eyes. "Just let me go."

"Calm down, Ciccio," Lady Guila exhaled softly, rubbing her hands together. "Alright, if you are so determined to save Greta, I would advise you to wait and open the briefcase. I actually feel bad that because of my stiffness, I had to lose my son and his family. My heart aches whenever I remember that I am the cause of all these. I lost my son and couldn’t even see his body when he died. I am going to do everything to save your mother now" She calmly relayed her suggestion to Tyler, nodding her head in affirmation. The room fell into a tranquil silence, amplifying Tyler's internal turmoil. He found himself oscillating his gaze between Lady Guila and the enigmatic briefcase, unsure of what course of action to take.

Tyler hesitated for a moment, but eventually, he extended his thumb towards the biometric scanner on the briefcase. As his finger made contact, a distinct clicking sound resonated through the room, and to Tyler's amazement, the suited man holding the briefcase raised it up, revealing its contents.

"What...?" Tyler murmured, barely audible, his eyes widening in astonishment, as he beheld the sight within the opened briefcase.

"There you go," Lady Guila announced, gesturing towards the contents revealed before them—three different credit cards neatly arranged. "All of these are meant for you. I created these accounts in your name, knowing that the day would come when you would reunite with your true family." She added, with a hint of disdain, "Since you are so eager to save your mother" she smiled. “You have same enthusiasm your father had.” She chuckled dryly with tears in her eyes.

"Pick any of the cards and use it to pay her bills," Lady Guila proposed, her words cutting through the tension in the room. Tyler's eyes flickered with astonishment, his gaze fixated on the shimmering cards, exuding an ethereal radiance as if they were crafted from pure gold.

"You're not joking, are you?" Tyler questioned, his voice tinged with disbelief as he rubbed his eyes, half-expecting to wake up from what seemed like an incredibly good dream.

"No, I assure you, I'm not joking. You are my grandson, the rightful heir to the Damiano group of companies. The wealth is now yours," Lady Guila replied, her words resonating with utmost seriousness in Tyler's ears. From being an impoverished man to suddenly having multiple cards at his disposal, it was a reality that seemed too surreal to grasp.

He tentatively extended his hand towards the array of shimmering cards, hesitating momentarily as his hand hung in the air. Glancing once again at Lady Guila, who nodded and offered a reassuring blink along with a warm smile, Tyler finally chose a card—the one positioned in the middle among the trio. His name was elegantly engraved in gold, giving the card a sense of personal significance. As he slid his thumb across the card's surface, an overwhelming sense of awe washed over him. This was an unforeseen twist of fate that he could never have anticipated.

"Go, go save your mother. Here is my card. Call me as soon as you're done, and I'll let you know where we can meet," Lady Guila instructed, handing her personalized card to Tyler, a symbol of her support and connection.

"Okay," he nodded, his mind focused solely on reaching his mother and coming to her aid. With determined strides, he rushed towards the door, his heart filled with an urgency to reunite with his mother and protect her from harm.

"Ciccio!" Lady Guila's sharp command abruptly halted Tyler's motion. His leg froze mid-step, a surge of uncertainty flooding through him. This sudden pause only fueled his doubts, whispering to him that perhaps this miraculous turn of events was too good to be true. Closing his eyes, he let out a heavy sigh, slowly turning to face Lady Guila once more.

"Take off your suit and give it to him," Lady Guila directed her guard, her tone firm. In compliance, the guard swiftly removed his suit, standing there in nothing but his underwear and singlet, holding the discarded clothes in his hands.

Tyler's jaw dropped, his eyes fixed on the guard. He couldn't believe what he was witnessing. "Here you go, Sir Francesco," the guard said with a composed expression, offering the clothes to Tyler.

"No, please, put your clothes back on. I am perfectly fine just the way I am," Tyler protested, shaking his head in refusal. He couldn't bear the thought of someone else sacrificing their dignity for his benefit.

"There's no way my grandson and the heir to my property will be seen dressed in this manner," Lady Guila responded, her frown deepening.

"The way I am dressed now is how I have been dressed my entire life. I cannot accept anything that compromises the dignity of another person solely to satisfy my appearance. It's just not worth it," Tyler explained, his tone resolute. He shrugged, reaffirming his stance on the matter, knowing that his principles were unwavering.

Lady Guila stared at Tyler, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. "Okay."

"But before you go, I have something else for you." Lady Guila nodded, gesturing towards the other guard who held a briefcase. He stepped forward and pointed a car key at Tyler.

As he drove back to the hospital, the weight of responsibility settled upon his shoulders. The car’s engine hummed softly, providing a comforting backdrop to his thoughts. He couldn’t help but reflect on the series of events that had unfolded, leading him to this pivotal moment. The encounter with Lady Guila, the revelation of his lineage, the sudden acquisition of wealth—it was all almost too much to comprehend.

But amidst the whirlwind of emotions, one thing remained clear: his love for his mother and his unwavering determination to ensure her well-being. With each passing mile, Tyler’s resolve strengthened. He would use the newfound resources at his disposal to provide the best care for his mother and give her a fighting chance.

As he arrived at the hospital once again, Tyler stepped out of the car, his eyes filled with determination and hope. With the card in hand, he sauntered straight to the entrance of the hospital with a smile until his smile was abruptly cut short and switched to a frown!