Seven
Author: Bella Starr
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

The next day, Dylan just sat on a bench in the hospital as he patiently waited for the surgery to be over. He wasn't sure he has ever been so anxious or scared. He didn't feel this way when his parents died because their death was unexpected. It just happened so there was nothing to feel anxious or scared about. He only felt pain and that's it.

But with his aunt, the fear in him pierced his heart like a sword. He could only wait and pray the surgery is successful like the doctor promised. She's the only family he's got. The only one who showed him love and took him in when everyone insulted him and turned their back on him.

He looked and saw the door of the ward open making him stand up to see Dr. Lydia taking off the mask on her face, still wearing the blue scrubs. He gulped as he anxiously expected something good.

"How's she?" He asked her.

Dr. Lydia smiled. "I told you it was going to be successful, so chill, Mr. Dylan. The surgery was successful."

Dylan let out a breath of relief. "Wow. Thanks. When is she gonna wake up then?"

"That's…" Dr. Lydia trailed, her countenance suddenly changing. "Um, that's something you're gonna have to be patient about. The thing is, the surgery started late and although it was successful, things…bad things can happen.

"Bad things?" Dylan asked with a frown.

"There might be side effects and also, as I said, the surgery started late so we can only hope it's not too late."

Dr. Lydia saw the sad expression and confusion on his face so she decided to say more, probably something that'll calm him down. "You see, as a doctor, we can only do what we can do and only pray for the patient to accept the healing the body needs. Truly, it was successful but she might be unconscious for more than two weeks and even more than a month, it depends. All we can do is check to make sure there wasn't a mistake somewhere and her vitals. We'll keep checking her status and make sure she fully survives."

Dylan sighed and nodded, still relieved by the fact that his aunt is not dead and there was a huge chance of her survival.

He looked at the door and saw Rita leaving the ward. She just gave him a disgusted frown and left.

"You must hate her, right?" Dr. Lydia asked noticing his annoyed gaze.

Dylan looked at her. "I don't give a damn about her."

Dr. Lydia just nodded. "Anyway, we are going to be taking your aunt back to the ICU, you can see her after that."

Dylan also nodded and she left.

Relief to see his aunt will get better, Dylan left the hospital in the evening and boarded a taxi to go to Avant-Garde.

Avant-Garde was the premier jewelry store in Melrovia and there was only one store so it was easy to locate.

Even though it was late when he got there, the store was still open as quite a few customers were browsing inside.

The store was tremendous, with a total of three stories. They were stuck to the brim with all kinds of expensive and exclusive jewelry. It was difficult to estimate the total value of their goods, even the security measurements were absolutely topnotch.

He spotted one of the store assistants but as he was about to walk toward the lady, a voice stopped him in his track.

"Oh, my God! My my my. I didn't know I could be so unfortunate to see you twice in a day, Dylan. Did I step on a poop today?"

Dylan turned and saw Rita wearing a contorted face. She was not wearing a nurse uniform but a beautiful blue gown that brought out her alluring shape. She was standing beside a fat man in a suit and leather shoes and holding onto him as if she were a part of his body.

"Maybe you should just mind your business." He dismissed.

Rita scoffed. "My business? Do you know how irking it is just seeing you?"

Dylan chuckled lowly and said, "Humor me, then."

She frowned and said, "What are you even doing in a store like this? I can't believe even a scumbag like you is allowed to enter. So impossible! This is not a place that welcomes a pauper like you."

Dylan couldn't help it but frown at her. He could take all sorts of insults from his mother-in-law and wife but not from a f**king bitch like Rita. 'Who the hell does she think she is that she can talk to me in that manner?' He thought to himself and he smirked, knowing he's gonna have to teach her a lesson.

"What if I prove you wrong, Rita?" Then he looked around and saw a billboard with a necklace named 'love in a city' with a price tag of thirty million dollars. "What if I make a deal with you and big 'ol fatty here?"

Rita glanced at the fatty and frowned at Dylan. "What the hell are you talking about? What are you trying to insinuate?"

"Would you believe I can buy that?" He questioned while pointing at the billboard.

Rita looked at it and a sudden laugh of mockery escaped from her. "Oh, God, Dylan. I didn't know you could be this funny. Are you daydreaming or what? If 'you' can afford that, I'll go on my knees and lick your feet."

Dylan shook his head and said, "Unfortunately, you're not qualified to do that. You can go home and lick this fattie's feet and if you make him happy, he can try to buy you at least two million dollars worth of rubbish."

Rita scowled, her anger so intense like someone ticking like a time bomb about to go off. She was about to slap Dylan but the fattie stopped her and coaxed her to calm down which she did.

Then the fatty looked at him. "How dare you lay an insult at me, you penniless bastard?! What kind of joke are you playing, ah? Go look at the mirror and take a petty look at yourself and ask yourself if you can truly afford a necklace with a price tag of thirty million dollars. Do you think it's three million they wrote there or do you not know your numbers?"

Dylan shoved his hands in his pockets. "Hmm. Then if I can afford to buy it, will you buy one too?"

The fatty snapped and said angrily, "Where did this fool come from?" He looked at Rita. "What kind of person is this, where did you know him from? It demotes me every time he opens his malodorous mouth."

"I'm sorry baby. He's just an arrogant fool who still doesn't know his place in this world."

Dylan chuckled and muttered under his breath. "Ridiculous."

Rita frowned at him as she heard it. "What?"

"I said you're ridiculous. You know, foolish, absurd, outrageous…"

"I know what ridiculous means, damn it!!" She yelled angrily at him.

Dylan shrugged. "It seems your fattie does not have balls as big as him. Tell me if you don't have money, no need for lame excuses. There is only one 'love in the city' though so no need to fret, you can just buy the one beside it. The one worth three million dollars, what do you think?"

The fatty shook his head in anger. "I have been insulted by someone who I can order to clean my shoes. How dare you insult me?" Then he chuckled and nodded. "Okay then, but if you can't afford the necklace?"

Dylan narrowed his eyes in thought. "Hmm."

Rita immediately chimed in. "Well, if you can't afford the necklace, you'll kneel and kowtow to me twenty times."

Dylan looked at her and nodded. "Deal."

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  • The Ruthless Son-in-law   Eight

    They arrived at the third floor where they needed to go to get the 'love in a city' necklace, found the counter, then he narrowed his eyes as he saw the person in charge of the necklace was an acquaintance.She was his wife's best friend, Martha. An opposite of Hermione. She was also one of the people who felt pity and he remembered how she apologized on behalf of Hermione.After Martha heard the reason they were there, she looked at Dylan with a frown on her face. "What is this, Dylan? What joke are you trying to play here? You, buy the 'love in the city' necklace?" She sighed and shook her head. "Just leave."Dylan sighed. "I'm serious.""Not too long ago you were looking for money to pay for your aunt's hospital expenses and now you're here to buy that expensive necklace? Do you think I'm an idiot?"Rita and fattie burst out laughing.Then Rita said, "Don't mind him, he's pretending to be rich. I don't understand what he's going to get out of it but enough of it before you disgrace

  • The Ruthless Son-in-law   Nine

    Martha looked at Dylan with mixed emotions. The night suddenly became a long one for her with different questions spiraling in her head but she was scared. She knew it was best to keep shut but how can she?Then finally she gained the courage and asked, "I don't understand, Dylan…"She gained Dylan and Mr. Grayson's attention."...how can you be able to casually buy a thirty million dollars worth of necklace? How can you be so rich? Have you been fooling everyone? Have you been deceiving Hermione and madame Sharon?"Dylan shook his head. "You won't understand.""Then make me understand! What is all this? You just waltz in here and dare to buy such an expensive necklace when long ago you were begging for alms? You're unbelievable, Dylan…""How dare you…"Dylan immediately stopped Mr. Grayson's hard from hitting Martha. "Don't hit her." He told her before looking at Martha who already flinched in fear with her face distorted."She dares insult you, master Dylan. She has no respect for y

  • The Ruthless Son-in-law   Ten

    Martha escorted Dylan out of Avant-garde and they stopped at the entrance before facing each other. Things were awkward between them as they walked because she wasn't sure she understood everything that had happened."So that necklace, I assume it belongs to Hermione." She decided to start their conversation from there.Dylan looked at the black little box and nodded. "Obviously. Who else is it for?"Martha sighed and said, "You know she will find it hard to believe the authenticity. You know how she is."Dylan shrugged and responded, "It doesn't matter. It will be her loss and she'll end up regretting it later on.""Why won't you tell her? You know that if she knows, she'll stop the nonsense she's doing with your cousin.""And you think I'm gonna openly accept her back?" He questioned with a poker face expression.She swallowed, then a frown formed on her face. "You want to divorce her?" She curiously asked.He shook his head. "Of course, not. She'll always be my wife and I won't let

  • The Ruthless Son-in-law   Eleven

    The next day, Dylan woke up feeling so alive like he has never been. It's been long he has slept in a place so luxurious like Golden Relaxation Hotel. It was proof that confirms that his life was turning for the better and the only thing left is for his aunt to survive. He hasn't really thought of what to do when that happens.He's sure she wouldn't consent to his decision toward Hermione. She would want him to let her go and move on but how can he do that when he yearns to make that family suffer?Although, if his aunt tell him to give up, he knew he would adhere to it. She's the only one he'll ever listen to.He stood up and freshened up, putting on his normal worn-out cloth containing his jean trousers, faded black shirt, and shirt jacket. He smiled at himself in the mirror, wondering how the day was gonna be. He walked toward the bedside table and picked up the black box he placed on it. 'Will Hermione accept this or not?' He wondered.His eyes dropped to his small phone on the be

  • The Ruthless Son-in-law   Twelve

    Hermione examined both 'love in the city' necklaces in her hands and she looked at Sean in confusion. "How is it possible? You bought the exact same necklace Dylan bought." She made it known.Dylan looked at it and he frowned.Madame Sharon even got closer to Hermione and saw it.Sean looked at Dylan in confusion before looking back at Hermione. "Dylan bought that for you?" He asked in disbelief.Also confused, Madeline said, "According to what I know, there's only one in the world, or the country rather so how come there are two right in front of us? I heard a stranger already purchased the 'love in the city' necklace too for thirty million dollars."Sean was stunned.Truly, the 'love in the city' necklace he was holding was just an imitation but he didn't think someone else would've bought it with a thirty million dollar price tag. He chuckled lowly, knowing it was better that the necklace was purchased, especially by a stranger. No one will know that the one he was holding is fake

  • The Ruthless Son-in-law   Thirteen

    Upon hearing that his aunt's situation got worse, a wave of uneasiness immediately engulfed Dylan. He hung the call and looked at Madame Sharon. "I… I need to leave."Madame Sharon scoffed. "Of course, get out! You don't even…"Dylan immediately ran off before Madame Sharon could finish her words which made her scoff again in annoyance.She looked at Sean with a bright smile. "I really can't wait for you to officially become my son-in-law, Sean but what are we going to do about Dylan? He needs to sign the divorce."Hermione nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Sean. You know how that…trash is. I don't know what his problem is."Martha scoffed in disbelief, gaining all attention on her. "You really don't, Hermione. Just looking at you right now, you're already a loser."Hermione frowned and blurted, "What?""Bear this in mind, Hermione. Dylan is not gonna remain poor forever. He's smart, and business wise, he's a graduate with certificates that you don't even smell to have and not what you guys

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    Dylan had endured a grueling day, and as he finally arrived home, a genuine smile spread across his face upon seeing Allison waiting for him. The moment he walked through the door, she rushed to him, enveloping him in a brief, warm hug. However, her smile quickly faded into a frown as she pulled away. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. “How could you keep this from me for so long?” Before Dylan could respond, Stephanie, who had been observing the exchange, interjected with a disapproving look. “He kept it from all of us, including me, his godmother.” Dylan responded with a gentle kiss on Allison’s forehead, his eyes filled with affection. “Well, you know now, don’t you? Sometimes, it’s best to leave certain things in the past and focus on moving forward.” At that moment, Madame Beth cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention. Maya, with a beaming smile, walked over to her father, who happily lifted her into his arms. Daddy

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    Hermione and Alison stood up simultaneously, their eyes fixed on the TV in shock. Hermione, holding her baby, quickly set the child down and moved closer to the screen. “Oh my God, Mom, what’s going on?! Dylan is on the screen! What’s happening?!” she shouted, turning to her mother for answers. Sharon, equally stunned, gulped and struggled to comprehend the situation. Her breaths came in short, heavy gasps as she shook her head. “I have no idea, Hermione! We’re both seeing the same thing!” Hermione took a shaky breath, her eyes wide as she turned back to the screen. There, Dylan stood, facing the crowd and the camera with a smirk that made him look impossibly handsome. She couldn’t tear her gaze away. “Surely… it can’t be his twin, right? This doesn’t make any sense,” she murmured, still fixated on the image. Sharon looked away briefly, blinking as she tried to make sense of the revelations. “Come to think of it, Dylan really was the one who made that contract possible, and he bo

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    "Stephanie! Oh my God, Stephanie, is that really you?!" Caroline exclaimed, her voice filled with astonishment as she saw Stephanie entering the ward, accompanied by Dylan and a young girl. Stephanie's reaction was immediate; she covered her face with her hands, overwhelmed by emotion. Tears welled up in her eyes as she recognized Caroline. "Oh my God, Caroline..." she choked out, rushing forward to embrace her. "You're alive! I can't believe you're really alive!" Caroline, her own eyes glistening with tears, nodded as they pulled away from their hug. "It's so good to see familiar faces," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I thought you had left the country." Stephanie shook her head, her expression serious. "I came back after everything happened. I realized that your children needed me, so I stayed. For them." Caroline looked puzzled. "Children?" Her eyes then fell on the little girl in Dylan's arms, her breath catching in her throat. "Oh my God, is this my granddaught

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    Dylan’s return to the hospital sparked a flurry of emotions within Alison, who dashed towards him with tears streaming down her face. “Where have you been?” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with worry.Dylan’s eyes widened in surprise, and he gently grasped her arm, pulling her away from him slightly. “Why? What’s wrong? Why are you so upset? Is everything alright? Is Jenna alright?”Alison nodded with a sigh. “Yes, Jenna is stable, thankfully. But I was so worried about you. You were saying something earlier, then suddenly disappeared. And when I tried calling you, there was no response. You can’t imagine how worried and anxious I’ve been, especially with my sister in the hospital.”Dylan let out a sigh of relief and enveloped her in a comforting embrace. “I’m sorry for causing you worry. I didn’t mean to add to your stress. But I’m back now, and everything’s under control. Those responsible for this situation are facing the consequences, and we’re safe now.”Alison gazed at him, a

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    Gunshots echoed through the air, causing Sean to gasp in shock and stumble backward in fear. Before anyone could fully grasp what was happening, a dozen men, led by Azure King, appeared behind Dylan, their presence intimidating and determined.Dylan sneered, his confidence unwavering. “You were right, Sean. I am the boss of Apex Conglomerate, which means I have people at my beck and call. Why should I be intimidated by mere threats from inconsequential people like you?”Romero’s hand began to tremble as he continued pointing the gun at Dylan’s mother. “Move an inch, and she’s dead. I’ll pull the trigger, and I promise you, Dylan, even if I die here, you’ll lose.”Dylan sighed, taking Adonis’s gun from behind him. In a split second, before anyone could react, he fired. The bullet pierced through Romero’s forehead, and he slumped to the floor, lifeless.Sean’s eyes widened in horror, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably. He immediately raised his hands and fell to his knees. “Pl

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    Dylan did not hesitate for even a moment upon receiving the address from Romero. The urgency in his steps reflected the agitation in his mind, as he ensured his gun was securely tucked at his side. The possibility of seeing his mother alive, even if shackled and bound, overpowered all sense of reality. He couldn’t think straight. He needed to understand why he had seen his mother, who he had believed to be dead. Though he suspected it might be a trap, a flicker of hope kept him moving forward.As he approached the building described in the address, its dilapidated exterior did nothing to allay his fears. The structure looked abandoned from the outside, but as he steeled himself and ventured further inside, his eyes quickly fell upon a wooden door, flanked by two imposing men.One of the men, noticing Dylan’s arrival, smirked and spoke in a tone that was both welcoming and sinister, “The boss has been expecting you.” Without further ado, he swung the door open, inviting Dylan into in

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    Standing alone outside the hospital, Dylan dialed Azure King’s number, his fingers trembling slightly with the weight of the situation. As the call connected, he spoke urgently into the phone."He’s closing in on me, Adonis. I fear he’s not playing games anymore. I reckon he was aiming for Allison, but he ended up shooting her sister instead.""Damn it, this just escalated real fast. There's a good chance Romero Hermes is feeling the heat now. He's itching to wrap this up and he's not backing down. He's baiting you, and you can't afford to fall into his trap," Azure King cautioned over the phone.Dylan’s jaw clenched with determination. "I won't let that happen. But I want him taken down, and I want it done swiftly. I'm not interested in seeing him rot behind bars. I just want him out of the picture for good," Dylan declared firmly before hanging up.On edge and with a heart weighed down by concern, Dylan reached out to Stephanie, knowing she was anxiously awaiting updates on Julia’s

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    Dylan stormed out of the house, his heart racing with worry, his fingers frantically dialing Allison’s number, his mind praying fervently for her safety. The gunshots he heard sent a shiver down his spine, signaling that something had gone terribly wrong.“Dylan, where on earth are you rushing off to?” Stephanie’s concerned voice trailed after him as she hurried to catch up.Dylan came to an abrupt halt, his gaze locking with Stephanie’s as he struggled to contain his urgency. “Steph, listen to me. Stay put inside the house, alright? Don’t come out,” he instructed firmly, a sense of urgency lacing his words like a tight knot.Stephanie’s brow furrowed in confusion and worry. “But why? What’s going on out there? And where in the world are you off to in such a hurry? she demanded, her concern mounting with each passing second as she noticed how restless he was.Dylan’s lips pressed into a thin line as he struggled to find the right words. “Look, Steph, I… I was just talking to Allison o