The Tale of Robinson Luther

Chapter 6(Aftermath)

"Is alright Rob,stop crying,I am going to a better place,you must be strong" Diego painfully muttered to Rob in tears"papa please stay with me, don't let go" Rob responded crying. It was a very painful moment between Rob and his father. Diego was trying to hold his tears,he will be gone anytime from there but he was at least happy that he was able to share his last moments with his family. He was seriously wounded by the sniper shot so he didn't have much time to live,he was dieing.

The Maniks rushed to the hospital where he was admitted when they were informed that Diego was shot. It was a painful hour for the family, seeing the once strong and agile Diego fading.

He looked at Rob like he knew what the future holds for the little boy. The truth is that he actually knows the challenges that the poor boy will face but what he doesn't know for sure was if Rob will able to bear and face it. He fumbled weakly to Rob, while still looking at him"always know that I love you"He continued. "Value and protect your family,their is strength in them" Rob was the last person that Diego saw before his death, Diego wanted to have his last moments with him. they short time together was coming to an end. At this point he regretted not acquainting Rob of the Maniks business,he was just protecting him he thought.

It was a new phase for the Maniks after Diego's death. Life must move on but the inevitable question for them was who was going to be they leader. It was going to be between Robben and Robinson,Javier can only be in the picture if this two were no more. To many Rob was never even in the picture but to some he should at least get a call. going through the Maniks history every heir to the Manik empire were all the first sons,it should be Rob but the issue was his status, the illegitimate son of Diego born outside wedlock .

Diego was a clever man,he loved his sons equally but he felt that despite Rob's illegitimacy tag he was still his first son and should be his heir. He knew that his family especially the two wives will not accept it,so he made a Will declaring almost everything to Rob. He trusted that Rob despite young was more deserving of the position and will make the better decisions than Robben.

He saw much of himself in him,his survival tenacity, intelligence and most importantly his urge to always do good at given time. He knew that his will will not go down well with his wives,so he entrusted his brother Lois and his lawyer to read the Will on Rob's twentieth birthday,that was five years after his death. This was to at least delay the challenges that Rob will probably face.

Before his death he trusted the business and family to his brother Lois,Lois will control the business until the Will is read. This were his master plan,it was like he knew that his death was near.

Even in all this it was far from easy for Rob,he still encountered a lot of challenges but despite everything he kept his cool and head up.

On Rob's twentieth birthday the Will was read and they was commotion and clash of emotions, everything was entrusted to him,he couldn't believe it. He never for once thought of being the leader of the Manik. He saw himself as the least deserving of such position. The truth is that he never actually cared about the position but here he is the heir.

This unsurprisingly didn't go well with Robben and the two wives of Diego,they rejected the Will outrightly accusing Lois and lawyer of manipulation. Clara and Alejandra had since Diego's death tried to know they fate in the Will but both were decieved by Diego's lawyer,Barr. Niguez,he has been the family lawyer for years. He was Diego's best friend back in their University days. He was an experienced professional lawyer who have closed deal and contracts for the Maniks. For a man defending the Maniks in any Court trial,he was strong willed, intelligent and very shrewd. He easily turned down every offer made to him by Diego's wives and decieved them too in believing that they interests were protected in the Will. He knew that if they get hold of the Will's information which was not in they favor that they will do everything to manipulate it.

Robben always fancied himself as the boy with the crown and here he was a boy he just knew six years ago had just made away with it so he swore to bring Rob down. Rob and Robben relationship down the years have not been a bonding one, though it was good at first but as they grew up, Robben understood who he was meant to be,the king of the Maniks empire after his father hence started seeing Rob as a threat.

Young Robben was a graceful boy that always had the ilk of protecting his family, something his father actually admired about him but he was very malleable.He was controlled and manipulated by his mother and step mother. This was something Diego noticed on time and decided against giving it to him. He knew that his family will approve Robben if he was made the heir but at same time knew that Rob's fate will be a sham so he made the most difficult decision of giving it to Rob.

Clara and Alejandra were not happy with the outcome but have to deal with it. To them as much they hated the outcome they could not attempt to harm Rob,he was still a Manik irrespective of everything. That was what the Maniks stand for,none of they own shall fall by they own. This was their long time quote.

Rob later came to know that his father was never the man he thought he was,he had always viewed his father as an upright and good man but least to his knowledge his father wasn't really that in a black and white picture.

Months after his father's death he was gradually introduced into the family actual businesses,his Uncle Lois took his time to show him what the Manik family is all about.

One day after a session with his uncle he went back home very unhappy, his family stood for everything he believed against, going down the memory lane he could remember an incident that occurred years ago.He was rattled from sleep,he believed to have had heard some sound emanating from the basement. He creeped down gently to ascertain what could be the disturbance, just as he was about to peep gently through the basement door he bumped into his Father. "Rob what the hell are you doing here at this time of the day"he yelled while trying to clean and hide the blood stain in his hand."Dad you are injured"!little Rob muttered fearfully ignoring his father question. His father smiled convincingly"Rob go to bed,it was pig's blood not mine"he said gently to Rob. naive Rob then went back to bed.

The more he probe into those moments he saw his father behaving creepy,he realized that it was all happening in front him but he never knew. As part of his training and education, he was in the company of his uncle visited the production and cultivation site of the Manik,it was his first time,he witnessed that this area was like another world of it's own. Majority of the land was cultivated with coca, Coca were plant used to make cocaine,for a moment he was bewildered. He also saw the huge maniks factory,all this were located in a area that is far from the preying eyes of people. To crown it all,he saw thousands of workers working in various sector of the business.

Rob was at least consoled that his uncle will at least be the interim leader while he complete his school.Rob's life was no longer his own,he must live for himself,his family and the Manik empire in general. He must accept his fate.

At school Rob dropped his social life, school star boy, school captain just to name a few.He deemed this as distractions,he also pulled away from his friends and searched for loneliness and tranquility.To crown it all he heartlessly broke up with Johanna with a text,"It is over Johan,I am not good for you now"Johanna gasped as she read our loud what she saw her phone.She couldn't believe it,was this all she was worth to Rob,two years relationship ended in a text,she thought painfully.

The only person not axed by Rob was Domenico,his best friend