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
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 hurr
Chapter Four – Determined. Seeing his wife he loved so much, shoot him daggers at him was enough to break Dominic’s heart. And his sons were hiding from him? Why exactly were all these happening? “I said, I’m Dominic Thales and I recovered from the coma. Can you stop acting this way in front of our sons?” his voice wasn’t very audible. “Did I hear you say ‘our sons’? You're retarded, young filth!” Lady Allen rose from the car. “How dare you address my grandchildren as yours…” “Rebecca! Just shut up! I’d engage you when I’m done with Brielle!” Dominic scolded her immediately, using her first name. Brielle was stunned and looked from her mother to the man. Did they know each other?Security ran towaeds Dominic held unto him before he could resist.“Brielle, it’s me. It’s really me!” but he slapped across the face by a security man. “Even if you’re her husband, you don’t have a place here. But you’re obviously not! Don’t you protesters tire of pranks!” Lady Allen yelled. Pranks?
Chapter Five – Clash of Caliber.Brielle barged into her office, seething and cursing after just lashing out at her employees. Her twin sons followed behind her. Lucian had a disgusted face looking at his brother, Dorian picking his nose. Brielle shook her head, slumping into her chair.“Dorian, you’re being an animal.” Lucian said. “Just like mommy was yelling at people.”His mother shut her eyes. The child spoke a lot like someone she disliked. Master Thales, his grandfather and the man who raised Dominic. Brielle’s mind went to the prank that happened. That man seemed to know her mother and acted out the prank like he was indeed Dominic. She reached for her phone immediately. “Could Dominic really be awake?” she whispered to herself while calling the hospital. “The doctor clearly said he may never awake for the next ten to twenty years but, what if…” the line went through. “Hello, Doctor Phil?” “It’s Matt, my love. How'd I help you, milady?” Brielle internally cringed. The
Chapter Six – United Two months passed since Dominic had been hosted in Selene’s apartment. His mental health had regained stability. His physical body was nurturing but his emotional wellbeing had been shambling upon shambling. New discoveries about what the Allen family had achieved while he was in coma dug holed in his head. “They now have three branches abroad?” The Allen’s group could barely be known in their home country if not for him, then how did they attain some popularity? Well, it wasn’t surprising. Some slander had been placed on the Thales family. Slander used by the Allen’s family to chase clout. An accusation that Master Thales, Dominic’s grandfather, had killed his daughter and son to have the company to himself. Also, his grandson, Dominic was kept in a vegetative state because of him. It made sense why Master Thales ran away and why the company fell because of disappointed and gullible supporters.Also, before that, Allen’s group made Brielle withdraw a huge
Chapter Seven – Embarrassed Rekindling old friendships, fine. But rekindling old business connections, no. Dominic kept on swiping left to all the business owners his grandfather had worked with. Many of them had jumped on the Thales slander and fueled it, many also worked with the Allen’s company while knowing they betrayed him. “No second chance for scums.” That’d be his new motto. He sat back and glanced at his watch. It was almost 3pm. He’d have to pick up Suzy and Lucas at school. Selene was busy handling his company’s cases so the least he could do was pick Suzy up too. Dominic gulped down fruit juice on his desk and then left the table. “I should pick them up now.” Walking through the hall, he remembered when the place bustled with workers and machineries. The machineries remained but none to manage them. They were like vegetables, as he had been months ago. “Don’t worry, you'd run soon.” The car he rode to Suzy and Lucas’ school was one of Jamie’s he bought from him,
Chapter Eight – KidnappedThe environment was pitch black and low police sirens could be heard. Dominic slowly moved his head but a sharp ache made him put it down. Where was he taken to? He remembered the accident and then being taken out from the car.The men in black suits left Lucas in the car and it worried him because he didn’t know what injury Lucas had sustained. Light pierced into his eyes, interrupting his thoughts. “Oh, you’re awake now?” a familiar voice said, followed by a snicker. Dominic tried to work his brain to identify the voice. He couldn’t see the person’s face clearly. “I almost had PTSD when I heard you awoke. You are supposed to be dead, how did you live?” the man sighed. He was supposed to be dead? It made Dominic wonder if the accident that happened was more fatal than he thought. “Where’s Lucas? If you want just me, then leave him alone.” “He’s still a Thales, you know. But yes, I’m not interested in killing him. Don’t worry.” The man replied. Kill
Chapter Nine – At the ward. Again? “What do you mean?” Damien wasn’t stunned Allen family wanted him dead, he’d be hurt to know but at the point, he had given up. But what did ‘again’ mean? “Your accident four years ago. Didn’t you realize they were involved with it? My father precisely. My sister knew nothing.” Bethel explained. Dominic’s heart pounded heavily in his chest. Four years ago, he almost died but luckily or unluckily fell into coma. Sir Allen did that? “Of course, you don’t need to know the reason why…” “I can guess.” Damien interrupted, darkness filling his eyes. “He only wanted Brielle to marry me for my wealth. It planned a long time ago.” Bethel watched him intently as his voice lowered, he looked away. “It’s an inner strife by my father and your grandfather decades back.” Dominic’s head rose. “A decade long strife?” Why'd he never heard of it? Did his grandfather know the Allen family before he married Brielle? “Yet, that’s what led to the unnecessary