He entered his father's room and saw him lying on the bed with his eyes closed, he looked aged and worn and for a moment he felt guilty about abandoning him, his father was his only family related to him by blood, his mother had died years back and his father had remarried, although, Derek wasn't cool with the marriage because he felt his father had made the wrong choice as he had married his late mother's best friend, he had made his misgivings known to his father but his father had gone ahead to marry her, he had no choice than to accept the marriage but that was the first step that created a gap in father and son relationship, his father had made many mistakes but he was still his father, he wondered why his father was so obsessed about him taking over the family's business, afterall, he has a Step brother, his step mother's son from her previous marriage. Dave was so much interested in the family's business but his dad had never given him the chance, that alone had made Dave hated Derek with passion, Derek knew that Dave hated him but he doesn't care, afterall, he doesn't like him either. "The doctor said he will be fine " his mother spoke from behind him and he almost rolled his eyes. "What exactly is wrong with him?" He turned to her "Tests are still being carried out" Derek ached a brow at her reply, " tests are still being carried out? So until now you still do not know what is wrong with him, how convenient" his tone dripped with sarcasm "What do you mean? He just might be sick of heartbreak that his beloved son left him" she whispered hotly and anger pierced into Derek's heart "And you just might be rejoicing that he is in this condition, perhaps you know what's wrong with him" "I love your father and will never do anything to hurt him" " Even if he was your best friend husband". Tears welled in her eyes and Derek felt a little bit guilty at his words, he was still bittered and realized he hadn't been able to accept the fact that she married his father, but she's still his father's wife and courtesy demands he show her a bit of respect. "I know you do not like the fact that I married your father but you just have to accept it, we are family now, and I love both you and your father" she turned and left him alone in the room. He stared at her retreating back, to the world, they were one big happy family but with a wayward and irresponsible son but inside, Derek knew their relationships was nothing. Derek shrugged as he turned back to his father, he sat at the edge of the bed as memory pummeled him, his coming back had brought back alot of painful memories, he remembered when he had first left home, he was driven by pain and he had frequent many bars and gambling houses, most times, he got into fights and his father would be called, he had tried to make him come back home to no avail, in the end, he had given up, now Derek was bad but too bad, his father wasn't conscious to see his son return. ********************************* Kathleen was sitting on the bed, getting ready to have her bath when she heard a knock on the door and Derek's mom came in and quietly shut the door behind her, " why did you marry him?" Her gaze was as cold as her tone and Kathleen shivered, " I had arranged someone for him to marry but he made no mention of you over the phone" she eyed Kathleen disgustedly, " is it because of his money or status" Kathleen was aghast, she wasn't even aware of who she had married, she shook her head vehemently but Mrs Deloux paid no heed to her refute as she continued, " how much do you want? "What?" Kathleen managed to gasp out amidst her confusion "I mean how much do you want to go away from his life". Kathleen felt insulted, why does it always have to be about money, first it was with Dave and now with Derek though on different ground, she just got married howbeit to a stranger and his mother already wanted her to hopped out, she refused to cower before this lady, why does she hate her so much when she doesn't even know her person, moreover, why was she so desperate that she leaves the marriage even trying to pay her off, she had made an agreement with Derek and she would stick to it, she needed a man's protection and even if it might be from the devil himself, she had gotten it already, she don't care about his wealth, she just needed to stay married and answer his name, she returned Mrs Deloux gaze, "I can't leave my husband" she replied politely but firmly and her mother in law's face suddenly became furious, she snarled at Kathleen and without another word left the room.