REBORN: MEET MY BROTHERS-Chapter 74: SURPRISE TRIP III

Almost an hour later, Paul walked out of the room. When he saw Ava in the living room, he looked at her skeptically before walking out.

Ava barely spared him a glance. She’d lived here for three months, but in that space of time, she’d never spoken to the man, not once, even in her past life. This was the only thing she didn’t plan on changing in this life.

When Gaulin finally came out of the study, Ava had finished the bowl of popcorn and was about to get some water from the kitchen. She smiled on seeing him.

"You’re finally out, Father." Gaulin was shocked at her unusual reception. He frowned and was about to ignore her, but Ava stopped him verbally. "Did something happen?"

"What do you want, Ava? It’s unlike you to pry or show this unnecessary reception." He was already frustrated from what happened in the company, the last thing he wanted was Ava adding to his problems.

He was right. She cared less about whatever was happening, but she knew if there was anyone that could help her with seeing her grandfather, it was him. "Did you visit grandfather today? How is he?"

Of course, he thought contemptuously. Since his family stopped her from seeing his old man at the hospital, it’s only natural she tries to play nice and talk someone into convincing the others. How she picked him out of every other person baffled him.

"He’s better than yesterday," Gaulin said dryly and was about to leave, but Ava stopped him again.

"Father, please don’t leave yet, I have something to say." Gaulin turned to face her again. "Grandfather... he’s been in the hospital since yesterday but no one’s allowing me see him. I don’t know why, Father, but can’t I visit grandfather even once at the hospital?"

Tears began to gather in Ava’s eyes at the thought of her grandfather lying unconsciously on the hospital bed. She knew she promised herself that she’d never let any of the Whitlocks see her tears, but desperate times comes with desperate measures. She had to sell her act well.

"I just want to see how he’s doing. I’m a member of this family as well. Isn’t it unfair that I’m the only one who’s not permitted to visit him?"

Gaulin scoffed at Ava’s pitiful face. "You mother and brothers have reasons for everything they do, Ava. If they’ve refused to let you see your grandfather, it’s probably because you’ve done something to make them angry."

"But I’ve done nothing wrong—"

"Why do you always play the victim and act like every member of this family is treating you unfairly when all you’ve done is the opposite? You’re starting to make me regret bringing you into our home. All you’ve done since you got here is create trouble for us. With your stupid attitude, why do you think they’ll let you see him? Do you want to go embarrass them there as you normally do?"

Ava had expected this answer from her father, but she wasn’t going to stop until she exhausted her last card. "Father, please..." She walked closer to him. "...I would take responsibility for everything I’ve done wrong and I promise not to embarrass anybody. I just want to see grandfather. I want to know how he’s doing."

"Well, I just told you he’s fine, didn’t I?" He asked dryly. Before Ava could protest, "You’d better stay at home. Don’t go running there and cresting a scene. I heard what happened yesterday," he said disdainfully.

His eyes flickered to Ava’s injured hand, but he ignored it. "I’ve condoned your nonsense for so long, but if what happens repeat itself, I wouldn’t hold back on my wrath. Your grandfather’s not here to save you anymore, so you better think twice before acting stupid."

He walked out of the room.

Ava frowned as she watched him leave. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that Gaulin was happy her grandfather was in the hospital.

~~~~~~~~~~

Maximus tried to concentrate on the files in front of him as he scanned through them, but he could barely read a paragraph without the thought of his little wife drifting into his mind.

Countless times, he’d thought of calling her but when he remembered she lost her phone yesterday, he stopped himself. Because of this frustration, he’d ordered the latest ones from her previous phone brand and have it delivered to the Whitlock’s mansion.

Have she received it?

That thought still lingered in his mind as a knock was placed on his door and Ethan walked in. He took a seat opposite from Maximus on his desk.

"We’ve gotten lead on the men that carried out the assassination."

Maximus dropped his pen. "Who are they? Who sent them?"

"We haven’t figured out who sent them and their identities, but they happen to be from a private firm made for this purpose. The issue is this firm is no longer in operation. The company fell three years ago when one of their employees got into trouble with someone he shouldn’t have messed with and the company backed him up. Well, that someone really shouldn’t have been messed with."

Maximus frowned. "And there’s no way to trace them?"

"I’ve gotten information on all the employees that worked in the company. We’ll find them in no time."

"Good. You should’ve started with the good part." Maximus leaned back on the chair. "And my little wife?"

Ethan took a deep breath. "The footages from the private floor were cleared. But... a nurse made a post about how she almost lost her job because of an unwanted guest on the private floor on their nurse’s employees private chatting room."

As usual, Maximus was impressed by Ethan’s skills, especially how he managed to infiltrate this group.

"The easy part was getting information about what happened on the floor. The description of the unwanted guests and the security guards who escorted the unwanted guest out of the floor fits Ava and the said kidnappers who were murdered. Apparently, she wasn’t allowed to see William and was sent out. I’m guessing she was kidnapped on her way out."

Maximus’s jaw tightened. His little wife never mentioned anything about not being able to see her grandfather.

The thought that she was treated like a nobody by her family made him angry, but what provoked him even more was how hurt she must’ve been when she wasn’t allowed to see her grandfather, knowing how important the old man was to her.

Controlling his rage, he asked: "Didn’t William change his legal guardian recently?"

Ethan thought carefully, before answering. "Yes. It was quite surprising, but why are you bringing this up?"

Maximus smiled. "Give Wesley Rowland a call. Tell him I need a favor. He owes me his life. The least he can do is implement a new hospital policy."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Matilda and Sasha were the only ones in the hospital room. While Sasha busied herself with her phone, Matilda watched William earnestly. She was disgusted by the old man, but she could never get tired of watching him.

They both turned to the door when a knock was placed at the other end. Thinking it was probably one of her brothers or father, Sasha volunteered to open the door.

She frowned when she looked at the unfamiliar face in front of her with two security guards behind him. "Who the hell are you?"

Wesley pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose as his eyes darted inside the room. When he noticed Matilda who was now staring at him, he smiled. "Mrs. Whitlock, may I come in?"

Matilda stood to her feet immediately she clicked the face of the person at the door. "Mr. Rowland... Of course you may come in." She said, even if she was very surprised by the CEO of the hospital’s presence.

Wesley gestured for the guards to wait at the door before walking into the room. He smiled faintly as he stood in front of her, but the smile faded when his eyes fell on William.

Sasha eyes the guards at the door before closing it abruptly. She took her place beside her mother.

"My deepest condolences, Mrs. Whitlock. It’s quite tragic that your father in law has to go through all of these. I was informed he’s getting better and would regain consciousness anytime soon."

Matilda turned to William with a small smile. "That’s all we all hope for. That’s by the way, why are you here, Mr. Rowland?"

"A new hospital policy was made and implemented today. Since you’re one of our VIP clients, I’ve come to personally inform you and your family."

Matilda frowned. The whole talk about a new policy made her uneasy but, "What new policy are you talking about?" She asked softly.

Wesley cleared his throat. "The hospital now has new rules. Henceforth, only the legal guardians of patients are permitted inside the patient’s room."

While Matilda’s frown deepened, Sasha flared. "What useless policy is that?! So the family members of a patient can’t visit just because they’re not the legal guardians?"