Winner Takes All

Chapter 2 My Father was Really Rich

Overwhelmed, Jack felt like daydreaming. When he went back to the ward, he saw his mother lying in bed with tubes connected to her body. It seemed that she had just undergone a successful surgery.

He suddenly came back to himself at the sight of her. Ecstasy, excitement and gratitude enveloped him like a torrent.

“Mr. Ward, as expected, the liver transplant is very successful,” the doctor said with unusual respect. Jack was shocked by the doctor’s attitude.

He was his mother’s attending doctor. He was not only a well-known expert in the LJ hospital, but a recognized authority in the medical world.

He used to talk to the nobles and government officials at ease. But now he looked so humble in front of Mr. Ward.

“Thank you so much, Dr. Hale,” Mr. Ward answered with a smile while bowing to him.

“It’s OK…Mr. Ward. It is my pleasure,” the doctor jerked slightly as he waved his hands in a panic. He didn’t even felt relieved until Mr. Ward straightened up.

The doctor took a gentle glance at Jack, “Jack, you treat your mother very well, so you are blessed with good fortune. Your mother will go through this soon.”

Tears filmed Jack’s eyes.

“Thank you. Thank you so much, Dr. Hale.” “This is what I should do,” the doctor replied as he frightenedly stopped Jack from kneeling down. He was very well aware of Mr. Ward’s background. With Jack’s mother so stricken by illness, Mr. Ward had come forth to visit her and take care of all matters concerning her surgery personally. This must meant that Jack was not an ordinary person. Jack was not ignorant too. He had known Dr. Hale was so awkward when Mr. Ward was thanking him, so he was

not surprised that Dr. Hale was feeling equally shocked when he saw Jack like this. Although he had mentioned that was a doctor’s duty, his words were more suited to describe his previous self when he was diagnosing his mother’s disease. But now Dr. Hale was more fearful yet respectful towards Mr. Ward here.

“Mr. Ward, if there’s nothing I can help at this moment, I should go now. I have also informed the dean about your arrival.”

the doctor declared. Mr. Ward waved his hands lightly, “I don’t wanna catch people’s attention here. Please don’t let him know.”

“Alright.” The doctor didn’t continue to persuade him as he turned around and left while taking a regretful glance at Jack. All of a sudden, Jack knelt down in front of Mr. Ward.

“Thanks a million for saving my mom, Mr. Ward. I will always remember your great kindness…”

Before he finished, Mr. Ward hurriedly helped him up, “Get back on your feet please, Master Hughes. I should be the one to kneel down instead.”

Jack was stunned and soon looked calm as he was pondering. Mr. Ward had been calling him as Master Hughes since they met. He was from a humble background, and he had to rely on his mother for livelihood. It was not until he finished his studies and got a job that his family situation finally began to improve. That was why he always felt thankful and guilty for Katherine marrying him. So, Mr. Ward seemed like someone who was not from Jack’s world, let alone one who came in a Rolls-Royce Phantom!

Mr. Ward smiled and explained, “In fact, the Old Master…uh…your father as well, told me to save your mom.”

Jack felt stunned, for Father was someone too far away from him. “That’s impossible. I’ve been told my father had passed away before I came to the world,” Jack said as he shook his head.

“Your father is safe and sound, and he is a local bigwig. He fell in love with your mother and she gave birth to you, but it’s been a long story,”

Mr. Ward continued with a smile. With a turmoil of emotions raging inside, Jack clenched his fist while shivering, “But he didn’t even come to see, did he?”

Jack raised his voice with anger, “Even when my mom is dying, he didn’t come though.” “He is just trying to protect you two,”

Mr. Ward explained, “Now he is the head of the family and always remember you two. He felt guilty for not being your side. He let me come to tell you that he will make up for his mistakes.”

“Make up for his mistakes? How does he think he can do that?”

Jack cried out as he gritted his teeth,

“It’s been over twenty years. Couldn’t he imagine how we went through up to this moment? I have been insulted as a bastard since I was a child. To survive, my mom had to work day and night, and turned out to be thoroughly sick.” © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Suddenly, Mr. Ward slapped a black card engraved with bauhinia, “This is a gift specially for you.”

Stunned but furious, Jack could hardly stand it anymore. ‘He really considered it possible to redeem his fault with a bank card.’ It was the first time that he had seen this kind of bank card. In an instant, he erupted like a volcano. Was his father trying to cover for his fault for the past twenty years with money?

But Mr. Ward didn’t give him the chance, “Ola master promised to get you home as his future successor. Your mom and you will then have what you want.”

“Of course, this also depends on your capability, Master Hughes. You have to make the other members of the family recognize you! I am here precisely to assist you in everything and help nurture you into a deserving heir who would be able to inherit your father’s legacy someday. By then, you would have command over all the wealth and power in the world. Your mother would be basking in the honor and glory she deserves!”

Jack stared at the bank card blankly. Mr. Ward’s words haunted him like a nightmare. When he came to himself, Mr. Ward was gone.

He fidgeted around with the bank card and saw a tiny line at the bottom with Mr. Ward’s contact number. He rubbed his face exhaustedly with a bitter smile.

He worriedly gazed at his mother lying peacefully in the ICU ward.

For all Mr. Ward said, his mother’s safety came first. Early next morning, Jack received a phone call from Katherine.

She howled Jack to start the divorce proceedings. Jack agreed immediately and headed to the civil affairs bureau. He saw Katherine pacing around outside the bureau.

After meeting Jack, she scolded, “Jack, you better remember it is me that wants to divorce. You better don’t regret!”

“Let’s go. I am ready.”

Jack answered coldly. Jack’s response blew her mind. She had never seen Jack that cold since they were together four years ago. She stomped the ground angrily before following his footsteps.

The divorce proceedings ended fast. Katherine glared at Jack, “You will definitely regret this!”

A moment later, her brother Tommy drove his Audi A4L up to her, “Hey, Katherine. Did you do it?”

“Yep,”

she answered as she glared at Tommy, “Are you really my brother? Why do you look so hilarious when I have just divorced him?”

“Jack was just out of your league. You deserve a better man, don’t you?”

Tommy replied with a sneer. Katherine then changed the topic,

“Right, how is it going with your girlfriend?”

Tommy showed a sour face, “Hard to tell. Shirley works in the bank. She wants a bride price of five hundred thousand yuan as well as a car and a house. Even if we have Jack’s two hundred thousand yuan, that would be way not enough.”

“Sorry to let you down,” Katherine sighed with regret. At the same time, Jack didn’t return to the hospital, but arrived at a bank nearby. For all the financial compensations from his father, he knew it clearly that money was crucial for his mother’s treatments and their daily expenses.