"Vienna? Why there? You don"t have any business in coming there?" the person on the other line asked."I still do… have you forgotten what happened? Besides, we need to plan ahead before we attack again and we"ll do it while they are there, enjoying."
The person on the other line fell silent, thinking what to ask to argue against the plan not because he would want to stop it but just to check.
"How about your career there, you barely started…" the mastermind laughed.
"Idiot! This is just my disguise so that they will not suspect of anything about me and until now they haven"t had a clue. How I wish to give a hint about me, but then I love surprises."
The mastermind"s eyes narrowed as his mind flashed an event years ago. The pain and suffering lingered still buried in the depths of one"s being. The person remembered that he was stripped off of his inheritance. He was disowned by his family. Shamed by his friends and even…
The mastermind suspends own reflection as the experience is still fresh to remembrance. He gnashed his teeth of the memories blaming the innocent Ingrid of his misfortune.
But he"s different now, he built his own name, acquired his own possession, it"s time to make revenge to Ingrid and to his family.
"Let"s leave them at peace. For now… then when it"s already ripe for attack, we will do…"
The man on the other line agreed and the call was put off.
The Briggs is no longer in sight after the call. But a sinister smile plastered on the mastermind"s lips. Smile of triumphant revenge.
"Soon. Very soon…"
…♥…♥…♥…
When the couple arrived at the Briggs" mansion, all of the servants lined up facing each other outside the mansion to formally greet them. At the end of the line, there stood the Briggs and Howards, and of course Clark.
Clifford emerged from the car first, then followed by Ingrid who is now teary eyed because the moment the car pulled over all she could see is her son, patiently waiting for her, for them. All the pain she suffered in the hospital was all wiped the moment she laid her eyes on Clark.
As Ingrid stood there a realization struck her. If they allowed Clark to go with them then it would be more disastrous. She silently thanks G.o.d for not allowing her child to be involved in that brutal accident.
"We"re finally home, my love." Clifford inhaled deeply.
"Thank G.o.d I am home with you."
"Welcome back young master Clifford and young madam Ingrid."
All the servants bowed down simultaneously as they walk along between the servants. Their parents are all smiles upon looking at them but Clark is now in tears.
"Mommy… Daddy…" the child"s cry echoed and then he ran as fast as he could to meet them halfway.
"Careful, Clark!" the grandmothers shouted.
But he never minded his grandmothers" warning since all he could think is to embrace his parents whom were absent for many days.
Clifford then kneeled to catch his son and put him in his arms. The child embraced Clifford"s neck tightly as if his very breath depends on it.
"My boy, you"ll choke your father to death if you"ll not loosen you embrace…" Ingrid teased.
Clark blinks his eyes and then he wiped his tears.
"Mommy, daddy, I thought you already left me alone. What took you so long to come back?" sadness wraps around the child"s voice and his face showed pain and fear on the thought of abandonment.
Ingrid wanted to carry her son in her arms but she is still unable to do so. She reaches out to touch Clark"s face with her free hand. Clark then moved his attention to his mother.
"Oh my darling… who told you that we"ll leave you? My boy, we will never do that to you. You are our precious love, our bundle of joy and treasure. Who would want to leave such an adorable child like you?" Ingrid soothes the wariness of the child.
"No one.. I just thought about it…" but his eyes caught a glimpse of his mother"s cast. "Mommy what"s that on your arm? Did you lose your arm?" the child"s expression showed bewildered and horrified.
"Uhhh… no…" Ingrid out rightly rejected the child"s imagination with a laugh. "…this is a cast used for injuries… you see, I met some "little" accident while we"re away so I needed to wear this so that it"ll be healed…"
Ingrid glanced at her husband who"s so amused looking at them.
When Clark heard the word accident instantaneously he cried.
"Clark, why are you crying again?" Clifford enquired.
"I thought mommy lost her arms and that she could no longer hug me tightly... hooooo"
"Hush now my boy, the cast is just temporary and will be removed if it healed completely. Besides, your mommy could still embrace you…"
Clifford then put Clark back on the floor while Ingrid kneeled with one arm wide open. The grandparents then joined their moment and all the servants were in awe at the sight of the loving family.
"Young master married the right woman. And I thought that the young madam is just the same with those rich spoiled brat heiresses." One of the maidservants silently commented when their masters walked inside the mansion.
"I know right and those rumors are baseless. Ha! I would really want to berate those who try to ruin them again…"