Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Raphael seemed to be walking in a hurry down the corridor of the police station. A few minutes earlier, he, who had just finished work, was immediately approached by Mario, who was Tristan's assistant. The man came with important news which of course made him very surprised.

"Mr. Raphael, I'm sorry to interrupt your time. But it looks like you should hurry to the police station right now."

Raphael, who had just turned off the laptop in front of him, immediately looked up. The man's brows were drawn in.

Of course, he was confused why Mario suddenly came to his room instead of telling him to go straight to the police station. Did Tristan report it? Or maybe there is something else that escapes his control. He chose to clarify directly to prove all the thoughts running through his mind.

"Police station? Why would I go there, Mario?"

Mario took a step forward. After his position was just right, he again answered questions from the man in the line of the leader of the Foxtail Corporation.

"Mr. Tristan just called that the authorities have arrested Alfonso Craigh Adelaide. Since he is currently in hospital, he has asked you to handle this case temporarily."

Raphael's eyes successfully widened. He was sure that what he had just heard was real. At that moment, he immediately asked himself whether Tristan had managed to catch Alfonso after reading the file he had left with detective Joseph earlier.

"So Alfonso has been caught?"

Mario nodded confidently. "Yes, sir. Mr. Tristan reported him on charges of both murder and shooting."

"Shooting?" This time it was Raphael's turn to look at each other's eyebrows. Why did he miss so much news? "Who was shot? Don't tell me it was Tristan who was injured?" asked Raphael timidly. Anxiety immediately appeared on his handsome face.

"No, Mister," said Mario. "But it was Mrs. Sophia who her father shot. I don't know for sure what the chronology is. What is certain is that by now, she has been taken to the hospital and is undergoing surgery."

Raphael rubbed his face in annoyance. I felt sad and sorry to hear the news about Sophia being the victim of her father. Raphael knew very well that Sophia was a kind and polite woman. She is just a victim of the endless grudge between her father and husband. He didn't deserve this kind of treatment, even more so that his life was threatened.

"You'd better go now, Mister," said Mario when he found Raphael suddenly silent. "Mr. Tristan also reminded you to bring a team of lawyers to take care of this case."

Raphael nodded. The man immediately grabbed the coat he slung behind the chair. Rising to his feet, he prepared to leave.

As soon as Raphael arrived at the investigation room, the officers immediately led him to enter. He was asked to wait a moment before finally being invited to face the rival he had always wanted to capture.

"I'm guessing you must be very happy to see me here."

Alfonso immediately greeted when he found his friend sitting comfortably in front of him. While Raphael chose to smile. After a while, he answered.

"Not really. I feel sorry for you, Alfonso Craigh Adelaide."

He looked deeply into his former best friend's face. He chuckled a little, then continued to speak.

"Your over-ambitious ambition has cost too many lives. From Andrew, your Driver, and now? Your innocent daughter even feels what she shouldn't be feeling."

"There's no need to lecture me," Alfonso replied arrogantly. His calm expression showed he didn't feel the least bit sorry for what he had done so far.

"My daughter was just too stupid to sacrifice herself for a man who hurt her. Do you think I'd be willing to see her now lying in the hospital protecting Tristan? Of course not, Raphael. Tristan has to make calculations with me!"

Raphael sighed softly. Seeing Alfonso still held on to his ego made him a little hot. Had he thought, prison seems like the man in front of him deserves to get for all the evil acts and behavior that has been done so far.

"Whatever? What do you plan to do," asked Raphael casually? There wasn't the slightest hint of fear on his face. The anxiety that once stopped is now gone. It has been replaced with an optimistic attitude because, in the end, he managed to catch the man he had been targeting.

"But, my advice is to repent quickly. Who knows, this is just the first warning that God has given you. Remember!" Raphael deliberately inclined his face.

"In this world, evil never wins. There are times when you have the upper hand. But once God's hand works, he will blow a storm, and your fate will sink to the deepest pit."

"You ----"

Raphael didn't care. The man immediately got up from his seat, full of confidence. He left Alfonso, who seemed to be holding back anger because he had dared to advise him with such striking words.

***

Tristan sat pensively on the waiting chair in front of the operating room. His eyes were blank. His mind was wandering in an uncertain direction. He had been waiting for hours, but not a single team of doctors appeared to be out to provide further information on the current condition of his wife.

Ah, wife. Remembering that title, Tristan immediately grimaced in his heart. Suddenly he asked himself, is it still appropriate to call Sophia, his wife, after what had he been doing all this time?

All the pain, suffering, and the most significant grudge he should not have inflicted on that woman, had now become a mother. Moan for himself. Despite the vengeance he harbors, Tristan admits that Sophia is outgoing, attractive, and easy to get along with new people. It was not difficult for him to approach the woman in the past.

Take his heart, and so he can even waste it. The words of the nurse who had passed him some time ago were even more heart-wrenching. Why was he so stupid that he didn't realize how much Sophia truly loved him despite being hurt many times.

"Patients in your relatives?" said one of the nurses to Tristan, who was waiting quietly for Sophia outside the room.

"Yes," he answered. "I saw her face. I remember this woman who sometimes cried every day in the hospital hallway," the nurse said. "Crying? Every day?" The nurse then nodded.

"Yes, the woman was crying for her husband, who was in a coma. I approached them several times to help give him something to drink and calm him down a bit. I was very sorry for his condition yesterday. I also pray for his husband's recovery."

Tristan's heart skipped a beat remembering that conversation. Instantly he remembered how when he woke up, he threw away and even accidentally splashed Sophia's face with drinking water.

It was too much behavior that he showed at that time. And after what he had done, Sophia was still willing to sacrifice her life for him. Seriously!

"Tristan." He, who at that time was lost in his thoughts, suddenly blinked repeatedly when he heard his name being called. Turning to the source of the voice, Tristan found Raphael's figure, sitting right next to him.

"How are you? I hope you don't kick me out. We both need to talk," the man pleaded as if pleading. Tristan sighed again and again. Try to organize your heart while strengthening yourself. The series of events that have happened lately has been emotionally draining and also made him tired.

"Say what you have to say. There's no need for further ado. I'll try to listen to it," Tristan said in an even tone.

Raphael nodded. She is grateful that the man who is her biological child this time allowed her to speak. Not wanting to waste time, Raphael went straight to the heart of the matter to be discussed.

"I know until this moment, and you don't want to accept that I am your biological father. It's, Ok. There is no obligation for you to admit me. But, whatever it is, I have the right to give clarifications and important explanations that you may have missed."

Tristan nodded his head. Head. Leaning his shoulders, he now chooses to take a slightly relaxed position by folding his arms in front of his chest.

"Actually I never knew that when I left Gracia to go on an internship, she was still pregnant. Your mother never said anything to me either. Until one day at your second birthday, Andrew came to me for the first time and apologized. He also who said that the child he was with at that time was the result of my relationship with Gracia."

Tristan could hear how Raphael's voice suddenly trembled. As if there was pain and sadness that slipped. Then not long after, the man next to him resumed his story.

"I had mixed feelings at that time. While trying to bury the memory of Gracia, I was suddenly reminded of it even with the added spice of the fact that I have a son. You know that?" Raphael turned to Tristan. "At that time I almost beat Andrew because I had the heart to trap and then snatch your Mama from my side. Instead of returning what he had taken, Andrew begged, asking me not to take you from his side. Of course I had mixed feelings at that time."

"And Uncle let us be by Papa Andrew's side?"

Raphael regretfully nodded. "What can I do, Tristan? Besides, your Mama seems happy with Andrew. The only thing I can do is let you go."

"Give up?" Tristan repeated. "But why did you have to have an affair behind Papa's back? If you really love each other, why don't you just divorce and get back with Uncle Raphael?" Raphael sighed. His position seemed to be awry.

"Your mother has tried to do that before. She filed for divorce after finding out that the man had tricked her into setting me up in the past. But it still didn't work. You know, your Papa has always had a heart problem, right?"

Tristan nodded. He knows this. Even in school, countless of his fathers were hospitalized because they had to undergo intensive care due to anfal at work. It is said that Andrew has had a heart defect since childhood.

"Andrew begged Gracia not to divorce him," Raphael continued. "He even made an offer to let your Mama reconnect with me, as long as you don't ever intend to leave her. Your Papa argues that because of the illness he has, his age in this world won't be long. He doesn't want to leave without Gracia by his side."

"So because of this you guys are back in touch again?" Tristan asked then.

"Yes, like that." Raphael nodded. "I'm not denying or denying the slightest bit about the intimate photos that Alfonso has shown you. Yes, the two of us do often see each other abroad. We spend time together. But you need to remember, everything we did was with your Papa's knowledge."

"But still it's called infidelity," Tristan argued. Until this moment, he still feels that his mother and biological father have betrayed Andrew. "Having fun with a woman whose status is someone's wife is definitely not a commendable act."

This time Raphael let out a long sigh. Just accept being accused of that. It is challenging to make Tristan believe or take this fact for granted.

"I won't force you to believe, let alone defend me. To be sure, what I'm telling you is the truth. It's not true that I abandoned Gracia as Alfonso accused the other day. Especially when I left your Mama because I didn't want to be responsible for your presence. For God's sake, You're the greatest gift I've ever had Tristan. Until now, it's never crossed my mind to take Foxtail from Andrew or even from you."

Tristan nodded in understanding. Had been instigated by Alfonso, now he is increasingly convinced that Raphael is not the antagonist who destroyed his former family.

"I will try to forgive Uncle. But to hastily accept Uncle as Papa Andrew's replacement doesn't seem that easy." A smile rose on Raphael's lips. As if getting a breath of fresh air, he immediately answered the son's words just now.

"No problem. I reiterate once again, I will not force you to shift Andrew's position. Most importantly, still allow me to help you develop Foxtail until the end of my life."

Tristan nodded in agreement. After all, Raphael's presence and role were needed in Foxtail's management. Lost in conversation, out of the corner of his eye, he could see a doctor coming out of the operating room. Tristan hurriedly got up and walked over to him. He thought there must be news regarding the development of Sophia's condition there.

"How is the patient's condition, doc?" Edward asked. He, closer to the doctor, couldn't wait to ask questions.

"The good news is, the surgery to remove the bullet projectiles in the patient's body went well. The bleeding has also been successfully stopped. We also did other vital organ checks and there was no significant damage. It's just that ..." the doctor seemed to pause his sentence deliberately. Which raises significant questions for Tristan and Edward.

"Just what, doc?" Tristan also asked impatiently.

"The bad news is that the patient is still in critical condition. His heart rate is fluctuating, unstable. Let's just pray that both of you will soon return to normal. After this, the patient will be immediately transferred to the intensive care unit and his condition will be monitored for 24 hours by a doctor. the medical team. Once again, let's just pray that his critical period will pass soon."

After the doctor left, Tristan sat back in the waiting chair. His eyes turned gloomy. He never thought that Sophia's condition could be this bad.

"It's all because of you, Tristan." Edward, who had previously calmed down, came back and was immediately intimidated.

"Come on, Ed. I'm tired of arguing with you. I know it's all my fault. But for now, let's work together to wish Sophia the best."

Instead of agreeing with Tristan's words, Edward laughed. "You'd better get out of here. I'm sick of seeing you who have no meaning or function here," Edward said bluntly.

"Do not exaggerate!" said Tristan. "In any case, my status is still Sophia's legal husband. I have the right to be here waiting for the development of her condition."

"Husband?" Edward repeated mockingly. "After almost dying did you admit that she was your wife? You crazy! I hope that when she wakes up, Sophia will forget her memory so she will forget you. Forgetting her stupidity for loving the wrong person. Really, it's a waste of her life to be married to a man like you."

Tristan was speechless. The prayer that Edward said just now really felt like it was stabbed right into his heart. Tristan suddenly thought of something, when Sophia woke up, is there still a chance