Chapter 23: Chapter 23

ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POV

Each and every step that I took while heading back to the hospital wasn’t that easy for me, even though I had a straight face. My mind was literally like a puzzle that has absolutely no chance of being fixed.

I know exactly what I need to do, but my conscience is pulling me back as if I haven’t taken my father’s life at all. There’s no clear explanation of what I’m feeling.

As soon as I was around the area where I last saw my mother, I heard two women laughing. One was from my mother, and another one was from a voice I wasn’t familiar with.

Curiosity piqued my interest, so I tried to take a peek through the slightly opened door. “Who’s that girl?” I whispered a query to myself with my forehead scrunched.

I have never encountered that woman in my whole life. She looks more gorgeous than me. Her hair was the first thing that I noticed because of its blonde color. Her entire body proportions were perfect—something any man would drool over. She had a dimple that was visible every time she giggled.

The woman’s voice was irritating my ears, though.

“It’s been a long time since I saw him. I’m not sure if he’d be delighted to know that I’ve already returned,” the woman said to my mother.

“Why haven’t you told him yet about your arrival? Is he some sort of scum?” my mother asked.

“He left me when I was in the midst of a financial crisis. I’m sure that he still thinks lowly of me—that I still haven’t been able to earn a single penny for myself after all these years,” the woman explained.

My eyes widely opened as I saw how my mother tenderly pulled the woman into a tight hug. It was the kind of embrace that I never received from her since the day that I was born.

“You should still try considering telling him about it. You told me that it’s been years, so there’s a huge probability that he’s still waiting for your return, too,” my mother said to try and console the woman.

I gritted my teeth at the same time that I clenched my fists upon the frustration that dwelt within the depths of my soul, which escalated up to my brain.

“This b*tch wouldn’t get away with this,” I muttered.

Without any further delay, I barged into my mother’s ward. My eyes were only set on the woman, so I got to grasp the edge of her long hair. I only gathered thin strands so that it would inflict her with a more aching sensation.

“Ah… F*ck!” The woman glared at me as she held my wrist, hoping that she would be able to remove my hold on her hair, which I only pulled a little bit harder.

“Who are you to talk to my mother like this? Are you my step sibling or something?” I questioned her with a hint of anger in my voice.

I released my grip on her to let her speak. “T-that’s too rude of you, lady! You suddenly barged in here and pulled my hair, only to ask me about my identity?” she replied.

“I said… Who the hell are you?” I raised my arm in an attempt to slap her cheek. However, I immediately prevented myself from doing so when I noticed from the corner of my eye that my mother was staring at me.

“I’m Gwynneth Gregoria, and I have no connection with you or this mother of yours!” She finally answered my question.

My mother suddenly stood up from her bed, even though she still looked pale. “What are you doing to her? Don’t you know how much she helped me while you were out there flirting with dozens of men?”

Judging from the tone of her voice, I doubt that Gwynneth knew anything about what I did to my parents.

“I don’t care, and I’m not interested in hearing anything about it.” I sighed. “Since when have you been admitted to this hospital? I’ve been searching everywhere for you,” I inquired, pretending that I was a concerned daughter of hers.

My mother hysterically laughed. “You’re so pretentious, Angelique,” she commented as she shook her head in disbelief at my query.

“I have to go already; I still have to find Greyson,” Gwynneth said through our conversation.

“What?” My eyes twitched upon hearing the name of Greyson. “Did I hear it right? Who are you going to find again?”

“Greyson. Greyson Giovanni,” Gwynneth replied with a smile on her face. “Why? Do you know him?”

I clicked my tongue before I held her right forearm tightly. “You’re going with me if you’re searching for that man,” I mumbled, forgetting about the fact that my mother was there.

My objective for coming to this hospital has been eradicated from my mind.

“What’s your connection with Greyson?” I asked her, then let go of her arm.

Gwynneth folded her arms as she slowly walked ahead of me. “You’ve got nothing to do with the relationship between me and Greyson,” she coldly answered. “Who are you anyway?” she finally asked.

“I’m Greyson’s personal secretary, Angelique Sloan.” I didn’t make my introduction. I don’t like talking with this woman.

Gwynneth stopped walking as she turned around to face me. “Personal secretary? You?” A tiny smirk formed on her lips as she released a soft chuckle. “I doubt that Greyson would take a woman like you as his secretary. And there’s no way that he’d hire someone to be his aid,” she said.

“That’s what everyone said,” I uttered.

Minutes later, the two of us arrived in front of Greyson’s office. Gwynneth has been looking around the surrounding hallway, as if she were examining everyone who was present in the building.

I knocked twice on the door when I realized it was locked. “Greyson? Are you there?” I asked. “Someone’s here to see you. She said she’s Gwynneth Gregoria,” I added.

In less than five seconds, the door immediately swung open, and I saw how wide Greyson’s eyes were open as well as his mouth.

“Gwynneth...” he softly mumbled the woman’s name, letting me feel an ounce of pain in my chest.