Chapter Sixty-nine Evan Sterling's POV (Present Time)

After I discovered what my parents did to Estera, I had since then started to plan how to obliterate the evidence the Dallas' have against Edward Sterling. And in my quest, I found out there was a reason why Mary Antoinette made that call to me way back in New York and why she had been acting weird towards me like someone seeking atonement. She discovered she had Ovarian cancer and the doctor had told her she had a short time to live.
I realized I could use that to my advantage and be nice and more attentive to her, hoping that would touch something inside her and she would help me break the invisible fucking chain around my neck, constantly threatening to snuff the life out of me -- may God forgive me, but I never wanted this in the first place. I was forced into it. And an option to get out of it as neatly as possible was enough motivation.
I had enlisted Jacob's help in helping me to find Estera. New York was his territory and even he had failed. I had hired a private detective to search every hospital in New York and still haven't gotten any positive news till now. And now this--dropped literally in my hands. I couldn't believe I was looking at her. Her picture was on the cover page of a medical magazine alongside one other doctor. And her name with his was written boldly on the cover: 'The dynamic duo; Dr. Foster, and Dr. Roberts, spreading goodness around the globe’. The background showed a hospital building said to be in Columbia.
"Evan, are you listening?" My mother asked and I looked up from the magazine the maid just handed over to me, looking straight at her but not quite seeing her. 'No wonder we haven't been able to find her, she was out of the country and recently returned from some volunteer work in Columbia.' My eyes lowered to the magazine again, but I wasn't looking at her but the man beside her. There was something about the way he held his body close to her that got my blood boiling. I clenched my teeth, trying to contain my anger.
"Mary Antoinette wants to try surgery. There is a doctor in New York we hear he is pretty good. He and his protégé had been the buzz of the medical community for a while. Dr. Anthony Jones said the two did a very risky surgery on a patient with cancer. He said they cut off the affected part of the gut, replaced it and sewed the person up. Can you believe that?! Mary Antoinette thought perhaps a similar surgery could help her. She already discussed it with her parents. I think they are willing to try it."
I forced myself to look at my mother.
"Cole Foster--that's the doctor's name," I said and didn't divulge the name of the supposed protégé. I supposed she will find out soon enough if she intended to go to their hospital.
"Oh! Okay, I will have Beatrice book an appointment and Dr. Jones send her medical report. Will you be coming with us?"
"I will not miss it for the world," I said through clenched teeth. She gave me a puzzled look and I added, "I have to go to New York myself. Perhaps if you are able to get an early appointment, we can go together and have my chauffeur take us there."
"Perfect! Thank you, son, she will be thrilled to have your support," my mother said and came forward trying to hug me. I stepped back, slipping my hands into the pocket of my trousers. I saw the flash of hurt in her eyes but looked away, pretending to walk to the wine cabinet, still holding the magazine. "I will get to it," she added in a shaky tone and left. I reached for the brandy and walked back to my desk to pour some inside the glass cup on the table's edge. Then as I picked it up, I pressed a button, embedded by my desk to summon the house maids. A minute later a gentle knock sounded from the door and then was pushed open.
"You need something, sir?" the petite middle-aged woman that answered my call asked.
"Who brought this?" I asked, raising up the magazine I held in a tight grip for her to see.
"I don't know sir, one of the doormen brought it in--"
"Get him," I snapped, taking a sip from the drink. My heart was pounding in the wall of my chest. I placed the magazine on the desk, smoothed it over, and leaned over it. Fighting the urge to throw the gaddamn glass cup on the wall. Estera, my Estera went to Columbia with this asshole for a whole year and a half?! I felt quite homicidal and sick to my gut.
"Good evening, sir," I heard a manly voice say, and I looked up to see two uniformed guards with two of the housemaids standing by the door.
"Who brought this?" I repeated, raising up the magazine again. My voice sounded hoarse.
"A dispatcher delivered it about an hour ago," Dan, head of my security team replied. I nodded.
"Of course," I muttered to myself. "How many of these particular publications have you received in recent times?"
"This is the first… um.. sir--"
"Yes?" I replied, turning to hold the older man's gaze.
"The man insisted on having you sign the proof of delivery. It took a while for him to agree for me to sign on your behalf. I had to show him my I.D card and let him know it is standard procedure."
"Thank you, Dan. You just solved a mystery for me. You can all leave now," I said and turned to walk to the window, carrying the drink. Perhaps what I thought was wrong. Perhaps the man on the magazine cover was just really friendly with Estera, but if I had to guess who sent that particular publication to me, I would definitely pick him -- Dr. Cole Foster. For some reason, he wanted me to know where to find her. I can't tell what the man was up to. But he is going to be grossly disappointed if he thinks I'm going to let him have my woman.