Chapter 47

Chapter 47
As soon as Fernandez walked into the hospital, the receptionist's eyes widened in recognition, her pupils dilating with excitement. She had seen him before on TV, and she couldn't believe her luck.
She rubbed her eyes, closed them, and opened them again, wondering if she was dreaming. But Fernandez was still standing there, looking even more handsome and intimidating than she remembered. His tall, broad-shouldered frame filled the space, his chiseled features and piercing eyes commanding attention.
Fernandez, however, was getting irritated with the receptionist's ogling. He glared at her, his eyes flashing with annoyance, and snapped his fingers to get her attention. The sound echoed through the quiet lobby, making the receptionist startle. She regaining her senses, looked away, embarrassed, her cheeks flushing pink. She scratched her neck, trying to compose herself, her hands shaking slightly.
"Welcome to City Hospital, how may I help you, sir?" she asked politely, still sneaking glances at Fernandez, her voice barely above a whisper.
Fernandez's expression remained cold, his voice firm, his deep tone commanding respect. "I'm here to see Jessica Andorra. Which room is she in?" He demanded, his eyes narrowing slightly, expecting a prompt response.
Before the receptionist could respond, a male doctor approached Fernandez, his eyes warm and professional, his smile friendly. "Mr. Antonio, please come this way. We've already received a call that you would be visiting today." He said, his voice firm but gentle, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Fernandez nodded, his gaze still fixed on the receptionist for a moment before turning to follow the doctor. The receptionist let out a sigh, still staring at Fernandez's retreating back, her eyes fixed on the tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders.
Fernandez was led into a VIP ward where a middle-aged woman was sleeping on the bed, surrounded by the opulent decor of the room. The soft beeping of machines and the faint scent of antiseptic filled the air, a stark contrast to the elegance of the space. The doctor left after asking Fernandez for excuse and leaving only Fernandez and Jessica alone in the room.
Fernandez couldn't help but to chuckle, a low and menacing sound, as he gazed at his mother, Jessica, lying in the hospital bed. She was beaten by the rich man she eloped with, and he still admitted her to the hospital in a VIP ward - what a life.
The woman, whose back was facing Fernandez, noticed the presence of someone in the room. She adjusted herself, wincing in pain, before she was able to turn to face Fernandez. Fernandez stood, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable.
Her eyes stayed widened in shock as she saw who the person was. Fernandez took his time to look at her, his eyes scanning her face. Her eyes were swollen, and there were bruises everywhere on her body. Her once beautiful and fresh face now looked haggard and pale.
Still not recovered from the shock, Jessica, Fernandez's mother, said, "Fernandez, I can't believe you are here." Her voice was weak and trembling, her gaze darting around the room before returning to her son's face.
Fernandez's eyes flashed with contempt as he gazed at his mother, his voice dripping with disdain. "Do you think I came here to hear you blabber? My good father was the one who told me to come here, or else do you think I would have come here?"
Jessica's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at her son, her voice trembling. "Nando, I know I was wrong..."
Fernandez's expression turned icy, his hand shooting up to silence her. "Don't ever call me Nando again. Nando died the day you left him and his father for a rich man."
The words hung in the air like a challenge, Jessica's tears falling freely as she gazed at her son's unyielding face. "Fernandez, I know I don't have the right to ask for your forgiveness, but please find a place in your heart to forgive me. But understand me, I really had no choice back then. I couldn't live in poverty."
Fernandez's chuckle was dark and menacing, his eyes glinting with anger. "Of course, you had no choice, and I bet he didn't beat you well enough."
Jessica flinched, her body trembling as she gazed at her son's unforgiving face. "Fernandez, please..."
But Fernandez's expression only hardened, his voice dripping with venom. "Don't beg me, Jessica. You lost that right when you left us."
Fernandez's eyes blazed with fury, his jaw clenched in anger, as he spun around to face his mother. "That's a bit harsh, Fernandez, but let's talk about you now. I saw the news about your marriage, are you happy?" Jessica's voice was laced with concern, but Fernandez's expression only darkened, his face a thundercloud of emotions.
"None of your business," he growled, his voice low and menacing, like a predator warning its prey. "I will be going now." He turned to leave, his long strides eating up the distance, his expensive shoes clicking on the polished floor, as Jessica called out to him, but he didn't answer, didn't even flinch.
As he stormed out of the hospital, he spotted a familiar face - Mrs. Anderson, Anna's mother, her usually poised figure now frail and gaunt, her eyes sunken with a deep sadness. Fernandez's curiosity was piqued, his mind racing with questions. What was she doing here? He watched as she disappeared into the crowd, her slow steps a testament to her frailty, then turned and strode into the doctor's office she had just left.
The doctor, a middle-aged man with a kind face and a stethoscope around his neck, stood up as Fernandez entered, his eyes widening in a mix of fear and respect. "Mr. Antonio, you are here? How may I help you?" he asked, his voice deferential, his hands shaking slightly as he extended them for a handshake.
Fernandez's eyes locked onto the doctor's, his gaze piercing, like a hawk zeroing in on its prey. "Can I know why Mrs. Anderson was here?" he demanded, his voice firm, his tone brooking no argument.
The doctor hesitated, glancing around the room nervously, his eyes darting to the door, as if searching for an escape. "I'm afraid it's hospital policy not to disclose patient information, Mr. Antonio," he stammered.
Fernandez's smile was cold and calculating, his eyes glinting with a hint of malice. "I think you'll find an exception in this case, Doctor. After all, I can make this hospital disappear with a snap of my fingers." His voice was low and even, but the threat was clear, and the doctor paled, his eyes darting to Fernandez's hands as if expecting him to snap his fingers at any moment. "Very well, Mr. Antonio. Mrs. Anderson.... she has a cancer. Stage four. She doesn't have much time left."