The mysterious man

A month had passed since Arthur's hospitalization. His condition had steadily improved, and today was the day he would be discharged.
The sky was painted in hues of orange and purple as the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the hospital grounds.
In a dark corner of the hospital, a shadowy figure watched Arthur’s room intently, waiting for the right moment.

Arthur sat on the edge of his bed, his heart light with anticipation.
He couldn't wait to see Angelic and meet his grandchildren, Monic and George, for the first time since his accident.
As he waited, he glanced at the clock, eagerly counting down the minutes.

Meanwhile, at Angelic's mansion, preparations were in full swing.
The twins, Monic and George, buzzed with excitement as they prepared to fetch their grandfather.

"Mommy, is Grandpa okay now?" Monic asked, her eyes wide with curiosity and excitement.

"Yes, darling," Angelic replied, gently caressing Monic's hair. "He's much better now and can't wait to see us."

George, who was playing with his toy car, looked up and asked, "Are we going to see Grandpa today, Mommy?"

"Yes, George," Angelic smiled, though her eyes were tinged with sadness. "Grandpa is waiting for us. Hurry up, we need to go."

As they got ready to leave, Angelic's mind wandered back to the conversation she had with her children about their grandfather.
She had sat them down a few weeks ago, tears streaming down her face as she explained why they hadn't seen him in so long.

"Grandpa was very sick, but he's getting better now," she had said, struggling to keep her voice steady.
"I know I was very angry with him, but I realized I went too far. I'm sorry, my loves. I should have never let my anger keep you from knowing him."

Monic had wrapped her small arms around Angelic's neck, whispering, "It's okay, Mommy. We love you."

George had joined the hug, his innocent eyes filled with understanding. "We love Grandpa too, Mommy."

The memory brought tears to Angelic's eyes again as they drove to the hospital. She regretted the years lost in anger and vengeance.
She had missed so much, and now she hoped it wasn't too late to make things right.

In the hospital, Arthur was feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement.
He was eager to mend the fractured relationship with his daughter and build a bond with his grandchildren.
He was lost in thought when the nurse came in to check his vitals.

"Sir Arthur, we need to check your vital signs before you're discharged. Are you excited to go home?" the nurse asked with a warm smile.

"Yes, very much. I'm happy to see my daughter and finally make things right. And I can't wait to meet my grandchildren," Arthur replied, his eyes lighting up with hope.

After the nurse finished her checkup, she said, "You're good to go, sir. Your family should be here soon."

Arthur's phone rang, breaking the quiet. It was Angelic.

"Hi, Dad. Are you ready to go? Monic and George are with me, and they can't wait to see you," Angelic said, her voice filled with warmth.

Arthur's eyes softened. "I'm ready. Are my grandchildren really with you?"

"Yes, they are," Angelic replied. "They're excited to meet you."

"See you later, Grandpa!" Monic and George's voices chimed in over the phone.

Arthur chuckled, his heart swelling with love. "See you soon, my darlings."

Just as he hung up, the door to his room creaked open.
Arthur turned, expecting to see a nurse or a doctor, but instead, a man in a black robe with a mask covering his face stood in the doorway, holding a syringe.

Arthur's heart raced. "Who are you?" he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.

The man stepped forward, his eyes glowing with a sinister intent. "You are going to die. You are a hindrance to my master plan."

Arthur tried to stand, but the man lunged at him, pressing the syringe into his bicep and injecting the contents. "This is your time to sleep forever."

Arthur's body convulsed as the poison spread through his veins.
He grabbed at the phone, accidentally hitting the redial button for Angelic's number.
The call connected just as the man delivered his final words.

"Your dad is dead. You will find out who I am and why I did this. Find me, if you can. Goodbye."

On the other end of the line, Angelic's blood ran cold.
She heard the man’s voice, the sounds of a struggle, and then her father’s weak, pained voice.

"Dad!" she screamed, tears blurring her vision as she floored the accelerator.
The car sped through the streets, her mind a blur of fear and rage.

"Mariam... ah—Angel, I'm happy to have you again, with my grandchildren,"
Arthur's voice came through weakly before the line went dead.

"No!" Angelic cried, her heart shattering. "Hold on, Dad. I'm coming."

The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity.
Angelic's hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Monic and George, sensing the gravity of the situation, sat silently in the backseat, their eyes wide with fear and confusion.
The mysterious man before was the shadow that had been lurking around, and the events leading up to her father's accident.
Someone had been watching him, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The memory of that day flashed in Arthur’s mind.
Before the accident, Arthur had been walking through a quiet alleyway, unaware that someone was watching his every move.
A heavy box, suspended by a rope, had been rigged to fall.
As he passed beneath it, the rope had been cut, and the box had plummeted, striking him with deadly force.
The accident had been no accident at all—it had been a carefully orchestrated attempt on his life.

As they neared the hospital, Angelic's mind raced.
Angelic skidded to a halt in front of the hospital, practically leaping out of the car.
She grabbed Monic and George’s hands, rushing inside. The receptionist looked up, startled by their urgency.

"Arthur Reyes?" Angelic demanded, her voice shaking.

"Room 203," the receptionist replied, pointing down the hall.

They sprinted down the corridor, Angelic's heart pounding with each step.
They burst into the room to find Arthur lying on the floor, his face pale and his breathing shallow.

"Dad!" Angelic cried, rushing to his side.

Arthur opened his eyes, a faint smile crossing his lips.
"Mariam... my beautiful daughter," he whispered, his voice weak. "I'm so sorry."

"No, Dad, don’t talk like that. You’re going to be fine,"
Angelic said, tears streaming down her face.

She turned to the doctor. "What happened?"

"We found him lying on the floor and unconscious," the doctor said, his face grim. "We’re doing everything we can."

Monic and George clung to Angelic, their eyes filled with fear.
"Mommy, is Grandpa going to be, okay?" George asked, his voice trembling.

Angelic knelt down, pulling them close.
"We have to be strong, my loves. Grandpa is fighting, and we have to fight with him."

As they waited for news, Angelic’s mind raced. Who was behind this attack?
Why had they targeted her father? She thought about the man’s words and the sinister laughter.
Someone wanted to destroy her family, and she had to find out who.

Hours passed, and the doctor returned with an update.
"He’s still unstable for now, but we need to keep him under observation."

Angelic nodded, her resolve hardening. She wouldn’t rest until she found the person responsible for this.
As she sat by her father's side, she whispered, "I promise you, Dad, I’ll find who did this. They will pay."

The night was long and filled with worry.
Angelic stayed by Arthur’s side, holding his hand and praying for his recovery.
Monic and George eventually fell asleep in the chairs beside the bed, their small bodies curled up against each other for comfort.

As dawn broke, Angelic's phone buzzed with a message from Marcelino:
"I heard what happened. I’m coming to the hospital. Stay strong."

Angelic felt a surge of gratitude for Marcelino’s support, but her mind remained focused on the threat looming over her family.
She had to protect her children and uncover the truth behind the attack on her father.

When Marcelino arrived, he found Angelic exhausted but determined.
"Mariam, we’ll get through this together. I’ll help you find out who’s behind this."

Angelic looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and resolve.
"Thank you, Marcelino. I need your help. I won’t let whoever did this get away with it."

As they stood together, the first rays of sunlight streaming through the window, Angelic felt a renewed sense of purpose.
She would uncover the truth, protect her family, and ensure that justice was served.
The road ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but Angelic was ready to face it head-on.
With Marcelino by her side and the love for her family fueling her determination, she knew she had the strength to overcome any obstacle.

And as she held her father’s hand, she whispered once more,
"I promise, Dad. I will make this right."