77. No Engagement
At Another End of the City. A black car was racing down the city, bypassing all the traffic rules, and more than once, almost causing a head-on collision.
Lucas sat in the backseat of the car, tapping his feet on the ground impatiently. “I told you to drive faster!”
“Mr. Harrison, this is the highest speed limit! Fortunately, the authorities recognize your car, otherwise, we would have been bumped on all sides by the police by now.” Sweats poured down the driver’s face. “Don’t worry, we will reach the mansion soon.”
“Please calm down, Lucas.” Tracy squeezed his hand gently. “Grandpa has to be alright. I’m sure the Doctor will work hard to revive him.”
Lucas stared out of the car’s window, his impatience to reach the mansion on time evident on his face.
He left the car as soon as they got to the mansion before it even came to a complete stop.
Rushing inside Grandpa Winston’s quarters, he found the Butler pacing back and forth in front of the bedroom upstairs.
“What happened to Grandpa? Why did he collapse again?”
The Butler lowered his head in guilt. ” The Master got overwhelmed. Please forgive me, Young Master.”
“What do you mean?” Lucas’s eyes narrowed into slits. “What caused him to be overwhelmed?”
The Butler looked hesitant to reply, and he sighed in relief when the Doctor came out of the bedroom, interrupting him from speaking.
“How is he?” Lucas stepped forward.
“Please don’t worry, Old Master Winston is fine. We are fortunate that his condition isn’t as bad as the previous times. He can wake up any moment from now,” the Doctor explained with a wry smile, as if unsure of his own words.
Looking relieved, Lucas nodded curtly. “I’ll see Grandpa.”
He walked into the room with Tracy trailing behind.
“See? I told you. Grandpa would be alright.” Tracy put on a relieved look as well, however, she was greatly irritated inside.
Seeing no traces of Heidi again at Crescent Avenue, she thought she and Lucas could spend some alone time together, and hopefully get intimate at some point.
Now the old man’s sudden illness had jeopardized all her plans.
Lucas remained quiet, his eyes fixed on Grandpa Winston’s wrinkled face.
But hours passed by.
Grandpa Winston didn’t open his eyes. Lucas left the bedroom with Tracy and dialed the Doctor’s number.
“Didn’t you say that he would wake up shortly?”
From the other end, the Doctor unexpectedly sighed. “It seems what I am afraid of must have happened. The probability of it happening had been low, though.”
“Tell me what is it!?” Lucas snapped.
“I am sorry, Young Master. Old Master Winston must have slipped into a temporary coma. It might take three days before he wakes up.”
Lucas opened his mouth but no words came out.
Tracy began wailing in the background. “Oh, poor Grandpa Winston. What happened to our dear grandpa? No. He has to be fine. How can such a terrible thing happen at an auspicious moment like this?”
That night, Lucas sat at the dining table in his Villa.
A set of dishes was spread in front of him, untouched.
Holding his phone, his finger hovered over a particular contact, a mix of emotions swirling in his eyes.
“Young Master, you didn’t eat anything.” The maid approached, starkly aware of the air of gloom surrounding the man.
“When will you learn how to cook?” Lucas gave her a displeased look.
Mira shook her head. “It wasn’t me who cooked, it was the new chef. I’m sorry you didn’t like it. If only the former Young Madam was here,” she whispered the last words and left.
Tracy’s hard glare followed the maid as her figure disappeared into the kitchen.
“If you don’t like that food, I can cook up something for you.”
“I told you to go home.”
Obviously, Lucas wanted to be left alone. Grandpa Winston’s sudden illness must have shaken him to the core.
And the Butler wouldn’t open up about what caused it.
Standing up, Tracy pursed her lips. “I- I guess I’ll have to shoulder all the responsibilities of making the hectic last-minute preparations. Every socialite has been invited. Our engagement will take place in one of your hotels.”
“There will be no engagement.” Lucas glanced at her.
For a few seconds, Tracy couldn’t react. Sitting back on the chair, she asked with widened eyes. “W-What do you mean? The engagement has already been announced, everyone will be attending. We can’t cancel It-”
“Can’t you see that Grandpa is sick?”
“I know, Honey.” Tracy reached out and rubbed his arm. “But Grandpa’s sickness shouldn’t prevent our engagement, right? Do you think Grandpa will be pleased when he wakes up and finds out that the engagement didn’t happen?”
“Grandpa ordered it himself. He’ll surely be sad. Besides, it is too late. Most of the invited guests are your business allies. What if they-”
“Enough.” Lucas looked tired. “Just go home.”
Tracy rose to her feet, putting on a sweet smile. “Please don’t worry too much about Grandpa. Sleep well, I’ll come with the designer tomorrow for your fitting.”
Tracy turned around and left, looking satisfied.
Lucas’s attention returned to his phone.
This wasn’t the first time Grandpa Winston had slipped into a temporary coma.
But the previous times, there was always someone with him. Heidi was always there to accompany him, and her presence always served as an instant remedy.
His finger hovered for some more time above her number, then he finally dropped his phone.
