Chapter 2 - Introduction (continued)

"Dad, let us go and see grand dad. The old man lost his brain sleeping on the death bed. He has nothing to do and thus he thinks of meaningless things. 'An idle man's brain is the devil's workshop'. But I'm not going to be the scapegoat to realize his meaningless dreams. I have strived to develop this business worth one million to hundred million today and 'The Radiance Industries' is one of the most flourishing cotton textile industries in the United States." Stephen grunted in a rage establishing the fact before his father. Half an hour later their car stood before the huge gates of Morgan Estate. It took them ten minutes on the driveway to reach the entrance of the mansion. On both sides were tall trees and in between were flowering plants of roses and sunflowers amidst green pastures. In the front stood a beautiful water fountain. The car stopped before the spacious foyer, where the ceiling was as high as that of a Catholic church. Two long, winding staircases with twisted golden banisters commanded attention. The floors were white marble, and an imposing chandelier shimmered from above. Reaching the first bedroom below the staircase an old man with gray hair and several tubes attached to his body was sleeping covered in a blanket. The ECG machine was beeping and the nurse stood beside him reading the temperature on the thermometer. As soon as Stephen's wheelchair went inside the room, she greeted him and his father. The old man who had his eyes closed opened them and smiled at his grandson. With his frail hand reaching him he softly patted his palm and his eyes teared up watching him in a wheelchair. A helpless involuntary sigh left out of Stephen. He did not want anyone to pity him. "I and your father had a talk about your future just yesterday night. I knew the moment I made the decision, you would come." The wrinkles at the end of his eyes, mentioned his experience about life. Morgan knew his grandson was not happy with his decision. Stephen was a tough nut to crack. But his heart was not steel like everyone estimated it. It was gold. "Do not see me as your enemy when I lay a condition of marriage for you to acquire the heirloom of Morgan property. It is for your own good." Stephen tried to restrict his indignation to his best towards his grandfather but his words came out in a grunt. "Grandad, today's girls are very materialistic, calculative and evil. Nobody would like to marry a paralyzed man except to conquer our property that we built up with years of hard work, flesh and blood." Morgan's pale lips stretched slightly, his aged orbs studied his grandson in affection and his wrinkled hand weakly squeezed Stephen's arm in assurance. "I want to say the same, my Bubba." (Bubba is the pet name with which Morgan called Stephen when he was too lazy to crawl and reach him when he was a baby.) "The girl who comes to marry you in spite of your handicap is the one pure at heart. She will serve you wholeheartedly and be the mother of your kids. You will be a happy man. Forget the past and move on, Stephen. I know what is working in your mind. THAT GIRL WAS NOT MADE FOR YOU. IF DESTINY DECIDED SHE WOULD, SHE WOULD HAVE COME BACK." Morgan gave a contemplative look to Stephen about which Raven looked at his son interrogatively. Stephen ignored the questioning looks of his father and rubbed his hands to ease the sudden tiredness occupying his face. Memory Those novice giggles were heard in his ears once again. She was hardly nine playing and jumping in little puddles of water. Her white school dress uniform had muddy spots all over and some even on her creamy face. But she did not mind getting dirty. In fact she loved playing in the rain. Her chocolate brown hair was tied in two small pig tails flapping on either side of her creamy scarlet cheeks. Those crystal blues were as bright as ever smiling and busy in her own world. He was seventeen, almost nine years older to her. Eight years, six months and fifteen days to be exact. Merlyn was his dad's best friend's daughter, who stayed two houses away from him. He was watching her while smoking and having a chat with his friends. Someone who knows his internal instincts would say he is hooked by her pays and he wouldn't mind. Yes, he was a cradle snatcher and he loved this innocent girl of nine since he knew he attained his puberty. She passed through his group of friends in her white uniform which was now brown and looked up at them in a scorn. Her lips twitched in disagreement. She was not even reaching upto his legs but had the guts to question him giving those angry blue eyes which were covered in purity. "Don't you know cigarette smoking is injurious to health, it causes cancer. The other name for cigarettes is cancer stick." She plucked the cigarette in his hands, nipped it and put it in the ashtray. One of Stephen's friends who was standing besides got angry. "You annoying little brat...." He grunted and took a step forward towards her grilling his teeth but Stephen discreetly stopped him with his hand extended blocking his way towards the little girl. Merlyn did not care about his friend who was almost ten years older to her as she dared him with her challenging looks which got Stephen's eyes in curiosity and a slight hint of smile. "I'm sorry, we will not smoke again and cause you irritation." He knelt before her to match her height and extended his hand to her. "I am Stephen. Can we be friends?" Merlyn tapped on her soft little cheek in thought in a dramatic way and gave out her missing tooth grin putting her little soft hand in his big rough one. "We are friends." Present: While traveling back… With a hidden smirk under his lips Raven responded. "Stephen, the situation is not about a lifetime commitment. You would get married, beget a child and divorce the girl." He closed his eyes and a controlled groan left out of the charming billionaire. Reaching back to his office, Stephen pressed the bell of the intercom and the secretary rushed in. "Kyara, make a newspaper advertisement - A paralyzed billionaire businessman urgently requires a bride. Applications with the best fertility charts will be preferred the most." 'There is one pain that I will always feel which you will never know. I die a hundred deaths every day of guilt, for the mistake I couldn't rectify. I LOVE YOU AND I'M SORRY, MERLYN. Dear Friends, the story from here is the flashback. When the story comes back to the present, I will inform you.