Handover

The blogs carried the news……newspapers, journals, influencers, they all hosted one title.

“Billionaire wife in a vegetable state after an accident due to illicit affairs”

It was captioned in block letters, so huge to ignore.

Alfred did not hide his emotions during conferences and guest shows.

“I still can't wrap my head around her affair and why she would do that. I was everything she ever needed in a man” he would say, one hand placed on his forehead and his eyes darkened with sorrow.

The narrative only got worse.

Selena played the victim.

She cried, cleaned snot and kept a pitiful face….pretending she was more hurt for her step sister's condition than the “horrible things” she claimed Mary had done to her.

Evidence of threatening letters Mary had written to Selena to stay away from Alfred all sufficed.

Their debate was that they had always been together……..way before he even met Mary, but Mary, being a powerful woman, had threatened Selena into leaving Alfred for her.

She had played on Alfred's humble background and gotten him to marry her, then turned around to cheat on him.

Their performance was Oscar worthy.

There were photos, documents, videos to back up their claims, even Mary would have believed it if she was awake.

As promised, Alfred had pushed the plan to get the court to release all her properties to him.

Doctor Morgan had refused to end Mary again, so they had blackmailed him to declare her brain dead.

“Here” Selena handed a signed paper to the flustered doctor. “Mary always wanted to be a donor if ever she had a damaging situation like this” she said.

“She is not dead yet. She is in a coma” the doctor argued.

“Don't be a fool doctor. You know she won't ever wake up or ever be normal. Shouldn't you be worried about patients out there that would benefit from her organs?” She asked, her brows raised in feigned concern.

“She needs time, a month, two months……even a year” he pushed.

“One would nearly think you are in love with a sleeping woman. Does your wife know about your affections for your patients?” Selena snickered, her gaze condescending.

The doctor shrugged.

“She knows I would give the world to save my patients”

“But also take fat envelopes to murder them when convenient”

Her stare darkened.

Doctor Morgan shivered a little.

That was more of a threat……an accusation than a statement.

And he wasn't wrong.

“You will put her into a final sleep when next I come here or there will be questions for you to answer” she walked off, her threat resounding loudly in his ears.

The next day was the first meeting with the board of directors.

Alfred had everything all planned out.

He had signed documents Mary had personally signed herself that pronounced him the owner of the company by death.

It looked original to the directors so no further questions were asked.

That day, he came home smiling.

They had done it.

Selena's bags were already packed.

She jumped into his arms excitedly as he danced into the room.

“We did it….. didn't we?” She teased.

“And no one is the wiser” he chuckled, rubbing his nose against hers.

“About Mary, what do we……?” He started off, a tiny look of worry passed through his eyes.

“I took care of it. Don't let it bother you my love” she said and kissed him deeply……a genuine kiss for the first time.

Alfred drew back and stared at her…..his face filled with admiration.

This was all he ever dreamed of.

Their flights were booked, hotel reservations arranged, all first class, all bougie.

They deserved only the best.

He was now in control of all Mary's accounts.

Over 15 years of sweat spent on expensive trips and vacations by the same people who wanted her dead.

At the hospital, Doctor Morgan couldn't shake off the horror that awaited him when Selena came back.

If she went through with her threat, he could be arrested and his license revoked and if he did her bidding, his conscience would prick him to death.

Yes……he had tried to swindle them the first time.

He had not actually killed.

He had only injected her with a serum that stopped her heartbeat for a while.

If only those fools had come earlier, they wouldn't have noticed a thing but now, they were onto him.

He had planned to sneak her away……far away from the city but she had woken when they were still observing her.

Now he had to think of something else to do.

It was now exactly after the media had cooked Mary’s memory and legacy.

She had been torn down to a mere cheat and villain step sister who got her deserved karma.

Doctor Morgan knew better.

He had cared for her…..hoping she would wake soon and that rainy Tuesday morning…….she did.

He had just inserted a new drip pack when her fingers twitched.

He stopped and watched her carefully, willing her to move again.

His heart swarmed with an uncontrolled excitement.

“Come on fighter…..move those hands again” he whispered.

She did!

He threw the files in his hands and whooped in joy.

She was awake.

Slowly, her eyelids flickered open, slightly adjusting to the light.

“Welcome back” he smiled

She stared at him…..her brain probably rebooting.

Then it hit him……he had to find a way to keep her alive.