The Power Struggles

Anderson’s POV

As I placed my hands on her body to feel her temperature, she opened her eyes, and those eyes met mine. But instead of her rare, red, piercing eyes, always staring at me when tying my tie, I saw green eyes staring straight at me.

Confused. I blinked. Maybe the hospital lighting was playing tricks on me.

“You heard what I just said, right?”

“Your children are waiting for you at home,” I said coldly.

Marrying Gabriella was one of my biggest regrets in life. I was just forced into the responsibility of being a husband, a duty I was never ready for with someone I don’t love. And now, she’s even moving weirdly.

“My in-law,” her father said again.

His voice alone irritates me. I detest standing with an irresponsible father-in-law who only thinks about money , status and power, he doesn’t care about the welfare of his children.

I bet they don’t even know I pushed her off the staircase. And even if he does, he won’t say or do anything about it.

“Money worshipper,” I muttered under my breath.

“She’s awake,” I heard her mother say, her voice breaking the silence she had maintained since I walked in.

I turned to the ward corridor, looking for the doctor, who was already at the door. As soon as he noticed my gaze searching for him, he hurried inside.

“When are you discharging her?” I asked.

“Soon, sir,” he said, bowing his head.

“But sir…” he added quickly.

“What is it?” I asked, catching the urgency in his tone.

“She lost her memory,” he announced.

“What?!” her father’s voice echoed behind me.

“God!”

“So she doesn’t recognize us even after we’ve been sitting here all this time?” her mother’s voice rang out.

I watched Gabriella struggle on the bed as the weight of the revelation hit her.

I won’t lie, I felt guilty about this.

But no. I won’t let that show, because she deserves everything she’s going through now.

Sending a hired killer to assassinate me?

She deserves it.

“Her chances of recovering her memory are very low,” the doctor added.

“I–I…” Gabriella stammered.

Her mother rushed to her and held her tightly. “Please don’t say anything.”my daughter.”

“We are all your family.”

“I’m your mother,” she said, pointing at herself.

“And this is your husband,” she added quickly, pointing at me.

“Madam, don’t rush her,” the doctor cautioned. “She will be fine.”

“Discharge her as soon as possible,” I said as I turned to leave the hospital. My armed men followed behind me.

The hospital smell hit me, the strong antiseptic stench made my stomach turn as I walked past different wards.

“Is that Mr. Anderson?”

“The billionaire and only son of the president.”

“Yes, it’s him.”

I heard whispers as I walked past people in the hallway. Suddenly, my phone rang, and one of my armed men stepped forward.

“Mrs. Catherine,” he said as he handed me the phone.

My mind raced.

What is my mother calling me for?

I slid the call to the red button and ended it. A few seconds later, it rang again.

“Her problem is too much,” I muttered as I picked up.

“Son,” my mother’s voice rang in.

“Meet me at the house today,” she added.

Before I could respond, the phone beeped, signaling that she had already hung up.

“Do I have any plans for today?” I asked, heading toward the car parked in the hospital garage.

“Yes, sir,” Kael, my best friend and head of security, replied. He stepped ahead to open the car door for me.

“What is it about?” I asked, yanking off the tie that had been choking me since morning. Ever since the Gabriella incident, I’d been the one tying my own tie, and honestly, I suck at it. She might be an asshole, but tying my tie? I’ll give her that one.

“You have a meeting with Karen & Co for the sealing of the contract.”

“Cancel it,” I said coldly. “Postpone it till tomorrow.”

“Bu–t s–ir…” Kael stammered, his voice trembling.

“I said cancel it!” I yelled.

Despite my cold demeanor to people, I don’t joke with my family. My family comes first in everything; business, love life. Which was one of the things that prompted me to marry Gabriella. It was an arranged marriage between my father, the president and her father, the party leader.

Despite everything I did to cancel the marriage, I had to fall into my mother’s pleading eyes trap.

“She knows my weak point.” I muttered under my breath.

————————

The car slid into my father’s presidential villa, the high-security gates gliding open as floodlights cast a commanding glow across the vast compound. Armed guards patrolled the grounds with calculated precision, their boots echoing against the polished stone pavement.

The golden lights lining the perimeter fence shimmered like stars, illuminating the manicured lawns and the towering facade of the main building ahead.

I alighted from the car and proceeded to the door. I swiped my card at the electronic door. It beeped once, then slid open with a hiss, revealing the heart of the villa, the place where power was shaped behind closed doors.

“Good evening , Mr Anderson.” One of the maids said, as she hurriedly walked away.

I walked to the dining table, I saw my father sitting beside my mother, while my only sister sat across then. I balanced and sat at the seat beside Catherine. My sister.

“You are finally here.” My father said, As he dipped the cutlery inside the bowl of meal in front of him.

“I called in.” My mother interrupted.

I served myself a portion and took a bite.

“Anderson, where are your manners?” my elder sister said, finally breaking her silence as she tapped my arm.

I placed the cutlery on the table with a loud clank.

“Table manners, please!” I snapped.

My father’s voice cut through. “Your father-in-law called to tell me about his daughter’s recovery.”

“Is that why I’m here?” I asked, my eyes narrowing as they landed on my mother.

“Manners!” she snapped. “Must you be so inhumane toward the lady?”

“She’s the mother of your child, Anderson. She had an accident and has been in a coma for weeks. And you didn’t check on her?”

“It’s unfair,” she added, her voice rising. “Then you finally show up at the hospital, and you act cold?”

“You shouldn’t have done that, son,” my father said, his voice low and disappointed.

“I already got the full update from the doctor,” I replied flatly. “I’ve been busy with the company.”

“Life comes first, Son.” My mother said, “please, your father will be going for his second term soon.”

When she said the statement, my heart raced.

All they could think about is status. What about me? Well, I didn't matter to them. I have an eight -figure company and the biggest in the country.

“What do you mean by accident?” My father interrupted.

A hard blow landed at me. Have they figured out that I was the one who pushed her?

“What do you mean by that, Lebron?” My mother asked with curiosity laced in her voice.

He placed his hand and brought his phone, he placed the phone on the middle of the table and a video played.

My heart skipped.

No…. It can’t be.

What?