Chapter 5

Mrs. Albert and her husband were watching a family tv drama. It was approaching noon and Mr. Albert was starting to get hungry.

 "What's in for lunch?" he asked his wife.

 "What's in for lunch" Mrs. Albert mimicked.

 "Like you gave me money for groceries. Look don't disturb me okay? allow me to watch this show in peace" Mrs. Albert hissed, ignoring her husband who was tongue tied.

 Mr. Albert felt ashamed. His wife's words striking the deepest part of his heart, hurting his manly pride.

 Just then, the doorbell rang.

 "That must be Annie!" Mrs. Albert stood up excited as she raced for the door.

 However, on opening the door, she was tongue tied at whom she saw.

 Standing on the porch was Rose and Lex, with their baggages.

 "You.. how could you..?" Mrs. Albert almost had an heart attack, swiftly banging the door shut.

 Mr. Albert noticed her strange behaviour and walked over.

 "Who was that?"

 But Mrs. Albert was too shocked to reply him. She was still reeling from her shock.

When Mr. Albert opened the door to satisfy his curiosity, he too was shocked.

 "Rose?"

 "Father.." Rose eyes went misty as she saw that familiar fatherly figure.

 Mr. Albert pulled her into a hug, patting her back.

 "You must have gone through alot huh?" Mr. Albert could notice the miniscule changes in his daughter.

 She looked more leaner. Her eyes resembled those of a dead fish and she looked like a malnourished patient.

 "Good afternoon grandpa" it was only when Lex spoke that Mr. Albert noticed his existence.

 "You are..?"

 Just when Rose made to introduce Lex, Mrs. Albert marched towards her landing a resounding slap on her cheek, causing Rose to stagger as an ensearing pain raked her cheeks.

 "Honey!" Mr. Albert's face sank.

 "Don't honey me. What is this curse doing here?!" Mrs. Albert snapped furiously.

 "How dare you call our daughter such a name?"

 "Daughter? that witch can never be my daughter! she's just a rat we picked from the gutters"

"Mum!" the tears in Rose eyes were threathening to pour.

  "Albert! chase this witch out now!" Mrs. Albert demanded forcefully.

 Her eyes blazed with a mad glint. It was as if Rose was a long sworn enemy.

 "Honey, what the hell has come into you huh? it's been twelve plus years since Rose left the family. Now that she's back, instead of you to welcome her with open arms, you're forcefully insisting on driving her out. What sort of mother are you?"

 Although Mr. Albert words touched the deepest part of the heart, Mrs. Albert didn't falter.

 Rose was a scourge that she had to get rid of.

 "So, you are choosing this wench over me huh? are you guys in a secret affair?!" Mrs. Albert shrieked.

 Pah!

 Although Mr. Albert was a calm man who loved using words, he couldn't resist the urge to slap this crazy wife of his.

 In a secret affair? and worst with his own daughter? what sort of crazy assumption was that?

 Although Rose was adopted, he always sincerely treated her like his flesh and blood.

"You.. you slapped me?" Mrs. Albert held her cheeks in surprise.

 "And i will do it again if you keep on yapping nonsense. Honestly, i am deeply ashamed"

 Mrs. Albert laughed cynically, pointing her fingers at Rose.

 "Witch! so you have succeeded in bewitching my husband huh?" 

 Then she stormed off into her bedroom.

 "Dad, i'm sorry. I.."

 "It's okay. You are my daughter, i can't shirk from my responsibilities" Mr. Albert smiled warmly, turning towards Lex.

 "Is he really your son?" he was quite suspicious.

 Rose was only a few inches taller than Lex, and to make matters worse Lex had a mature air around him while Rose was the petite type.

 "Good afternoon Grandpa. My name is Lex"

 "Ohoho, we have a serious bonding to do" Mr. Albert laughed merrily.

* * *

 At the Air port..

 Liam and Rex alighted down the stairs of a jet, behind them were two hefty men carrying their baggages. At a corner, an old man in western suit and gloves waved at them.

"Butler Jeff" Liam's lips curved in half an arc, after arriving at the man in suit' side.

 As for Rex who stood besides him, he just remained stoic.

 "Young masters. The Old Master has been anticipating your arrival" Butler Jeff spoke in a fluent british accent.

 He led the duo towards a black limo parked at the enterance gate. After they got in and the baggages were stowed into the booth, Butler Jeff started the ignition.

 "How is my grand father's health?" Liam asked.

 "The old master i am afraid, dosen't have much to live"

 "Oh, so that old foggie is about to kick the bucket? very good" Liam snickered in his heart.

 Once that Old man was dead, chasing that bitch Charlotte would be as easy as counting one to three.

 "Do you have an idea why he called for me?" Liam asked.

 "Young master i am afraid i can't disclose that to you. But may i inform you that the Old master also invited the other heirs" Butler Jeff said, handling the wheels expertly.

Liam's brows arched with worries.

 Although he was lauded as the apparent Heir to the Samsara family business, that was just what the public thought.

 In truth, there were other Heirs like him. The power structure in the family was exceedingly complicated.

 Now that that Old man was gathering all the heirs, what was he scheming?

 No matter how Liam brainstormed, he couldn't just place his finger on it. His grandpa was very mysterious in his actions.

 Meanwhile, Rex who sat besides him was scrolling through the web, when a news headline caught his attention.

 "Six years old genius wins college level mathematics competition"

 Six years old? Rex was intrigued, so he clicked on the news tab.

 The article was posted six years ago. Coincidentially, the young genius had an almost similiar name as him.

 Lex Albert.

 Suddenly, a picture at the end of the article caused his eyes to almost pop out of their sockets.

 Because the photo had that boy he splashed mud water on days ago. The boy who looked like him.

* * *

 When Annie arrived home, it was fast approaching evening.

 Swaggering in with her mini skirt that clung tightly to her skin, she threw her purse towards the couch.

 Just then, she caught the sight of a 'stranger' seated at the opposite sofa.

 "Who are you?" she demanded, giving Lex a full body analysis.

 Handsome but not dripping. He must be a poor pretty boy.

 "Who are you?" Lex frowned, scruntizing her half naked figure.

 His actions were not concealed in anyway, causing Annie's face to warp up in anger. Which lady enjoyed a male feasting their eyes on their body.

 "Mum? Dad? who invited this pervert in?!" she yelled, marching towards the kitchen.

 She expected to see her mother, but who she saw made her stumble back in surprise.

 "You!! what.. why are you back?!" she shrieked.

 Shocked, Rose mistakenly let go of the plate she was washing, causing it to shatter into pieces.

 The sound of plates shattering was almost defeaning, causing Lex to rush towards the kitchen.

"Mum, are you alright?" he asked, standing besides Rose who kept trembling.

 As for Annie. She was shocked. Mum? was that pretty boy her nephew? no!

 She refused to believe that. Lex just looked too mature for his age.

 Just then, Mr. Albert rushed in also alerted by the shattering of the plate. Once he saw the scene, he had an inkling of what might have transpired.

 "Daddy! what's this bitch doing here?" Annie whined, causing Mr. Albert's forehead to crease.

 He was starting to get fed up from hearing the 'bitch' word. First it was the mother, now the daughter.

 Speaking of the devil, Mrs. Albert coincedentially rushed in.

 Her face lit up when she saw her daughter. 

 "Thank goodness you are back!" she rushed towards her side.

 "Mum? what's happening?" Annie frowned.

 Mrs. Albert harrumphed.

 "That bitch has returned to stay. And the worst part is that your father totally supports her. He even slapped me!" Mrs. Albert yapped.

 "Father! how could you slap mum for that bitch sake? she's your wife!!"

"And Rose is my daughter!" Mr. Albert thundered.

 "It is my job to treat everyone equally. I won't tolerate any bias"

 "Bias? who's being bias here?" Mrs. Albert sneered, hands akimbo.

 "Right from the beginning, you never cared about Annie your own flesh and blood. You always treated her like an outcast!"

 "And as for the outsider" Mrs. Albert pointed her fingers at Rose.

 "To you, she was the only golden daughter you had. Tell me, who is being biased??!!" Mrs. Albert screamed.

 "Just hear yourself. If i treated Annie like they way you said, wouldn't she be out in the street?"

 "And yes, Rose was my only golden daughter and you know why? because she was sensible, whereas Annie was not"

 "In academics she was top notch. Her character dosen't need any further explanations. Do you think i am unaware of all the maltreatments?"

 "You will starve her, overwork her, insult her. Yet she took it, never complaining. Never yapping about her pains"

Mr. Albert was extremely agitated.

 "So what? wasn't she the reason you lost your job?" Annie couldn't help but blurt out.