Zack and Catherine sat in the car, caught in a seemingly endless traffic jam. Catherine silently prayed for Uriel's safety, tears welling in her eyes as she murmured a quiet plea.
Zack looked at her with a hint of curiosity. "I didn't know you were a believer," he said, "or that you even prayed. You've always struck me as a strong businesswoman who relies solely on her own strength."
Catherine, still clasping her hands, turned to him. "That's what the media sees," she explained, "but everything I have has always come from God. I've always been a Christian, raised in a religious family. What about you? Why do you say it like you don't believe in anything?"
Zack clicked his tongue. "I'm not a believer, but I've always believed in prayer," he admitted. "Though prayer for a sinner like me? I'm not quite sure I could do it. My father is a strong non-believer, and he's been that way since my mother's death. I was taught how to pray by someone who was more of a father to me than my own dad—Dr. Quinn. But he died seven years ago in an accident meant for me."
Catherine felt a pang of sadness but didn't hesitate to pat his shoulder. His hands tightened around the steering wheel. "It'll be okay," she reassured him. "You should find time to be with God because He cares about you. And you shouldn't worry; Dr. Quinn is in a place of eternal rest, free from sin and worry."
Zack laughed and nodded. "I believe so," he said. "And you shouldn't worry either; we'll find Uriel, and I won't let anything happen to my best friend."
He stared at the windshield, seeing the throng of cars ahead, trying not to cuss in front of Catherine or smoke his anger away. He looked out his car window, breathing in the moist air—a signal that rain was coming. He leaned his head back. "The rain will be here soon," he told Catherine, "but we'll find Uriel."
She agreed. "No wonder I found the weather chilly."
Just then, Zack's phone chimed, and Uriel's address appeared on his screen. Sadiq called, his voice apologetic. "I'm sorry it took so long to get Uriel's address, Zack," Sadiq said. "It seems like Uriel switched off his phone to avoid being traced, and it looks like he's being followed by someone."
Zack hummed, signaling he had heard. "I'm stuck in traffic," he informed Sadiq. "Deploy the special unit to search for Uriel using the helicopter. When he's found, he should be stalled at all costs and not triggered to fear, or else things might get messier. Uriel is a trained fighter and has been trained by retired Belgian mercenaries."
Catherine, worried for Uriel's safety, spoke up. "Tell Sadiq not to go close to Uriel," she told Zack. "He usually has an episode that makes him destroy things when he's angry. I don't know why, but it might be bipolar, because my husband has it too." She added, "I give my full support to tranquilize him if necessary."
Zack relayed the message to Sadiq. "You heard the woman; do as told," he instructed. "I'll be there soon, but send a helicopter to come lift my car once Uriel is found."
AT A HIGH END UNDERGROUND BAR.
The clinking of glasses and low hum of conversations at the bar did little to drown out the turmoil in Uriel's mind. He nursed his drink, the amber liquid doing little to warm the cold knot in his stomach. "What have I ever done to deserve this?" he mumbled, the words barely audible even to himself. He'd always believed he was loved, truly cherished, but it seemed that was nothing more than a childish fantasy. His grandparents, the very people who should have welcomed him, had opposed his presence in the family home from the very beginning.
Unbeknownst to Uriel, a pair of watchful eyes were fixed on him from the other end of the bar. Jerome, his father's personal bodyguard, sat stoically, his gaze unwavering. His young master, oblivious to the silent surveillance, continued to stew in his thoughts.
FLASHBACK: EIGHT YEARS AGO
A palpable excitement buzzed through the Jefferson mansion. Ten-year-old Uriel had just been told his paternal grandparents were coming home from the States for a temporary visit. His step-brothers, Derek and Erik, both twenty-seven, had taken it upon themselves to dress him in a traditional Spanish outfit. They knew how much their grandparents adored Spanish culture and its vibrant festivals. Uriel had even prepared a Spanish song, his brothers cheering him on, seeing as this would be his first time meeting them.
He was practically bursting with anticipation, imagining their smiles, their warm embraces. Derek had even promised that if they ordered Spanish cherry tomatoes and prepared a Spanish dish, Uriel would blend right in. But that dream, like so many others, was never to become a reality.
A sharp rap on his bedroom door jolted Uriel from his daydream. He quickly stashed his crayons, a wide grin stretching across his face as he clutched a handmade placard that read, "Welcome Home Grandparents."
"Uriel! You have to come down, they'll be here in ten minutes, they're in the estate already!" Derek's voice boomed from the hallway.
Uriel giggled. "I'm almost ready! Just need to put on my Spanish hat first."
"Just open the door! I'll help you!" Derek yelled.
Uriel swung the door open, and before he knew it, Derek scooped him up, carrying him in his arms as they raced down the grand staircase. Erik chuckled as they descended.
"Look at you, a grown-up baby!" Erik teased.
Uriel playfully scrunched up his nose. "Shut up before you get hit by lightning!"
Erik scoffed. "Those aren't even real, Uriel."
Derek gently set Uriel down as their parents, Catherine and Jeffery Jefferson, rushed down the remaining steps, stopping in front of them. Catherine's eyes lit up.
"Oh, you three look absolutely beautiful in those costumes!" she gushed.
Uriel beamed. "Derek said Grandpa and Grandma would love it! That's why all three of us are wearing them!"
But his father's words, cold and sharp, sliced through the cheerful atmosphere. "You look stupid in that outfit, Uriel. Don't make a fool out of yourself in front of your grandparents."
Derek's eyes narrowed. "Dad, that's not a nice thing to say to a ten-year-old."
Erik stepped forward, his voice firm. "And if Grandpa and Grandma don't like it, we'll all change. But telling Uriel he's stupid for wearing a costume is completely uncalled for."
Uriel's spirits, momentarily crushed, began to lift again. He held his placard high, eager for his grandparents to see it. A long line of guards, uniformed and stoic, marched into the mansion's entrance, parting ways to allow Rachel and Roderick Jefferson to pass through. A trumpet fanfare blared, followed by the crisp salute of guns.
Rachel and Roderick finally stood before their son and daughter-in-law, Catherine. Pleasantries were exchanged, but Rachel's gaze quickly settled on Catherine's dress.
"Catherine, darling," Rachel began, her voice dripping with thinly veiled disdain, "Isn't that dress a bit…improper? And so short."
Catherine's knee-length dress was perfectly modest, yet Jeffery remained silent, offering no defense for his wife. Uriel felt a pang of insult on Catherine's behalf.
His father, Jeffery, finally moved aside. "Mother, Father, these are your grandchildren."
With that cue, Uriel, Derek, and Erik launched into their Spanish song, their voices echoing through the grand hall. When they finished, they looked expectantly at their grandparents, but their faces remained impassive, indifferent.
"Grandma, Grandpa, didn't you like our performance?" Derek asked, his voice tinged with disappointment.
"Oh, we did, dear," Rachel replied, before turning to Jeffery. "But tell me, who is the third child?"
Jeffery faltered, unable to speak. Catherine, however, stepped forward, her voice clear and bold. "Uriel is my son, and Jeffery's."
Rachel let out a mocking laugh. "Weren't you barren after giving birth to Derek and Erik, Catherine?"
Roderick cleared his throat. "Rachel, the children and servants are watching."
"Shush, Roderick!" Rachel snapped, cutting him off.
Jeffery looked as if he might wet himself. "Mother," he stammered, "Uriel is… an illegitimate child."
Rachel didn't hesitate. A sharp crack echoed through the hall as she slapped Jeffery across the face, shocking everyone present.
It was undeniably clear. Uriel was disliked, and his stepmother was disrespected. He couldn't fathom the extent of Rachel's influence, how she seemed to command everyone around her.
"Grandma, that wasn't necessary!" Derek exclaimed, stepping forward. "You shouldn't hit Dad in front of everyone! Uriel is our blood brother. You shouldn't disregard his presence, especially not on your first meeting!"
Rachel's eyes blazed with fury. "Jerome!" she commanded, her voice sharp. "Give Derek a slap! I am too tender-hearted to do it to my favorite grandson."
Jerome, though stunned, began to move towards Derek. But before he could reach him, Uriel slid in front of his brother, pulling Jerome's neck into a brutal hold.
"Stay back!" Uriel snarled, his voice surprisingly deep and menacing for a twelve-year-old. "No one is permitted to hit my brother!"
Roderick's jaw dropped. "Jeffery," he demanded, his voice laced with disbelief, "who brought in this little devil? He dares to disrespect the family rules!"
"You're the monster, Grandpa!" Erik shouted, his voice trembling with anger. "Uriel isn't!"
Uriel watched the chaotic drama unfold, his family tearing each other apart. In that moment, he wished he had never been born. He was the menace, the mistake in their midst.
Derek gently led Uriel away from the commotion, pulling him up the grand staircase. "Just wait here," Derek said, ushering him into his room.
"Am I a mistake?" Uriel asked, his voice small, fragile. "Do you hate me?"
Derek knelt, looking Uriel directly in the eye. "No, Uriel. Never. Whether you know it or not, you are the best thing that has ever happened to each and every one of us. And the grandparents," he added, a hint of resolve in his voice, "they'll come around."
"Hmmm." Uriel nods in agreement.
Derek waved, a silent promise to return, before the door clicked shut. He sank onto his bed, staring at his placard, tears tracing paths down his cheeks. He wished his parents never fought and his grandparents never came, but it was inevitable, impossible to rewind the hands of time.
The noise from downstairs eventually died down, and curiosity got the better of him. As he opened the door to leave, he noticed two bodyguards stationed outside. He sighed, retreating to the bedroom and throwing himself onto his brother's bed.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the study, the entire family, except Uriel, waited for Rachel's judgment. Catherine knew whatever Rachel said was final; she had no ultimate say in the family's matters. However, she wasn't going to let Rachel kick out Uriel, who had been the best thing that had ever happened to her since her marriage to Jeffery.
Rachel sighed, setting her teacup on the desk beside her. "Jeffery, what came over you that you decided to bring a bastard into the family?" she began, her voice sharp and demanding. "Do you know how badly this would tarnish the reputation of the Jeffersons if the media ever found out that you have an illegitimate child?" There was silence. "Speak, Jeffery, and don't make me ask twice."
Jeffery finally replied to his mother, "I only went out to drink with a friend when I came across the stripper, and then Uriel happened."
Roderick, his father, was stunned. "Not only is Uriel an abomination," he declared, "but now his mother is an even bigger abomination!"
Rachel then questioned, "Why didn't you pay the whore to abort Uriel?"
"I did, Mother," Jeffery replied. "I have no idea how the kid got to our doorstep in the first place."
Catherine then revealed the truth. "I was the one who paid the stripper to keep the baby because I wouldn't let anyone destroy my husband's seed and my only chance of having a third child."
Rachel scoffed, saying, "If you wanted a child, you should have magically repaired your damaged womb." Catherine clenched her fist but remained silent.
Erik, however, was furious. He told his grandmother, "Watch your mouth or else things might turn messy."
Rachel was stunned and asked Jeffery, "Is this how you've been training your kids to speak back to an adult?"
Jeffery bowed his head. "Erik you will shut up and apologize to your grandmother right now! He commands in a fierce tone.
Erik defiantly told his father, "I'm not remorseful, and my grandmother can't just barge into our home and speak to my mother anyhow."
Roderick started to speak, but Rachel cut him off sharply. "Keep your mouth shut," she warned. "I am the matriarch of the Jefferson family and the sole heir to its inheritance." She then turned her gaze to Jeffery. "I'm not surprised you can't control your own life when you couldn't even protect your own elder brother, Rodger, from dying. And adopting Armani to be his brother? That's just to satisfy your guilty conscience."
Catherine was furious. "Don't you dare speak to my husband like that!" she snapped at her mother-in-law. "Rodger died because of your dictatorship! If you had let him become a footballer instead of forcing him into real estate, he might not have committed suicide!"
Rachel trembled, a flicker of fear in her eyes. Roderick quickly put an arm around his wife before turning to Jeffery. "Are you going to watch your wife insult your mother?" he demanded. In a shocking move, Jeffery stood up and slapped Catherine, angering Derek, who immediately pushed his father aside, to the horror of everyone in the room.
Rachel, regaining some composure, stated, "I might forget that all this trauma happened if only Uriel was sent back to his mother or to an orphanage, never to be heard of again."
Jeffery turned to face his mother stunned by her harsh words. "What is the meaning of your statement?!
"He has to leave this house immediately or I won't stay here anymore. She threatened earning a growl from both Erik and Derek.
Catherine stood up her voice bold and defiant with her head held up high. "Uriel is staying and you're free to leave if you don't agree with my arrangements. She declares and her sons smiled in relief. "Tomorrow his name will be broadcasted live and we will make necessary arrangements to have him as a legitimate heir and like it or not he will inherit my wealth.
Roderick looks at his wife and she also does the same. "Say something Jeffery or has she manipulated you into agreeing to her terms? She accused but Catherine only rolled her eyes.
To Rachel's utter astonishment, Jeffery agreed with his wife. "Catherine didn't manipulate me, Mother," he stated firmly. "I won't get rid of Uriel. I'll register him and show him to the world as our legitimate child."
Rachel hissed, her face contorted with disgust. "I can't stay in this house one more minute," she spat, "it reeks of illegitimate kids."
Rachel left, slamming the door furiously. Jeffery turned to his wife, his face filled with regret, but before he could say anything, Catherine cut him off.
"Get out of my sight, Jeffery! Don't you dare return to this room tonight, because I might just kill you!" She stormed out of the study, the door slamming shut behind her.
Erik and Derek sneered at their father before following suit, their door slams so forceful that a family portrait tumbled from the wall, shattering loudly on the floor.
Jeffery walked to his desk, overturning it and scattering its contents. He then grabbed his golf club, wildly striking at everything in the room, the sounds of destruction echoing around him. He remembered the death of his brother as if it were yesterday, yet he had bottled up the grief, pretending as if nothing had happened.
The following morning, Uriel woke to find Derek and Erik standing by his bed, each holding a cupcake.
"Morning, sleepyhead!" Derek said, offering him the treat.
"Good morning, little bro!" Erik added.
Uriel took a bite of his cupcake. "Thanks! Where are Grandma and Grandpa? Did they leave?"
Derek and Erik exchanged a quick glance. "Uh, yeah, they left," Derek mumbled, looking away.
"But they promised to visit again when they have the chance," Erik quickly added, not meeting Uriel's eyes.
Uriel knew instantly that it would be the last time he would see them. Though just a child, he possessed an adult's understanding of the unspoken. And it was, indeed, the last time he ever saw them.
FLASHBACK ENDS.