She's My Sleeping Pill

807 TELLING SECRETS

Stanley arrived at the mansion around 11:00 in the morning since Stefan and Cayenne invited him for lunch. It worried him so much that he was invited alone since most of the time, the couple would organize a family get-together. On his way, he was already thinking of different possible reasons that made them call him over but even when he arrived, he couldn’t think of anything.

“Uncle,” Cayenne called when she saw him sitting on the couch while reading a book about parenting. It wasn’t new to him but he thought it was interesting to read it again. “I’m glad you’ve arrived safely.”

“Well, I’m a wreck inside, to be honest with you. I couldn’t think of a reason why you and Stefan ask me to come over.”

Cayenne sat across him and grinned without saying anything. It caused Stanley to feel even more confused.

“You’re teasing him, huh,” Stefan commented when he came inside with Kyle. Both of them just arrived from buying some of the things that his mother and Dr. Albert would need in the cabin.

“Just a little.” She said, still grinning from ear to ear. Though this time, Stanley was already feeling a little relieved because of what his nephew said.

Stefan kissed his wife on the forehead when he got to her side before turning to his uncle once again. “We’re having lunch somewhere else.”

“Hm?”

When the couple stood up, Stanley followed suit without asking anything despite the curiosity tugging his heart.

.....

They walked to the backyard and he saw that some of the bodyguards were pushing a cart with some heavy items on it. Others just carried the cartoons on their shoulder.

“Are you building something in your little animal farm?” He finally asked after a long moment of silence. “Everyone seemed busy.”

“You will find out soon,” Stefan said and still continued to walk while holding his wife’s hand. “It will be a little surprise for you.”

“Is it considered little?” Cayenne muttered which didn’t escape Stanley’s hearing. If it was little for Stefan and it wasn’t for Cayenne then, he will believe the wife. He knew Cayenne didn’t grow up with the same mindset as Stefan so he decided to bet on her.

Because of this, his heart which calmed down a little earlier has started to beat in excitement and anxiety once again. He was even rubbing the back of his neck as they moved along.

They passed by the stables and Cayenne could only reach her hands out and touch the air since she wasn’t allowed to hold them for now. Stefan was worried that it would risk her health and their baby.

Soon, they got to where the road split into two directions and they traversed the one on the left. As far as Stanley knows, the one on the right should have led them to the man-made lake. He has no idea what awaits them on the other side but from afar, he could see that there was a cabin at the end of the road.

“Someone lives there? I have not seen that cabin from my last visit.”

“Oh. We just built that not long ago. We had to double the manpower to make sure that it would be done as soon as possible. The one who lives there is very special.” Stefan answered without changing his expression. He acted as if what they were about to tell him wasn’t a big deal.

Cayenne only smiled beside him. Kyle who knew the truth didn’t utter a single word. The issue has nothing to do with him and he has no plan to involve himself. He was already happy that Cayenne and Stefan shares the truth with him. He couldn’t ask for more.

One of the bodyguards who sent the big boxes returned and met them on the way while he was pushing the cart back to the mansion. “Sir, we brought everything already and Carla has started the BBQ as well. They’re just waiting for you.”

“Got it. Once you’re done. Ask Manuel to remotely control his computer and let him connect it to his iPad. Bring everyone here so we could have lunch together.”

“Yes, sir.”

The man left in a hurry without looking back. When they arrive at the cabin, Dr. Albert came out and Stanley was stunned when he saw him.

He didn’t know that he was the man who helped Stefan in sending the Minato family to hell. However, he knew who he was from his early memories. He might not be one hundred percent sure about it but his gut feeling was telling him that he was right.

“This is Dr. Albert.” Stefan introduced but he noticed that both men were staring at each other. “You probably knew one another in the past.”

“Are you John Albert?”

Dr. Albert wasn’t the least bit surprised when he was asked for his name. They met each other a long, long time ago.

“It’s been a long time. I’m not sure if I should be happy that you remember me or not.”

“How could I forget you? Weren’t you the one who always brings medicine to my sister when she wasn’t feeling better? Tsk! I even wished you were the man that she loved.”

Stefan didn’t say a word. Even though he was a Dumrique, he also felt that Dr. Albert was far better than Magnus when it comes to treasure his mother.

“How have you been?”

“Uhh...I guess I can say I’ve been doing good so far.”

“So you’re living here? Are you working for Stefan? Oh! I remember you’ve always wanted to be a doctor. Are you a doctor now?”

“Kind of. I’m their doctor here.”

“That’s good for you.”

Stanley haven’t noticed anything yet as he continued to chat with Dr. Albert. He was very enthusiastic upon seeing the man that he once knew. It made Cayenne wonder how Stanley would react once he knows that the man has kept his sister for the last 29 years.

“Pardon our intrusion.” Stefan and Cayenne said at the same time and both got inside the cabin at the same time as well. Kyle was following silently behind them. “Ma, we’re here.”

Stanley automatically turned his head to see who Stefan was talking to. He knew he didn’t have a mother after his sister died 29 years ago so, who the heck was he calling ‘Ma’ all of a sudden?

“You’re living with someone here?” Stanley questioned without taking his eyes away from the cabin. “Stefan is calling someone Ma. Do you know that person?”

Dr. Albert didn’t answer. He didn’t know how to answer while ensuring he won’t get a sound punch from the man in front of him. He couldn’t say that they were friends but Stanley was one of the few people who helped him when he was in need. He wasn’t just a bystander in his life yet, he couldn’t tell him the truth.

“Sir, lunch is ready. We set it up on the veranda as you suggested.” Martin expressed when he got inside from the back entrance. “And everyone’s here already.”

“Great! Let’s eat.” Cayenne was the one who responded because she was already salivating from the enticing smell of the grilled squids. “I want a grilled squid.”

“Got it,” Stefan said with traces of laughter in his voice. He came out from the mini kitchen and was pushing a woman in a wheelchair. “Ma, I contacted someone who could help you. Dr. Albert talked to them as well regarding the whole situation and they said it isn’t impossible to cure you.”

Dr. Albert knew that. He knew that there was still a possibility to cure Latticia but he gave up on it. He wasn’t rich to begin with and he barely had enough money after paying a lot of people to successfully bring her out of the country and change her identity to become his wife. Even when he knew that Stefan was rich and would do anything to cure her, he didn’t approach him. He was afraid that he would take his mother back and then, he would be left with nothing.

[If I looked for him a few years ago, would things be the same right now?] He couldn’t answer. No one could really tell. The circumstances in the past and the present were completely different.

“Who’s that?” Stanley asked which pulled Dr. Albert back to reality. He didn’t see the woman’s face properly but her side profile was very much the same as Stefan’s.

“Let’s get inside.” Dr. Albert invited but Stanley stayed rooted on the spot where he stood. He wasn’t moving an inch at all. “I will introduce you to my wife.”

“Oh. Oh, your wife? I...I see.”

From the time Stefan called someone ‘ma’, his heart was already restless to know the person. Seeing her side profile; his mind was already formulating so many questions. Hearing it was Dr. Albert’s wife, he wanted to step back but his feet weren’t moving. He already had a hunch of the surprise that his nephew was planning to throw at him.

“Uncle, come in.”

Latticia on the other hand has prepared herself for this meeting. She didn’t want to keep running away when she could live happily with them. She got better choices. She got better chances now because her son was willing to keep things together no matter how difficult the situation was. He wanted everyone to be happy. She wanted to make him happy.

“Ma,” Stefan turned the wheelchair to make her face her brother directly and despite the tears threatening to fall from his eyes, he held his ground and introduced her to him. “This is Uncle Stanley. He has been taking care of your whole family.”