Chapter 5. Gifts to the De Vanough Family

It’s been a week since the funeral for Martha Wilson Herbert, daughter-in-law of Dawn Goldenheart, was held. Bouquets still fill the grounds of the GH Company office and the courtyard of Goldenheart’s private residence. Not forgetting that William De Vanough also sent a wreath as a sign of condolences to the bereaved family, William and Susan also attended the funeral of Martha.

But William didn’t expect that one week after the funeral, he would receive a piano from Dawn Goldenheart. He and Susan were confused when they received the piano as a gift from Dawn. Dawn didn’t deliver the gifts directly to the two but through his assistant, George.

“This is an expression of gratitude from Mr. Dawn because you two have saved his family.” ''

“And Mr Dawn also apologized for not being able to deliver this gift in person. Because he couldn’t leave Mr Chris and Angela at the hospital.”

George sipped the tea made by Esther, a maid from the De Vanough family.

“Umm.. actually, I feel bad that Mr Dawn sent me a gift like this. Moreover, he is in a state of grief.” William expressed his discomfort to George.

“He already knows that you will feel uncomfortable with the gifts given by him. But he has ordered that you don’t need discomfort about this gift. Because the gifts he gave were not worth the lives of Mr. Chris and his daughter.”

“And he also advised, if the two of you ask for something in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact him directly,” George said again.

William and Susan looked at each other. They both felt terrible for the attention Dawn was giving them.

“Then, I excuse myself. Thank you for the tea.”

George walked towards the door, escorted by William and Susan.

“Once again, convey my gratitude to Mr Dawn,” said William.

George nodded and smiled kindly before finally getting into the car and leaving the De Vanough residence. Both husband and wife watched George leave the gate of their house.

“I hope Mr. Dawn’s condition is fine now,” Susan said.

“I hope so, too.” William stroked the top of his wife’s head, which was leaning against his chest.

***

Chris looks at Angela behind the ICU glass screen. Last night, Angela’s condition suddenly worsened, making Chris and Dawn feel hopeless about Angela’s state. But fate was still on the side of the Goldenheart family. Angela’s condition improved after receiving immediate treatment from the doctor.

Chris could not enter the ICU until Angela’s condition was entirely stable. Chris’s physical condition began to improve because he suffered no injuries to his internal organs. The doctor who treated him allowed Chris to go home tomorrow. Chris didn’t want to leave this hospital. He wanted to accompany his child, who was currently in a coma. But Dawn insisted that Chris have to go home and rest. After all, Chris was the CEO of GH Company and a father. He couldn’t stay stuck in the past. If Chris had not had an accident, then Dawn’s CEO tenure would have ended next month. Because he wanted to retire, Chris replaced him in leading the Company. But Chris, who had an accident and whose condition was still unstable, inevitably made Dawn return to the Company and take care of everything.

“Angela, don’t you miss Daddy?” Chris muttered in front of the large mirror of the ICU room. His hand touched the glass that was the barrier between him and Angela.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, because of me, you have to face a situation like this. I’m such a fool for driving like that without thinking. I’m sorry. I should not have followed my lust. Then, all this would not have happened. You wouldn’t have to lose your mother forever….”

Tears fall from Chris’s eyes, and a feeling of regret will continue to haunt Chris throughout his life. If Angela didn’t wake up, he couldn’t apologize properly to his only daughter.

“What are you doing here?” Chris immediately rubbed his eyes, wet from crying, as soon as he heard the voice of someone he recognized.

“Dad.”

Dawn could see Chris’s eyes were puffy from crying, but he ignored him and pretended not to see that his son had been crying.

“I know you’re worried about Angela, but you should rest in your room for now. I also don’t want your condition to worsen because you don’t get enough rest.” Dawn was getting ready to push Chris’s wheelchair, but Chris held Dawn’s hand.

“Dad, do you think Angela will wake up? Do you think my daughter will wake up and be happy again like before?” Chris looked at his father, full of hope. Chris knew the possibility that Angela would wake up again was not even 100%. But Chris wanted to believe the lies the people around him told about Angela’s condition so that he could believe in his hope that his daughter would wake up and be happy again.

“Everything will be fine. Angela will open her eyes, and she can go to school again and play with you again. She’s going to stay with us.”

“Liar.” Chris thought. But he smiled when he heard the answer from his father’s mouth. Indeed, this was what Chris expected from people who said that his daughter would open her eyes again. But Chris couldn’t hide his disappointment because he hoped for a lie that only made him even more hopeful of his daughter’s recovery, who didn’t know when it would happen.

***

Martin, who had just come home from school, was amazed when he saw a white piano nicely displayed in the living room of his house. Moreover, he could see his maid sitting in front of the piano with both hands on the piano as if she wanted to play it.

“She could play the piano?”

Martin didn’t say anything when Esther was still silent, sitting on the piano chair. He wanted to see if Esther could play the piano or if she was sitting there after cleaning the piano.

Martin stood behind Esther and watched every movement of Esther’s fingers, which were like learning piano keys. Martin smiled, amused when he had thought that Esther could play the piano. Martin then went upstairs and headed to his room, but suddenly….

Martin stopped his steps when he heard the sound of the piano. He then turned his head towards Esther and saw her agile, moving her fingers beautifully on the piano. Martin was even amazed when Esther’s fingers seemed to speed up playing the piano keys.

“Wow.” Only words of admiration came out of Martin’s mouth. Martin could see the look in Esther’s eyes change. Esther’s eyes, which were initially warm and friendly, suddenly turned full of ambition and lust.

Martin watched Esther play the piano for a long time until finally, Esther finished the song she was playing on the piano. Esther’s eyes were closed as if giving the impression that she was satisfied with the music she was playing earlier.

''Clap… clap.. clap….''

Esther was shocked when she saw the Young Master clapping from the stairs. She immediately stood up from her chair. Esther lowered her head, afraid the Young Master might be angry with her for playing the piano without permission.

“I didn’t know you could play the piano. And what was that? I feel like watching a private performance, a professional pianist.” Martin praised Esther because that’s how he felt when he saw Esther’s piano playing. Esther looked like a pro.

“Young Master, when did you come home? Sorry, sir, I was presumptuous playing the piano without permission.” ‘

“What’s the point of my father buying this piano if no one can play it? You know, no one in this house can play any instrument.”

“The Grand Master didn’t buy it, but it was a present from Mr. Dawn Goldenheart.” “

“Dawn Goldenheart? The CEO of GH Company?” asked Martin.

“Yes, sir.” Esther nodded, confirming Martin’s question.

“Since when did Mom and Dad get close to him?” thought Martin.

“He said this was a gift for saving his family,” continued Esther.

Martin knew about the news of the accident that occurred in the Goldenheart family because it made national news. Martin and his parents attended the Goldenheart daughter-in-law’s funeral a week ago.

“Maybe that’s why Mom and Dad came home with clothes full of blood stains at that time,” thought Martin.

“By the way, Esther, I didn’t know you were good at playing the piano?” Martin looked at Esther with a probing look.

“And even though I’ve never played the piano before, the song you played earlier is obviously not a song that beginners can play, right?”

Esther looked confused by Martin’s question.

“Are you someone who is actually very talented but only pretends to work as a maid?”

Esther was taken aback by Martin’s question. Her hands gripped the hem of her shirt tightly.

“What?” Esther looked Martin straight in the eye with a slight tilt of her head. The look that Martin found suddenly scary in Esther’s eyes made him startled.

“N.. Never mind, I’m just joking.” Martin then entered his room and left Esther in front of the piano.

Esther then watched Martin’s steps until he entered his room and closed his door.

“Fuck.” Esther cursed, and then she stepped away from the living room.

“What was that? What the hell is wrong with her gaze?”

said Martin for a moment after closing the door to his room.