Encouraging

"Please don't do that!" cried the maidservant who witnessed the tragic scene that befell her masters. She burst into tears, unable to bear the sight and fell to the ground.

"Mr. Jack!" the other bodyguards shouted with concern.

"You have to die, Uncle!" shouted Vern, whose body was shaking violently, not caring about anything else. Actually all his limbs refused to stab Jack, he closed his eyes and forced the hands to vent the heartache.

Vern felt that there was something strongly pulling his body backwards. However, he could feel that he managed to stick the knife. Vern went limp, unable to even hear clearly the commotion he had caused.

"I did it," Vern whispered. He wanted to pull his lips into a smile, but it was hard. Vern's heart was empty, slowly and surely the empty feeling began to creep in.

"Oh my God, that was so dangerous. Thank goodness nothing happened to me," Jack said with relief. He held his face, neck and chest swallowing saliva. He felt happy to have survived Vern's stab.

"I'm glad to see you're okay, sir."

Jack cleared his throat, closed his mouth tightly and put his fierce face back on. He did that to restore his charisma as a respected person.

"Yes," Jack replied briefly. He straightened his head, turning to the source of the voice with a horrified look. Jack was surprised to see Vern's knife embedded in Ted's shoulder, causing him to be pushed against the back of the car seat.

"Chief, your wound must be treated immediately." Please get on the stretcher," pleaded one of the bodyguards worried about Ted. He was amazed by his chairman's total dedication.

Ted could still smile, he nodded slowly, then turned his gaze to Jack. Ted said, "Excuse me, sir. Do you feel safe already?"

Jack had already rearranged his face, he hadn't answered Ted's question and instead searched for his nephew's whereabouts. He saw Vern sitting down below shaking his head, he could clearly see Vern's disappointment.

"That stupid bastard should be taught a lesson!" cursed Jack angrily. He opened the car door violently, getting out quickly just to teach Vern a lesson straight away.

"Aughh!" moaned Ted as he fell to the side. Jack accidentally nudged his shoulder which was stabbed by Vern's knife.

Jack stopped walking, he turned around and said, "I'm really impressed, go rest until you heal and receive proper compensation from me."

"Thank you, sir," Ted replied with a half-bow to honor his master.

Jack walked quickly towards Vern, he clenched both fists still unable to believe Vern dared to draw a knife on him. Instead, all of Jack's courage had returned.

"Ignorant son of a bitch!" Jack stopped in front of Vern, he raised his hand to slap Vern who looked down.

"Jack, stop!" cried Maini from the side. Her breathing was up and down because she was tired of running after hearing the commotion outside. She panicked, crying at Vern's stranger-like state. Maini had never seen Vern lose control like that.

"Damn it!" grumbled Jack. He lowered his hands reluctantly, then placed them both above his waist and looked away.

Maini walked over to Vern, crouching down to hug her son. She spluttered with feelings raging in her heart, "Vern, it's mama. What made you like this?"

Vern didn't answer, his gaze blank in Maini's arms. I don't know what Vern was thinking, but it was good that the trembling of fear slowly disappeared.

"Sis, get out of the way!" pleaded Jack while exhaling harshly. He was still ruffling his waist, his hands itching to hit Vern who was not two steps away from where he was standing.

"No! What have you done to Vern that he's like this?" Maini refuted, turning to Jack with an incredulous look.

"I can't believe you went this far, Jack. Have you forgotten the kindness of my late husband?" Maini defended Vern with her argument. She sobbed, looked away and hugged Vern again.

"What, that's impossible. Everyone knows that weakling of your son tried to kill me! So get out of my way, Sis. Let me teach him a lesson!" protested Jack as he pointed at Vern's face, his hands back on his waist.

Jack was getting more and more furious as Maini neither answered nor granted his request. He was even more annoyed when he looked over to realize that almost all of his workers were gathered around to witness the argument.

"What are you all still doing here? Go back to your duties!" shouted Jack as he raised one hand high.

Instantly the crowd of Vlodostok family workers dispersed. Jack couldn't wait, while the cell phone in his coat pocket kept vibrating. He picked up the phone, looked at the screen briefly and took the call as he walked back to the car.

"Vern, you're safe. Let's go inside the house, darling!" said Maini as she released her embrace. She held both of Vern's cheeks with a concerned look.

How could Maini not pity Vern's appearance with bags under his eyes, a gloomy face, a suit that was just a dirty shirt that Vern was wearing and not to mention his messy hair.

"Honey, please go back to being the Vern you were before," Maini pleaded. She shook Vern's shoulders, hoping to get eye contact and for her son to wake up quickly.

Vern turned to Maini who was greeted with a sad smile from his mama. Vern smiled, I don't know what he felt deep down, he felt relieved and not empty again, weird!

"I'm fine, Ma. Don't cry anymore," Vern replied softly.

"Oh, my dear." Maini closed her mouth feeling a little relieved. Actually, it was more curiosity as to why Vern could get out of control like that. Maini ignored her feelings for a moment and would ask him later when Vern had completely recovered mentally.

"Let's go home! Mama will prepare warm water for you and not only that, mama will prepare your favorite dinner too," Maini with sparkling eyes, she didn't want her only child to experience anything unwanted.

Vern responded with a nod and a smile. They both walked towards the house, only 20 meters away from the house there was a car running slowly beside the two of them. Right at the back of the car door, the window lowered slowly revealing a beautiful face with sharp eyes and a sweet smile.

"Hey, handsome CEO. You're doing great, keep fighting for your revenge!" Zay exclaimed, smiling broadly and showing her clean white teeth as she encouraged Vern. She witnessed all the bloody tragedy in the courtyard of the Vlodostok family home.

Vern stopped walking with his mouth agape. He blinked repeatedly in disbelief that it was Zay. Slowly Vern's mouth broke into a smile as wide as Zay's.

"Is he your friend?" asked Maini frowning. She looked at Vern, then turned to stare at Zay who continued to drive on the car driven by Ted's men. Maini shook her head to get rid of her imagination, as if she was looking at two human children transformed into Romeo and Juliet.

Maini successfully chased away her imagination, suddenly the car accelerated. Even Zay's rude cursing voice could be heard, "Hey, you stupid son of a bitch! You dare to harm me, you want to die!"

"What!" Maini gasped, she covered her mouth and this was the first time she saw a man flirting with her favorite son. Let alone being friends, just talking to Vern annoyed Maini.

"Vern, don't get close to that strange man!" Maini warned Vern, who had just turned her head to the side in panic when she saw her favorite son chasing after the car.

Vern innocently turned around as he ran, he replied, "I can take care of myself, Ma. Don't worry about me too much!"

"Oh my God, Vern!" exclaimed Maini, halting her steps, her eyes following the movements of Vern who was now far ahead of her. Maini couldn't help but she believe it.

Vern himself had changed his running position to face forward, following the car that continued to drive through his spacious yard. The car should have stopped if it had been brought into the house, but the driver turned left towards the family's stables.

"Hah, I can't take it anymore," Vern whispered, catching his breath as his chest heaved. Vern squatted down with a dry throat, he was thirsty and tired.

In between Vern's ragged breaths, he muttered, "Maybe the only way I have to solve this problem with Roderick and if forced I have to face uncle Jack again. Yes, I have to win this time."