His well-being alone

Mateo's POV

After I received a phone call from my lawyer, I couldn't wait any longer at the hospital, so I left, but not without telling the lady that I would come back to check on the girl who was being treated.

My meeting with my lawyer didn't turn out really well because of the conditions and stories I heard when we had discussions about the matter at hand.

My father regretted his decision to get married to his first love after my mother left because she couldn't bear to stay with him. That's what I hate about my mother; she left me to suffer at the hands of my father's second family.

I couldn't withstand all that maltreatment and mistrust my father had for me and that's how I ended up here.

My father, eventually finding out that his first love wanted nothing but his wealth, transferred all his property to my name and sent an apology email to me because he couldn't reach me.

He was the one who killed himself and his wife after finding out that he had been poisoned. The fire explosion was my father's work because he wanted me to be safe.

My father was grateful that he had a son before getting involved with his first love again and that was what saved his wealth from going to the wrong hands.

For this reason, he decided to place a condition on my inheritance.

How was I supposed to do that? I wondered, staring angrily at the lawyer when he disclosed that condition to me. I was dissatisfied with what I heard.

I wanted it all and I didn't care about the reason my father wanted me to have a child. I wouldn't make the stupid mistake he made.

I just wanted to be financially stable for myself and no one else.

"I'm sorry, Mr West but you can't claim your inheritance until you are expecting or already have a child," this was what my lawyer said to me.

I was so bothered by the news that I kept thinking about what move I was going to make to get my inheritance. After pondering and plotting multiple useless plans, I recalled that I saved a girl's life before the meeting with my lawyer.

I did not plan to visit the girl ever again even though I told the lady the opposite of what I would do but that girl was homeless and helpless with a child in her stomach. I can be the man she needs at this point in her life. I can take by giving to her and she can also take by giving to me. A give and take deal, but I didn't know how I was going to turn my plan into reality.

When I reached the hospital, I learned that she passed out due to malnutrition and that she had gained consciousness.

This girl was short, I could tell even though she was sitting in her bed. She was very slim, making the hospital gown large in her body and her face was perfect for modeling because of how slim and tired she looked.

She was also discussing something very important with the lady who forced me to bring her to the hospital and thanks to her, I think I'm beginning to find my way through getting my inheritance without having to get any woman pregnant.

Getting a woman I don't share a close relationship with pregnant is not different from what my father did to my mother just to be with his first love.

I wasn't planning to fulfill my father's wish because I didn't care. All I was after was what belongs to me and I will make sure I get it.

Now, she was staring at me and smiling. She had sad, brown eyes, and of course, she looked sick. I was slowly starting to feel sorry for her when I saw how much focus she placed on the food she was eating.

But no room for such feelings. I hate sympathizing and I hate being vulnerable. It could end me and I don't want that.

I needed her contribution but I didn't know what to tell her or how to tell her. She was just a girl and I was more like an elder brother to her or even an uncle.

I was fifteen years older than her. That's a lot of gap there and accommodating her was like adopting a child.

Why did my father have to make this so difficult? I was frustrated on the inside but I needed to keep a calm face on the outside so that she would see me as a good person.

"What's your name, Mister?" she asked me with the tiny voice she had. She spoke as if she was slowly dying.

But that was a good question. I thought of the name I'd bear if I stayed around her. "T-Theodore," I answered. I don't offer my real identity to people.

"My name is Valerie," she suddenly looked sad. "I keep wondering what would have happened to me if you didn't help me," she gazed at me after looking at the empty plate before her.

"Well, I don't think our country is that bad. I'm sure 911 would come to help, or someone else will," my response wasn't a lie; I was sure about that.

"Right," she reacted after a few seconds of reasoning what I said and then agreed. "I'm glad I didn't die."

"Why?"

"I don't know, I just want to stay alive because…"

"You like suffering?"

She was quiet and turned her gaze to the lady sitting beside me. She pressed her lips into a thin line as she looked away from me.

The next thing she did was lay back down in her bed. "I'm starting to feel sleepy," she informed me and the lady, facing us with her back.

Was she crying?

"Well then, I should get going," I told the lady, but I was indirectly letting Valerie know.

"Have a good night, Sir Theodore," she replied.

I turned to the lady and she decided to walk me to the entrance because it was a polite thing to do.

"She's planning to get an abortion but isn't sure yet. She's hellbent on surviving and feels like if she brings the baby into this world, they'd both suffer. You shouldn't have been that harsh to her, Theodore," the lady explained to me.

But what I was more concerned about was the abortion she mentioned. I did hear about what she said about Valerie's emotions but the bitter truth was that I did not really care.

I only care about my well-being.