33

Henry turned to Nolan, "Mr. Chen, what a pleasure to see you here in my house un-invited." His tone was cool, although a bit irritated. Henry wondered for a moment if the boy had come to share the untimely news of his sister's passing. But, on second thought, based on Nolan's earlier behavior he doubted that Nolan was the type to do so face to face. No, Nolan would more-so have sent a note or a voicemail. He had intense feelings for his sister that the boy would loathe to share with his brother-in-law   It was troublesome enough to deal with the loose end of an unwanted in-laws. Thankfully he had married into just having one.

He tried to keep his voice pleasant. "What has you on my property?"

The sourpuss crossed his arms, "I'm bringing Ellie here to this house."

"Should I ask Vincent to call security? I'm sure he's standing right outside." Henry said mockingly with a thinnly veiled smirk.

Nolan leaned so far back that Henry wondered if he would fall into the carefully arranged sand mural below them. "A wife has every right to her husband's assets upon marriage. You guys entered into a legally binding contract. If you don't let Ellie enjoy this while she's alive, I . . . I'll have her leave your company to your secretary so you're broke and all alone. Nobody will want you. She'll agree to me, if I ask her."

Henry's eyes grew heavy lidded. He sighed loudly massaging his head in an exaggerated way. When he was in boarding school he would pummel boys like Nolan to a pulp when they spoke ill of his mother. Although he was grown the feeling was the same. "I'm very happy to see you're so attached to your sister. But I'm sorry to say that your sister and I agreed that she would have no right over my estate when she became my wife. My company is mine.  It will stay because I never had an intentions to give it to anyone."

"Ellie didn't get anything in return?" Nolan's face fell as the standing between them crumbled. Henry was a level above him.  He had known this and just let Nolan talk himself into a corner.

"My darling wife did indeed. I can see your sister is the only one who can keep her temper. No wonder she's the most accomplished one in your nameless family.  Who do you think you are demanding something of me when you have nothing to offer me." Henry snapped his fingers and the door slid open, "If that is all, I can have security escort you off the premises."

Nolan fell to his knees. "Mr. Wong I know we don't get along. I'm sure I'm not worth cleaning your toilet. But I can see that your Wong family is very apt to family values.  You're very bound to keep your morals."

Henry's face crumpled in confusion, "Can you just get to the point, I've got very little patience at the moment?  This is my only leisure time and you're snatching my peace away from me."

"Alright then. If you could choose, would you leave someone you loved to die in the place they were told they couldn't live anymore. They couldn't even go outside anymore.  I can't stand havng Ellie in such a place."

Henry massaged the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath with his eye closed. When he opened his eyes again they were wet.  When a servant prompty stepped forwards with a handkerchief, Henry waved him off.

Seeing this, Nolan jumped in, "I know you are interested in making Ellie live what time she has left in comfort. I know she will like to live here and I can see from everyone I've spoken to that you have more than enough room and staff such that she wouldn't be forgotten here. If I can't visit her due to whatever this is between us, that's fine. I can live with that. If you want to take back your money to me, I don't care." He gripped Henry's knees as his voice broke, "But please, have mercy, do not send Ellie back to that wrenched hospital. Even if in your eyes she is just a tool to get to your goals, you have an obligation to take care of the one you have taken to wife."

Henry grew still as he digested what Nolan was saying. He threw Nolan off of him as he sauntered towards the door before turning around. "Send her back to where she was --- are you telling me she is on the premises as of right now?" Henry looked at his watch, "It's not even half past ten. Dear lord, how irresponsible of a nitwit are you? Are you trying to take her to the morgue yourself?" Henry's eyes widened with horror as he remembered how her bones would protrude from her skin when she moved.

A trail of blood dripped from the edge of Nolan's lips that he wiped off. Henry realized he must have busted it from contact with the granite. Nolan's smile grew devilish. "She's strapped to the gurney in your helicopter and I got here here alive."

Henry scoffed, "Last you checked." He remembered the ring she had cooed over when he'd given it to her. His hands were clenched into fits while Madeline glanced up at him with a goofy loving grin. Even his dog was better taken care of then his wife.