Justin's car stopped on front of a majestic mansion at the rich and wealthy area at the center of the city. An inch of hand here costs gold, so imagine just how much this mansion that seemed so long you couldn't see the end costs.
The chauffeur looked at the man who had his eyes closed respectfully through the side mirror, he was in a dilemma on whether to wake him up or not.
Just like everyone, he was also worried about the state his boss was so he was reluctant to wake him up.
But the man probably sensing the car had stopped opened his slightly bloodshot eyes.
"We are here, sir"
"Um.." He answered tiredly and closed his eyes again.
The chauffeur got silently out of the car.
The door of the mansion opened wide and Todd, the butler came out. Todd was a kindly looking man who still looked quite energetic for a middle aged man.
He had been working for the Walters since Justin's father time so he was not treated as a servant but family. After the premature death of Justin's father, he had helped to helm the household for a while for Justin's mother who couldn't quite come out of her grief.
He walked towards the car and bowed slightly and called out warmly.
"Master, you are back"
The chauffeur signalled at him that Justin was sleeping. Todd nodded understandably and was about to go back inside to report to Mrs Walters when someone opened the car's door and stepped out.
"Todd" Justin called out with some warmth in his voice.
Todd bowed slightly and welcomed him,
"Welcome home, master. Your mother is waiting for you inside"
Justin nodded slightly at his words and took long strides into the mansion.
* * * * *
A middle-aged woman sat inside the house. Even the passage of time couldn't cover the beauty of the woman. She still looked beautiful and noble at first glance. It was obvious she maintained her beauty rather well.
"Mom" Justin called out affectionately.
"You finally remembered to come home? I thought you had now grew your own wings and did not put me in your eyes anymore." Mrs Walters raised her eyebrows and asked him coldly.
As he was walking in, she had been secretly watching him from the side. His sallow cheeks, pale skin and bloodshot eyes completely broke her heart. He was her only son so she had always been worried about him overworking himself as she knew his sister was not interested in the company matters.
His father had died in a plane crash on his way to an international meeting when he was 16 and his sister, Sophia, 13. She had managed the company until he was 18 and handed it over to him.
She had been worried the company would put too much strain on him but she didn't get the chance to say anything before as he always knew his limits. She knew that Nina made him know his limits. She would call him to tell him to remember to eat, to go home on time and so on.
And now that the person who set the limits was no longer with him, he overdid himself.
Justin felt guilty when he heard his mum's words, he realised he had neglected his mother while trying to numb himself with work.
"I am sorry, mom. You know it isn't like that"
"It isn't like what? It isn't like you are overworking yourself? That your body would soon break down? That you are also overworking the employees? And that you are a coward, someone who runs away from his problems?" Mrs Walters fired at him furiously.
"Mom...."
"Do not mom me, Justin! Do you think you have an indestructible body? Are you not afraid of running yourself to the ground? You are a grown up, why can't you take proper care of yourself and make me worry so much" Mrs Walters said as her eyes turned red at the rim and tears pooled at her eyes even though she refused to let them fall.
Justin tenderly hugged his mother inwardly cursing himself for making his widowed mother cry.
"I will listen to you. I will do everything you want me to, okay?"
Mrs Walters lightly pushed him out of her embrace and looked fiercely at him,
"You better do and always remember you are my only son. Me and your sister both depend on you. If you overwork yourself to death, who do you think will pay for it? Me and your sister! We already lost your father, do you want me to lose a son and your sister, a brother. Do not just think about your pain, spare a thought for us too. And if you want to get her back, does overworking yourself solve it?"
"I got it, mum."
"From today onwards, you are going to be living here with me. I gave freedom because I thought you were old enough to take care of yourself but you proved me wrong."
"But mom..."
"No buts and I almost forgot, your sister called me to tell me she's coming back to introduce her fiance to us."
"Sophie has a fiance?" He looked bewildered. " Why did I never knew anything about that? Did you?"
Mrs Walters rolled her eyes at him,
"She is 29 already. It's only right that she prepares to settle down."
"Okay then, It's high time she gets married and put an end to all those escapades of hers." Justin almost wanted to slap his own mouth after realising what he just said.
'Why did I have to play the role of a good older brother by saying that? Now i am going to be lectured.'
Mrs Walters rolled her eyes again at his words making Justin think,
'If mom keeps rolling her eyes this way. Ism am worried they are going to come out of their sockets'
"And it isn't high time for YOU to get married, yes?"
"Mom...I.."
Mrs Walters waved her hands impatiently,
" Yes I know I know. You still can't get the girl yet. How useless." She strutted to her room leaving Justin alone.
"Ouch mom. Are you sure you are my real mom?" He muttered under his breath as he strided into his room.