Chapter 181 The End

Chapter 181 The End
Writer’s Point of View 
Six Years Later.
“If we partner with other small hospitals in remote and rural areas, we are going to be extending the medical foundation extensively all over the country.” Dr. Bruno, one of the board of directors explained in the meeting, but Theron’s attention was divided. “And about the branch we are launching in Australia—”
“Chairman?” Dr. Bruno noticed Theron’s gaze was fixed on his phone. “Chairman Adler? Are you listening?”
But almost immediately, Theron dragged his chair backward, and stepped back, his eyes finally flickered away from the screen of his phone and towards them. “I’m sorry, but can we have this meeting another time?” He asked curiously, as he reached for his other phone on the table, and his car keys. “I have an emergency I have to attend to; I am very sorry for wasting your time.”
His eyes flickered towards Linda his secretary. “Please send me the minutes for the meeting to my email.”
“Yes sir.” She barely answered before he stormed out of the conference room, everyone glancing at each other in confusion, but then they knew the only thing that was emergency enough for him to storm out of the such important meeting, was his daughter Thea.
“Who would have thought someone who is called a psychopath would have more humanity than most people?”
Staff Office, Michelle Hudston Elementary School.
Theron could hear the commotion just outside the door, but he entered none the less, His sharp silver eyes scanning the area, searching for a particular someone.
The principal, and some academic staff were in the office; there was a boy, not older than seven years old, with a bloodied tissue shoved in one of his nostrils seated on the chair, and bawling like he got his toy snatched.
A tall brunette woman in her early thirties standing beside him, and she fumed angrily at everyone in the office.
“Why would you keep my child in the same class as a monster?” She fumed. “Now, look at him.”
“Ma’am please calm down.” The principal urged. “Let’s just talk about this.”
“No, I don’t want to calm down, we don’t even know how serious his injuries are.”
Theron’s lips lifted into a small smirk when he spotted the blonde hair of the little girl, about three seats away from the boy; she kneaded her fingers on her laps, her eyes glued to her thighs. “Thea, honey.” He muttered as soon as he saw her, and then walked further in, “Are you okay, my love?”
“Daddy!” She squealed, her silver eyes snapped up at him happily, almost as if she was proudly waiting for him. “Daddy.”
The whole office quieted almost immediately and everyone’s eyes darted towards Theron who was kneeling next to his daughter, his large hand shuffling through her hair, and her dress, checking for a wound, an injury, anything to show that she had been threatened, and luckily, he found none.
“So, you are the father of the devious trickster?” The woman asked, and Theron’s eyes flickered towards her, a calm smile twisted his face. “Ma’am please, that’s Dr. Theron Adler.” One of the staff said, trying to reach for her, but she folded her arms across her chest, stepping even closer to Theron.
“Oh, I know who he is.” She sneered. “Who doesn’t know who Theron Adler is? He is one of the most talked about men in the country.”
Her eyes flickered disgustingly towards the girl that was clinging to her daddy’s leg.
“What are we going to do about my son, your daughter seemed to have inherited some of your violence tendencies—” She pointed towards the crying boy. “Look at what she did to him? She slammed his head so hard against the wall and broke his nose.”
“My goodness,” Theron seemed shocked. “What happened?”
“Daddy,” She called him again. “You remember Jackie?”
“Jackie?” His eyebrows jumped up as his eyes widened in recognition. “The little of piece of dog shit who keeps cutting holes in your dress, and sticking glue in places he shouldn’t stick glue? That Jackie?”
She nodded.
“What a coincidence, you are the mother of the boy I want to meet.” Theron leaned in. “Do you have any idea your son has been frequently bullying my daughter?”
“Bullying?” She seemed shocked, her eyes flickering towards the principal to confirm.
“That is what we have been trying to tell you,” He started. “Dr. Adler had made a complaint before, and we even wrote you a summon letter, but you didn’t show up.”
She blinked. “He ruined three of her favorite dresses, pulled out the hairs from her doll, and put glue in her bag, and her shoes.” Theron explained in a very calm voice; the calmest voice he’s ever had.
“Well, from the look of things, she doesn’t look like she was being bullied, he was only playing with her.” Somehow, she found a way to excuse her son’s behavior. “Your daughter slammed my son’s head in the wall, and broke his fucking nose.”
“Well, from what I can see, it’s just a broken nose, he doesn’t look like he would die.” Theron smiled. “You can send him to the hospital later; I am going to take care of all the medical expenses.”
Theron leaned in to whisper the rest of the threats in her ears.
“Your son is lucky it’s my daughter he had to face, had I got to him first, your little boy will not have a nose to breathe with anymore.”

“You know you can’t go around solving every issue you have with violence? I didn’t raise a daughter who beats people up.” Theron asked his daughter curiously, and she nodded clutching his hands tightly as they walked towards the car. “You have to be kinder to people sometimes.”
“I was nice, I promise,” She squeaked. “He took Alexis again, and I told him to give her back to me, I even said please, but he didn’t and then he broke her leg off.”
Alexis was her favorite doll, and that little runt tore the leg off—in my opinion, he deserved that and more.
“You know I can buy you another Alexis?” Theron queried, and she nodded. “So, why did you hit him?”
“I just wanted him to know how much it hurts, and it’s not cool.” She complained again, Theron opened the door, helped her in and strapped her in, before getting into the driver’s seat.
“Well, I am proud of you, you should definitely teach little rascals like that you’re not someone they should mess with.” Theron never had any problem with what she did, he wished she beat him up even more. “You know what to tell you mommy, don’t you?”
“Right!” She faked a smile. “Mommy is scary.”
“I know baby, I know.”
“Thea Adler!” Eden called the moment father and daughter got inside the house, Thea froze, glancing at her father for help.
“Love, you’re home earlier today.” Theron stepped forward trying to hug his wife, but she dodged his open arms.
“I got a message from her school; she got into a fight with a boy in her class and broke his nose.” Eden complained, wrinkle lines forming on her forehead. “The principal told me you were in school that’s why I didn’t come, and I was in surgery, I got the message about thirty minutes later.”
“Calm down, love,” Theron placed a hand on her shoulder, standing in between his wife and daughter. “I already handled it; I gave her a good scolding.”
“Scolding?” She was taken aback, because she knew Theron would never even raise his voice on his beautiful daughter.
“Yes mommy.” Thea answered, which surprised Eden, the regret on her face proved that she had already reflected on her actions. “I know I was wrong; I won’t do something like that again—and I also know that I am grounded.”
Now, she wondered just how hard Theron scolded her.
“Thea, baby.” Eden pulled her, “I understand that you were angry, but even though what your classmate did was wrong, you shouldn’t hit him too, two wrongs doesn’t make a right, do you understand me?”
She nodded her head.
“Yes mommy.”
“Did you apologize to his mom?”
Thea’s eyes flickered towards her father.
“Yes, I did.” Theron lied. “And I promised to take care of the hospital bills.”
Eden smiled in satisfaction.
“Now, you go play with snow ball I have something to say to you daddy.”
Theron’s eyes widened slightly, he was a little worried because Eden was too smart, ridiculously so, she probably figured their lie out, and it was his turn for a scolding.
“Baby, you seem so worried.” Theron muttered reaching her, holding her hips slightly, noticing a certain uncertainty in her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Um, yeah, I am fine.” She answered with a small smile, “There is just something I want to show to you.”
She walked ahead of him, and Theron followed closely behind. By the time they stepped into their bedroom, Eden was already reaching for the counter. She picked up a small strip and turned toward him.
Theron’s eyes widened in instant recognition.
“Is that…?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Eden nodded, a bright smile spreading across her face.
“You’re pregnant?” he breathed.
“Yes, Theron. I am.” Her grin widened with excitement. “We’re going to have another baby. Thea is going to be a big sister!”
Theron forced a smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Memories flooded his mind—memories of the pain she endured during her pregnancy, the agonizing hours of labor, and the difficult weeks after her body struggled to heal.
He had sworn to himself that he would never let her go through that again.
Yet somehow, he had miscalculated.
And Eden… she looked so happy, as if the pain she once suffered had never existed at all, and then he realized something.
No matter what she chose, no matter how many times she was willing to walk through fire, he would always be there; shielding her from the flames, even if it meant burning in her place.
Because from the very first moment he saw her, the first time he looked into those sinful brown eyes of her, he had known a truth he could never escape.
There was nothing…
Absolutely nothing he wouldn’t do for her.
Because he loved her.
And with every heartbeat, that love only grew deeper, and stronger; he was certain it would be so, until he drew his last breath.