29

It has been four days since Jaxon and Henry were arrested and ever since then, Kate has done everything in her power to bail her son out and the Sterling’s too have been doing their best and that is why both parties plan to latch on to whatever influential persons they can come across to back them and aid in the release of both their sons.

A silver lining was finally found when it was rumored that a long lost relative of the Carl’s reappeared back in town and knocked boldly on their door.

“What is it? Who could that be?’ Kate snapped at no one in particular.

When the knock sounded again, she basically screamed.

“Who is that?!” she demanded.

“It’s me, Kate. William.”

She rushed and opened the door because she couldn’t believe her ears, she just had to see for herself.

“It’s really you…Will. You’re back.” she almost fainted.

This was William, her older sister’s son who had lived with them for two years after the death of his parents and finally ran off and none of them bothered to look for him because they had thought of him as an unnecessary burden and treated him as one until he couldn’t take it and then ran away.

Here he was, alive and well, standing in front of her and saying her own first name.

He looked well to do too, she looked him from head to toe and her gaze traveled behind him and latched onto one of the fanciest cars she had ever seen. A Bentley. Her own poor sisters’ wretched son…

“Hey aunt, how have you been? It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too, oh how worried I was when you just disappeared back then.” she said, wiping imaginary tears from her eyes, hugging and fussing over him.

“Right aunt, you didn’t know where I was, just maybe you didn’t try looking for me, you know?” he said with an awkward laugh.

“Now, now don’t say that. You’re my only sister’s precious son and surely I wouldn’t be that mean.” she cooed.

“Right, I thought as much.” he said.

“Come in, come in. Sophie! Richard! Where are you all.” she ushered him in.

Everyone came around to see the visitor and at Kate’s command they all fussed over him and treated him like some king.

“Hey William How are you? It's been years.” It was Alisha Carl.

“We missed you!”

“Where have you been?”

They were all saying.

“I'm fine and well.” William smiled. He looked around at everyone and saw that Henry was not present.

“Where is Henry? I don’t see him anywhere around. The little rascal.” Will asked and laughed. Henry had particularly been a thorn in his flesh and of course his parents always took the side of their adorable little boy.

“Oh that, Henry, oh don’t worry about him, he is fine, probably somewhere having fun, you know how he is.”

“Oh is that so? I actually came because of a rumor I heard as soon as I got back in town and it was about Henry so I found this place as soon as I could.” Will said.

“What rumor was that?” Kate asked cautiously, worried that her sister’s son might laugh at her and her family in their current state.

“I hear that he was arrested by some guy called James…” he trailed off unsure as to whether he meant to be aware of this seeing as they did all they could to keep it away from him.

Kate laughed awkwardly, almost hysterically before she spoke, “Yeah actually you are right. Henry was arrested some four days ago by some worthless peasant who seeks to tear us down on all sides. We have done all we could to bail him out but we have failed, apparently there is some influential family backing James up.” she explained.

“And who is this James and what is his relationship with you and Uncle? What could Henry have possibly done that couldn’t be settled by just word of mouth?” he asked.

It was Sophie who answered this time, “So you see, the wretched man was married to Alisha and he was just a straight up leech and there really wasn’t anything he could do for her and so finally the whole family managed to split them and made him sign the divorce papers so Alisha can be married to Jaxon Sterling-you probably heard of him- but ever since it’s been one trouble or the other and in order to teach him a lesson and put him in his place, Henry and Jaxon hatched up a plan and they did take care of him but he was mysteriously backed by the new CEO of Emerald Multisource and Lana Wane from the famous Wane family and so was saved. On his return he manged to get both Jaxon and Henry arrested and now the Sterling's would have nothing to do with us anymore.” she sighed when she finished and everyone looked at William waiting for his reply.

“I’m sorry but that is quite a lot to take in at once. Alisha has been married and divorce and so many things have happened. Has it really been that long already since I left?” he asked and chuckled.

“You said you came because of what you heard, is there something you can do to help out, if you are willing? ”Richard finally spoke.

“Oh yes of course, I cannot possibly stand by and watch you struggle with this. But first of all what is it between you and the Sterling’s? was the rift caused because his son also got arrested?”

“Yes, apparently and he blame us for it.”

“Oh don’t you see? This is all just a huge plan by James or whatever he is called to sow discord between you all and gain the upper hand. It isn't just simply about arresting Henry and this Jaxon fellow.” William explained.

None of them had thought about it that way and they were already beginning to see what he meant before he even explained further.

“The sly dog.” Richard cussed under his breath and the others followed.

“I can’t believe that kind of man supposedly loved Alisha.”

“So he had only meant to tear us apart, how evil, I got the shivers.”

“There’s just one thing you have to do while I make a call to get Henry and Jaxon released.” Will informed them.

“Is it really going to be that easy? Just a phone call?” Kate asked disbelievingly.

“Why do you still doubt him?” Richard chide before turning to William, “What is the one thing you mentioned we’d have to do?’ he inquired.

“Okay try and set up a meeting with the Sterling’s and explain to them what I just told you and make a plan to recoup and get back at James.” he said, scrolling through his phone to find the number he needed to effect the release.

“And what if they refuse to receive us? What do we do then?” Richard asked, uncertainty lacing his voice.

“They have no choice once you mention to them that their dear son Jaxon will be back to them safe and sound tomorrow.” Will answered, still scrolling on his phone and only stopping when he got to the letter D.

“Tomorrow! I’ll get to see my son tomorrow?” Kate was beside herself with happiness and practically hopped around like a little kid.

“I don’t know how to thank you enough son, you have saved us a whole lot of trouble. I’d ring the Sterling’s up immediately with the good news, surely they will see me after hearing what I have to say.” Richard himself was beside himself with joy, reclaiming the relationship with the Sterling’s was just as huge as getting a multi-million dollar deal because it meant more opportunities and backing for them, not to mention that the marriage between Alisha and Jaxon was secured, hence her position as a manager too.

William finished his call with Mr. Duncan and turned back to the room, “Henry and Jaxon would be back by morning.” he announced and the whole family cheered and they wondered how influential the once wretched orphan boy had become.

William dined with them before he left, with the Carl’s at his heels seeing him to the door and bestowing all the praises they could think of.

Immediately the door closed behind him, a smile curled on his lips and gradually built up into bubbling laughter that he had to stifle.

“That easy eh? Fools.” he thought to himself, walked to his car and then it drove off.