Chapter 55 Who Is Mr King?
Isa
The steady beeping of the machines blended with the sharp, sterile smell of the hospital, filling the room as Mom lay quietly on the bed. She looked exhausted, drained in a way I had never seen before, even in her sleep.
The doctor said there was nothing physically wrong with her. No serious condition. Just severe mental and emotional stress, that was what caused her to collapse.
Still, I couldn’t stop the tears.
What she told us today was too much. Too heavy. I never imagined our family was this broken, broken beyond repair.
Finding out Dad cheated on Mom still felt unreal. But thinking back now, it made sense. The last time we saw him, he wasn’t himself anymore. The warmth was gone. He had been pretending around us, acting like the father we remembered, but failing badly at it.
And then there was Mom.
Knowing she had gotten involved with someone else too only sealed it. The divorce she talked about wasn’t just words. It was inevitable.
Riette had fallen asleep sitting upright, exhaustion finally claiming him. Max was outside with the doctor, while Luppy sat beside Mom, gently holding her hand as if afraid to let go.
We hadn’t called Dad to tell him Mom was hospitalized. Max didn’t even want to see him, and honestly, it was probably for the best. If Mom woke up and found out we had called him, she might be upset.
Suddenly, Mom’s phone chimed.
The sound pulled my attention instantly. I hesitated before reaching for it, then picked it up.
The caller ID showed a name I didn’t recognize.
Mr. King.
I frowned slightly. Who was he? Maybe a business associate.
I answered the call and pressed the phone to my ear.
No one spoke.
“Hello?” I said, my voice short, cautious.
Still nothing.
For a second, I wondered if it was a mistake—maybe a butt dial call or something. I was about to hang up when a voice finally came through.
Deep. Masculine. Husky.
My eyes widened instantly. I had never heard a voice like that before.
“Where is your mother?” he asked.
The question alone told me he knew I wasn’t her. Maybe it was the tone of my voice, that sounded too young, that gave me away instantly.
I won’t lie—the way he spoke unsettled me. There was something about it, the authority in his voice, the certainty, like he was used to being in control. And the fact that he asked about Mom so directly as if he knew everything about her.
“She’s resting,” I blurted out.
I wasn’t about to tell him she was in the hospital. He could be a client… or worse.
“I see,” he said after a short pause.
The calm finality in his tone made me almost jerk upright.
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, my uneasiness growing for reasons I couldn’t explain. “I’ll have to end the call now. I’ll let her know you called when she wakes up.”
I didn’t know why, but something about him felt… dangerous. The feeling came out of nowhere, sharp and unsettling.
Before he could respond, Max walked back into the room. I pulled the phone away from my ear and ended the call immediately.
Max looked worn out as he rubbed his temple slowly. “Isn’t she awake yet?” he asked, his eyes moving to Mom on the bed.
“She’s still sleeping,” Luppy replied gently.
Riette shifted slightly in his chair, murmuring in his sleep.
“This guy,” Max muttered, shaking his head.
I let out a small chuckle. “He could sleep through anything.”
Max chuckled too, briefly.
Then his expression changed. He turned to Luppy, and it was obvious what he wanted to ask.
“When did you find out?” he asked.
Luppy gave a soft smile. “About two and a half months ago. Madam told me,” she said, lightly touching Mom’s hand.
Max hesitated before asking the next question, his head tilting slightly. “And the blackmail you mentioned… what is that?”
Luppy pressed her lips together, inhaled slowly, then shook her head. “I don’t think your mother wants to talk about it,” she said quietly, blinking as if holding something back.
Max sighed deeply and scratched the back of his head, exhaustion settling over him again.
“Why don’t you and Riette go home while I stay here with Mom?” I suggested.
Max nodded, offering a weak smile. He leaned over and tapped Riette lightly. “Wake up, big guy. We’re heading home.”
Riette stretched lazily. “Is Mom awake yet?” he asked.
We both shook our heads.
“When she wakes up, call me,” Max said, looking at me.
“I will,” I replied.
And just like that, they left—leaving only Luppy and me in the room.
“You’re going to ask me questions too, right?” Luppy asked after a moment.
I shook my head slightly. “No. Let’s just forget about it for now, okay?”
She nodded, a small smile appearing on her face.
Then she changed the subject, thankfully. “So… who called?”
“It was a Mr. King,” I said with a sigh.
The moment the name left my mouth, her expression shifted. I watched her swallow, her eyes flick away briefly before she nodded.
It was subtle, but unmistakable.
Something wasn’t right.
My gaze dropped to the phone in my hand, then to Mom, and finally back to Luppy.
“Why did you react like that when I said his name?” I asked.
Luppy blinked, then tried to play it off. “What?” she said, as if she had no idea what I was talking about.
But I knew what I saw.
“Who is Mr. King?” I asked, my voice low.
Luppy didn’t answer.
My thoughts immediately spiraled. Don’t tell me…
No. That couldn’t be it. Maybe I was just overthinking.
Before I could push further, Mom stirred.
Her lashes fluttered as her eyes slowly opened. She turned her head toward me, confusion still clouding her face.
“Mr. King?” she repeated softly. “How do you know that name?”
She was awake now, her breathing steadying.
“He called,” I said, lifting the phone slightly so she could see it. “Who is he, Mom?”
My voice dropped to almost a whisper.
Had I just spoken to my mother’s lover on the phone?
The thought made my stomach twist.
“I need water,” Mom blurted out instead.
Luppy rushed off immediately, returning with a glass. Mom tried to sit up, still clearly disoriented, and I stepped in to help her, steadying her as she leaned back against the bed.
Luppy handed her the water. Mom took it and drank every last drop before letting out a slow sigh.
Then she stretched out her hand for the phone.
I hesitated for a second, wanting to ask more questions, but I handed it to her anyway, she dialed.
She brought her phone to her ear.
“Yes,” she said calmly, “I was told you called.”