The Ex-husband Revenge

Chapter 4

"Nana, take Victor to the hospital quick. I'll handle this mess," Elena said firmly after a deep breath, taking stock of the chaos that had erupted. Her brother lay crumpled on the floor, blood trickling from his nose and lip while her grandmother Nana looked ready to unleash hell itself.

"That rotten bastard can't just walk away after this!" Nana spat, fury contorting her aged features. "We need to teach that son of a b***h a lesson. If we let him slink off, people will see us as a clan of pushovers to be messed with freely."

Elena held up a calming hand. "Don't worry, Nana. I'll make sure he pays for this transgression." She gestured for two burly security guards to help gently lift her battered brother to his feet while motioning for her own personal bodyguard to accompany them to the hospital.

Turning to her assistant Allison, Elena grimaced and rubbed her throbbing temples. "What's your take on this fiasco, Allison? I can feel a stress migraine coming on already."

"Nana's right, we can't let him get away with this," Allison stated bluntly. "That piece of trash Richard threw the first punch according to everyone here, guards included. The evidence is crystal clear - he's the instigator and aggressor."

Elena sighed deeply. "I know my hotheaded grandma and reckless brother too well. Those two live on the edge of erupting. Victoria is the only level-headed one of the bunch."

"Be that as it may," Allison pressed on, "his brutish actions are completely unacceptable. Even if there was some misunderstanding, he could have defused the situation properly instead of resorting to senseless violence against your own blood. Beating a young man half to death? He clearly has no regard for your feelings or family ties. This proves he's been concealing his true wicked nature all along."

With each condemning word from Allison's mouth, Elena felt her own resentment towards her ex-husband swelling within her chest. "You make a fair point," she said through gritted teeth. "He had no rightful reason to viciously assault my family, misunderstanding or not. Perhaps I should have divorced the bastard years ago."

"That's it!" Allison urged, sensing her boss's rising anger. "You need to punish him severely! Remind Richard and the whole world that the Lockwood clan is not to be trifled with. We make examples out of those who cross us!"

White-hot rage flooded Elena's veins at her assistant's goading words. "Give me my phone," she ordered curtly. Allison swiftly retrieved the device from Elena's purse and passed it over.

With trembling fingers, Elena stabbed at Richard's contact and waited for the call to connect. But just before the line rang on his end, Richard and a young woman named Adele were conversing lowly in the backseat of a sleek silver Bentley.

"Hey, thanks for the save back there," Richard said gratefully. "I really owe you one after you bailed me out."

Adele waved a hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it. I'm just glad I arrived in time to prevent further ugliness. Although..." She arched one slim eyebrow. "Since you do owe me now, I suppose I could cash in that favor immediately for a rather urgent matter. If you're willing?"

A mischievous smirk played across Richard's lips. "Well now, you've definitely piqued my curiosity. Let's hear what crucial situation requires my particular expertise."

"An extremely close friend of my father's, who also happens to be a pivotal investor in our company, has been deathly ill for the past two weeks," Adele began. "The doctors have run every test imaginable but they're at a complete loss over his condition. I know you have...unorthodox yet impressive medical skills from what Scott told me."

Richard raised an eyebrow. "Scott vouched for my abilities, did he? I'm surprised he didn't also mention my strict parameters for offering aid."

"Oh, but he did fill me in on all the particulars," Adele assured him quickly. "I swear I'm making a sincere request here, not just blowing smoke. You see, Scott mentioned your deep passion for procuring rare botanical specimens and herbs. Well, this friend of my father's happens to be an avid collector of such obscurities. I'm certain he would be more than happy to gift you some truly remarkable finds if you could treat his illness successfully."

The mention of exotic plants and herbs immediately rekindled Richard's interest, his frown morphing into a smile. "Is that so? Well then, I suppose I could take a look under those circumstances."

Just at that moment, Elena's wrathful call finally came through on Richard's phone, causing it to buzz insistently in his pocket. Scowling once more, he still reluctantly answered.

"Richard, tell me the truth right now - did you attack my little brother and strike him?" Elena's voice dripped venom down the line.

"I did hit him, yes, but..."

"So you admit it?!" she exploded, cutting him off. "It really was you behind this vicious assault! To think I was willing to believe there were mitigating circumstances or missing details. Is this your pathetic attempt at revenge against my family simply because I divorced your unworthy ass?"

Richard rolled his eyes. "If you'd actually let me explain the full story instead of jumping to rash conclusions..."

"There is no excuse that could possibly justify your actions!" Elena raged. "No matter what deplorable behavior my brash brother exhibited, you still had no right to physically attack him like some uncouth savage!"

A harsh, bitter bark of laughter escaped Richard's lips. "How predictable. You instinctively take your precious family's side against me without a second thought. As if the years we spent married meant absolutely nothing."

"That's exactly why I'm demanding you go to the hospital right now and sincerely apologize!" Elena's words lashed out like a whip's sting. "You will beg forgiveness from Victor for battering him and from my grandmother for the disgraceful public display you caused. If you do that, I'll forget this whole sordid incident. If not..."

"Oh, is that a threat I detect?" Richard retorted derisively. "Go ahead then, make your empty ultimatum. What exactly will you do - have me arrested and dragged through the legal system? Take me to court over this? Perhaps you'll simply send some hired thugs to brutalize me in retaliation?"

"After all my years of patience and compassion towards you, how dare you mock me so callously?" Elena's voice shook with raw emotion. "Why must you continually spit in the face of my generosity and treat my kindness as frail weakness?"

"Generosity? Kindness?" Richard scoffed loudly. "Now I know for certain this entire conversation has become a sick joke. But very well, go ahead and make good on your meaningless bravado. I did exactly what I said - I taught a much-needed lesson in respect to your disrespectful little bastard of a brother. Do your worst in retaliation; I'm calling your bluff here and now."

A harsh click and dial tone was the only response as Richard abruptly terminated the call, leaving Elena seething in outrage. With an inarticulate cry of fury, she hurled her phone full-force at the marble floor, shattering it into jagged shards.

Elena had always prided herself on remaining calm and rational even under the most stressful circumstances. Her ability to suppress emotional overreactions was a crutch that had allowed her to ascend to such prominent heights as a businesswoman. But in this moment, her iron-clad composure was cracking.

"How dare that wretch simply hang up on you in such a contemptuous manner?" Allison fumed, hovering protectively at Elena's side. "Just give the order, Ms. Lockwood, and I'll have some of our most persuasive associates pay him an immediate visit to teach Richards the error of his disrespectful ways."

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Elena raised a hand to stall her assistant's vindictive offer. "No need for anything so rash...not yet at least," she said in a low, measured tone. "I have bigger priorities to focus on than that ingrate's unforgivable actions."

"But he can't be allowed to get away with such an egregious offense!" Allison pressed, unwilling to let the matter drop so easily. "His violent conduct against your own blood demands severe repercussions!"

"And he will face them, in due time," Elena replied, regaining her cool “In the meantime, We've got bigger fish to fry. The Wilson family charity ball is coming up."

"The charity ball? What's that got to do with our business partners?"

"Everything! I just heard the Wilsons are considering Rudolph Enterprise. If we knock their socks off at the ball, we could be their next big partners!"

Allison's eyes went wide. "No way! That's amazing news!" She was practically bouncing with excitement. "I'll start planning right this second."

"While you're at it, grab me a new cell too, would ya?

---

Richard arrived at Wilson Primary Hospital, Adele at his side. They entered the VIP wing, where an old man lay pale and frail in the bed. His breathing was shallow, like he was clinging to life. A crowd of doctors hovered around, brows furrowed in confusion.

A young man pushed through them. "Adele, you're finally here! These quacks don't have a clue what's wrong with Grandpa." Alexander Crawford's face was twisted in worry for his grandfather, Paul.

One doctor spoke up, helpless. "Ma'am, we've run every test imaginable, but they're all coming up normal. There's nothing more we can do."

Elena's voice was ice. "Well if you so-called experts are out of ideas, then get out of the way." She pointed at Richard. "He'll take over from here."

The doctors murmured in disbelief. "Him? He's not even a real doctor! Does he know the first thing about medicine?"

Alexander burst out, "Are you kidding me, Adele? Letting this guy treat Grandpa?"

Adele hesitated, hoping her brother was right about Richard's skills. "Just trust me on this. He's excellent at what he does."

The head doctor suggested, "Why don't we give him a little test first? See if he's legit?"

Richard agreed easily, "Sure, it'll be like old times."

In the next room, a little girl named Hannah sat getting a check-up. The doctor said, "Open up, Hannah." She obediently opened her mouth.

After a moment, Richard spoke with confidence. "Hannah here has a respiratory infection - looks like a combination of viral and bacterial. Her throat is really inflamed and her lymph nodes are swollen, so her body's fighting it off. I'll bet she's had some nasty coughing fits too?"

Hannah nodded, eyes wide.

"She's also dehydrated, which makes it all worse. I'd recommend getting her on antibiotics for the bacterial part, along with some throat lozenges for the pain. And lots and lots of fluids."

The doctors watched in awe as this supposed amateur diagnosed their case perfectly.