Abstain fondness

Bring her

"sir please sign these documents" his personal assistant, Maria forwarded the file on his desk.

He looked up from his laptop and assessed the document with a momentary stare. A new deal was coming up, and he needed to convince his buyers before his competitor, Luca quin would snatch away his loyal customers.

He grabbed the pen from the holder and signed it immediately. He commanded his assistant to arrange a meeting as soon as possible so he can get the opportunity to introduce his product first before they fall into the hands of Luqa quin.

As soon as she went away, his phone started to ring.

He read the name, it was from Gavyn.

"Hello dad!" He spoke first.

"Arsenio! You need to come to the hospital as soon as possible! Your mother just had a heart attack, she's in critical condition" Gavyn revealed in such a hurried manner that Arsenio didn't even get time to process what he was saying.

His hands became numb and senses became dumb. He couldn't hear his father anymore. Arsenio loved Ravenna so much despite that they never agreed on the same page. She was his mother and nothing was more dear to him than her.

The news shattered his heart into million pieces as he cut the call immediately and called his assistant Darius inside immediately.

Getting to know the name of the hospital, he drove his car at once. Not caring about the speed, he was only determined to reach there as soon as possible.

His hands were shivering when he finally applied breaks in the parking lot of the hospital. Taking the elevator, he was anxious. His mother was all well a few days ago. What could have happened to her suddenly?

His brain couldn't process it.

He asked the receptionist about the room number and she pointed in the direction immediately. Because there was no one else in the area who could afford such an expensive, VIP room. He marched towards it in an urgent manner.

As soon he opened the glass door, he was met with his father's rigid figure.

"Arsenio" he phrased his name as soon their eyes met with each other.

"How's mom?" Arsenio asked immediately.

"She's unconscious for the moment but the doctor has said that she will wake up soon, maybe within an hour" Gavyn replied, taking a look at the Ravenna who laid on the bed behind him.

Arsenio took his place on the couch, near his mothers bed as Gavyn stood beside him.

"What happened to her? Who's responsible? She never had heart problems" Arsenio asked without looking away from his mother.

"Ravenna's only brother and wife are dead in a car accident, those who live by the countryside." His father revealed with a sigh, a disappointed look shadowed his face.

"You mean Maude and Gerald Francis?" Arsenio looked at his father out of shock. It was such sad news that he himself couldn't believe his ears. They were such a perfect, sweet family, with their only daughter Anastasia.

"Yes dear, Anastasia is now all alone there. Your mother took the news by heart and that's why she had a heart attack. I've sent my trusted men to help the poor girl in her parents funeral but one of our presence will be required there" Gavyn explained as he caressed the hair out of his wife's family forehead with affection and sadness in his eyes.

"And who do you think it would be?" Arsenio asked curiously.

"It's for your mother to decide" Gavyn replied shortly and strode out of the room.

Arsenio stared at his mother for much longer than he intended. Something looked wrong to him. His mother couldn't be this sick at such news. He knew it was something she would have felt by heart but she had no heart problems to have such a sudden heart attack.

He went to the doctor immediately to have a detailed report so he can know the cause of her condition. Unfortunately nothing unusual was found in her blood. As he was returning from doctor's office, he bumped into Faye.

"Babe" she called.

"What are you doing here Faye?" Arsenio asked her, while bringing her hand close to his lips and kissing her.

"You know babe, I just heard that Aunt Ravenna is in critical condition, so I had to rush" her sweet voice was enough to enchant any man around her.

"Right, Gavyn must have told you. She had a heart attack but she isn't awake yet. We're waiting for her" Arsenio replied, placing a hand on her lower back and guiding her to the waiting room.

"Oh that's sad! I was hoping to meet her" she looked down with a worried face.

"Don't worry you'll meet her, just stay here. I'll inform you once she wakes up" Arsenio comforted her and made her sit on the couch.

She smiled painfully to him in return as he parted his way.

He returned to his mother's ward where Ravenna was slowly returning to consciousness.

He clenched the metal rods of the bed, as he got closer to his mother.

"Mom" he whispered gently to her.

"Arsenio" she mumbled with her half closed eyes.

"Are you alright mom? What happened to you?" Arsenio exclaimed with a tinge of concern visible in his voice as he held her hand in his.

Ravenna shifted with a moan of pain. As she opened her eyes fully and looked at her son. Memories started to rush her mind as she remembered every single detail of the things happened before she lost her consciousness.

"Dear! My brother is dead and his wife too. Please go there and at least pay them a last tribute to their funeral. Or take me please, my niece is all alone there. Poor Anastasia how would be doing it all alone? No shoulder to even cry on " Ravenna's eyes started spilling tears as her mind rewinded the tragic death of Gerald and Maude.

"Mom! You're weak, you cannot go there. I'll go, I'll bring her back here so you can meet her. I'll do everything as you say. Please don't cry, it will worsen your health." Arsenio patted his mother and tried to calm her down, while bringing himself lower to hug her.

"My dear Anastasia!" She whispered as she slowly let herself lose consciousness.

"Doctors! Doctors!" Arsenio screamed on top of his lungs as the medical staff rushed immediately inside to assist Ravenna.

"What happened to her? Why did she become unconscious again?" He growled at the doctor as the poor doctor shrinked back smaller under his scrutiny.

"Sir! She just fainted and nothing more. Don't worry, she's alright." Another doctor stepped forward and gave a briefing.

Arsenio inhaled a large gulp of air as the red from his eyes started to fade away slowly. His chest heaving and muscles started to relax as he unclenched his fists which he was so determined to use on the doctor's face.

Everyone stepped back in fear as he looked at her mother once again.

Gavyn came inside at the moment along with Faye.

"What happened to Arsenio?" His father asked him as he raked an eye over Ravenna and all the doctors surrounding him.

"Nothing, mother's alright. Come outside! I have to talk to you" Arsenio said in monotone as he walked out of the room, Gavyn following behind.

"Where did uncle Gerald live?" He asked Gavyn, nonchalantly.

"It's a small village by the countryside, but why are you asking? Are...you...?" Gavyn asked out of curiosity as he tried to figure out why this question was coming from him.

"Yes I'm going, mom asked me to help in the funeral and look after her niece " he replied straight and short, void of any interest.

"Sure I'll email you the correct address, you may get ready to leave" Gavyn assured him as he started calling his assistant.

Arsenio turned around and walked towards the exit of the hospital. But just then Faye grabbed his elbow and called out his name.

"Where are you going?" She asked while heaving from the running.

"I've got work to do" Arsenio replied rather uninterestedly. He never liked Faye asking too many questions and inquiring about his whereabouts.

"Come back soon, I'll be waiting" Faye wished him as she looked at him with those doe eyes as if she cared for him more than anyone.

"I'll be soon with you" he replied as he pecked her lips and left. On his way, he called Darius to accompany him and finalize his travelling schedule.

Darius arranged all the things which were needed and even postponed his meetings, making time for the short notice travel. He only had two days to go and attend the funeral, bringing back Anastasia with him too.

Arsenio never once in his life met Anastasia. She was his cousin but they never interacted. Anastasia was just 20 years old, and Arsenio was seven years old when she was born. So he only saw her as a baby when they came to his parents house to celebrate her birth as Ravenna arranged a big party for her.

Now after 20 years, he was about to see her face to face. They didn't even know how they both looked.