Chapter 5 Suspicions

Royce's POV

I decided to get inside my brother's private room in the hospital when I heard steps hastily walking closer to my direction. I turned around and noticed they were dad's men but Arthur wasn't around.

Arthur is a 38-year-old man with well-built muscles, an expert in martial arts and all types of guns. He is my father's most trusted bodyguard who had been working with us for quite a long time and his loyalty to the family was already proven and tested. But this time, he is not around maybe, he was called by dad, I thought.

Dad's men approached me and showed me some respect.

"Where have you been? I'm sure dad instructed you not to get out of your post. You are supposed to be watching my brother for 24 hours!" I said roughly. The men lowered their gaze.

"We apologize, Sir Royce. We are-" one of dad's men spoke but he was not able to finish what he wanted to say because Uncle Sam and the doctor went out of the room. Uncle Sam approached me and gave me a slight hug. I shifted my gaze to Doctor Smith and greeted him.

Uncle Sam looked at dad's men, giving them a hostile glare, showing his clenched jaw and furrowed brows.

"Where the hell have you been? Why did you leave Reid unattended?"

"We are sorry sir, we just went out to take our lunch." The men said in chorus showing remorse on their faces.

"Go back to your post now!" Uncle Sam commanded.

The men returned to their positions near my brother's room, but their behavior appeared uneasy, as if they were concealing something. They avoided making direct eye contact with me, and I found their demeanor to be unusual.

I pushed aside those thoughts and asked Doctor Smith about my brother's condition. However, he advised me to wait until my parents arrived before discussing it further. I understood his implication, so I nodded in agreement. After a brief period, he excused himself as he needed to attend to patients on the 9th floor.

Uncle Sam directed me to take a seat on a lengthy waiting chair. Once we were both seated, he asked about my parents' intentions regarding META, considering Reid's current condition. I was supposed to inform him that my dad wanted me to assume Reid's position, but a part of me urged against it. Instead, I simply responded that my parents hadn't shared their plans with me, as they understood that business wasn't my main priority. I observed Uncle Sam's reactions, but I couldn't discern anything suspicious. However, I couldn't help but wonder why I had seen him engaged in a private conversation with Doctor Smith in a secluded area. It remained a puzzle to me.

After a while of conversing, Uncle Sam bid farewell as he needed to attend to some signatories at META. It seemed he was dedicated and devoted to his work, yet I still harbored some doubts. I rose from my seat and made my way towards my brother's room, eager to see him. As I entered, a wave of sorrow and heaviness engulfed my heart as I approached his bedside. Though his eyes remained shut, I could see the rise and fall of his chest with the assistance of a ventilator. Various machines were positioned nearby, monitoring his heart rate and blood pressure. I feel like I was the one lying in the hospital bed.

He is my brother, who shared the exact same face as mine, and witnessing him in an unconscious state fills me with sadness. Why did it happen to him? Reid has always been a good and obedient son. Unlike me, he never caused any troubles and problems to our parents. He is responsible, trustworthy, and, above all, my father's right-hand in managing our business. I wish I could be more like him.

I settled onto the couch and positioned myself beside the hospital bed. Gently, I grasped his hand, hoping to convey my presence and deep desire for his survival. In that moment, tears began to escape, flowing uncontrollably. Though I may not possess the same virtues as my brother, witnessing him in this challenging circumstance touched my heart. After all, he is my sibling, my family. As the saying goes, "Blood is thicker than water."

Bowing my head, I clasped my hands together, shutting my eyes as I silently prayed for Reid's healing and recovery.

After offering my silent prayer, I retrieved a handkerchief from my pocket to wipe away the tears. I had never realized I had this tender side within me, as Reid was always known for being emotional and compassionate.

While my gaze remained fixed upon the floor tiles, examining every corner of the room, my handkerchief slipped from my grasp and fell to the ground. As I bent down to retrieve it, my attention was drawn beneath the bedside table by something that piqued my curiosity. I moved closer, picking up a small empty bottle with the label, "THIOPENTAL SODIUM." I swiftly concealed it within my pocket just as I heard the sound of the doorknob turning. It was a nurse entering to monitor my brother's heart rate and blood pressure.

She wore a smile as she directed her gaze towards me.

"Good afternoon, sir. You must be the patient's twin brother," she said, her eyes darting around the room.

I nodded, then I asked if she was searching for something, but she shook her head and swiftly left the room after completing her assessment of my brother's vital signs.

Curiosity piqued, I reached into my pocket and retrieved my cellphone, eager to research about "Thiopental Sodium." As I delved into its meaning and uses, doubts and apprehension began to arise. Why was there an empty bottle of it in my brother's room? From what I understood, it is an anaesthetic agent typically utilized to sustain unconsciousness during surgical procedures, but my brother was not undergoing any operation.

It was totally strange!

I need to talk to dad and mom about this because I feel like there was something wrong. I suddenly remembered about Uncle Sam and Doctor Smith's private conversation, then dad's men who went out and left the post. Then this empty bottle of thiopental sodium.

I called my father, requesting to speak privately with him regarding a matter of great importance. He agreed to our meeting without posing any further questions. I sensed his excitement, perhaps assuming it had to do with me taking my brother's position in META.

"I don't feel that Reid is safe here anymore," I pondered. A negative intuition told me that someone deliberately administered the thiopental sodium to prolong his unconsciousness. If this continued, there could be potential severe complications.

Suddenly, my stomach growled, reminding me of my hunger. I realized that I had only consumed a cup of coffee in the morning and had yet to eat lunch. Temporarily leaving my brother's side, I checked if my father's men were stationed nearby. Fortunately, I spotted Arthur and requested him to buy some food for me. Although I preferred not to eat inside the hospital, I didn't want to leave my brother alone until Mom arrived.

After some time of waiting, Arthur arrived, bringing my favorite foods; scallion pancakes, pork dumplings, beef noodle soup, and tuna crispy rice. I placed them on the bedside table and began to eat. I looked at Reid and I feel pity for him.

"Bro, I know these are some of your favorites. Please get well soon, and we'll eat together, I promise," I softly whispered before indulging in the food.

Several hours passed, and the nurse assigned to monitor my brother's vital signs returned to the room. As soon as she entered, she greeted me with a smile. I observed her, noticing that her eyes once again wandered around the room.

"Are you searching for something, Miss?" I inquired.

"Um, I'm actually looking for my wallet, sir. I believe I dropped it here last night," she responded. She then smiled softly, her gaze fixed on me as she bit her lower lip.

"What is it, Miss?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

She shook her head, implying that it was nothing significant. Then she left, throwing a flirtatious glance at me while swaying her hips seductively. I was accustomed to such behavior and understood its implications. While she was undeniably attractive and alluring in her above-the-knee white skirt, I needed to suppress what was bulging inside.

"For God's sake, Royce!" the other side of my brain exclaimed, reminding me to stay focused and composed.