For a while, the room fell into complete silence, with only the sound of everyone's heartbeat resonating in the air. Suddenly, Lucas shattered the silence with a shocking revelation, "Marvel, did you know I was your mother's first love? And did your father tell you how he forced himself on your mother, impregnating her with you?" As Lucas approached Marvel, he menacingly ran his index finger across her face, tracing a line from her forehead to her lips, smearing her blood from the cuts on her face.
Marvel's disdain for him grew even stronger, and in her frustration, she spat on his face, declaring, "Don't you ever speak of my mother, you murderer! You will pay for everything you have done, I promise you."
"You were supposed to be my daughter," Lucas continued with a devilish smile, "but your father used his wealth to sway your mother's affections away from me after forcing himself on her."
Marvel screamed in pain as Lucas tightened his grip on her chin, but before he could further torment her, Gandalf intervened, asserting, "Don't listen to him! I was there when it all happened, and I can attest that Lucas has been a devil since the day I first laid eyes on him. Your father always considered him a brother due to his kind heart. Years ago, when your grandfather enrolled both Lucas and your father in a new school, Lucas was thrilled. Being a sociable person, he quickly made friends..."
"S-sir," one of the guards interrupted from outside the door. Lucas turned around and made his way out without uttering another word. All the guards in the room followed suit, leaving Marvel, Gandalf, and the unfinished story behind.
****
"Goodbye, Lucas," a cheerful girl named Jane bid farewell.
"Goodbye, Jane. Don't forget to study for Mr. Bricks' exam," Lucas replied.
"Boys, hurry up. I need to run some errands for your father," Gandalf said, honking the horn of the limousine. The duo quickly hopped into the car, and Gandalf drove off.
"Would you like me to play some music, young boss?" Gandalf offered.
"Mmm..." Maverick pondered, considering whether to answer positively to the question, but before he could respond, Lucas interjected rudely.
"Can't you see we're having a conversation here?"
"I apologize, Lucas, but the question wasn't directed at you. I was asking the young boss," Gandalf retorted, glancing at the rearview mirror.
"Don't worry, Gandalf, we're fine. Is my father back from his trip?" Maverick inquired.
"Yes, but he just left on another business trip, and I don't expect him back today or tomorrow. However, your mother is at home, eagerly awaiting your return."
"Alright, thank you."
"Hey, dude, did you make any new friends?" Lucas asked. Maverick shook his head from side to side, indicating that he hadn't. Maverick was an introverted and shy individual, often found immersed in his books whenever he sat alone.
"What about you?" Maverick redirected the question toward Lucas.
"I'm charismatic and charming. Everyone wants to be my friend. I joined the basketball team today and was immediately given a spot on the first team. I even scored the highest points in the game. I was hoping you could talk to father and convince him to ask the coach to make me the new captain."
"Maverick, you should consider joining the football team. I think you'd be a great player," Gandalf suggested.
"Hahaha, no, I can't see myself wearing shorts in public. I don't want anyone to laugh at my skinny body," Maverick replied.
"Indeed, you're quite skinny. You should eat more and start working out every morning," Lucas mockingly remarked about Maverick's appearance.
"You're certainly skinny, but that can work to your advantage as a player. Skinny people are known for their speed, you know," Gandalf chimed in.
"Can you just focus on driving? Do you want him to trip while running?" Lucas ordered, silencing their conversation momentarily. But then Lucas brought up another topic, "I find Jane attractive, and I think she likes me too."
"Should I report that to Dad as well?" They both laughed for a moment. "You should tell her yourself that you have feelings for her, not me. Don't you think it's too early..." Maverick hesitated.
"What's too early?" Lucas frowned, seeking clarification.
"I... I mean, finding someone attractive whom you just met a few days ago, at the administration office?" Maverick clarified.
"Maverick, stop being old-fashioned. Why wait? When I see a girl I find attractive, I go straight to her. No time wasted," Lucas confidently stated.
The rest of their journey home was uneventful. Maverick asked Gandalf to stop at a flower shop, where he got off the car to pick a flower for his mother.
"What do you need the flowers for, young boss?" Gandalf inquired.
"For my mother, unlike someone here who finds strangers attractive," Maverick bluntly replied.
"That's a wonderful idea. I should get her some flowers too!" Lucas exclaimed excitedly, giving Maverick a hug.
"Here we are. I'll pick you guys up at 7 am. And Lucas, please don't keep me waiting," Gandalf said.
Lucas hurriedly exited the car without looking back, slamming the door of the limousine.
"Young boss, may I have a word with you?" I nervously swallowed, speaking up.
"Before you do, please call me by my name. I'm not your boss, and I didn't hire you. If you continue calling me boss, I'll have to report it to my mother," Maverick insisted.
"Okay, I'm sorry, sir... I mean, Maverick. Actually, I just wanted to caution you about Lucas. He can be manipulative and lead you astray," I said. "But please understand that Lucas is my brother, and he means no harm. I know he hasn't been kind to you, but I'll talk to him about it," Maverick assured me. "By the way, how is your wife? Is her health better now?"
"The doctor is asking for a deposit before they can proceed with the treatment. She has fibroids that need to be operated on as soon as possible," I explained.
"Is my father aware of this?" Maverick asked, concern evident on his face.
"No, he isn't," I replied. "But your father gave me some money for my wife's treatment and promised to inform your grandmother. Two days later, your grandmother called and instructed us to bring my wife to the family hospital for better care. Your grandparents were always compassionate, and your father inherited that trait," I explained as I freed myself from the chains that bound my arms.
"How did you manage to do that?" Marvel asked, intrigued.
"Do what? I just picked the locks, that's all," I smirked, releasing them one by one.
"What do we do now?" one of the hitmen asked.
"We'll wait for help to arrive, and in the meantime, I'll continue with the story," I said, preparing to resume my narration.