On the outskirts of a large city, an old building was hidden among the trees in a lush forest. A matte black car with tinted windows stopped in front of the building's entrance and two people came out of it.

An old man with gray hair and an elegant white suit, and a woman in a blue clerk's dress. The woman fixed the frames of her glasses and approached the door of the building while the man followed her with his arms folded behind his back.

The woman rang the doorbell button and a few seconds later a female voice was heard from the intercom.

"Clifford Mental Hospital reception, how may I help you?"

The woman brought her face close to the intercom and stated:

"We have a meeting with the president of the hospital. In the name of Linda Hugh"

"Let me look..."

The voice behind the intercom went silent and only the faint sound of papers moving could be heard.

"Miss... Linda Hugh, come in"

A faint sound was heard from the door indicating that the lock had been removed and the woman thanked her before pushing the door from the side and making way for the man behind her with clear respect.

"Come in, President Leonard"

"Thanks, Linda" The man returned a slight smile to the woman and entered the building.

The woman waited for the man to enter and then followed him releasing the door which closed automatically.

Inside, there was a large open reception area with a simple counter on the other side of the entrance. There, a woman was typing something on a computer while waiting for guests to approach.

As the man and woman approached the counter, the receptionist stood up and began to indicate to them.

"The president is waiting for you in his office, this way"

The receptionist began walking down a hallway and the two followed her silently. Soon after, they reached the end of the hallway where there was a wooden double door with shiny silver handles.

The receptionist knocked on the door twice and a male voice was heard from inside.

"Come in"

The receptionist opened the door for the duo and waited for them to pass through before closing it again and returning to the counter.

Inside the president's office, a man with a brown suit, brown hair and large dark circles under his eyes greeted the duo with a smile.

"President Leonard, it's a pleasure to meet you"

The man stood up and approached the president to shake his hand.

Leonard received the man's greeting and greeted him as well.

"President Dereck, I am honored"

Dereck guided them to sit on the leather couches in front of his desk as he shook his head.

"I'm just the owner of a small psychiatric hospital in the middle of nowhere, I don't deserve to be called president by someone like you, sir. Just call me, Dereck."

Leonard and Linda settled back on the couch.

"You just did this business, you deserve the title...Mr. Dereck"

The two men continued talking for a few minutes until Dereck became serious and looked at Leonard as he folded his hands and rested his chin on them.

"So, tell me President Leonard, with what motive do you come to a place like this? Even personally"

Leonard also became serious and in business mode as he crossed one leg over the other and raised his hand gracefully.

"I come in search of someone"

The president looked at him with confusion.

"Do you have any family members admitted to my clinic?"

Leonard shook his head.

"No, not a relative."

Dereck narrowed his eyes and looked at him with some consternation.

"If he's not a relative I can't let you visit-"

"Arlan Vondel" Leonard interrupted Dereck and called out a name.

"Arlan Vondel?"

The first thing Dereck did was try to remember the patient with the name Arlan Vondel but with over 100 inpatients, it was hard to remember them all. And even more so if he didn't have direct contact with them as the nurses did.

Dereck wondered why President Leonard was looking for someone in his clinic, so he opened one of his desk drawers and rummaged through the sections of patients whose name began with the letter A.

"Arlan Vondel..."

Being one of the first profiles, Dereck pulled out a cardboard folder corresponding to Arlan Vondel and opened it.

Remembering the patient in question, his frown became noticeable, and he turned to look at the man who was looking at him with a smile.

"However, Mr. Leonard, I can't let you visit him if he's not a relative"

Leonard settled back on the couch swapping the crossed leg for the other and waved his hand towards Linda.

"I understand Arlan is 16? then I'd like to adopt him"

Dereck looked at him with clear skepticism and quickly tried to refute him.

"Mr. President, I'm afraid I can't accept your condition. What you are asking of me is beyond my capacity--"

Linda got up from the couch and walked over to the desk where she handed Dereck a folder.

"You don't have to worry about the legal part, President Dereck. We already have everything set up"

Dereck received the folder from Linda and opened it to see its contents.

There were several sheets with legal procedures for adoption by the regulatory body, and after a glance, Dereck confirmed that the papers were completely legal and contained nothing suspicious.

They also had paperwork to get the patient out from the clinic, so they were within their rights to take him out.

Dereck sighed internally and rearranged the papers in the folder.

"Are you sure you want to adopt him? I am aware that he will have better care if he is under your responsibility, it's just that Arlan Vondel... is somewhat problematic"

Leonard was curious at Dereck's words and looked at him with interest.

"Is that so? then explain it to me. After all I want to know everything about my new son"