On their way to drop off Cecilia, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and saw it was her mother.
"Mum, are you back now?"
"We're at the airport. The driver's here to pick us up," her mother replied.
Cecilia's father chimed in, "I hope my daughter has been behaving herself?"
Cecilia laughed. "Yes, Dad, I've been on my best behavior."
Xsmyv listened, a little wistful as she observed Cecilia's close bond with her parents. Cecilia, the cherished only child and beloved daughter of Peter and Rose Dickens, had always been doted on. After five years of struggling to conceive, Cecilia had been a blessing to her parents. Due to her mother's fragile health, doctors advised against another pregnancy. Though Rose had once wished to give Peter a son, he'd refused, insisting that his love for her mattered more than anything else. They poured all their devotion into their only child, showering her with attention and love.
"I was once cherished like that," Xsmyv thought, a pang of longing stirring in her heart.
"We've arrived, madam," Jasper's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Cecilia, distracted by her call, hadn't noticed they'd reached her home.
"Oh, Xsmyv, make sure you look stunning for the dinner tonight! Send me photos! I'll see you soon." Cecilia gave her friend a quick hug before stepping out of the car.
Xsmyv waved goodbye, and as Jasper pulled away from the curb, she said, "Jasper, could we please go to the hospital? I'd like to visit my uncle."
"Of course, madam," he replied.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Shante and her mother Claire stood beside the bed of a man lying in a coma.
"Yaya, you brought this on yourself," Claire muttered, a bitter edge to her voice. "How could you even consider leaving De Richards Hotel to anyone but your own family? Why would it go to Xsmyv?"
Shante nodded, her face darkening. "Does he even care about us, Mum? How could he prioritize her over his own daughter?"
Their resentment ran deep. Chief Yaya had long managed De Richards Hotel, acting as President with the promise to eventually return it to Xsmyv, his late brother's only child. As her father's lawyer and loyal younger brother, Yaya had always felt indebted to him. After their parents' death, his brother had sent him to school, supported him, and ensured his future was secure. In gratitude, Yaya vowed to honor his brother's wishes. Since his brother's tragic passing, Yaya's family had moved into his brother's home, and he managed the hotel in Xsmyv's stead until she could eventually reclaim her rightful place.
But his loyalty had become a point of contention. His wife and children resented him for putting Xsmyv's inheritance first. They viewed her not as a niece but as an obstacle to the wealth and status they believed should be theirs. The idea of him "giving back" De Richards to Xsmyv was unthinkable to them.
As the two women stood there, their words simmered with resentment.
Xsmyv entered the hospital room, finding her aunt and cousin by her uncle's bed, their expressions dark. Ignoring them, she stepped closer to check on her uncle.
Claire's voice sliced through the silence, laced with hostility. "What are you looking at? Do you think I'd harm a man in a coma?"
Xsmyv met her aunt's glare. "I wouldn't be surprised if you did."
Fury flared in Shante's eyes. "How dare you speak to my mother like that, you… slut! You don't even have a backbone. Going around with old men just to get what you want."
"Old men?" Xsmyv raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Yes," Shante snapped. "Are you going to deny that the man in the Rolls Royce at the breakfast bar, the one who gave you that black card, isn't some old fool keeping you?"
Xsmyv looked at Shante, barely able to mask her disdain. "Are you talking about yourself? Because I wouldn't stoop to your level. Unlike you, I have class."
Shante's face flushed with anger, and Claire crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed.
Xsmyv felt a surge of satisfaction as she maintained her composure. She turned her back on them, focusing on her uncle, whose steady breathing was a reminder of the battle he was fighting.