141 The Rescuer

Jim hurriedly approached and helped him to get up. Despite his anger, the inner beauty of his heart shone out in this critical moment. He was still the good and obedient son who never took grudges before this happened. His heart still had those rooms for forgiveness. No matter how wicked he was, he was still gripped with pity and love for his father.

However, when he pulled him gently to help him in standing up, his left arm and leg suddenly lose its strength. He groaned and tried to yell but his words were slurred and incomprehensible. Dr. Jim's heart suddenly hammered... When he lifted his head up to glance at him, he immediately saw the assymetry of his face. His other cheek drooped down. In his effort to speak out, his saliva drooled.

Unexpectedly, he was having a cerebrovascular accident or "stroke" in a layman's term...

Cerebrovascular accident is the medical term for a stroke. A stroke happens when the blood flow to a part of your brain is stopped either by a blockage or the rupture of a blood vessel. 

Jia returned to her senses when

she saw Jim lifting up his father. She immediately notified the hotel's medical staff.

Having him sat down in a chair with one arm supporting him, Jim broke into tears.

"Dad, I don't need to nag , blame or take my revenge against you anymore. This is your dreadful retribution for plotting against your own flesh and blood, your own son's family. See, this is even worse than serving your sentence inside a jail. Your incapabilities now imprison you with an indefinite term."

He went on, with everyone around as his witness.

"Can your wealth save you now? Can your wealth rehabilitate you instantly?"

"With all these sins you have done against me, can you still expect me to take care of you? "

As he cried harder, he slowly dropped himself to the floor as he covered his face with his two hands and squatted down on the floor in a fetal position. Jia suddenly took over in holding up Mr. Wayne.

As the medical staff came in, they immediately transferred Mr. Wayne into the stretcher. The nurse hastily checked his vital signs and attached him into an oxygen inhalation before the company doctor checked on him. Before they left, the doctor asked who was the immediate family.

Dr. Jim, who was still squatting with his head resting on his knees, replied.

"Bring him, please, to Catherine Fields Medical Center and admit him under Dr. Jim Wayne. Have someone inform the administrative council that Mr. Phyllis Wayne will be admitted to the ICU and the staff will surely know what to do."

As the medical staff left, Jia hurried to comfort Jim. She gently pulled his hand and he stood up. The tounge - tied and horrified audience slowly came forward to them.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Jim.."

"We're sorry, Dr. Jim.. "

"Sorry, Jim.."

Then, Dr. Grace who was too astounded with the revelation, approached him, likewise. Filled with immeasurable guilt, she hugged him.

"Forgive me, Dr. Jim. Everything that happened is too terrifying..."

Her eyes were already tearless from so much crying though her eye bags swelled like pink cherries. Then, she glanced at Jia whose eyes were swollen as well.

"I'm sorry, Jia. I did not know...

Tonight, the engagement was not for Dr. Jim but for Aijohn and me. "

Dr. Grace tried to relieve Jia's worries about the engagement because she was not here earlier. She ,now , understood the pain she must have suffered.

Jia smiled as she was hugged as well by Dr. Grace. Then, she glanced at Dr. Aijohn.

"Congratulations, Dr. Grace and Dr. Aijohn. "

Dr. Aijohn stared at Jia tenderly .Then, he smiled.

"Thank you, Anna."

Jia and the rest looked at him. He called her Anna?

Jim also thought that there was really something odd about him. Why did he know everything? Earlier, he was domineering. He was even giving orders. He knew those men who came in and even mentioned the name of Mr. Rex.

He was aware of every details. He even called Jia as Anna. He even knew about Judge Ramirez. He just coudn't understand why... As if he was the man behind the arrest of his father.

As if he read their thoughts, he began to unravel the tangles of his mystery.

"Let me introduce everyone..." Dr. Aijohn said as he started it with Brian.

Then, he added the other police officer with his men whom Mr. Wayne bribed lately. It was followed by Anthon, being the family friend of the couple. Then, lastly was Mr. Rex.

"Dr. Aijohn, I am so confused. Why do you know the details? I am even surprised at how everything turned out differently from the initial plan in the arrest of dad. I am so amazed at how you came into the picture. "

Jia stared at him without blinking. As if she did not want to miss any word from him. Her heart started to race...

Dr. Aijohn stared at her again.

"Because I am Rex older brother. " He smiled as he looked at their bewildered looks.

Jia's heart stopped a beat. "You are my rescuer? " Her eyes widened in great astonishment.

She just coudn't gather back the pieces. When they were in El Nido, they even barely talked. Yet, she remembered how he reacted after being introduced. She remembered how bothered were his looks and how he lost his enthusiasm...But why?

Dr. Aijohn nodded. "The moment I met you back in El Nido and knew that you are married to Dr. Jim, I started right away the rescue plan. Being the head researcher, I knew all about the marriage set up. I thought of ways to spare you from the pain, and the only way I had thought of was to draw away Gracie from the marriage arrangement."

Jia's mind was in deep chaos. Her thoughts went back to the day she was abducted even if Dr. Aijohn was still talking. Then, it took her back to that eerie house where she was brought into by Arvin. That peeble collections, those rare indoor plants, the frames hanging on the wall, the deer skull replicas, those abstract and oil paintings...were all because the owner was a scientist!

But what about the paintings?

Dr. Aijohn looked at Dr. Grace affectionately. " I tried hard to make you fall in love with me, not because you looked like Hailey, but because I want you to retract from the wedding plan."

So, the woman in that paintings was not Dr. Grace? But someone who looked like her and her name was Hailey?

Yes, it made a significance since Dr. Aijohn had just met Dr. Grace a month ago and that painting was already about a year old and beyond. .