Romancing The Highlander

CHAPTER FORTY | BETRAYED

CHAPTER FORTY | BETRAYED

Dominic

“MR. LORENZO was diagnosed to have Coronary Artery Disease or CAD, Atty. Trinidad. The arteries on Mr. Lorenzo's heart harden and thicken, narrowing the channel through which blood can flow because of his uncontrolled high blood pressure.”

Iyon ang mahabang paliwanag ni Dr. Zamora sa akin, doktor ni Mr. Lorenzo na pumasok kasunod ng sekretarya niya matapos maka-alis ni Heart at Dr. Lorenzo kasama ng mga bata. Hindi ko malaman bakit narito ako kinakausap ng doktor sa puso ni Mr. Lorenzo imbis na ang pamilya niya. Mr. Lorenzo is a well-dignified and family oriented man. Hindi siya aasenso ngayon kung 'di dahil sa suporta ni Dr. Lorenzo.

“Are you not going to ask me why I request your here, Atty. Trinidad?” tanong ni Mr. Lorenzo sa akin.

Hindi ako agad nakasagot. Mr. Lorenzo was an enemy to me even if he became my client for five years. Kahit inis na inis ako sa kanya dahil sa pagiging indecisive niya, siya pa rin iyong kliyente na hinahangaan ko nang palihim. Mr. Lorenzo is a self-made multi-billionaire and with the support of his wife, he continuously excel in the chosen field. Saka nakikita ko sa kanya si Papa iyon nga lang, maluwag pa siya at mabait.

“Why did you ask me to stay here, Mr. Lorenzo? Hindi ba dapat ay si Dr. Lorenzo at Heart -” Natigil ako sa pagsasalita. Inisip ko maigi ang posibleng dahilan bakit ako ang pinag-stay niya imbis na ang pamilya. Hanggang sa mapagtanto ko na siya ang bagong pamilya ni Heart tapos may sakit siya. When it finally sink in to me, I glanced at Dr. Zamora immediately. “He's not dying, right?”

“What kind of question is that? Do you want me to die?” Sunod-sunod na tanong sa akin ni Mr. Lorenzo at bahagya na nataas ang kanyang boses. “What an ungrateful jerk? Ano ba ang nagustuhan ng anak ko sayo?”

“Can you quit talking about dying? Hindi ka pa pwedeng mamatay, Mr. Lorenzo. You and your wife is Heart's new family and you cannot just speak to it as if you're watching a soccer match.”

“You mentioned it first, Dominic,” paalala niya sa akin. “At hindi ko naman iiwan ang anak ko hangga't 'di ko nasisiguro na mabubuhay mo siya at si Millie. May balak ka ba na pakasalan si Heart?”

“I do have but the point of this conversation is you being sick, Mr. Lorenzo.”

“Alam ko at si Dr. Zamora ang magpapaliwanag sayo ng lahat nang gagawin nila sa akin sa US. Habang itong si Leo ang magpapaliwanag sa hihiling ko na pabor sayo,” tumingin ako sa dalawang kasama namin sa kwarto. “Go on, Hector. Explain to my future son-in-law everything and Leo, you'll be reporting to him starting today.”

“Atty. Trinidad, Mr. Lorenzo will undergone Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Sa Atlanta, Georgia gagawin ang operasyon dahil mas higit na advance ang gamit doon kaysa dito. Sa edad kasi si Mr. Lorenzo, mahirap na mag-take ng risk.” Dr. Zamora opened his tablet and show me a video of what they're going to do. “We will create a graft to bypass blocked coronary arteries using a vessel from another part of Mr. Lorenzo's body. This surgery will allows blood to flow around the blocked coronary artery.”

“Gaano kalaki ang chance na magiging successful ang operasyon?”

“Around 80%, Atty. Trinidad. The recovery will take a year but Mr. Lorenzo is known for being workaholic. He cannot live a day without working that's why I ask him if he can leave the company to his trusted personnel.”

Sumenyas si Mr. Lorenzo dahilan upang mapatingin ako sa kanya. “Ito ang dahilan kaya minadali ko ang adoption. I need an heir to handle my company but Heart isn't ready for that. Baka kainin siya sa mga leon sa kumpanya kaya ikaw ang pag-asa ko, Dominic. You have to mold Heart and helped excel while handling our company.”