THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 242: SECOND CHANCE

Chapter 242: SECOND CHANCE

The same knock that sounded on Grant’s door for the past six months,sounded once more that morning.

Just like Grant had done every morning for the last six months, he opened the door, and ushered Alexander in.

"Any update?" Alexander asked, hanging his coat by the door side.

"Not yet. He just sits, and stares through that window all day," Grant replied.

Alexander sighed, as he drew closer to Ace Atticus.

He had expected that within this time frame, Ace would have gotten better psychologically at least.

His injuries had healed faster than he had expected, and that was what gave him the hope that the emotional scars would follow.

But he could see Ace was clearly holding on to the pain, so he wouldn’t face the reality.

"Hey, good morning." He dragged a seat, and sat beside him.

"I know you still don’t want to talk to anyone, but I’m here to give you some daily updates, and then check the injury in your head. Is that okay?"

He didn’t respond as usual, but it had never stopped Alexander from going ahead, anyway.

"Your daughter, Dream, she starts school today. That’s the biggest update I have for you."

Alexander wasn’t expecting any reaction from him, because he had simply been mute since he recovered.

However, from the corner of his eyes, he caught Ace’s fist tightening.

It could either be he felt sorry he couldn’t have driven her himself for her first day of school, or he was extremely excited that she had started school.

Whatever the case was, they were finally getting a reaction.

"Now I’ll check your head."

A couple of minutes later, Alexander was done with all of his administration.

Grant walked him to the door, but as they approached it, they stopped to talk.

"He’s going to get better, isn’t he? He has to," Grant said, looking over his shoulder worriedly.

"He will. He’s a big boy. I’m certain he thinks he’s suffered an unrecoverable loss, and that’s why he’d rather wither away. He needs some solid motivation, and very fast," Alexander suggested.

"I thought so too. That’s why I called Sir Landon. They’re best of friends. As close as brothers. He would know how to get through to him."

"And Fay? She would too. They love each other," Alexander said, despite how much it pained him to admit it..

Six months ago, he had been preparing for her child’s birthday when the night before, he had gotten a frantic call from Grant.

When he arrived at the location he was directed to, his heart had dropped to his mouth.

Ace Atticus was in a fatal condition, with little to no chance of surviving.

Grant couldn’t bring him to a real hospital either, because it wasn’t safe for him.

It had taken a lot, a whole lot of miracles for him to survive.

"Maybe there was a God after all," Alexander had thought when it became clear Ace would survive.

"I don’t think he wants her around now. He probably thinks he has caused her too much pain. Sir Landon would suffice," Grant said.

"Alright. Whatever you do, make sure he takes his medication. He must continue to walk around daily too. His body needs that circulation."

"Thank you doctor Alexander." Grant bowed in appreciation.

Alexander nodded, as he walked out of the room.

The day continued with Grant gathering as much information as needed for when Ace finally decided to snap out of his depression.

It was his same routine for the past six months.

However, when a knock sounded on the door again, he knew what time it was.

Ace was taking a nap. A nap he would jolt from soon, mumbling the strangest of things.

Grant felt sorry for him. The kind of mental pain he must be in wasn’t to be wished on anyone.

Taking a deep breath, Grant walked to the door, and opened it.

"It’s really you," Landon said the second he set eyes on the man who had once been the company’s best employee, ten out of twelve months in a year.

"Sir Landon." Grant staggered back in exhaustion.

He had been dealing with Ace’s condition all alone.

There was no one he could trust to talk about it, except for doctor Alexander, who wasn’t always available.

He hoped he was doing the right thing by bringing Landon in.

At least, there would be someone to share the burden with.

"Why did you want to see me, Grant?" Landon asked, entering into the room.

He had been shocked when he got the message from Grant.

The shock had rapidly graduated into curiosity.

Ace, before his disappearance six months ago, told him how Grant kept insisting he had something to tell him.

As far as he was concerned, he owed it to his friend to see what his former personal assistant had to say.

"Please come with me, sir Landon," Grant said, after mustering some courage.

He thought it was best to show, than to tell him.

Landon nodded, and followed after him. Whatever it was, it had to be important for him to be acting weirdly, he thought.

Grant walked into the room that was only closed when Ace was asleep.

It was always open because everytime he was awake, he spent a good portion of his day, seated in the living room, facing the window.

Landon followed behind, still not understanding what he wanted to tell him that couldn’t be said, without all of the creepy excesses.

"There’s someone you need to see. There he is." Grant pointed to the bed.

Ace was facing the wall, so Landon had to draw closer to the bed to see who it was.

But even before he stretched to peep, his mind had drawn an image.

An image which made his heart skip a beat the second he saw it was a match.

He jerked back, and almost crumpled to the ground.

"What is this, Grant? That’s Ace!" He said in a loud, but shaky voice.

Even through the bandaged head, overgrown hair, and beards, he could recognize his friend, anywhere, and any day.

Ace’s sleep was disturbed by the sound of his voice.

He was slightly grateful, because his restless dreams were just about to begin.

Turning, he began to stir awake from his sleep.

"Are you going to answer me, Grant? Why’s Ace here, and why does he look so— so—"

Landon paused, because he wasn’t exactly sure of the right words to describe Ace’s appearance.

"I can explain," Grant said with shaky lips, as a tear rolled down his eyes.

"Well you better! Because—" Landon whipped his head behind, and saw Ace had sat up.

"Ace," he called in a breathless voice.

Ace looked up on hearing his name from a different voice. A voice that was very familiar.

A flicker of recognition passed through his eyes, on seeing Landon.

Happiness that wasn’t as equal to the one he got when he heard about his daughter starting school that morning, but close to it nonetheless, surged through him.

Landon understood him. They were brothers, and he understood him as one.

If only he could just bring himself to say something. To open his mouth and talk.

If only it didn’t hurt so much to talk, because it was a reminder he had survived what was supposed to be his final breath on earth.

"Ace!"

Landon dropped to the bed, and pulled him in for a hug.

As he hugged him, tears dropped from his eyes.

He had searched everywhere for him. At one point, he grew really worried when no one had so much as spotted Ace in the six months of his absence.

Every airport he had connections with told him they had not seen Ace around.

It could only have meant he didn’t leave the City, so where the hell was he?

He had so many unanswered questions that had scared him to death.

As it would turn out, he was right to have been scared.

Someone had hurt Ace. Someone had hurt his best friend. His brother. And that someone was going to pay the second he found out who they were.

"You fool! Why didn’t you call me all this while? You bloody fool!" He cursed through the tears, as he clung on to him tightly.

Grant sniffled, and threw his face to the side.

He had been right to call Landon. Things would get better for Ace, and that was all that mattered to him.

"Hey, talk to me man," Landon said a few minutes after he had finally gotten the strength to pull away.

Ace wanted to, but it was too hard to hear his own voice.

"Can I talk to you in private, sir Landon?" Grant requested.

Landon looked closer at Ace again. Something was wrong, but he was here now.

He would find out what it was, even if it was the last thing he ever did in his lifetime.

"Sure Grant. Let’s talk," he stood up from the bed, and gave Ace one last stare, before heading out with Grant.