AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Beads of sweat appeared on Samson’s forehead as his lips turned up into a shy smile. “I’m in my last year of college. I help out at my family’s firm as much as I can, so I can learn things now, because once I’m done with my studies, I’ll take over it.”
“Leave him be,” Sienna said to Xavier when he opened his mouth to further interrogate Samson. He nodded and gestured for her to follow Samson inside.
The mansion gave off an old vibe with a perfect addition of strength. It was like the marble house from Rhode Island except that the outside was black instead of white. It was as if the building was surrounded by an air of danger and mystique.
Sienna had never visited the Aghayan home before because she didn’t have the reason to. Seeing what her new home could be left her feeling humbled.
“We moved her bedroom to the ground floor to make it easier for her to move around,” he said, then paused. “Well, she’s not moving around much, but when the disease progressed, it was hard for her to climb all those stairs.”
“How is she doing now?” Sienna asked, some part of her wanting to prepare herself for what she was about to see.
“Most of the time, she’s high on morphine. It helps with the pain,” he explained. “You’re lucky because today seems to be one of her lucid days.”
Samson stopped before the large oak door and gave Xavier a meaningful look. “You’ll have to wait outside. Miss Ryder’s the only one who can get in.”
Xavier gave Sienna a questioning look and she nodded. It was something she had to do alone. Sienna took a deep breath, then pushed the heavy door open and walked in, finding herself a bit disoriented in the dim light of the room after Samson closed the door behind her.
The room used to be Dalia’s office before they adapted it to fit her needs. The old widow didn’t stop working until her body forced her to. She lay on a hospital bed with an oxygen mask covering half of her face. Her frame was a lot smaller than the last time Sienna saw her, making it clear that the cancer was consuming her.
With tentative steps, Sienna approached the bed and sat on the chair next to it. Dalia appeared to be sleeping, and she didn’t want to wake her. Various IV drips hung on the side, pumping her veins with medicine. It was a sad sight to see someone so powerful decay into nothingness.
“Sienna?” Dalia said with a hoarse voice.
“I’m here,” Sienna said, jumping to her feet so the widow could see her better. “Do you need anything?”
“Water.”
Sienna looked around and saw a pitcher of water. She filled a glass, then carefully brought it to Dalia’s lips. After a few gulps, the widow seemed a little bit better, although her eyes were still glazed over, which was unlike the usual alertness Sienna was used to. Samson said she was having one of her lucid days, so maybe her mind would be sharp enough to hold a conversation.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” Dalia said, her voice sounding stronger.
“I’m sorry—”
Dalia lifted her small hand in dismissal, then smiled. “You’re here now. We need to talk.”
Not wanting to interrupt, Sienna settled back into the chair and let the dying widow do all the talking.
“Samson and his father are good people. They’ve served my family well. Listen to their counsel. We’re their only clients. They’ll help you navigate your new fortune,” Dalia said, keeping her sentences short to take a breath between them.
Dalia nodded her head at the small piles of boxes on the table. Sienna opened one, seeing it was full of files organized by dates and names.
“Those are only some of the secrets about the powerful families that we got ahold of. Whoever said that money is power was lying. It’s knowledge that controls everything. Money will always follow information,” Dalia told her, then chuckled, which turned into a coughing fit.
Sienna returned to her bedside and wiped her mouth with a tissue. Dalia gripped her hand, giving her an intense look.
“All of that is yours. Study it carefully, but don’t share it with anyone. Secrets lose value if too many people know them. Trust only yourself,” Dalia told her with a serious voice and only let her go when Sienna nodded.
“I promise not to let you down. I’ll find a way to keep the Aghayan name alive,” Sienna promised her.
“One more thing,” Dalia said, her voice a lot weaker now. She gestured for Sienna to lean closer. “Protect Tina.”
Sienna’s eyes widened at the request. There was nothing she could do for Lyle’s wife, but for the old widow’s sake, she knew she’d have to.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Your best isn’t enough. Promise me that you’ll protect her. She’s family. Yours too,” Dalia said, her breathing becoming shallower and faster.
“I promise,” Sienna said, knowing that she’d have to honor it. A promise given to a dying person was as binding as death’s finality.
