Despised at First Sight — Chapter THIRTY – FOUR – A DYING WISH

Mark and Tom were already seated in the courtroom when we arrived. I hated the way my coming into their lives has made them enemies. I wish I could take back the hands of time. I was also thinking of how Mark could still be here when Tilda was in the hospital. Is this hearing that important to him? I kept asking myself this question over and over again.

Tom's eyes brighten when he sees us and walks to hug me and Tracy.

"Who is he?" Sir Max asks with a questionable look.

"I will tell you about myself after the court proceedings," Tom says with a smile. Mark's Dad enters the court and I couldn't hide my surprise. He was never in any of the hearings and I wonder what changed.

He walks over to Mark and whispers something in his ear. Then what begins as a whisper, starts getting loud, as if they were arguing.

"What the heck son, you should have told me". He said.

"Dad, this is personal. You are not invited to this hearing". Mark said

"If it's personal, then you shouldn't complicate the company. Mixing business with private elements is wrong." His dad said.

"Dad, I have sacrificed everything for you. This is the only thing I get to do for myself so please trust me on this". Mark says with confidence. I was dumbfounded when I heard him saying that this was the only thing he was doing for himself. He must be hiding something.

"You don't understand the gravity of what you have done". Mark's dad scolds, signaling Sir Max "He is here because of this case. He is the one who told me about everything and requested to see me here." No matter the arrogance and coldness, Mark could not hide the visible regret on his face. We sat there pretending we were not interested in the conversation but I think we were all eager to know what was coming next.

"Who is he?" Mark asked but the judge walked in and we all rose in unison. Fortunately, Mark requested a private hearing and has treated this case with maximum confidentiality, keeping the public, and media away.

The judge settles down and Mark walks to the front, whispering something in his ear, making the judge nod in the affirmative.

"I wish to withdraw the legal charges filed against Miss Maya Jacobs. I also want to apologize for the time wasted on all those present here. So if you don't mind, I'll take my leave." He was about to get up when his Dad pulls him down.

"It doesn't work that way son, you don't leave before the judge". He rebuked.

Inwardly, I was very happy with the withdrawal of the case. It hasn't been easy meeting Tom's lawyers every inch of the way. The smile on Tracy's face showed she felt the same way and even Tom looked relieved. But Sir Max had no expression on his face. I thought he will be happy for me but I didn't seem to see it in his eyes. Everything began to make sense the moment he spoke.

" Since we are all together, I think it's time to lay some stakes for my daughter, Maya."

"Your daughter"? Mark's dad exclaims.

Not biologically but Yes, she is the reason why I called to inform you to meet us in court." Sir Max said. So Mark's dad is the one Sir Max was talking to earlier.

"So you are the one who dragged my father into this? Look this is personal, not business. My dad had no idea what I was doing and I never meant to charge her or anything. I was merely using it to disorganize her a little." He said.

"Son, you are not making sense". His dad said.

" I know but you will soon understand." He said.

"If it's personal, then it involves me because she is my daughter. According to the documents here with me, she owns sixty percent shares in your company." Sir Max said stunning all of us. Well, all of us because I am not the only one with an astonishing look on my face. I mean, I never bothered to check those documents and I am just beginning to realize I own 60% shares in the company suing me. This means, even if Mark hadn't withdrawn the case, I could have won because my shares are enough to pay everyone off. I'm Just thinking but it's not something ill do. This news has left us speechless. The silence was interrupted by Mark's outrageous disagreement.

"That's not true. I know about the party that has been silent for over twelve years but the name is-"

"Maxwell Anderson", his dad responds.

"You knew this all along?" He asks with visible confusion.

"It's a long story son." His dad said.

"Which makes you agree to anything he says?" Mark asked.

"He bought the shares but I just realized he bought it in her name." His dad said.

"Because it's her money." Sir Max chips in.

"I don't understand". Mark said.

"I'll tell you." Sir Max said.

"Twelve years ago, your father's company suffered hardship. It became worse and he wanted to sell it off. I, on the other hand, was looking for a place to invest the money I got from her father's assets.

It wasn't the house and cars alone, Maya. Your father had a company too, was what I found out. I didn't have the know-how to manage it so I sold it to the Chinese. When I began searching for a place to invest, I met his dad. He needed almost the same amount of money for his company to survive. So I invested all the proceeds from your father's company. Since you were a minor. I made myself your trustee." He said, showing the document to the judge.

I know that my daughter is silly. She never opened the envelope for whatever reason I don't know but since I am here now, I will end my role as a trustee since she is of age and I insist that she has complete assess to her shares. He said with a smile.

The courtroom went dead silent with everyone lost in their own thoughts. Nobody said anything till the judge finally asked a question.

"Do you have anything to say?" The question was directed to Mark and his dad.

"Yes. I agree that everything he said is true. We will give her full access to her shares." Marks dad said.

"I'll take my leave then." The judge said and left the court premises. Tracy was the first to speak after the judge left.

"I can't believe my best friend is a billionaire." She expressed excitement.

"Congrats, Maya," Tom says.

"What?" I heard Marks's voice. "I am coming over but I can't bring her." I looked in his direction and observed that he was speaking on the phone.

"Okay, I will try." He says and hangs up looking at me. He had an expression of fear and admiration in his eyes which I clearly understood after what he told me.

"Tilda will like to see you if it's okay", he said.

"Tracy, please take Sir Max home," I said. I didn't want to entangle him in any of our problems but he was more stubborn than I thought.

"No, we are coming with you." He said.

We arrived at the hospital and Tilda was lying on the hospital bed in the VIP ward. Wait, did she shave her hair. She had lots of hair two days ago.

What's happened to you?' I asked almost in tears. She looked so pale and sick. She had circles under her eyes and seemed to have lost weight. I have never seen her like this. She always appears like a goddess but today, she looked sick.

"I don't have much time, so I thought you should not the truth". She said in a voice that was almost a whisper.

What are you talking about? I asked.

"I've had cancer for some years now. It's a rare one and there's nothing specialists can do about it. I don't want you to feel pity for me because I have enjoyed my life to the fullest. I have toured the world and have also been opportune to marry Mark. I have been a good daughter to my parents and fulfilled their wishes.

I didn't call you to sympathize with me. I only called to tell you the truth. My marriage to Mark is fake. We only did it to make our parents happy and also fulfill my dream of having a husband before I die.

Mark has been more of a friend and nanny to me. He takes very good care of me but we never got intimate. It's been you, Maya. You are the only woman he ever loves.

He sacrificed his love to grant my wish and that of his family. But he never stopped loving you. He talks about you all the time. I caught him crying and cursing himself countless times for all the pain he caused you because of me. Mark didn't want to do this from the beginning but when his dad sent those threat letters to you, he changed his mind because one way or the other, your life will be in danger and he couldn't bear to see that happen. He wanted to explain everything to you before we got engaged but we hid his phone from him so he never saw your calls and messages.

Maya, Mark loves you so much. Please forgive me for borrowing him without informing you. When you passed out on our engagement day, we wanted to tell you the truth but we were not allowed to see you when we got there so after you recovered, we decided to keep everything a secret as before.

Now I have just a few days to live and I have only one wish. That wish lies with you because you are the only one who can grant it. If you grant me that wish, I will rest in peace but if not, my ghost will hunt you in your dreams." She giggled weakly showing she didn't mean those words.

I want you to make him happy. He spent all his time making me happy but you are the only one who can make him happy.

I want to witness your wedding before I die."