The Secret Heir Return To Wealth And Love

The day's grueling physical therapy session had concluded, leaving Wayne pale as a ghost, save for the row of indentations his teeth had left on his lips from biting down in pain.

After a short while, Penn strolled into the room. Getting a warm glass of water for Wayne, he took a seat beside him, his presence a comfort in the sterile hospital room.

"Your wife mentioned that the kitten you and your daughter rescued has turned into a little tyrant," Penn said with a gentle smile. "And Mrs. Jared has been fussing over your son, saying there's nothing to worry about with him and she's already nattering on about his future wedding bells."

"They've got their sights set on Trista," Wayne rasped, his voice hoarse.

"Baillie Scott's daughter?" Penn inquired.

Wayne nodded, his thoughts drifting like clouds in a vacant sky.d2

His illusion "Ayden" was still in the room, donning a white shirt and denim overalls, seemingly in good spirits despite the patchwork of bruises and scars marring his body.

Wayne averted his gaze, focusing all his attention on Penn.

"What else did she say?" Wayne asked, eager for news from the outside world.

"A whole bunch, I'll tell you bit by bit..." Penn's voice was smoothing and clear, bringing tales from Moonlit Lake-Max's recovery, little Ivy's award-winning painting, and Cory who had breezed through three years of education and was now adapting to working life. After a year's gap, Bane Corporation's Al was due for a generational upgrade, with Tech Seven fully committed to the task.

Listening was a struggle for Wayne, but he yearned for the connection to home.

Once Penn had finished, noting the thinly veiled pain on Wayne's face, he offered, "Wayne, we can ease up on the intensity of the therapy."

Without hesitation, Wayne shook his head. "If it's within the parameters you've set, it's fine."

He paused, looking out at the lush greenery beyond the window.

"H City must be getting cold by now, snow will soon follow, and then it's the Christmas. I want to be home for the holidays."

Penn nodded in agreement. "Alright."

Exiting Wayne's room, Penn hastily donned his lab coat and made his way to the underground laboratory.

Rosalynn had poured a fortune into supporting the development of the serum being used on Wayne, and now Penn was practically living in the lab. Between caring for Wayne and conducting experiments, the costs were astronomical, but Rosalynn never questioned the progress nor the expenses.

Penn could feel her trust and was determined to accomplish what both his parents had dedicated their lives to, and what he too had poured his heart into for so many years.

Once the serum was perfected, Wayne could go home. And Ayden could go home, too.

Penn's eyes drifted to the family portrait hanging outside the protective glass of the lab-his father could rest assured, too.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Wayne, due to the combination of therapy and medication, spent most of his time in a drug-induced haze. In his lucid moments, he took to writing in a journal—a practice he once despised.