"Okay. Good to know. I'm Dr. James. Victor's doctor. Here to help. Do still feel pain all over your body?"

"Not really. Uncle Victor gave me pain killers and a little pomade to put on the wounds and bruises."

"I can see the wounds are dried up. And the bruises?"

"They don't hurt anymore. Though they're still there."

"Don't worry everything will be okay. Now I have to treat your knee."

"Okay."

He stood up and opened his briefcase before taking out some medical utensils from it. I was surprised.

"You're gonna treat me here?"

"Yeah." the man said amused, "Why go to a hospital when your uncle can get you his doctor to treat you at home."

This was too cool.

"Okay." I leaned back and allowed the man to do his job.

Some minutes later, after a medical knee massage, other stuff and a checkup, the doctor was done. He'd wrapped my knee up.

Uncle Victor's fiancee, Laury, came in and appr

A picture of Christina appeared onscreen. I felt my stomach twist and my throat go bitter as the bad memories of the ranch returned.

"She arrived Los Angeles with her daughters a week ago claiming that Mr Paul Wesley had signed all his property to her to keep till his son was grown enough to take over. But according to her, the little boy had disappeared weeks ago and after thorough search to no avail, he was proclaimed dead by the Sheriff of the town. As you might understand, Christina Welds is the new head of all Wesley dairy Products and all Wesley property."

Laury switched off the TV. I felt a lump in my throat. I felt awful. Hatred. My hatred increased on the spot. Christina would regret.

"I can't believe this." Laury was as shocked and upset as me.

"Now you know why I quitted. I'm not gonna be that witch's personal assistant."

I looked at him.

"But how will you do, uncle Vict

"Why didn't you call me?" he asked.

"What?"

"Why didn't you call me? I gave Lawyer Jay my card with my number on it to give you. Why didn't you call."

I looked at my fingers.

"Aunt Christina tore the card immediately after the lawyer left."

"What?? She did that?"

I nodded. Uncle Victor was fed up. He'd heard enough. He faced his front all speechless and unable to believe what he'd heard.

I leaned back into my seat and stared out the car's window, completely lost in thoughts. I was going away. Far away. From aunt Christina. From high meadows and its horrible memories. I had only three good memories, Uncle Ken, Dad and Heather. I looked at my arms and feet. Bruises. Dried up wounds and a still hurt knee. Tears welled up my eyes. I felt anger rise from within me. I felt something heavy in my throat. My mouth was bitter and my heart began to beat faster. Hatred. Yes. I felt sudden hatred and pain. And they all appeared at once in that truck. Yes, I'd just realised how much pain and hunger aunt Christina had made me go through for a year and a half. She'd taken advantage of my vulnerability as a child and my love for my dad to seize away my inheritance. How could someone be so wicked.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. I bit my lower lip hard in order not to make a sound. It was now that a lot of things ran through my mind. I was beaten, maltreated, starved and forced into slavery. I was not treated like a human being. I sobbed silently in the backseat. And then a final decision crossed my mind. I would never be the same again. I was done being the vulnerable and naïve little boy that always smiled and played like an idiot. I would be someone else to go along with my new identity. I would be me, that is, Sheridan, only around uncle Victor. I was going to revenge. I was going to be called Ace. And I was going to find out the truth behind my dad's death and that of uncle Ken.

Aunt Christina and Sawyer had ridiculed me. I couldn't actually blame Sawyer, she was only a stupid kid seeking her mother's attention. The blame was on Christina. Why would I call her aunt? She was a witch. She'd not only ridiculed me, she'd called me a bastard, an idiot, dumb, stupid and ugly. She'd called me ugly. She'd said no one would be dumb enough to like me. Revenge.

I wiped away my tears. She would regret.

Just at that moment, uncle Victor turned to me. He was about to say something but stopped when he noticed my swollen and red eyes.

"You're crying?"

"N– noo."

"But you're–"

"I'm not crying. My eyes hurt." I cut in quickly. He stared at me and just nodded before facing front. He'd clearly not believed me. As long as he didn't say anything, it was fine by me.

**

An hour later, we stopped at an airport at the entrance of a different town. It was populated as a lot people seemed to be travelling or returning. Uncle Victor paid Mr Thomas and we told him goodbye as he drove off.

Uncle Victor turned to me with a smile.

"You ready, buddy?" he asked, giving me his hand. I smiled back.

"Yes." I held his hand.

"Good."

We walked into the airport.

I'd never been to an airport. I was so excited. I looked at places with a broad smile on my face while uncle Victor showed our passports to the woman at the counter.

"Son?" he called and I turned. He motioned for me to come over and I did. He held my hand and we walked towards a door where a flight attendant collected our tickets. She then opened the door for us and we went through. I was soon in the plane itself! First class! Its interior was as big and beautiful as I'd imagined it. I was so happy.

We found our seats and settled.

"Ace." I said all of a sudden. Uncle Victor looked at me.

"What?"

"My new name. Ace."

He smiled.

"Ace, huh? Nice. Ace what?"

"I– I don't know yet."

"Ace. Ace stonewall."

I looked at him and repeated.

"Ace stonewall."

"You like it?"

"Yes!" I smiled happily.

"Then that's it."

The plane soon took of. I was still in awe. I looked through the window and saw clouds and the sky. I was so happy. I watched TV behind the seat in front of me and was served good food and drinks. As I remember, it was a great memory.

By the time we reach California, it was day time. I didn't know what day it was or the time cause we'd stayed up in the air for a really long time. I was still in awe. California was as big and cool as on TV. I could not believe it. I was in Los Angeles, California! I was.

We grabbed a taxi and headed for uncle Victor's home. We reached soon. His home was a mansion. Big! It was beautiful and rich.

We entered the house and a pretty woman of about twenty five welcomed us. Uncle Victor kissed her.

"Sheridan?"

"Yes?"

"This is my fiancee, Laury. Laury, this is Sheridan. Paul's son."

She turned to me with a broad smile.

"Paul's son?? Oh, dear how are you?" she hugged me. I whimpered a little because she'd touched a wound. She released me and that was when she noticed my bruises. She turned to uncle Victor.

"Victor? What happened to him??"

"Long story. I'll tell you. Let him rest."

"Oh, um okay."

I woke up the next morning to find a man in suit and tie by me. I sat up.

"Good morning, Sheridan. How did you sleep?" the man asked.

"Um, well."


"Okay. Good to know. I'm Dr. James. Victor's doctor. Here to help. Do still feel pain all over your body?"

"Not really. Uncle Victor gave me pain killers and a little pomade to put on the wounds and bruises."

"I can see the wounds are dried up. And the bruises?"

"They don't hurt anymore. Though they're still there."

"Don't worry everything will be okay. Now I have to treat your knee."

"Okay."

He stood up and opened his briefcase before taking out some medical utensils from it. I was surprised.

"You're gonna treat me here?"

"Yeah." the man said amused, "Why go to a hospital when your uncle can get you his doctor to treat you at home."

This was too cool.

"Okay." I leaned back and allowed the man to do his job.

Some minutes later, after a medical knee massage, other stuff and a checkup, the doctor was done. He'd wrapped my knee up.

Uncle Victor's fiancee, Laury, came in and approached us. She smiled at me.

"Good morning, Sheridan. How did you sleep?"

"Quite well." I smiled b

Chapter20