Bruce and Sheldon walked closer to them. Sheldon stared Mr Appleford in the eye with a smirk, then glanced at Leo.
"Leonardo Appleford," he said, "I have been informed of the horrible things my son did to you. I have been a terrible father since I couldn't raise my son to be nice." He looked at the camera with an apologetic expression on his face.
"I apologize on behalf of my son," he added and glanced briefly at Bruce. Bruce quickly bowed his head like his father had done.
They both raised their heads soon after. Sheldon looked toward the reporters as camera flashes went off around him.
"Sir, since your son bullied a student from the high school you established, what punishment are you going to give him?" a female reporter asked.
"No matter who Bruce may be—whether he's my son or not—I will be just, and I will punish him according to the rules of my school. I will suspend him for two weeks," Sheldon said and looked at Mr Appleford.
He stepped closer to Mr Appleford. "I know our apology won't cut it, but please let me handle his hospital bills," Sheldon said and hugged Mr Appleford with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Don't you dare pay my son's hospital bills. I am capable of paying them. Your son drugged my son and you're only apologizing for beating him up," Mr Appleford whispered with a smile while grinding his teeth.
"I dare you to tell the reporters that my son drugged your son and then wait for my anger," Sheldon threatened in a whisper, still wearing a wide smile.
He released Mr Appleford from the hug and stood upright. Mr Appleford looked at the reporters and hesitated to speak.
"Mr Sheldon's son…" he began, then looked Sheldon in the eye. He gulped and adjusted his shirt.
He coughed slightly. "Mr Sheldon's son may have done this to my son, but I know that, given the type of man Mr Sheldon is, his son won't repeat it again," Mr Appleford said. Sheldon grinned from ear to ear.
"That's all. Let's all leave him to rest," Sheldon announced. Then they all moved out of the ward one by one.
Mr Appleford exhaled and sat on the bed beside Leo. Leo, who had been watching the scene with an expressionless look on his face, closed his eyes. That scene from his childhood flashed before him.
In the past, Sheldon walked into the room after Leo's mother was shot dead. Mr Appleford quickly rushed inside, pushing through the bad guys—each holding a gun—and covered Leo, who was crying on the floor.
Sheldon looked down at them. "What a pity. You should have just left the position to me when I told you so," he said with a dark expression on his face.
"We built this family. Why should you try to take it from me when I did most of the hard work?" Mr Appleford replied.
"That's what Will told me, but he and his wife are dead now—died in a car crash that I caused."
"What? You evil—" Mr Appleford started to say, but Sheldon pointed a gun at Leo's head.
"You know I like you better than Will. I will leave you and your son alive if you leave the family to me," Sheldon threatened. Mr Appleford stared at the gun pressed to his son's head.
"Wait. I'll leave it to you, but I will also leave the family," Mr Appleford said.
"You know it's hard to leave the family, but my people will surely agree to permit you, so count yourself lucky," Sheldon replied and signalled to Mr Cole, his personal assistant.
Mr Cole stretched out a book and pen toward Mr Appleford. He hesitated at first, then took them and signed the book. Mr Cole collected it and stepped back.
"You should have done that before you let your wife die. You should have known that I can rule this family better than you. More people want me in that position than they want you there," Sheldon said. He turned to leave as his men also turned to follow. Then he looked back.
"Don't try to involve the police or the law, because we killed together. So if you try to bring me down, we will go down together." With that, they all left.
Mr Appleford watched them go, then looked at Leo. Leo stood up crying and ran away.
He came back to reality and opened his eyes as tears ran down his cheeks.