Chapter 163
Lake:
Jojo still seemed to process everything I had just said. I could not blame her, it was not everyday someone heard that their child was about to be taken from them, and the father they had not seen in what? Eleven years, was a terrorist and rapist who was currently awaiting his death sentence. It was too much to handle. I let her take it all in, while I made a mental note to put measures in place, just to make sure I was ready for my father’s arrival. If I knew anything about my father, it was that he would not let the matter on ground wait till tomorrow, and I knew a whole lot about him.
I turned away from Jojo and looked around, searching for my phone. My right hand instinctively touched my back pocket. I slipped my phone from it and dialed Kenji’s number.
He picked up at the first ring. Thank you goddess!
“Lake, have you…?”
“Yes, Kenji.” I didn’t mean to, but I was breathing heavily. I could see my chest rise and fall, and there was nothing I could do to control it.
“I saw the news a few minutes ago.”
“And the press interview? Your father had a lot to say about the child. What are you going to do?”
Good question, Kenji. Excellent one.
“Listen, Kenji. I need you to go over to the airport and let me know if my father has arrived, or if he is scheduled to arrive anytime soon. Just let me know how far his journey has gone.” I instructed. Of course I couldn’t see him, but I could tell he was taking necessary notes.
“Yes, Lake.”
I ended the call immediately. I slid my phone back into my pocket and turned around to see Jojo fixed at a spot. Her green eyes were fixed on me, she still didn’t trust me.
I heaved a sigh and proceeded to speak.
“Look, Jojo. You can be calm, okay? Keep your mind at rest, as long as I’m here, nothing is happening to Lucian.”
She nodded, even though it was half-hearted. My mother returned to the living room and picked up Lucian. She held the baby firmly, while Jojo paraded the living room like a lost soldier.
Less than twenty minutes later, my phone vibrated in my back pocket. I answered the call with dire urgency, knowing who it was.Content © NôvelDrama.Org 2024.
Before he said a word, I could already feel and hear my heart pounding in my chest.
“Lake, I just saw a convoy drive out of the airport. About five cars. The alpha of Ten was present to welcome him, a small hoard of reporters are here too.” As if sensing my fears, my best friend and beta heaved a long and worried sigh.
“You should be prepared, Lake. This is going to get really serious.”
A deep scowl formed on my face.
As if I didn’t know.
“You don’t have to worry about me. I have everything under control.” The line went dead immediately my last word strolled out of my tongue.
It didn’t take my father twenty minutes to locate the house from the airport. Not that I expected any less. Immediately we heard the sound of engines roaring around the house, Jojo planted herself behind me.
“He’s here.” She whispered softly. I could hear the fear in her voice.
I turned to my mother, she looked at me and nodded. I didn’t need to speak, she knew what to do.
She rose from the couch and turned to Jojo.
“Come on, Jo. Let’s go upstairs, you would be safer there for now.”
At first, she was hesitant, even stubborn. But she soon knew it was important to keep her child’s safety before her stubbornness. She followed my mother upstairs, while I remained in the living room to deal with my father.
Alas, the long awaited knock arrived. I could see his face from the transparent glass doors. I took in deep breaths, it was important for me to remain calm, before I walked to the door.
With one swift move, I slid the glass door to the left. Our gazes locked and he tried to move past me. I blocked his path with my right hand. My father took three steps backwards, cast a short glance at the hand in his way, before his gaze landed on me.
Then, he did the strangest thing.
His lips thinned into a knowing smile, his round cheeks were now rosy, and his eyes were as bright as the sun in Ten. Then, he chuckled.
“I sure wasn’t expecting your handsome face to be the first face I see, son. It’s been a while. I have to say I did miss you.”
*****************
Emerald escorted Jojo and her grandchild into the child’s room. The mother was troubled, frightened infact, but she commended her for doing a good job at fairly hiding it.
“Try to make him fall asleep, so that he doesn’t make any noise to attract the attention of the men downstairs.” She instructed. Jojo continued to pat her baby, worry laddened in her gaze.
Emerald placed a soft kiss on Jojo’s head. There were no words that could possibly reassure her, but Emerald hoped her actions would work.
Without saying another word, she exited the room and took eager steps down the stairs. Cole had stepped into her territory, and hell would freeze over before she allowed the man make a mess of her life again.
She walked into the living room and found Lake in his father’s path. When she halted and stood still, a proud smile formed on her face. Of course, he would have it under control.
Meanwhile, Lake stood in front of his father, unsure of what to make of the man’s new and unwarranted expression.
“What do you want, father?”
In front of him, Cole let out a small chuckle. He arched a teasing left brow while his lips curved to the right.
“What? You won’t let me in?”
She could see him, she hated the very smile on his face. Emerald decided it was her time and turn to speak up.
“It is my house, Cole. You really want to come into my house? You didn’t even let me have a good night’s sleep in your pack.” The spite in her heart snuck its way into her tone. Cole ignored her venom and fixed his gaze on her, flashing her an even brighter smile.
“Unlike you, I deserve to. After all, I took care of our boy, raised him to be a wonderful man. While you abandoned him.”
Emerald’s fists rolled into balls by her sides. She hated the cool front he was putting up, but she would not let him rile her up.
She forced a chuckle, even though it was very obvious.
“You know better, Cole. You know that I didn’t abandon my son. You also know that I do not wish to have this conversation or any conversation at all, with you. So, why are you here?”
This time, the man did not need an invitation, they could go to hell with it. He took steps forward and Lake had no option but to move away from the door. Cole walked into the living room, making sure that he took immediate charge of the atmosphere. His name alone was strong enough to ruin moods, his presence did worse.
He turned to Lake, his son, who had taken his stand in front of him.
“You know why I am here, boy. I’m here to see my grandson, that’s all.”
Lake glared at his father’s relaxed composure. But Emerald wasn’t going to tolerate the man’s audacity.
“And what right do you have to just stroll in and request for things?”
Cole looked away from Lake. He did not want to have to stare at the woman so much, but she was talking too much and he knew he had to keep his eyes on her to make sure his point was clearly passed.
To the surprise of mother and son, alpha Cole bursted into a fit of laughter. It was annoying as much as it was unwarranted. Lake’s jaw hardened as he clenched his jaw, while Emerald’s face contorted with rage.
“The sole reason that the boy is my son’s child! Come on, do I really need a bill of rights to see my son’s child?!”
From the corner of his left eye, Lake could see that his mother was gearing up to retort, but it wasn’t necessary. It was time to speak up and put an end to his father’s never ending antics.
“Father.” He spat out.
He noticed his father’s gaze return to him, before he spoke.
“This is not the best way to do this. You should leave and return to Rush pack. Wait until the mother of the child is ready to show the child to the rest of the world. I did not know I was expecting a child when I first came here. I was only here to see my mother when I found out Jojo was pregnant. I do not even deserve to be under the same roof as Jojo and the baby, but she has been kind enough to give me a chance. I would not let you ruin that, father.” The last word rolled out of his tongue as though he was ashamed to admit it.
Cole would have bursted into another round of laughter, he would have applauded his son for being a wonderful actor and encourage him to pursue a career in acting, but he couldn’t do that. Not when he saw that his son was serious.
Cole shook his head in slow motion, before he kept a plain grin.
“The fact that you are growing fondness for a lowlife outcast doesn’t mean you should forget who you are in a hurry, Lake. You are an alpha, golden blood runs through your veins. You have power, authority! She is nothing, as worthless as her mother! Do you forget that.”