CHAPTER 5

Lucas POV

I couldn't keep the face of both Bella and her son from my mind. It replayed over and over like a broken record. I didn't want to fix it.

Seeing her after all these years was everything. Surprise was an understatement. I was more shocked.

I had been searching for her for what feels like an eternity. I had checked every newspaper and news channel, every social media post but I haven't come across any name or picture pertaining to her. How she had managed to stay under the radar for all this while was both impressive and baffling.

God, she had grown more beautiful than the last time that I had seen her. It seemed like time had no effect on her. And I'm not just talking about her face. I'm talking about all round beauty.

Then there was the boy that she pulled so endearingly to her side like it was the last thing she had. There was no doubt that it was her son.

But it wasn't the sweet motherly love that fascinated me. It was the boys striking resemblance to me. If you were there you would have thought that someone did a photocopy of my face.

I had a couple of questions that I wanted to ask but I couldn't bring myself to it. I could barely get acquainted with her when that other man walked up to her like a mother hen to her chicks.

Who was he anyway? I couldn't recognise him. Probably some nobody that was with her for her wealth.

A call on my phone distracted my line of thought. I looked up at the lit screen and it showed the name; Dr Ramores.

I picked it up, my worry diverting to another matter. It was the important request I had asked of him three days ago. I had been counting the days until he would call back.

I placed the phone to my ear anticipating the news.

“Dr Ramores,” I announced. “I have been expecting your call. Tell me the news already.”

“Where are you right now?” The doctor asked.

“Just coming back from my airport. I'm driving right now. Why do you ask?” I asked, puzzled.

“Because, you need to stop by the hospital. There is an important matter I need to see you about.”

“Come on, doctor. This is about the DNA results isn't it? You can tell me already.”

“I can't do that. You have to come in yourself.”

I sighed. “Fine. I'll be there in thirty minutes.”

I ended the call, immediately switching to the speed lane. My foot pressed harder on the gas pedal as I weaved through the late afternoon traffic. Horns blared as other drivers honked angrily, but I didn’t care. I ran wild on the road trying to get to the hospital as quickly as I could.

I was wondering what sort of news he had for me that would need me to be in person.

The traffic light ahead blinked red, but I couldn’t wait. I glanced both ways, ensuring the intersection was clear, and sped through it.

I barely remembered to turn off the ignition when I finally pulled into the hospital parking lot. I shut the car door and sprinted towards the entrance. I ignored the gazes from patients and staff as I pushed my way through the automatic doors.

“Dr. Ramores,” I barked at the receptionist, breathless. “Where is he?”

“Second floor, room 208,” she replied quickly.

I took the stairs two at a time. By the time I reached the door to his office, I didn’t bother to knock. I flung it open, stepping inside.

Dr. Ramores looked up from the desk where he was reviewing a file. His expression was unreadable. The suspense made my heart rate fly through the roof.

“Lucas,” he greeted, gesturing for me to sit down. “You made it.”

“I didn’t rush here to exchange pleasantries, Doctor,” I said, my voice tight with impatience. “What is it? What did the results say?”

He sighed, pushing the file across the desk toward me.

“You might want to brace yourself for this,” he said.

I grabbed the file and flipped it open, scanning the contents. My eyes locked on the highlighted section: Paternity Test Result: 0% Match.

“W-what?” I stammered, looking up at him. “This can’t be right. There must be a mistake.”

Dr. Ramores folded his hands on the desk. “I double-checked everything myself, Lucas. The boy is not biologically yours.”

I shook my head, refusing to believe it. “But he looks just like me! There must be another explanation.”

“I understand how you feel,” he said. “But DNA doesn’t lie. I’m sorry.”

I felt my knees weaken and dropped into the chair behind me. The file slipped from my fingers onto the floor.

If he wasn’t my son then whose son was he?

A flood of questions crashed over me. Had Joan lied to me? Or was there more to the story than I understood?

“Lucas,” Dr. Ramores said, breaking through the chaos of my thoughts. “I know this is difficult, but you need to talk to Joan.She’s the only one who can give you the answers you’re looking for.”

I nodded slowly. I stood abruptly, turning toward the door.

“Thank you, Doctor,” I muttered, my voice barely audible.

With that, I left the office.

I can't believe it. The boy I had nurtured for years. I mean I had my doubts when some of his traits and behaviour was dissimilar to me. But I just thought that maybe there were environmental factors at play.

It was Dr Ramores that had suggested that we take a paternity test. Silly me. I had insisted that I could not have possibly gotten cheated on.

How could I not have known that I was raising another man's child? The boy calls me father for christ sakes. How do I break the news to him in a way that's not going to shatter him?

If there was anyone I was pissed at it was Joan. I made my way back home. She was going to have some answering to do.