CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Arthur’s POV

I was having my breakfast when I got Raymond call. He has the result from the DNA test, the one I was almost dying to have.

I picked the call immediately my phone vibrated against the dining table, my heart leaped for the next words I’ll hear from Raymond. Depending on what the result says, I know it will change my view on a lot of events happening around me lately.

“The results are in,” he said. “Shall I read them or send the document?”

“Read them first,” I said. That’s what I wanted for now, let me hear a third person read it to me first. I may collapse under anxiety in the next few seconds of waiting for the file.

Raymond’s voice was calm and calculated as he read the result, knowing fully well how the burden of what he was reading may affect an old man if not read with care.

“The DNA analysis confirms a biological relationship between Sample A and Sample B consistent with”

“Say it plainly, Raymond,” I cut him abruptly. “No laboratory terms please, I’m too old for that. Just tell me in plain language.”

There was a brief pause on Raymond’s end that seemed too tense for me. Then, he exhaled deeply.

“The DNA test result confirmed that the boy is Xavier’s son,” Raymond said plainly.

The phone nearly fell off my hand. “You say what?”

“The test was conducted twice and at different hospitals for confirmation sir. It is confirmed.” Raymond added.

Yes… it is confirmed… my suspicion has been confirmed.

“Thank you, Raymond. Send me the result in hard copy documents. And send the soft copy to the secured email address.”

“Okay, sir. Doing that right away. Will there be anything else.”

“No for now.” I said and dropped the call.

I sat still on the dining chair, my hands trembling so much, they couldn’t bear to lift a fork.

So, I had not been overly reactive at the end. My suspicions had been right. I had been drawn to Bryan from the first time at the hospital play area beyond my philanthropic activities, I had been drawn to my blood.

My great grandson.

Bryan James Ashford.

Medically confirmed beyond alignments of dates and mere facial recognition.

I struggled out of the dining chair, and found my quad cane, I leaned on it and walked toward the garden area. Fresh air, that was what I needed right now before I suffocate under my own fast breath.

Margaret walked in from the kitchen when I stood up, surprise obviously written on her face when she noticed I barely taken more than two bites from my breakfast. I signaled to her to clear the table, she nodded once without further comment and went ahead to do just that.

The garden was quiet and calm in the late autumn early morning atmosphere. The oak trees along the far lawn stripped to their architecture now, bare branches against a grey sky that couldn’t decide between cloud and light. I had watched this garden all my life, through grief and celebration.

I leaned on my cane and walked to the koi pond. The water was still this morning, the surface barely moving, the fish somewhere below the surface doing their thing when there was no Bryan crouching at the pool side watching their every movement with the focused attention of a junior marine biologist.

Then my thought lingered toward my son.

Jeffrey Beaumont. Xavier’s father.

My little boy, even if he was dead, he will always be my little boy. I watched Jeffrey as he grew into an intelligent and loving young man. He carried the family legacy with prestige and never for once let me down.

He had left on a business trip twenty-one years ago, but instead of the joy of the success of the trip he went for, he had came back in a seven feet box and left a hole in this house that no amount of happiness could fill.

He would have been fifty-one now. He would have been by my side as we both would have both discovered Xavier’s paternal connection to Bryan. He would have been joyful he has a grandson. Jeffrey had always loved kids right from when he was a kid himself.

I couldn’t help the tears tgat slids freely down my face. I pressed my spare hand to my mouth and sobbed into it. The last time I had cried this bitterly was the day Jeffrey was buried.

But this morning, I let myself off the guarded terrain of an old money and let myself be just an ordinary human for a moment.

I brought out a white face towel from my coat pocket and cleaned my face with it. Then, I moved toward the sitting area in the garden.

Bryan wasn’t wrong when he called me Papa.

But there seems to be a little problem and confusion.

Bryan confirmed to be Xavier’s biological son definitely means Aria as his mother has had a thing with Xavier in the past. How come they met again and were not able to recognize each other from the past. That sounds strange.

Now, Aria works in the Beaumont company, Xavier and Ivanna’s engagement is just few weeks away. How do I put the words out to Xavier that the woman working for him is the mother of his child.

“No.” I shaked my head. Engagement or not, I can’t keep such huge information as a secret away from Xavier. He should know the truth about himself, even if he might blame me for taking such important decisions behind his back, I’ll get an explanation for that later. For now, I need to explain the situation of things.

I reached for my phone in my coat pocket.

I dialed Xavier’s number, sat up straight in my chair and waited for him to answer and listen to the bombshell he wasn’t prepared for.