BLOOD TRUTH

I stared at the screen and my hand shaked slightly.

I didn’t sleep that night, the message stayed burned into my mind long after I turned the face of my phone down, I knew who it was from. Sienna had never seemed subtle, she had always preferred quiet cruelty, the one that left no fingerprints but plenty of damage.

Whatever Sienna was planning, it's going to bounce back to her.

I sat on the edge of the bed and watched Leo sleep, my chest tight with a fear I hadn’t felt in years. I had protected this secret with everything I had but now, it was no longer just mine.

*****

The next morning, everything unraveled and it happened too fast as if fate had finally decided it was tired of waiting.

I was in the conference room, almost rounding up a presentation, when the door opened abruptly, every one in the hall turned to look and Ethan Blackwood walked in looking like someone that sleep had stopped working for.

Gasps rippled through the room, my chest began to bang but I didn’t falter. I just acted like he was invisible then I finished my sentence calmly before turning to him.

“This meeting is private,” I said evenly.

“I know,” he replied hoarsely. “That is why I am here.”

Everyone in the hall turned to us. “This is not appropriate at all,” one of the executives muttered, “five minutes,” he said without looking away from me. “If I am wrong, I promise to walk out and never bother you again.” Silence pressed down on my chest, I closed my eyes briefly then nodded. “Just five minutes.”

Everyone that was in the room cleared reluctantly, when the doors closed behind the last person, Ethan finally looked like a human, this time not powerful, not untouchable as he had always been but really broken.

He brought out a strand of hair. What has he done now? I thought.

“What is this, Ethan?” I was quite scared but I didn't show it. “It’s a hair,” he said and paused. “My son's hair.” He continued.

“I really don't understand this and who is your son.” I asked.

“I met him on the playground and his so-called caretaker was carried away again with a phone call and suddenly he slipped.” He said. “I went to him and lifted him and out of curiosity I cut a strand of his hair and took it to my doctor for a paternity test.” He added.

“You did what? Why did you do that in my absence?” I asked. “You didn't respond to me when I asked, so I carried it out by myself.” He said and brought out an envelope from his pocket and stretched it to me.

“What is this?” I asked as I opened the paper. “Read it,” he said. I saw that it was a paternity test result.

I spotted a message that was boldly written, Probability of paternity: 99.9%

I was so shocked and dumbfounded. “Are you shocked?” He said. “I knew that the resemblance wasn't just a mere coincidence, Leo is my son.” He smiled.

“How did you know his name?” I asked. “He told me, you see we are getting along with each other already.” he said. “Ethan he is not your son, I really don't care what the test results says.” he excitement faltered immediately. “Tell me, where were you when I was struggling to make this child live?” “You thought the best thing you could do was to sign divorce papers” I added.

“Ava, I am really sorry, I didn't know what I was doing then.” He begged. “Please Ava, Leo…” I cut him off immediately. “Get the name of my son out of your damn mouth.”

“You don't deserve to be called my son's father, you lost that right when you signed those divorce papers.”

“I was wrong,” he said suddenly and paused. “About everything.” I stiffened.

“I thought love was optional,” he went on, I could hear desperation bleeding into his voice. “I thought you would always be there.” I said. “You thought wrong, Ethan,” I said quietly. “Leo is my just my son and no one else's not even you, I don't care to know what biology says because I nurtured him only right from when he was a foetus up till now.

Suddenly, the door burst open. Sienna stormed in and everything shattered. “Enough!” she snapped without even knowing what was said before she went in. “You are humiliating yourself!” she told Ethan then she turned to me, “You planned this, your coming back was just to ruin him.” she said ranting. “I came back for work,” I replied calmly. “And you ruined him all by yourself.” I said to her and she shook her head.

You think that thing you call a child will save you?” she hissed. “Do not talk about my son in such a manner.” I confronted her immediately. “Did you call that a son.” She said. “Sienna, I won't warn you again, don't talk about my son in such manner.” I said calmly but anger was really boiling inside of me. “You mean that thing that was as result of one night stand, that bastard?” Now that's it, she has eaten more than she can chew. I raised my hands to give her a slap on her damn face, suddenly Ethan held my hand.

I thought he said he wanted his son. Why will he allow a common slut insult his only son in his presence and he didn't do anything.