3. Birthday Present

He stood in front of a mirror at eight o'clock this morning, cleaning his hair and spraying himself with perfume. At that moment, a knock came on the door of the room.

He went to the door, and Uncle Elias, an old servant of the house, was standing with a letter in his hand, and he said. "That's for you, sir." Then, after the door was closed, he went from there.

He'd seen the letter with his name on it, with Happy Birthday, and under it was a bold, "Must read it."

He'd seen the letter and threw it to his bed without opening it. And again began to comb his hair.

And then he turned to the bed, picking up the note and opening it as he thought of those strong words.

He'd always received a letter from his father on his birthday, but he didn't bother to read it. But there was something remarkable about this day and it was his 20th birthday.

He opened the letter and started reading.

My dear Son, you're having a wonderful birthday. I'm not sure if I'm a good dad, But I know that I am very fond of you. I've been sending you letters before, although I don't know if you've answered them or not, and this time I made it clear to you that you need to have a look at them. I'm going to meet you and give you a birthday present. You're supposed to be ready by two o'clock today, my driver's going to pick you up at two o'clock. good bye.

Your father Mr. Edwards.

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It was an extremely hot day at 1:50 p.m., and he was standing on the main road, waiting for his father's car to take him up.

Sweat was dripping from his forehead due to intense heat. He kept looking at his watch and was angry with himself that he had left the house ten minutes earlier.

He looked at his watch again, it was exactly two o'clock and a white car stopped right in front of him.

The driver requested Mr. Ryan to sit in the car via the window.

Ryan stared at him at first, then opened the car door and sat down. On the way, he kept wondering that he was seeing his father after a long time, not knowing whether he would recognise him or how his father would recognise him.

He had the impression that his father had never wanted to meet him all these years, and that his father didn't love him.

Then suddenly he shook his head and dismissed the ridiculous thought.

The car stopped in front of a graceful bungalowlike office after half an hour. The driver got out of the car and opened the door for him.

There was a four foot tall girl wearing a white shirt and a black skirt when he got out of the car.

As Ryan stepped out of the car, a young girl greeted him warmly, saying, "You are most welcome, sir."

Ryan acknowledged her with a faint smile. Following her instructions, he began to trail her.

As they proceeded, two guards stationed outside an office snapped into salute upon seeing him.

Momentarily perplexed, he paused for a brief moment before continuing on his way. Moving a little further, the girl approached the reception desk and inquired about the whereabouts of Mr. Edwards.

The receptionist's gaze fixated on Ryan, and she swiftly picked up the phone to call Mr. Edwards. After a span of five minutes, she informed him that Mr. Edwards was indeed in his room and granted them permission to proceed.

Just a few steps away, an elevator awaited their arrival. They stepped inside, and as the doors closed, a palpable silence settled between them. After a brief moment, the girl turned her gaze towards him and ventured to ask a question that seemed to linger on her mind: "Are you truly Mr. Edward's biological son?" Ryan, without averting his gaze, replied with a simple yet affirmative "Yes."

Time passed, and the silence persisted as the elevator carried them towards their destination. He could feel a growing unease within her, his discomfort intensifying with each passing second. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the elevator doors slid open, revealing the corridor leading to Mr. Edwards's room. With a shared sense of purpose, they embarked on their journey, Ryan's apprehension evident in his every step.

As they made their way down the corridor, a room-like office with elegant glass doors caught their attention. Curiosity piqued, the girl seized the opportunity and opened the door, gesturing for him to wait inside. Her words filled the air as she spoke respectfully, "Sir, please wait here. Mr. Edwards will be joining you shortly."

Seated in a chair, he observed the entire room with a discerning gaze.

The atmosphere was filled with anticipation as Mr. Edwards entered, causing an immediate surge of alertness within him. The door swung open, and Mr. Edwards approached from behind, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Reacting swiftly, he rose from his seat, embracing his father warmly. "How are you, my son?" He inquired, genuine affection radiating from his words. "I'm good," he responded, his lips curving into a faint smile.

His attentive eyes never wavered from his father, carefully noting any subtle changes in his demeanor. Despite the passage of time, Mr. Edwards remained a steadfast and loving presence in his life, consistently displaying unwavering warmth.

However, over the years, he himself had undergone a significant transformation, with his personality now tinged with a noticeable aggressiveness.

Sitting on the rolling chair positioned before him, Mr. Edwards engaged in a heartfelt conversation with his son. As they sat face to face, he began to recount the arduous journey of his life, reminiscing about the years he had spent in solitude. Ryan, the attentive listener, absorbed his father's words in silence. However, at a certain point, he halted the narrative and mustered the courage to question his father's absence from his life.

"Why haven't you lived with me?" He inquired, his voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and longing. Mr. Edwards, his eyes moist with unshed tears, struggled to maintain composure as he responded. He confessed that he had yearned to be by his son's side but had been restrained by the disapproval of Ryan's mother.

With a sudden surge of emotion, Mr. Edwards abruptly rose from his seat, a determined look on his face.

He hurriedly retrieved several files from the table before them, bringing them back to the conversation.

With a gentle smile, Mr. Edwards extended the property files to his son, symbolizing his intention to transfer the business into his name. As the sole heir, he hoped that his son would take charge of the enterprise while pursuing his education. The exchange carried a sense of paternal pride and the belief that his son had embraced this birthday present and the responsibilities that came with it.