Chapter 302: His Real Benefactor
Miguel couldn’t believe what he had just heard. If Aaron and Kimmy had different fathers, then it only meant that one of them was not his real grandchild. He gazed down, looking at Aaron and Kimmy.
"Who is my real grandchild?" Miguel asked Lanny in his stern cold voice.
Lanny hesitated for a moment as she stared at Aaron. She didn’t know how she would reveal the truth in front of the child.
But to their surprise, Aaron suddenly spoke up.
"Grandpa, my mother is Aunt Athena."
Miguel, Lanny, and Enzo were dumbfounded by Aaron’s last remark.
’He knew all along. Since when?’ Lanny glanced at him with disbelief.
Meanwhile, Miguel didn’t know how he would react upon hearing this. All this time he thought Aaron was his grandson. It turned out that Lanny and Athena had deceived him.
Aaron slowly approached Miguel. He gazed up and asked him, "Do you hate me now, Grandpa?"
There was a pang of pain in his heart when confronted by Aaron’s innocent question. How could he hate this young boy? He had loved him and treated him like his own grandson. He was so fond of this kid.
However, he didn’t respond to Aaron because of his anger toward Lanny.
Before he could lose control in front of the children, Miguel stormed out of the ward without looking back. His men followed him.
Aaron just watched his retreating back with a sad expression on his face.
"I think your father won’t force you to return home today. He has already left," Enzo whispered in Lanny’s ear, feeling relieved.
Lanny could only sigh in defeat. "Sigh! This is your fault." She hit his chest.
Enzo just smiled at her. Then he turned to face Aaron, crouching down to meet his gaze.
"My nephew! I’m your Uncle. Athena is my sister," he introduced himself. "Shall we go home and see your mother?"
Aaron’s face brightened up when his mother was mentioned. "Yes, Uncle. Let’s go home... to my mother."
Meanwhile, Miguel entered his car with a grim expression on his face.
"Let’s go. Drive me to the Smith Residence," he commanded. He planned to meet Dominique and talk to him personally.
"Yes, Sir!" The driver responded.
Miguel also called someone, instructing him to freeze Lanny and Vladimir’s accounts. As punishment, he would not allow them to use Ivankov’s resources.
He also gave orders to their men to abandon Vladimir. They didn’t need to serve him or follow his command. Those men who would disobey him would be removed from the organization.
Miguel’s command was absolute! Only a few loyal men chose to stay with Vladimir.
Back to Athena’s penthouse...
Vladimir and Athena finally returned home. They were waiting for Enzo’s update.
Athena kept pacing back and forth across the living room. Unable to stand watching her, Vladimir walked toward her, holding her shoulders.
"Athena, calm down. Enzo will update us."
Athena looked at Vladimir, her eyes filled with anxiety.
"I’m nervous. What if my brother failed to convince Lanny? I’m also worried about not seeing my son, Aaron." She expressed her concern.
"Trust me, Athena. Even if Enzo fails to bring Aaron back today, I will do everything to take him back," he said, reassuring her. He cupped her face, gently caressing her cheeks.
Athena could only nod, trusting Vladimir’s words. She believed him!
"Thanks, V... for comforting me." Athena hugged him, feeling grateful.
They were still hugging when the door was pushed open.
"Mommy!" Aaron’s tiny voice echoed in the house, catching Athena and Vladimir’s attention.
They broke the hug and turned in the direction of the voice. Athena stood frozen from her spot as Aaron called her Mommy. She darted her gaze back and forth between Enzo and Lanny.
Enzo was carrying Kimmy in his arms while Lanny was standing next to him. Before she could ask them, the young boy ran to her, giving her a hug.
"Mom, I’m back! I’m not leaving you again. Uncle Enzo said I could live with you starting today!" Aaron spoke with enthusiasm.
Athena still couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
"Aaron... w-what did you call me?" She asked him in her trembling voice.
"Mom! Mommy. You are my mother," Aaron blurted out with a smile.
Athena broke into tears as she wrapped Aaron in her arms. She hugged him tightly.
"My son..."
"I had known the truth for so long, Mommy. I accidentally overheard your conversation with my Mommy Lanny. I’ve been dying to call you Mom. But I wasn’t allowed to," Aaron explained to her.
Athena sobbed as she heard that. "I’m so sorry, son. Please forgive me for hiding the truth from you. Please don’t hate me."
"I understand you, Mom. I don’t hate you. You took care of me. I know you’ve been always by my side. Even though I don’t have a father, I’m so grateful to have two mothers," Aaron said, comforting Athena.
"Oh, Aaron... my son." Athena was at a loss for words. She felt so happy that her son accepted her wholeheartedly and he never hated her.
Athena continued hugging her son, savoring this moment.
"Mom," Aaron hesitated for a moment. He wanted to ask her about his father. However, he recalled that his mother hated his father.
"Yes, Aaron?" Athena broke the hug to look at his face.
"Oh. It’s nothing, Mom! I’m just so happy I can finally call you Mommy." Aaron replied, his fingers touching her cheeks.
"This calls for a celebration!" Lanny cheerfully said as she watched the heartwarming scene between the mother and son.
"Celebrate our freedom from the Ivankov Clan," Vladimir added, soliciting a sharp glare from Lanny.
"Stop saying that! Our father is fuming with rage right now. I’m a little bit afraid of what he is going to do just to punish us." Lanny mumbled in frustration. She couldn’t believe that she confessed and defied her father because of Enzo.
Enzo grabbed her hand and said, "Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility. Starting today, you can rely on me. I will do my best not to disappoint you, Lanny. I mean it. I’ll take care of you and Kimmy."
Lanny could only sigh in defeat. "You win, Enzo! I surrender."
Kimmy’s giggle bubbled up in the air. "I love you, Mommy. I love you, Daddy!"
*****
While everyone was celebrating in Athena’s penthouse, Dominique had been sulking inside his room. He was still not feeling well.
It did not take long before he received a call from his foster father.
"Where are you, son?" Arnold asked him.
"I’m currently in the Golden Villa," Dominique responded in his hoarse voice.
"Alright. I thought you were in the Smith Mansion. Someone wants to meet you. Can we go there right now?" Arnold consulted him.
"Yes, Dad. You can come here," he plainly replied.
Twenty-five minutes later...
Arnold and his friend arrived at Golden Villa. Dominique went out to welcome them personally. He was surprised when he saw a familiar figure standing next to his foster father. That person was none other than Miguel Ivankov.
’What is he doing here?’ Dominique asked inwardly.
"Mr. Ivankov, to whom do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?"
Miguel didn’t say a word. He just smirked at Dominique. It was Arnold Lee who spoke up.
"Dominique... He is your real foster father. Your hidden benefactor!"