Chapter_5
Chapter 5
As soon as they arrived at the hospital’s entrance, Abel stepped out of the car, and the chauffeur drove off toward the basement parking lot. With Helios peacefully asleep in his arms, Abel resisted the urge to kiss the soft, chubby cheeks of the little boy. Although Abel had a son of similar age, it was his mother, Rosaline, who had been raising him. Having only seen pictures of his son, Abel wondered if his child would be as adorable as the one he held in his arms.
Upon hearing that Abel was on his way, Rosaline waited in the foyer, excitement lighting up her face when she saw him. “Abel, my dear boy!”
“Hey, mom,” Abel greeted, though he often found himself distant from her due to his frequent travels. Rosaline immediately noticed the child in his arms and reached out to take him.
“Good boy. I didn’t know you went home and brought Timothy along,” she said with a smile.
“No,” Abel explained, passing Helios to his mother, “This is Helios. I haven’t met Timothy yet.”
“Helios?” Rosaline raised an eyebrow. With Hesperus already upstairs, she was surprised to meet yet another unfamiliar child. They looked so alike, it was almost uncanny…
Rosaline’s heart skipped a beat, and she asked cautiously, “Whose child is this?”
“He said his mother is Emmeline Louise.”
Emmeline. Again. Rosaline’s face tightened at the name. That woman had caused quite a stir in Struyria. Yet, despite her frustrations, she couldn’t deny that the little boy in her arms was utterly adorable. It would have been wonderful if Helios and Hesperus were truly her grandchildren.
“So, is it true that Emmeline gave birth to your children?” Rosaline asked, an eyebrow raised as she looked at Abel.
“I only met one woman,” Abel replied firmly. “Five years ago, when I returned to fulfill my duty as a member of the Ryker family.”
“But they look so much like you,” Rosaline murmured, her thoughts racing. She briefly considered suggesting a paternity test, but quickly dismissed the idea. She trusted her son’s word that Alana was the only woman he had been with, though she knew Abel despised Alana’s manipulative ways. Despite Alana’s son, Timothy, being born from their union, Abel still refused to marry her.
After a visit with Oscar, where Abel’s father’s condition had shown no improvement, they decided to head back to the mountain villa to rest.
“Don’t worry,” Rosaline reassured Abel while holding Helios. “Your father had asked for the Wonder Doctor, and the doctor agreed to treat your grandfather tomorrow.”
“Alright, then,” Abel said, massaging his forehead. “I’ve heard great things about the doctor’s skills. There’s at least some hope for Grandpa.”
“Let’s head back to the villa to rest. You must be exhausted after such a long flight.”
“Yeah.”
Just then, a child appeared from the opposite hallway. Rosaline’s face lit up in joy, while Abel looked at the boy, puzzled.
“You must be daddy! You’re so handsome and stylish!” the child said, with excitement in his eyes.
“Timothy?” Abel frowned. “Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be at school?”
“This isn’t Timothy!” Rosaline exclaimed in surprise. “This is Star, Hesperus!”
“Hesperus?” Abel felt a cold chill run down his spine. He could already guess what was happening. “Whose child is this?”
“It’s Emmeline’s,” Rosaline answered.
Abel’s thoughts spun. First, Helios, now Hesperus—this was becoming far more complicated than he had anticipated. He glanced down at the child’s hopeful eyes, unable to turn him away.
“I’m not your daddy,” Abel said, his voice softening. “But I won’t leave you here until your mom picks you up. Come with me.”
“Thanks, daddy!” Hesperus exclaimed, reaching his arms out for Abel.
“Sun is sleeping,” Hesperus giggled, pointing at the slumbering Helios. “Teehee, he’s even drooling!”
Rosaline smiled as she watched the two boys interact. She couldn’t help but wish they were truly her grandchildren.
They walked toward the elevator, and just as the doors opened, they were greeted by another child inside. Abel froze in surprise as he found himself surrounded by these adorable little ones.
“And you are…?” Abel crouched down to speak to the boy.
“Daddy!” the child exclaimed cheerfully. “I’m your son, Endymion…”
“You’re the moon, then?” Abel asked, his heart racing with disbelief.
“Yeah!” Endymion beamed. His obsidian eyes sparkled with excitement. “The sun, the moon, and the star have gathered! We’re all your sons.”
Abel was at a loss for words. He stumbled back, overwhelmed by the turn of events. “Luca,” he mumbled to his assistant, “Lend me a hand.”
Meanwhile, Alana, having learned that Abel had returned with three children, was seething with anger. How had Emmeline managed to have four children? Alana rushed to the Louise residence, storming in as soon as she noticed that Maxwell wasn’t around.
“Auntie, how could you have been so careless? Why didn’t you take all four of Emmeline’s children?” Alana asked, frustration evident in her voice.
“You want all of her children?” Alondra replied, distracted as she applied a silk face mask. “Your aim was to get a Ryker bloodline child, wasn’t it? You and Abel can always try for another one. If I gave you all four, how would you explain it?”
“I suppose…” Alana mumbled, pinching her leg in frustration. “I can’t believe Abel walked into the wrong room five years ago. I clearly drugged him and waited for him in the other room.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t have kicked Emmeline out that day. If we hadn’t, there wouldn’t have been all these misunderstandings.”
“What do I do now? Those three children are in my way!” Alana paced back and forth, her frustration growing.
“What are you panicking about?” Alondra asked, unfazed. “Didn’t you bribe the supervisor from the Biology Department at Ryker’s Hospital? If the Ryker family wants a paternity test, the results will come from that lab, right?”
Alana’s face flushed a deep red, and she looked down, her words stumbling. “I’ll call him later then.”
“Hmm?” Alondra raised an eyebrow. “Your face is all red. What’s going on, Alana? Why the hesitation to call Dr. Reid?”
“It’s… it’s not that simple,” Alana muttered, squirming uncomfortably. “It’s risky to fool the Rykers. Besides, Dr. Reid agreed to help me because… because…”
Alondra gasped as realization struck. “You slept with him?”
