Mateo was outraged and Secretary Diaz froze, staring at Pedro in disbelief.
-Pedro, is this what Jaime told you?
-Of course.
By now, Pedro would be a fool if he did not understand that he had been deceived by Jaime.
-What is this all about? -he asked hurriedly.
Mateo took a deep breath before blurting out the secret that had been buried in his heart for many years.
-Jaime was adopted by my parents and had been honest and kind until my parents died, so my father told him on his deathbed that he came from the Seco family and left him a letter asking him and me to support each other and return to the Seco family.
His fists clenched as he said:
-Who knew that after my father’s death, the man would go crazy and break his oath? He cajoled me, put me on a bus to Shamrock, and stole all the chips himself to come to the Seco family and take my identity.
Pedro’s whole body was stunned at these words and his mouth unconsciously exploded.
-Shit, Jaime is a very cunning bastard.
He wasn’t even from the Seco family, but he still enjoyed resources for nothing, the treatment of the Seco family heir and Alfredo’s affection.
Pedro was also just a grandson, but at least he was a part of the Seco family. Jaime, however, was not part of the family and had taken advantage of everything.
It was unbelievable that he had the composure to make up the lie that he and his real cousin were twin brothers. How sinister a mind could be to say such a thing.
Peter suddenly became angry at the thought.
-So he already knew Grandfather was looking for you and deliberately lied to me to find you before Alfredo and then make a move on you?!
Mateo looked at him.
-Finally you get it.
That’s why I was always running away from Jaime’s men.
-So grandfather… -Pedro looked at Alfredo in the hospital bed- Grandfather already knew he was an impostor, why didn’t he take precautions before?
Now he had confirmed that Jaime was responsible for Alfredo’s sudden illness, so it hurt him even more.
“How hard it must have been for Grandfather to be poisoned by the child he raised with his own hands.”
Matthew squatted again beside the bed, took Alfredo’s hand, and said in a heavy voice:
-I should have come back sooner.
If he had come back sooner, he could also have avoided Jaime sooner, and Grandfather would not have had to suffer like this.
Secretary Diaz looked at the sullen aspect of the two men and suddenly spoke:
-Both gentlemen, you really don’t have to be so sad?
Mateo looked at him.
Secretary Diaz took a small bottle out of his pocket, approached the bed, uncorked it and shook it under Alfredo’s nose.
With this action, he froze the two men in the room.
-Secretary Diaz, you…. -Pedro could not help but speak, with a thought running through his head.
No sooner had he uttered the words than Alfredo’s eyelids fluttered.
-Grandfather!
Peter’s eyes filled with ecstasy and he took two furious steps forward, his eyes red. The doctor had qualified Alfredo’s condition as too serious and Pedro had prepared himself for the worst.
In contrast, Mateo, seeing Alfredo’s eyelids twitching, his whole body seeming startled and frightened, released his hand and stepped back a few paces.
Secretary Diaz took his reaction calmly, but did not speak.
Mateo had a sort of “close to home” mentality and didn’t know how to confront the old man. Even though he is a grandfather, his reaction was normal because he has not seen him for over 20 years.
Peter didn’t care about this, his mind was on Alfredo and when he opened his eyes, he rushed to the bed and plopped down in front of it.
-Grandfather, grandfather,” he called carefully, fearing that Alfredo’s lucidity was a dream of his own.
Alfredo opened his eyes and took a moment to wake up when he saw Pedro’s nervous face, he raised his head and patted Pedro on the head.
-Well boy, it’s only been a few days, why have you lost so much weight? Haven’t you been eating well?
The kind and gentle voice made Pedro’s eyes fill with tears instantly. He hadn’t heard Alfredo worry about him in that tone since he left the Seco family as a child.
He clung to Alfredo’s hand, he knew he didn’t want to cry, but the tears kept falling.
Pedro no longer felt humiliated at all and just wanted to vent the stress and restlessness he had accumulated over the past few days.
-Yes, Grandpa, you scared me, I thought…. I thought…
He choked on his sobs and sobbed so much that half the time he couldn’t say a complete sentence.
Alfredo looked at her with affection.
-Don’t cry, you are very mature and you are still crying. I am in good health, I will live another twenty years.
This amused Pedro, who wiped his eyes and curved his mouth into a smile.
-You will live for another twenty years.
Mateo stood behind Pedro, looking at his grandfather’s appearance in front of him, his hands and feet not knowing where to put them and his eyes full of envy.
He also wanted to be near Alfredo without any fear, but he couldn’t do it.
By blood, they are both grandchildren of blood, but for now they are just strangers.
As he thought, Alfredo raised his eyes, met his gaze, and then they snapped open.
-You, you, Luis, Luis, Luis! -he murmured, his lips trembling with emotion.
Pedro hurried to help him up and, as soon as the old man sat down, he extended his hand to Mateo.
-Luis…
Secretary Diaz, who had not spoken, explained:
-Sir, he is Luis’ son.
Alfredo’s eyes darkened for a moment as he inspected him.
“Yes, it is not Luis. Luis is dead. He’s been dead for twenty years.”
Alfredo beckoned to him with an affectionate look.
-“Come here, boy, let me take a good look at you.
Mateo’s body tensed, but he obeyed.
Pedro pursed his lips and turned away.
Mateo crouched down in front of the bed and looked at him. When Alfredo was unconscious, he could easily say the word “grandfather,” but at Alfredo’s face now, he braced himself for the thought, but was still unable to say it.
Alfredo’s fingers trembled as he touched his cheek and he spoke in a plaintive voice:
-Boy, you look like your father, what is your name?
-Mateo, my name is Mateo Seco.
He was originally called Jaime, but now he had been replaced and Mateo was the name he had chosen for himself.
-It’s a good name.
Alfredo sighed in admiration and stroked Mateo’s head.
-Come home, okay? Grandpa misses you.
The words made Mateo’s heart ache and his eyes redden slightly.
-Okay.
After all these years, he finally had a home of his own.
Alfredo patted his thick shoulders and looked him up and down with admiring eyes.
-Good boy, you’re taller than your father was in his day. You can tell at a glance that you’re from the Seco family.
Mateo looked at him with a face full of glee.
Pedro watched, unable to say what he felt in his heart. Now that the rightful owner was back, he was going to get the credit too and he shouldn’t expect too much at all.
He thought, and moved silently toward the door when the two men weren’t looking, trying to leave quietly.
His fingers had just touched the doorknob when he suddenly heard Alfredo’s voice behind him.
-Pedro.
Pedro’s body shuddered and he turned his head to look at him.
He found Alfredo, Secretary Diaz and Mateo looking at him. Secretary Diaz had a smile on his lips.
-Where are you going? -asked Alfredo with a smile on his face.
Pedro clasped his hands in confusion.
-I don’t want to disturb your meeting…..
-What nonsense is the boy talking? Come here,” Alfredo waved his hand.
Pedro always listened to the old man and mechanically approached him.
Alfredo drew him to him and looked at Mateo and then at Pedro, both boys were his grandchildren, both were kind and good, and satisfaction passed through his eyes.
-Now that Mateo is back, there’s no point in pretending I’m sick. Wait until tomorrow, I’ll be “sick” and Jaime is sure to have made his move, we’ll have him…..
He leaned close to the two and said a few words, Mateo and Pedro looked solemn and nodded at the same time.
-All right, we understand.
Alfredo finished and massaged Mateo’s head.
-Now is not the time for you to show your face, I’m worried that Jaime will turn against you. I’ll call the Santangel family later, you’ll stay there for a few days and then make your official return when it’s time to make your appearance.
Mateo hesitated for a moment and said:
-Actually, I have the ability to defend myself….
-Just in case, the Santangel family is the safest, do as I say.
Mateo ended up nodding his head.
Alfredo then looked at Pedro with a guilty look.
-Pedro, I’m sorry for having used you before…..
Pedro paused for a moment, and when he heard this from Jaime’s mouth, he did feel bad inside and had become jealous.
But after what happened with Alfredo, he didn’t care. As long as Alfredo was healthy and well, he would do anything.
-Grandfather, don’t say that, you should have planned everything for the cousin. He is the one who should be the heir of the Dry Group, but he grew up in exile and did not enjoy a single day of resources. As part of the Leoz family, I was able to be raised by you for a few years, and with that I am satisfied.