CHAPTER 37
ROBERT’S POV
“Why did you have to come back? Was it so hard for you to stay in that shithole you call an apartment without me? You have succeeded in ruining everything for me. Are you happy now?” I heard Scarlett’s sharp voice echoing in one of the guest rooms as I strolled in.
She and Raphael were there, taking it out on each other like a married couple fighting. They hadn’t seen me enter as their attention was solely focused on each other. After all these years, her bitterness towards him hadn’t changed. She couldn’t even at least show some gratitude knowing the father of her child was alive and well. She blamed the poor man for coming back for her and his kid she kept from him for a solid nine years. Only a cruel woman will do such to her husband. She was lucky Raphael overlooked that and her shortcomings and still wanted to take her back. If it were me, I wouldn’t take it lightly at all. I’ll blow up if I find out my wife or any woman I have a kid with hid my child from me.
“I came back because I love you and want to see my child who you never told me about after all these years we’ve been together. I want us to be a family. But make no mistake, if you do this again, I’ll not only make sure you lose everything, I’ll acquire full custody of our son and make sure you never see him again,” Raphael shot back at her, his threat carrying a cold finality that left Scarlett silent and sulking in exasperation.
That was a cue for me to make my presence known.
“Is she giving you a hard time?” I asked Raphael as I approached. “If she is or ever tries to run off again, just let me know. There is a prison cell in the Islands with her name boldly written on it,” I said as I looked at Scarlett with a cold glare. She looked away in a mix of fear, embarrassment and regret.
“No, she’s not,” Raphael replies with an awkwardly polite smile. “We were just ironing a few things out. I won’t fail to let you know if she tries anything stupid.”
“Good,” I smiled satisfyingly. I was glad Scarlett was getting all she deserved. Now she’ll know better than to betray anyone or try to use people for her selfish and materialistic goals. Earlier this morning, after the servants brought all her stuff and she signed the divorce papers, I made it clear to her that I wasn’t paying any alimony money into her bank account. She didn’t complain, knowing fully she was the one that messed up. Even if she tried to take the matter to court, which I know she wouldn’t because she lacked the means and resources, the ruling would still be in my favour.
“I believe everything is set for your journey?” I asked Raphael.
“Yes,” he nodded firmly.
Scarlett looked up at me with eyes that were large and pitiful as if begging me to reconsider but I didn’t regard her.
“We’re just waiting for our….” Raphael wanted to say when I heard a high-pitched voice scream “Daddy!…”
I felt a sudden thud at my side as someone hugged me tightly, clinging to me like an octopus. I looked down to see Jake. He was wearing his favourite Spider-Man jacket I got him on his eighth birthday and carrying a backpack over his shoulders. A few steps behind him, one of the servants stood holding his suitcase.
“Daddy, mummy wants to take me away to someplace with this man. I don’t want to go, I don’t want to leave without you, I don’t want to leave without any of you. Please let’s all go together.” He hugged me tighter, burying his face in the thickness of my clothes.
I breathed out heavily, a wave of guilt and sadness washing over me as I wished it didn’t have to be like this. I have been avoiding this moment since yesterday but I guess it’s time I told him the truth and let him know what was happening.
I lifted him off the floor and into my body, balancing his weight on my arms. I was smartly dressed in my CEO attire a sleek well-tailored navy blue suit and ready for work but I didn’t mind carrying him.
I looked into his eyes and for a moment, I was bereft of words. Lost in their depths, I realized this was way harder than I thought. Those were the eyes of the little boy I witnessed his birth on the delivery bed. I remember being afraid to carry him in my arms because he was so tiny I feared I might squash him. That was one of the happiest moments of my life. And it all seemed like it was just yesterday.
Pushing past all those memories and my vocal barrier, I managed a smile and said, “Jake…this man here is your real daddy…not me…” The words were so heavy it took a lot of effort to push them out of my throat.
“Uhhh….” He glanced at Raphael and back at me and did it again and again as if struggling to understand what I was saying. “I don’t understand…what do you mean you’re not my real daddy?… You and mummy have been with me ever since I was little. All my teachers and friends at school know that you’re my daddy so why are you saying you’re not?”
I didn’t expect less from him. This was as difficult for him as it was for me. He was just a nine-year-old kid paying for the sins his mother committed, so I didn’t expect him to fully grasp the weight of the situation. I couldn’t believe Scarlett had done this without thinking of the impact it would have on him when he found out the truth.
I let out a deep breath, my expression turning bleaker by the moment. I don’t think I have ever been in this kind of situation where I didn’t know what to say or do. When I looked at Raphael, he gave me a supportive nod and smiled as if motivating me. Just by meeting him yesterday, I could tell he was a good man and will no doubt make a great father. Jake was in safe hands so I had nothing to worry about.
“You see your father went away after you were born on an important secret mission,” I cooked up a story while looking at Jake and smiling at him. I just hoped it would be convincing enough for him to believe it. “While he was away, he entrusted you in my care and begged me to take very good care of you until he returned. Now he’s returned and ready to take you back with him. So you should be very happy and excited.”
He just stared at me without saying anything as if thinking deeply about what I said.
“What type of secret mission?” He asked curiously.
“You’re not supposed to be asking because it’s a secret,” I whispered playfully to him. “But I will tell you because you’re very special to him. Just don’t tell any other person okay?”
He nodded with enthusiasm, waiting for what I had to tell him.
“Your daddy was travelling the world and helping little kids like you who didn’t have a mummy and daddy, food to eat, water to drink and a big house like this to live in.”
“Wow,” his eyes widened and sparkled with wonder as he looked at Raphael. “Is that true?”
“Yes…yes, my son, it’s very true…” Raphael stuttered, unable to contain the rush of emotions flooding him. I could see the genuine warm glow of love that shone in his eyes as he looked at Jake. For nine years, Scarlett had denied him this feeling; one of the most incredible feelings in the world.
“You’re so nice,” Jake admired him gleefully. “I would like to help little kids like me too. I will make friends with them and share some of my storybooks with them.”
“That’s so generous of you,” Raphael smiled warmly “And that’s why you should come with us. We will travel the entire world, anywhere you want, going on awesome adventures and helping different kids from around the world.”
“Really?” Jake asked, marvelled. Anybody could easily win his heart with these kinds of things.
“Mmmmh,” Raphael nodded and I couldn’t help but smile inwardly because he was feeling like a superhero daddy.
“Alright. I left my storybooks in my room. I’ll just need to get them then we can be on our way.”
I let him down and watched as his little feet took off from the guest room and towards the path that led to his room. I’m going to miss him so much. I just don’t know if I can bear the thought of not seeing him again for a long time and having no one to call me Daddy.
“Thank you,” Raphael said, drawing back my attention, his tone filled with immense gratitude. “Thank you so much.”
I nodded in acknowledgement. “Just take it slow okay? He’s a great kid and you still have time to make up for all those years you’ve been without him.”
“And you,” I turned my attention to Scarlett. “Help him out. He’s the only reason you’re not rotting away in prison right now so help him with his son. It’s the least you can do after what you did.”
“You good for nothing brazen hussy,” I heard my mother’s snarl behind me. “What are you still doing here?”
Turning, I saw her advancing towards us, her face crimson with rage as she stared at Scarlett like she wanted to rip her to pieces.