Just as he expected, Claire had been broken.
Claire’s face grew serious. She guessed the Bradley family must have used tricks to shape the boy’s thoughts this way, telling him that Cristelle didn’t show up because she didn’t love him anymore.
This was bullshit!
She wouldn’t let them get what they wanted!
“Your Mom loves you guys so much. She was forced to leave, honey. She would never leave you if she had another choice. Do you even know what Lana did, Cody?” Claire was indignant, “That woman came here today to do a DNA test. Do you know what that represents? She’s pregnant with your father’s child.”
“Impossible!” Cody denied it instantly.
That man would never do things like that. Cody only grew to like Linford very recently. It was hard for him to accept Linford Bradley. But he could be at least sure that Linford Bradley truly loved his Mom.
“Why isn’t that possible? She had done that test three times. The result of this time is also out. Frank told me that the baby in her belly is your dad’s child,” Claire shook her head, “Cody, you’re too little to understand the seriousness of the whole thing. But if I let those people fool you, you would probably lose your Mom in the end. I don’t want those people to treat you like a fool.”
Cody fell silent. Claire noticed the look on the boy’s face. It broke her heart.
Poor baby…
“Selena, do you know where my Mom is right now?” Cody’s tone had changed but Claire didn’t notice that.
Claire shook her head, “I don’t really know.”
If she did, she would have gone there and saved her sister herself.
Cody’s little fists clenched. So Mom was forced away because someone tried to replace her? He thought Mom left because Pop didn’t like her.
And Lana White somehow managed to get herself pregnant!
Why should he and Candace still stay in the Bradley House after Mom had left? Cody was not that keen to have a stepmother.
The boy was furious as he thought about how his Mom must feel in danger and sacred it must be right now. And that man just had another baby with another woman.
This was so disgusting!
“Cody?” Claire finally noticed the deep resentment on the boy’s face, “Cody, are you okay?”
Cody dipped his head and took in a deep breath. When he looked up again, he looked normal again, “I’m fine. Thanks for telling me these, Selena.”
This woman was his Aunt and Mom’s sister. She would never hurt him. Cody decided to think the whole thing through before working up a plan.
Linford came to the hospital at that moment. Candace ran over the minute she saw him standing by the door, “Dad! Dad!”
Linford picked the girl up, “Why are you guys still here?”
Candace smiled, “We’re waiting for you. Cody is also here.”
“Really?” Linford looked around and saw Cody standing behind him. The boy didn’t even look up as he heard Linford’s voice.
“Cody?” Linford frowned, feeling a bit weird.
Cody took in a deep breath before looking up, “Dad.”
“How was it? No one entered the lab when they did the test, right?” Linford asked.
“Nope,” Cody tried to be normal, “Why did you send me to watch the process, though, Dad?”
“Well, you don’t need to worry about that now. I will tell you in the future,” Linford didn’t want the boy to know the truth. He didn’t want the boy to be sad.
Cody tried so hard to suppress his emotions.
“Linford! You’re finally here!” Drew walked over in a hurry, “Follow me! I have bad news. I…”
Linford cast Drew a cold glance. Drew shut up immediately.
****
“What?! What did you just say?” Linford looked at Drew as if he couldn’t process what he had just heard.
Drew pulled a face, “I said the result is the same. Lana is pregnant with your baby.”
How was that even possible?
Linford couldn’t persuade himself to believe it, “Something must have gone wrong during the process.”
“Cody and I have been watching when they did the test, Linford. You need to face reality now. How are you gonna fix this?” Drew didn’t want to argue anymore. He decided to help Linford to accept the fact.
Linford didn’t say anything.
“You know Mrs. White would never let it pass so easily. You just have to marry Lana now,” Drew sighed heavily.
“The surveillance footage,” Linford suddenly said, “I need to see all the surveillance videos of the lab.”
“I’ve asked the security guards to prepare that,” Drew sighed, “I knew you would have asked for that. Anyway… Just come with me, we can go check that out together.”
They went to the security department and watched all the videos, but they couldn’t spot anything wrong in the frame. Linford could only end up copying the videos and sending them to Charles.
****
The dinner was as lovely as usual. Cody didn’t seem to be as talkative as before. Linford thought he was just upset that his Mom still hadn’t come back. So he decided to overlook that.
The babies went to their beds quite early after dinner. Lily took them upstairs to take a bath and change into their pajamas.
Franco told Linford that he wanted to talk to him.
So Linford followed the old man to his study room.
“You’ve seen the result yourself, right?” Pop sighed, “Linford, you made a promise. This is about the honor of the house. Pick a good day and marry Lana White.”
“It will never happen!” Linford snapped, “I WILL NEVER MARRY THAT VICIOUS WOMAN!”
“Then what about your promise? You did that test repeatedly. It would help if you gave up now. We don’t have much time left, Linford. I thought you knew that!” The look on Franco’s face was grim.
Linford would never yield. He knew he had to figure out a way to know the truth. The result must have been manipulated.
“You don’t need to think about anything anymore. I will decide the time. As for Cristelle, I will take care of her. So you don’t need to worry about anything. Linford, you know I’m doing everything for our house,” Franco suggested, sighing.
Linford didn’t even bother to look up. “The Wayne has left this city for good. If you force me to marry Lana, our house will be involved in those political wars. If the wedding happens, Enzo will lose his freedom to leave the army. Dad would never live an easy life after he retired. Do you really want this, Pop?”