“July, what are you saying? This is our father,” Forrest Row frowned.
Her biological father.
But July coldly chuckled, “Biological father, so what? Do you not know the situation at home? Have you finished paying off the mortgage? Have you finished paying off the car loan? Does the child need to attend tutoring classes and additional lessons-do you have the money for that? Ha, do you even think you can afford to keep him? And at his age, if he were to get sick, where would you get the money for treatment?”
“Even if you have the money for treatment, what about the child? Should we not send the child to tutoring classes? What then if the child falls behind his peers? Have you thought about all this? Still standing there calling him ‘father’ with a smile on your face,” July’s voice was ice cold.
“I… I…”
Forrest Row’s face turned red with embarrassment, finally muttering, “He… he is my father…”
“So what if he’s your father!” July glared at him, “So many people pursued me back then, but I chose you. I thought you would provide a good life for me, yet look at what we are living. Do you dare to support another burden? Anyway, if you want to keep him, Norris and I will move out.”
“I…”
Ultimately, Forrest Row sat on the bed, dejected, “Fine.”
He conceded.
“Promise quickly and get out. That kid is not gone yet, so hurry up and usher him out or he might never leave,” July urged.
Forrest Row didn’t want to leave, but he had no choice. In the end, he came out, speaking in a complex tone to Mr. Row, “Father, you just arrived, surely you’d like to see Barnaby. Come, let me take you to him.”
Mr. Row’s expression stiffened briefly.
After all, he was quite old. Despite living aimlessly for years, he understood some things.
“Fine… fine.”
Moments later, Mr. Row regained his composure and nodded. He then glanced at Robin Bailey.
“Good.”
Robin Bailey nodded back.
And so, Forrest Row drove to another neighborhood, the home of Barnaby Row, Mr. Row’s second son.
Knock, knock.
The door swung open, revealing not a woman, but a man, thin and sharp-looking-Barnaby Row. He raised an eyebrow upon seeing Forrest Row.
“Big brother?”
Barnaby Row and Forrest Row did not work together and didn’t communicate much.
Why was he showing up now?
Then, he noticed the elder man behind Forrest Row, causing a stir in his emotions. Nevertheless, he quickly composed himself.
“Barnaby, see, this is our father. I found him and brought him here for you,” Forrest Row grinned before trying to lead Mr. Row inside. “Let’s go in, it’s chilly outside, we shouldn’t keep father waiting.”
But Barnaby Row blocked the doorway.
“I’ll let you in, but answer me this: where will he stay tonight?”
“You asked that; it’s obvious father came to see you. Of course, he will stay with you,” Forrest Row insisted.
But internally, he realized the situation was dire. His cunning brother had already figured out his intentions to dump their father here and run away. No matter what happened to their father, it wouldn’t be his problem.
A real hot potato.
Barnaby coldly questioned, “And then what?”
“L-let’s talk about it later,” Forrest Row nervously chuckled.
“Later? What do you mean, later? We’ll discuss it tonight. After all, you sold Dad’s house and took the lion’s share. You didn’t even give a piece to our little sister. Shouldn’t Dad be your responsibility?” Barnaby Row leaned back against the door, his tone harsh.
“I… I…”
Forrest Row was caught red-faced, aware of his responsibilities as the eldest. When they sold the old family house, he had taken the largest share due to being the eldest. Hence, he should be the one caring for their father.
However, the family disagreed.
Finally, Forrest Row stuttered, “Barnaby… but he is your father… your biological father… he raised you with his own hands…”
“Yes, he’s my father, but aren’t you his son too?” Barnaby Row cut him off, “Moreover, does he have any evidence to prove he’s my dad?”
His tone was icy.
Any evidence to prove he’s my father.
Those words left everyone stunned. Was he really that ruthless?
“Dad…”
Mr. Row wanted to interject, but those words stifled in his throat, the statement robbing him of his voice.
“Barnaby Row, how can you say such things?” Forrest Row pointed at him, his face flushed in anger.
Barnaby replied coldly, “How can I say such things? How can you do such things, Forrest? You’re the eldest, you don’t care; you want me to take on that burden? Dream on, I won’t take over this mess.”
Witnessing this confrontation between his two sons, Mr. Row felt a pang of disappointment-this was the person he sought out first after regaining his memories, and he was disappointed.
“Robin, let’s go. We’ll just take a distant look at Thelma,” he sighed.
No more words.
Just a distant look.
Otherwise, it might cause misunderstandings. That wouldn’t be good.
“Okay.”
Robin Bailey nodded and they headed downstairs. Just as they reached the next landing, a woman ascended the stairs. Upon seeing Mr. Row, she was struck with shock.
“Dad…”
Hurriedly rushing forward, she cried, “Dad, it’s really you… Where have you been all these years… I couldn’t find you… I thought you… had an accident…”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Thelma…”
Mr. Row looked at his adult daughter, feeling an overwhelming wave of sentiment.
Robin Bailey stood by silently, observing. Thelma Row, Mr. Row’s third daughter, seemed indifferent, but she had searched for Mr. Row throughout these years, unlike her elder siblings-three years for the eldest, three months for the second.
Only Thelma Row had persisted for twelve years.
Posting missing person flyers from time to time.
Not finding Mr. Row wasn’t unusual; after all, he was not abducted, simply lost. And due to his growing facial hair and unkempt appearance, no one recognized him.
Yet, Thelma Row never gave up on finding him.
“Dad.”
Thelma Row supported him and faced her two brothers upstairs, “Big brother, second brother, I heard the commotion from downstairs. If you won’t take care of him, I will. He is our father.”