Chapter five Astounded

Chapter five Astounded

REYNOLDS VILLA.

"You chose to disgrace me? What was your reason for not attending your own wedding?" Arthur demanded furiously? His veins popped up on his forehead and neck.

Jayden bowed his head a little. "I'm sorry."

"I don't need your apology. Give me an adequate reason!"

  Jayden sighed a little. "No reason." He replied calmly and a moist palm hit his right cheek.

 Arthur hit him. "Honey." Scarlett let out in a breaking voice and carefully rushed over to her son.

Jayden didn't budge and he maintained his composure. In no time, his cheek was carrying a red handprint. 

 "You are very stupid for having no reason and making our family look like fools!" Arthur blurted.

"I'm sorry." Jayden apologized again, infuriating his father the more. Just then the the grannies, the twins and their mother walked into the living room on the second floor.

 Granny Lucy quickly darted over to Jayden and Scarlett when she spotted the handprint on his face. 

"I'm sorry for disappointing you, father." Jayden said and looked up at him for the first time ever since he was there. Arthur sent him a glare and raised his hand to hit him again when Granny Lucy jumped in front her grandson.

 "Enough! I'll not let you hit him again." She started firmly.

Arthur inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to suppress his rage. "Mum, how am I supposed to face Owen and his family again? That poor girl left the chapel in tears!"

 "He was against this wedding, wasn't he? It's bad enough that you're coercing him into a marriage."

"You're siding with him?" Arthur arched a brow. Granny Lucy sighed and said nothing.

 "Honey, we know what he did was nasty but hitting him continuously won't undo what has been done already."

 Scarlett intervened.

"No. The only way to undo this is arranging the marriage a second time. He'll sign the marriage papers this time around." Arthur declared.

"No!" Jayden clamored. "I'm not getting married to her. I will not."

 "Will you keep that filthy mouth shut?!" Arthur yelled. 

"Quiet!" Granny Nolan, who hadn't said anything and just watched calmly ordered.

 Everyone became silent immediately. The twins stepped aside a bit. They had resolved to watching the scene and not interrupt so as not to bring the elders' wrath on them. 

 Harriet, the twins' mother also watched quietly.

"This doesn't call for hits and arguments." He turned to Harriet. "Daughter, make sure y'all eat dinner on the same table before retiring to your bedrooms. Jayden, come with me." The old man instructed.

CITY B.  ERIN'S DUPLEX UNIT.

 ERIN'S POV.

I hoped I wouldn't hit someone or run into some store on my way home. A lot was on mind as I drove home. My driver was out to get my son and I needed to get home so badly. To strip my clothes off, take a cold shower, sit at my room's balcony and sip wine while I watched the street's view.

Really, all I wanted then was to do anything that'd get those killing thoughts off my mind. I mean, how can he just show up and tell me he had a night with me five years ago? Then when he finds out about Dylan, he'll try to take him away from me? No...no...i won't let that happen! I won't!

I drove into the compound and pulled over. I walked into the house and called for the housekeeper. "Prepare me a cold bath." I ordered the 35 year old woman.

I couldn't seem to get his picture and words off my head. I drank and did all sorts to divert my thoughts but none worked. 

  "Erin, you've struggled so hard to be who you are today. You've always overcame criticisms and people's impressions about you. Let's not get distracted by some psychotic bastard." I said aloud to myself and grabbed my laptop to work.

Just then I heard my son's voice. It became very clear as he entered my room and ran over to where I was.

 "Mum, you're back?" He asked, looking surprised.

I forced a smile on. "Yes son."

"I thought you had to stay there for three days?"

"Hm...something came up and I had to leave. How was school today?" I tried to change the subject.

CITY A. HUGHES' MANOR.

"My apologies for the mishap my son caused. He isn't usually like that." Arthur said.

"Why the apologies? You don't need to apologise. We should've done the needful before planning a marriage. I believe it's not his fault. He was perhaps shocked about the sudden event. We should've prioritized our kids' opinions and feelings." Owen said decently.

"Still, that's not an excuse for not attending the wedding. Don't worry, this time around, I'll coax him into marrying your daughter." Arthur assured and Owen smiled.

"You don't need to. It isn't necessary. It's fine if he doesn't want to marry Lexi. After all, this is the twenty-first century, kids these day cannot be compelled to do anything against their wish." 

"Not in this case. We've been friends for way too long and it only makes sense that our kids get married to each other." Arthur protested peacefully and Owen's grin never faded off.

"If you say so."

TWO DAYS LATER.

 CITY B

AUTHOR'S POV.

"Erin Charlton? CEO of Charlton's sunset lodge? Did you find out anything about her family?" Jayden inquired of Theodore, who was behind the wheel.

"No sir. It was clean. She has a son but, no information about him. I think he was registered on a confidential note." Theodore explained.

Jayden crinkled his face. "An unregistered child?" He thought to himself.

  His heart thumped at an abnormal rate as they drove towards Charlton's sunset lodge.

 He got a weird feeling that he couldn't comprehend.

Just before they pulled over in front of the huge building structure, a red coloured car passed by them and parked in front of the more. Theodore stepped on the brakes too and the tires screeched.

The back seat's right door opened and little boy jumped out excitedly. Jayden and Theodore wrinkled their eyebrows at the same time as they watched the boy. The boy coincidentally made an eye contact with Theodore and was quick to look away. Then he started walking off into the building with a tall, huge man in black guarding him.

Theodore swiftly turned to Jayden who looked astounded. He was shocked to the very last bone in his body.

  He didn't take his eyes off the boy until he was out of sight. Jayden became uncomfortable and perturbed. 

FEW HOURS LATER.

JAYDEN'S POV.

I stood at the balcony and let the cold breeze into my body. I was at Erin's hotel. Many notions came into my mind and I couldn't resolve to one answer. Deep down, the answer was there but I chose not to believe it. I decided to wait till Theodore got back with an adequate information.

The boy looked so much like me. The resemblance was so much that my heart was gradually tearing apart and I couldn't bring my mind to a place.

My heart sped when i heard Theo walk in. 

I turned to him swiftly and demanded an alibi. I would've gotten one from his countenance but Theo was just like me. He was expressionless.

"She's Erin Charlton's son. Dylan Charlton. Five years old." He reported.

Jayden's heart sank when he travelled down the memory lane. He and Erin had that thing five years ago, she's single currently and has a five year old son. How come? There was only one answer to that.