Chapter Seven

-- Alexander --

Everyday, I found myself becoming more depressed despite all the success and riches that surrounded me. I felt incomplete without Grizelda by my side. I had searched for her for years and found nothing on her. Like she had disappeared completely just as she'd planned to from a heartless man like I was. I could never forgive myself for what I did to her and it ate me up everyday.

I tried her phone number severally on different occasions, hoping it would go through one day, but I was only deceiving myself. She had probably changed her number. I wanted to see her just once and apologise for the pain I caused.

My company grew bigger and bigger and I grew richer and richer. My mother had everything she ever wished for. All she had to do was snap her fingers and I would have everything being sent to the mansion I gifted her.

Everyone was happy, even my new wife and her son, Spencer, who was now five years old. He looked nothing like me. I had blonde hair and hazel eyes, whereas he had aurburn hair and brown eyes. Yet, my mother never suspected a thing. The joy of having a grandson had clouded her mind. I was tired of lying and I wished I could just tell her the truth.

"Daddy! Daddy! Look here! See what I built!!" Spencer screamed to call my attention to a castle that he created using the sand on the beach. It was weekend and I was taking my family out as usual.

I tried to give him my best smile and simply nodded my head. "That's great, Spencer. Keep it up." I further clapped for him.

"Yay!!" He threw his hands up in the air and smiled so widely.

I felt pity for the boy. He really thought I was his father. I turned in time to see his mother approaching me with cocktails in hand. I stretched out my hand to collect mine and she sat in her deck chair next to me while sipping hers.

"Such a sunny day, isn't it?" She smiled, warmly.

"Yes, it is." I agreed and managed to have a glimpse at the sky. "When are we going to tell him?"

"Tell who?"

"Spencer. That I'm not his father."

"Oh my God." Her eyes went wide. "Shuush! Don't be loud about it." She quickly checked Spencer to be sure he wasn't listening and still focused on the sand he was playing with.

"I know we're planning never to tell my mom about it, but don't you think the boy deserves to know?" I urged.

"Ugh! I hate when you bring this up, okay? Is it really that hard for you to just forget about his father and love him as your own son?" I was shocked on her reaction on the issue. I wasn't expecting her to be so pissed about it and I wondered why.

Wasn't I just being honest?

"That's not what I meant. I..." I tried to explain but she wouldn't give me time to talk.

"No wonder! I've noticed the way you never want to sleep with me in bed, either. This isn't fair. This isn't how it's supposed to be, Alex. I came back to you. When you thought I left, I came back." Her eyes began to show signs of tears.

"And for five years that we've been together, I haven't slept with anyone. Doesn't that speak a lot? What am I really to you? Do you not love me anymore? Is it because I have a child for another man? Is that why you refuse to touch me? Can't you just..."

"Hey, don't cry!" I stood up from my chair and sprang to her side. "Stop. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I brought it up. I do love you and I do appreciate you sticking by my side. I won't bring up Spencer's matter anymore."

"I know that's not true. You'll keep on seeing him as a fake son and you'll keep on seeing me as just a mere substitute."

"No, no, Lucy. Listen, I love both of you. I'm being honest, dear. Please don't say that about me."

She kept on shedding tears and I pulled her to my chest.

"Mommy, Daddy. Is everything alright?" We both separated after hearing Spencer's voice and I turned to see the worry on his little face.

"No, no, honey. Your mommy is just..." I tried to explain.

"Mommy is just having cramps, baby. Come here." Lucy finished for me and she opened her arms to receive him. He came closer and she wrapped him tightly while I stepped aside a little.

"What's cramps?" He asked.

"It's a pain that happens here." She answered, touching a spot on her lower belly.

"Sorry, mommy. I hate cramps." He pouted.

"Me, too." She kissed his head and I smiled. It was lovely to watch.

At last, the weekend went well and on Monday, I was back to sulking alone in the big space of my office. My phone rang and I picked it up. It was my PI and I was wondering what he must be calling to tell me.

"Hello, Jerry." I answered with a serious tone.

"Mr Kingston." He responded hastily and his voice shook. "I have found your Ex wife."

"What did you say?" The information made me rise up from my chair. "You're talking about Grizelda, right? The Grizelda we've been looking for?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where?!"

"Mr Kingston!" Someone else barged into the office before I could get the answer to my question.

I turned my head and was startled to see Nicholas panting like he was just chased by a horrible beast.

"Sir, there's an important issue you need to know about as soon as possible."

I gritted my teeth as I felt Jerry waiting for me on the call. I couldn't imagine anything being more important than what I've waited a whole five years for.

"I'm on a phone call. Give me a few more minutes and come back."

"Sir, it's about the company."

"Nicholas, please come back. I'll hear what you have to say after this call."

"The William's corporation have terminated their contract with the Kingston's group." He blurted out nonetheless, causing my heart to stop beating as soon as the last word left his mouth.

"They have what?!" I exclaimed. I felt my blood pressure rise.

Without waiting another second, I told Jerry I'll get back to him and ended the call. I shoved my phone in my pocket and slammed my fist against my office table.

"Why would they do that? Why now? Have we offended them in any way?"

"Nothing I know of, sir. But what I did hear is that the decision was made after the family's second daughter returned to town after so many years. Only that it still doesn't make any sense. They seemed to have no specific reason except saying they no longer want to work with us."

I felt my head start to spin as I heard the most horrible news in my life. The one company that was the sole reason for my company's growth was suddenly no longer interested in my company. It felt like a child being dropped by his father in a very expensive school and being told to start fending for myself from there.

The William's corporation was the biggest tech company in the whole country and if people were to find out that I no longer had ties with them, it could seriously affect my company. They would assume I was on the bad side of the most influential family in the entire country and I was a finished man if I didn't find a solution to this mess as soon as possible.