Chapter 004

**Miguel Ice's P.O.V**

"Mom, who is he?" I asked as I lay in the living room, startled by the presence of a man with my mother.

"I thought you were just going out to buy groceries tonight and tomorrow morning?" I inquired again.

Neither of them spoke. I couldn't decipher my mother's expression; she simply stared at me.

"What's going on, Mom?" I asked, feeling the man hug me while my mother began to cry.

What on earth was happening?

"Why is Mom crying? What's going on?" I gently released myself from the man's embrace and handed Mom a glass of water from the table.

"Sit down first and calm down, Mom," I urged her.

There was a long silence before Mom spoke again.

"He's your father," Mom said quietly.

"I know, Mom, but why is he here?" I asked, raising my voice.

"Son, please calm down first. Let me explain," Mom said, trying to soothe me.

"Your mom needs extensive medical treatment. I have to send her to the U.S. for her treatment to be completed. In exchange, you need to work with me. It will require a lot of money for her treatment, and you will have to contribute," my father suddenly interjected.

"Martin! Don't startle our son like this!" Mom exclaimed.

My father seemed about to respond, but I cut him off.

"If Mom needs treatment, I'll pay for it myself. I'll work for it, but not for you. You can leave. I'll take care of Mom," I replied firmly, shocked but resolute. I needed to be strong because Mom relied on me. The thought of Mom being ill pained me deeply. She had sacrificed so much for me, and now it was my turn to provide for her.

"I'm leaving to avoid causing more drama between you and your mother. Chel, remember our discussion. I hope you'll fulfill your end," he said to Mom before walking out the door.

I followed him to ensure he left.

"Let's leave this place, Mom. We can move to an apartment," I suggested, picking up her suitcase.

"It's not possible, son," Mom replied quietly.

"You need treatment, and we need a quiet life like you always wanted. I'll take care of you. I don't want anyone else's help," I insisted.

"Son, your father needs you," Mom said softly.

"We don't need him!" I retorted.

"But son—"

"Mom, we've managed on our own for so long. I was able to study well and graduate because of you. It's always been just you and me. Now, when I finally have the means to repay your sacrifices and hard work, he suddenly shows up? Who is he to us, to me?" I poured out my emotions, my voice trembling with barely restrained tears.

"He's your father, son," Mom replied quietly.

"He never acted like a father, so he's not my father. Shouldn't it be my decision if he's my father or not? Right, Mom?" I turned to her for affirmation.

Mom began to cry again, and I held her tightly in my arms. I loved Mom more than anything. She had been my rock, enduring hardships and making sacrifices so that I could have a better future.

Exhausted from crying, Mom soon fell asleep. I gently carried her to her room and arranged the items she had bought earlier.

Later, when Mom was calmer, I would confront her about what that man had said. I knew him—it had been a long time coming.

I had often caught glimpses of them conversing in hushed tones, packing up hastily afterward, moving to a new place without explanation. I had stopped questioning it long ago, but now I was stunned to find the tables turned. My father, a billionaire, was not someone I had expected my mother to seek help from.

**Third Person P.O.V**

Ice's mother wasn't actually ill. The story was fabricated as part of an arrangement.

Martin Santiago was one of the country's billionaires, inheriting the family business after numerous conflicts. His managerial prowess had significantly grown the company over five years. Despite his success, his greatest sorrow was his lack of a male heir.

Married for three years, Martin and his wife had a daughter in the first year. Concerned about succession, Martin pressed for another child. Years of trying proved futile, leaving his daughter as the sole heir to his empire—a point of contention within the company.

His distress led him to make rash decisions, even contemplating ending his daughter's life. Learning they had moved without a trace, he hired investigators to find them. Upon discovering they had a son, Martin begged to acknowledge him, but his wife continually evaded him.

Eventually, he resigned himself to their absence, distancing himself emotionally. From afar, he monitored their lives, aware of his son's achievements. When Ice applied for a position at a rival company, Martin orchestrated a plan to bring them together, urging his former secretary to contact them.

Meanwhile, Ice's mother collapsed from exhaustion and was admitted to a hospital. Upon awakening, she couldn't recall why she was there, only remembering her disappointment when Ice didn't show up.

Worried about social stigma and judgment, she feared Ice's rejection upon discovering her background. She sought solace in a stranger's concern, contemplating the repercussions if Ice learned of her connections to wealth and power.