9 Chapter 9: I’m His Father

"Let's talk about Drew." His eyes were on me, filled with seriousness.

"What about him?"

"Don't you think he deserves to have a father?"

His question made me laugh. "Do you think you deserve to be his father?"

"I can give him all he wants. He'll never have to go through any financial hardships. Everyone will bow to him."

I looked at him and shook my head. "It is all money for you, isn't it?"

"You're there for the rest. So why should I bother?"

"I am not letting you near Andrew. So, this discussion is useless." I stood up.

"What do you think he'll say if he comes to know about this? That you, his mother, knowingly kept his father away from him?"

"Once again, you're not his father. You might have been the one who made me pregnant but you aren't and can never be a father."

He scoffed. "You're making no sense."

"Being a father is more than fucking the mother. It is a responsibility and would you understand it even if I told you about it?"

He got up too.

"Well, I will see how you keep me away from Andrew."

"Yeah. Well, watch your back."

Under his penetrating gaze, I managed to get out of the cabin. As I left, I took a few deep breaths. His words echoed in my brain: 'Well, I will see how you keep me away from Andrew.'

What did he mean by that? What is he going to do?

I hurried to my room and called Andrew's school as soon as I got inside. I needed to make sure he is okay and I needed to be with him — even if I had a babysitter for him now.

"Hello, this is Angel Star School. May I know who is calling?"

"I am Scarlet Walker, mother of Andrew who's in kindergarten. I wanted to know if he's there?"

"Hold on, please." The person on the other side took a while before another woman took the phone. "Hello, this is Suzie. Andrew is here. Would you like to talk to him?"

I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Actually, there is an emergency and I have to take him back. So please have him pack his bags and I will be there in ten minutes."

"Okay mam, please bring the Leave Slips and your identity card to the school."

"Okay."

The call ended and I hurried out of the company. Thankfully, no one stopped me. I took my cab and drove over to his school.

…

I saw the board "Angel Star School" written over a big building and parked my car in the parking lot. After locking it, I walked over to the reception in the school lobby.

"Excuse me, mam. I am Scarlet Walker. I am here to pick up my son." I handed over the slip which contained all the information about me and Andrew, and my ID.

She checked it and smiled.

"Oh, your husband is on the backside. He came just now. Said he wanted to see how Drew was performing. They are all in the playground behind the school."

I looked at her wide-eyed. A shiver went through my body when I realized that she addressed Xavier as my husband.

I couldn't care about it. Taking the slip and the ID, I ran out of the lobby — to the backside. I was sure that everyone was confused by my weird act.

As I reached the playground, I saw him watching all the kids play. He was standing with his sleeves rolled up and his hands folded. There was a sly smile on his face as his complete focus was on all the kids — especially Drew.

I walked over quietly. His gaze shifted to me when I went a little close and he smirked.

"You're a late mother."

"You're an absent father."

He smiled. "Well, I am here now. So why don't you try to give Andrew what he missed all this while?" He looked over at Drew again. "He would appreciate it."

"Don't speak as if you care about him!" I said, without batting an eyelid. "He is nothing to you."

He turned towards me.

"When I came in, I heard one of the kids call him 'a kid without a father'. How can you be so unbothered by that? And you claim that I don't care about him?"

I chuckled. "You're the reason. You left!"

"It was a one-night stand! People are supposed to leave after one-night stands!" He raised his volume a little, although still not enough to disturb the kids.

I scoffed.

"You're the one who was too drunk to remember anything. If you had been in a little more sense, you would have known who the father was!" he continued.

"People are supposed to be drunk too! That's just how it is!" I disagreed.

"So I am not to blame!"

I couldn't say anything. It was my fault — I was 18 and drunk. I was so drunk and I remember having a one-night stand with someone. I don't remember who he was, and I didn't care.

Not until I got pregnant. But I searched everywhere, and I asked everyone… and no one had any clue. No one knew who it was.

But he disappeared too. He didn't try to find me.

"I have equal rights on Drew. I already provided you with the proof that he is my son. So, like it or not, I am going to be here."

I remembered looking through the files he handed over to me back at home. They were the paternal tests and the result was a match.

Before I could process any chances, I was suddenly reminded of the horror he had caused. Of the monster he was and the thought of him being near to Andrew scared me again.

"No." I looked at him. "You can't be here. You're a monster."

He took a step toward me. "I can be worse."

I backed off. "I am sure about that. Don't come near Andrew. I am warning you." I put up a confident façade and went over to Drew. "Drew, we need to leave."

He looked at me and smiled. Then he bid goodbye to everyone. I noticed that he smiled extra at a girl and I raised my eyebrow at him.

His blush said it all.

Well. What is he, 6?

"Let's go." I shook off the topic and then, glancing one last time at the discontent face of Xavier, I went out.

I submitted the slip again and finally took him home.