16 Half Brother

Location: Susan's Mansion

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Susan was waiting for her son Mike to arrive home. Why does it take him so long to arrive? Where is he? She tried calling him again on his cellphone, she's getting impatient.

His phone starts ringing then he answered..."Hello...Mom! I just arrived, I'm in the living room now, don't worry, I'll be there in your study room in a second. I'm just wondering why you make me hurry to go home," he said.

"Just get your ass here, I will explain everything after you come up here! Hurry up!" she can't contain her happiness 'coz she was about to share to Mike that he will be meeting his half brother soon.

A few moments later, the door to the study room burst open, Mike entered the room frowning. "What is it, Mom?"

"Why does it take you so long to come here? Are you romancing your boyfriends again?" her mouth twisted in displeasure.

Mike scratch his head. "No, I'm not. I've met some owners of start-up companies for a business proposal, I'm going to invest in them, who knows out of five start-up companies one of them will become big someday just like Jack Ma's company Alibaba, or Jeff Bezos's Amazon," he said grinning.

Susan's face brightened up. "That's good, son! Al least your using your head now and I'm glad that you are focusing your time on things that matter," she said.

Mike loves it when his mother showered him with praises. "You want me to elaborate on the nature of those start-up companies, Mom?" he said excitedly.

Susan shook her head. "Some other time, son. I called your presence here for an important secret that I have to tell you. Sit down son, I will show you something," she said, she opened the table's drawer and pick up one fading photo of a baby and give it to her son. "Meet your half brother, John," she said, her face glowing.

Mike was stunned! His face registered shocked.

"What---?" his eyes widened.

"I have a brother t-that I never know? H-how did it happened?" he asked in bewilderment. Mike accepted the photo and stared at the picture of the baby about a month old. He had seen her mother stared at an old photo in her bedroom several times but he just ignored it.

"Is this the photo that you keep staring at? Why you didn't tell me anything, Mom?" Mike asked.

Susan nodded her head. "Yes. I keep everything a secret from you because I'm losing hope of finding your brother again. But God is kind to me, one day he showed me the way. Let me tell you my story when I'm still single and haven't met your father yet..."

She sat down on the swivel chair and continue narrating her old story to her son.

"The story begins when I fell in love with a married man, then...later on, I got pregnant and give birth to your brother, the love affair was forbidden so it did not last long, my relationship with Hector took place before I meet your father. I had the baby adopted by his father because I'm not financially stable during those times. Then Hector and I lose contact with each other and I come here to the city to find work and meet your father then we got married, then you were born, but I never have forgotten my child that I give up for adoption a long time ago. Through the years I keep longing for the day that I will find him and he will acknowledge me as his real mother. That's the only last thing I wish for in my life and now that wish is finally granted to me, I found your brother, son! Your half brother and his family will visit us this coming Sunday lunchtime, you shall meet your brother soon! His name is John," she explained, the excitement in her eyes was flashing illuminating her entire face.

Mike's mouth twitched. "What is the name of my brother again?" he asked as the curiosity in his voice was mounting. Why do I have this feeling that I already met my half brother somehow? he said to himself.

Susan stared at his son. "There is one thing you need to know about your half brother...he married Catherine the woman of your dreams. Catherine is your sister-in-law!"

"Wtf---hell no!" he blurted out. Mike's mouth widened for a moment then closes again after the realization hit him hard. "So...so...my brother is John Roxas?" he asked in astonishment.

"Yes. I hope that after knowing the truth you will kill your fascination and obsession with his wife," Susan said.

Mike looked at his mother. "Of course, Mom. I already accepted the painful truth that Catherine finally married another man for good that is why I no longer establish any contact with her."

"That's good!" Susan said. "Now that you know everything let's try to welcome your half brother and his family with open arms. I expect you to be home this coming Sunday to meet your brother, okay? Don't be late!"

Mike nodded his head. "No problem, Mom. I will come home this Sunday to meet my brother John and my lovely sister-in-law Catherine," he smiled with fondness upon mentioning her name. Catherine will always hold a special place in his heart.

Susan saw the smile on her son's lips the moment he mentioned Catherine's name. "What's with that smile?" she asked curiously.

Mike shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing Mom," he said.

"Okay you may leave now," she permitted her son to leave.

"Goodnight...Mom," Mike said.

"Goodnight...son," Susan responded.

Mike left the study room quietly, still visibly shaken upon learning his mother's secret that has been kept hidden for so long. Well, he's not having any bad feelings at all after knowing that he has a half brother although he thought that he was the only child of her mother. He's going to meet Catherine again! Why does it make him so excited? Maybe he just misses her, after all, he misses calling her and just talking to her. He sighed. Catherine was already married to his half brother so he must kill whatever affection he had for his sister-in-law.

He went to his room to retire for the night.

While inside Susan's bedroom.

She can't sleep early that night, the excitement she feels of her impending reunion with his long lost son was making her restless. Not only she will meet John she will also meet her daughter-in-law and her two grandchildren. She can't wait to see the two adorable babies! She's been dying to have grandchildren of her own but Mike will not be tying a knot with anybody else soon 'coz finding a woman for Mike is next to impossible.

This weekend she will meet her extended family and she was looking forward to hugging her grandchildren.

Susan falls asleep feeling happy that night.