Chapter 128: WE’LL DO IT FOR THEO

Chapter 130

LUMI

"He was never yours. Never had been." I’m breathing heavily now because I’m pissed, but I can’t do anything because I wouldn’t want Theo witnessing a violence.

But how can someone so vile be my sister? How did she end up like this? I wouldn’t blame it on anyone but her because we both had similar issue. A shit of a father.

But I didn’t turn out this way. She had a fair share of having her both parents, while I only had mine for few years.

So why did she become this wicked? What hurt could make someone this deceitful.

It wasn’t this painful when I found out she was sleeping around with Callum, or when I found out she was my sister.

Nothing can beat finding out she’d been using my son for her wicked act and it was my fault because I’d let her.

But no more. I’m done been the good guy.

I watch as a mocking smile slowly spreads across her lips.

"He’s not yours, Lumi. You raised someone else’s child." I almost laugh.

"You know what I think? I think you actually need to see the doctor, because you’re not fine. No one in their right senses will do what you have done." Her smile falters slightly.

"You were the one who brought him to me and told me his biological parents couldn’t take care of him." I take a step towards her.

Her lips part, but I don’t give her the chance to interrupt. I shake my head.

"How many lies are there, Sienna? How many different stories have you created around this little boy? Do you think you’re actually fine?" She rolls her eyes.

"You’re always so dramatic." I stare at her. She looks away, and my attention shifts to Chloe.

The young woman is still standing quietly beside her. She looks uncomfortable, her fingers moving nervously over the strap of her handbag.

"Did Sienna tell you why she wanted you to come here?" Chloe nods.

"She said you needed to know the truth."

"Is that all she told you?" Chloe hesitates.

"She said she would help me with school and give me some money to get settled." I glance at Sienna.

"Is that what you promised her?"

"What’s wrong with helping someone?"

"Nothing. Unless you’re using that help to get them to do something for you." Sienna scoffs.

I turn back to Chloe. "Did you come here because you want Theo back?"

She looks towards the ground. "No."

"Are you sure?"

"I don’t want to take him away from you. I haven’t seen him since he was a baby. I don’t even know him." Her answer leaves me quiet for a moment.

I know she’s young, and I cannot imagine what it must have been like to have a child at seventeen without the support she needed.

But I also cannot ignore the fact that Theo has spent his entire life being moved around by adults who made decisions for him.

My fingers tighten around Theo’s little hand.

He looks between us, his small face creased with confusion. He doesn’t understand why the adults around him are arguing, and I don’t want him to understand. He has already been through enough without having to watch another ugly scene.

I turn towards Darren. "Please, take Theo to the car."

Darren looks at me, then at Sienna. He seems to understand that I don’t want him asking questions.

"Come on, little man," he says gently, bending towards Theo. "Let’s go wait in the car."

Theo doesn’t move immediately. Instead, he looks up at me.

"Mummy coming?" My chest tightens.

"Yes, sweetheart. I’ll be there shortly."

"Now?"

"In a little while. Go with Darren, okay?" He hesitates, his fingers still wrapped around mine. I crouch in front of him and smooth his hair away from his forehead.

"I just need to talk to someone. You don’t have to worry about anything. Mommy will be with you soon, I promise."

He studies my face for a moment before finally letting go of my hand. Darren lifts him into his arms and carries him towards the car.

I watch them until they are far enough away, then turn back to Sienna.

She has been watching me with that familiar look of contempt, as though she still believes she can provoke me into doing whatever she wants.

I take a slow breath. "Do you know why I waited?"

Her eyebrows pull together. "What?"

"Why I didn’t hit you while my son was standing here." I take a step closer.

"I didn’t want him watching me become violent. I didn’t want him seeing me hit someone, no matter how much that person deserves it. And I certainly don’t want him standing around watching all this commotion." Sienna gives a short, mocking laugh.

"So you’re pretending to be a good mother now?" My jaw tightens.

"Don’t talk about motherhood with me."

"Why? Does the truth hurt? He’s not even yours." The slap happens before she finishes the next breath.

My palm connects with her cheek, and her head turns sharply to the side. For a second, she simply stands there, one hand slowly rising to her face.

I don’t feel better. I don’t feel like years of betrayal have suddenly disappeared because I finally struck her again.

But I have wanted to confront her without holding back since the last time, and I am done pretending that what she did to me was something I could simply overlook.

"That was for the years you spent trying to hurt my son," I tell her. " For using an innocent child for your selfish interests." Her eyes turn furious.

"You think you can just slap me and walk away?" I scoff.

"I can do whatever I want, Sienna, but unlike you, I don’t need to use a child to hurt someone." She lunges towards me, her hand lifting, but Ren moves before she can reach me.

He catches her wrist and forces her hand down.

"Don’t," he says.

His voice is quiet, but there is nothing gentle about it.

Sienna struggles against his grip. "Let go of me!" But he doesn’t move.

"You’ve had enough opportunities to make things worse for yourself. Don’t make another mistake."

"She slapped me!"

"And you should be grateful that’s all she did."

I glance at Ren. His expression is hard, his attention fixed on Sienna, but I know he is watching me too, making sure she doesn’t get another chance to come near me.

"Let her go," I say.

He holds Sienna’s wrist for another second before releasing it.

She immediately steps back, rubbing her wrist while glaring at me. "You haven’t heard the last of me, Lumi."

I almost laugh, but there is no humour in it.

"That’s what you’ve been saying from the beginning. You keep threatening me as though I haven’t already survived everything you and the people you brought into my life put me through." Her mouth opens, but I don’t give her the chance to speak.

"I’m not interested in what you have to say anymore. You made your choices, and now you have to live with them." I turn away from her and see some officers approaching.

One of the officers approaches us, and Ren explains what happened, including Sienna’s admissions about Theo and the circumstances surrounding the adoption.

The officer turns towards her.

"Miss Sienna Vale?"

She folds her arms. "Yes?"

"We need you to accompany us to the station." Her eyes widen.

"Why?"

"We have received information concerning an ongoing investigation, and your statements here need to be formally recorded. There are also questions surrounding the child’s identity and the circumstances under which he was presented for adoption." Sienna looks at me.

"You’re doing this?" I hold her gaze.

"I’m not doing anything to you, Sienna. I’m finally allowing you to answer for what you’ve done." She turns towards the officers.

"You’re making a mistake. I haven’t committed any crime."

"Miss, we need you to cooperate." One of the officers steps closer, and Sienna reluctantly moves towards them.

Before leaving, she looks back at me. "This isn’t over."

I don’t respond. I have heard enough threats from her to last a lifetime.

The officers lead her away, leaving Chloe standing near the entrance.

I look at the young woman. "You’re not under arrest. But the police may need to speak with you again, so please make sure they have your correct contact details."

She nods. "Okay."

"And Chloe?" She looks up.

"Whatever happens, don’t allow anyone to pressure you into making decisions about Theo. If you want to be involved in his life, we will have to discuss that properly. But nobody is taking him anywhere."

"I understand." I take her number and save it on my phone.

"Thank you for telling me the truth." She gives a small nod.

Ren touches my back. "Let’s go. We need to arrange the test."

I look at him. "Today?"

"Today."

I know it sounds stupid and I shouldn’t believe whatever comes from Sienna’s mouth but something tells me Chloe is Theo’s mother.

I might be stupid again. The test will tell.

I turn towards Ren, "How do we do the test?"

"I’ll have someone bring her and Sienna’s sample, don’t worry baby." I nod at his words.

"I actually do not want to do this test but we’ll do it for Theo. I loved him before I knew who his parents were and I’ll always love him. Whoever his biological parents are, it’ll never change the love I feel for him.""