The Rise of the White Lotus

That same day, Ethan Lu headed to the hospital. Alas, before he went to the ward where Avah Tong was staying, he first met the hospital director and asked him for a favor: that was to make sure Avah Tong was alone as he didn't want to see her carrying the child he thought was his and this way he could get a sample for another paternity test. 

This time, Ethan Lu wanted another test that was personally done under his orders. It was not that he didn't trust his grandfather. However, he knew deep down, he needed it. After all, he had, for a good several months, accepted that he would become a father. 

Although he wasn't as excited and was extremely happy when Lexi announced her pregnancy, Ethan Lu still shouldered the responsibility even if he wasn't ready yet. Hence, this huge turn of events, he wanted this last reassurance. 

Of course, being the Lu family heir, his request was executed and took them several minutes to take the child back to the nursery room and did what they had to do: get a sample from the child and send it along with Ethan Lu's strand of hair to the paternity test laboratory. 

Meanwhile, after he received the confirmation that Avah Tong was alone, Ethan Lu headed to the private ward he arranged while overseas. In front of the door, there wasn't a sign of emotion plastered across his face as he wordlessly peered at the door for a second. 

Actually, after seeing the results his grandfather shoved in front of him, Ethan Lu didn't know what to do with Avah Tong. Should he get mad? Perhaps, feel happy that he got his ticket to get away with this uncalled fatherhood? 

He didn't know. 

After a heavy exhale that escaped his mouth, his hand lifted up and held onto the sliding door before he slowly slid it to the side— revealing the lavish room Avah Tong was resting in. Setting his eyes on the woman sitting on the bed while her back was leaning against the bed's headboard, he saw her smile brightly— as if she was genuinely glad to see him. 

'How can you smile knowing you're deceiving me?' He thought inwardly yet, he felt zero rage. In fact, what he felt was a bit of bitterness. 

"Hey... you're back?" Seeing him take slow strides inside after closing the door from behind, Avah Tong gently greeted him. 

"Mhmm..." Humming a tune, Ethan Lu headed towards the nearby chair and then dragged it— making short and sharp noises that could weaken one's teeth— to the side of the table.

"How's the business trip?" As usual, Avah Tong inquired as she ignored the fact that he seemed a bit off. 

After all, he was often silent like that every time he visited her for a short time. During her whole pregnancy journey, Ethan Lu would only visit her thrice or twice a week and those visits lasted for a maximum of an hour or two. Therefore, Avah Tong mostly ignored his coldness and treated him the same with love and affection. 

She knew that he would probably leave after half an hour or less. So, she didn't want to spend this short time arguing or cause a reason for him to leave as soon as he got there. 

Alas, Ethan Lu didn't respond as he only stared at her with an unreadable glint that flashed across his eyes. No one, not even Avah Tong could read what he had in mind or what he was feeling. 

"Is there something wrong with my face?" Feeling uncomfortable with his stare, Avah Tong awkwardly chuckled as she touched her face, curious why he has such a stare. 

"*sigh*" At this point, his sigh sounded more like a faint scoff. "Who?" After gravitating whether to confront her right now or not, Ethan Lu could not help but use the confrontation seeing that she had continued her act without remorse. 

"Huh?" 

"Who is the father?" Cold and emotionless, Ethan Lu bluntly inquired as if he was saying that he was certain that he knew the truth. His gaze never once left Avah Tong's thus, he clearly saw the gradual change of her reaction that ensued. 

The slow motion of her eyes that widened, her natural complexion turned abnormally pale, and her body slightly trembled. It was all too evident not to notice that she was nervous— as if caught in the act of a crime. 

"Until when will you continue to act like you are not deceiving me?" Seeing her lower lips shaking, and her words were stuck on her throat, Ethan Lu added. 

"E— Ethan, what— what are you saying? Of course, it's you! Who else could it be?" Stuttering, Avah Tong forced her rigid tone to sound natural yet she miserably failed in the first attempt. 

"Lies." One single word felt like a real slap to her. To anyone who knew Ethan Lu, one of the types of people he despises were liars. Although the origin of why he has such hatred towards liars, one thing was for sure, she's doomed. 

Slowly, Ethan Lu rose from his seat and took languid strides towards the bed. Leaning down, while placing his palms onto the surface of the mattress, his eyes sharpened as his dark aura seeped through her bones. 

"Be honest while I'm asking nicely— you know what I am capable of, Avah. Am I the father of your child?" Low and deep, he whispered that laced with malicious intent— seeking for the truth. 

"Ethan, I— why are you asking such a thing? I already told you, it's yours! Didn't you already accept being the father? Now that the child was brought into this world you want to back out? Is that it?" As her defense mechanism, Avah Tong proceeded with her lies and covered it all up by targeting his weak points— being a responsible father. 

She was very well-versed that he never wanted a child. However, after being with him for a year now, she understood that he might not want a child but, he didn't want to treat a kid just like what he experienced from his parents. Therefore, this subject was the leash she was forced to use before she could make him fall for her. 

For a moment, after Avah Tong retorted back under the overwhelming pressure he emitted, neither of them uttered a single word. Ethan Lu just stared at her lying countenance and felt he was completely mocked from all directions. 

"Now I know why I never fell for you..." Soon, he opened his mouth and muttered in a low tone as his head slightly nodded in understanding. "The moment you forced yourself onto me, I lost all of the respect I should have had for you. You are just like her." A scoff slipped from his mouth before he retracted his head away from her and wordlessly left— without giving her a second glance back. 

Indeed, Avah Tong didn't differ from his mother or to most of the women in the Lu family; they are all beautiful, like good decorations on the outside and nothing but rotting, soulless, lumps of worthless trash on the inside. They lie, because it's convenient to them without considering the other involved party. 

Avah Tong just watched his broad shoulders get farther and farther away from her reach, his featherlike footsteps began to fade from her ears yet, her heart sank along with them until the door slammed closed.

His words were much hurtful than a real slap in the face. Granting that she approached him with a hidden agenda, however, she only realized that her plan backfired and she was the one who fell in love with him. Therefore, she wanted to keep him by her side no matter what the cost  

Yet, how did this happen?

Was he acting that he wasn't suspicious of her all this time to make her feel relaxed? To make her feel that everything will be smooth sailing? Did he for once, really believe that it was his child or everything that he showed her during this period was just mere play pretend? Who's deceiving who? Was it her or him?

"Ethan..." Gritting her teeth as hard as she could, Avah Tong's sweating eyes finally set loose— letting her tears stain her cheeks as a muffled sob escaped her mouth. "Please, don't leave me..." In between her cries, she repeated those words over and over again yet, he never came back. 

Avah Tong cried for as long as she could remember until there were no more tears to shed anymore. Hiccuping, fortunately her things were with her and deciding to herself that she would do her last resort, she grabbed her phone that was on the bedside table and speed dialed number 9. 

As she heard the rings, she bit her nail as her hiccups continued. Soon, the call was picked up and the line connected. Without further ado, Avah Tong spoke, not letting the person on the other end speak. 

"Mr. Lu, what should I do? Ethan knew that the child was not his. I don't know how but I don't know what to do! I'm going crazy!" In extreme distress, Avah Tong continuously spat out all of her worries as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"Where are you admitted?" The man on the other end asked after a second of silence. 

"I'm at xxx hospital."

"Alright, meet me at the parking space in an hour." 

"But, I just gave bir—

"I'll tell you when I'm there." Not letting her finish her complaints, the man remained adamant on his demands before hanging up the call. 

Only Avah Tong knew what happened and the discussion she had that night with the man on the line. However, what was certain was that after that, she was not the same hopelessly in love woman that would take extreme measures to keep the man she loves. Instead, she turned into a crazy, pathetic woman who's rational was messed up, up and down.