100 Days to Seduce the Devil

Day Seventy-Four…

~~*****~~

Bam!

The sound of the door being pushed back reverberated in the entire room. Nathan turned in that direction only to be surprised by Jane's sudden arrival. 

His expression softened upon seeing her. He stood up to approach her. But Jane was the one who closed their gaps. She immediately hugged Nathan after reaching his spot. It was a rib-crushing embrace. 

She was so worried about Nathan. She felt sorry for this man who had to go through this after being played by one woman.

On the other hand, Nathan felt so glad that Jane appeared at his side. Her presence was able to ease his anxiety and tension. 

He hugged her back tightly and said, "I'm sorry. I put my son in danger. It's my fault. He ran away because of me."

Jane shook her head and rubbed Nathan's back to console him. "No. It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself. Someone evil is just trying to destroy your relationship with your son. Don't believe their lies."

Jane broke the hug and presented the piece of paper to Nathan. He glanced at the document confusedly. "What is this?"

Jane's lips curled up into a wide smile and replied, "A proof that Vincent is not Ethan's biological father. Nate… Monica is lying. Vincent's DNA and Ethan's DNA don't show any paternal connection. Ethan might be your son… real son." She delivered the good news to Nathan.

Nathan fell silent for a moment. He held the document and read the content. A light glint flashed through his eyes. After a while, his eyebrows were drawn together in a deep frown.

"Nate, if you are Ethan's father… This DNA result also implies something. You and Vincent might be blood-related." Jane expressed her assumption.

Nathan was taken aback by her remarks. 'Vincent and I might be relatives? How could that be possible?'

Seeing the troubled expression on Nathan's face, Jane decided to divert his attention. She didn't want him to dwell on her assumption.

"Nate, Monica is becoming more shameless. She is targeting you. I must stop her from bothering you," Jane mumbled with so much conviction. She folded her fingers tightly.

"Don't worry. She won't be able to bring me down easily." Nathan held her shoulders, reassuring her.

But Jane wouldn't feel at ease. "She wants to destroy your reputation. The video of you strangling her spread on the internet like wildfire. You are the talk of the town now. People are cursing you for hurting a woman." Jane checked the viral posts online. Many people were bashing Nathan, giving him hate comments.

"I already blocked some websites and took down some articles and videos related to the incident. I also asked Black Rose's help," She added.

Nathan was touched by Jane's action. For the first time, someone tried to protect him. He was used to being strong and powerful. But this woman beside him was making him vulnerable… yet in a positive way.

"Hey. Why are you smiling like a fool? This is not the time to rejoice. People keep on attacking you." Jane gently punched Nathan's chest when she caught a glimpse of his smile.

Nathan just let out a soft chuckle before pulling her closer, wrapping her in another warm hug. "Thank you… for doing this. I appreciate it." Nathan leaned closer and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

"We need to leave now. I'm going to find my son." He grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers as they stepped out of the precinct. Nathan became more motivated to search for Ethan.

"Yes. Let's look for Ethan and attend the company's anniversary together. Your father will be expecting us to be there." Jane tightened her grip on his fingers.

"Is there a place in mind where you think my son will go and hide?" Nathan consulted Jane. "My men already tried to scan every corner of the city. But they failed to track him," he added, his voice laced with worry.

"I am certain he is your son. He inherits your intelligence. He is smart… a genius kid." Jane blurted out with a gentle smile on her lips.

"I don't know if I should be glad about that or not. Because of his high IQ, he starts acting like an adult, carrying the burden alone. If he chooses to hide, it will be difficult to find him." Nathan sighed helplessly.

"I have an idea. I think he might visit this place." Jane thought of a possible place Ethan would be visiting.

Jane and Nathan quickly headed to the amusement park where she brought Ethan before. The couple hoped to see Ethan sooner.

*****

Meanwhile, with a heart filled with nostalgia and longing, Ethan wandered through the vibrant maze of the amusement park. The joyous sound of laughter surrounded him but his mind was elsewhere, reminiscing the moments he spent with his father Nathan and Jane.

"I missed them already. Are they looking for me?" Ethan asked himself.

His eyes sparkled with a mixture of happiness and sadness as he stumbled upon the arcade games. He recalled playing with Jane and Nathan when he managed to win a prize for each of them.

Amidst the crowd's hustle and bustle, Ethan paused by an ice cream stand, his favorite spot with Jane and his father. With a deep sigh, Ethan's shoulders dropped slightly as he realized that he might never experience those warmth and joyful moments again.

"I wonder if my Dad will hate me. I have to leave because I can't let them use me just to take advantage of my father." 

Ethan found a secluded corner away from the cheerful crowds. The weight of his emotions became unbearable, and with a heavy heart, he sank to the ground, his small frame trembling with suppressed sobs.

He slumped against a nearby wall, hugging his knees close to his chest as tears streamed down his cheeks, unchecked and free-flowing. 

Each tear carried the weight of his longing for the companionship he had left behind, the memories of joy and laughter now overshadowed by the ache of loneliness.

"Why? Why can't I be his real son? Why do I have to be born just to be used as an instrument to deceive someone? I hate them." With each sob, Ethan's shoulders shook, and the sobs turned into silent cries.

In that moment of vulnerability, Ethan allowed himself to grieve, to release the pent-up emotions that had been bottled inside. 

On the other hand, Jane and Nathan reached the amusement park. Their eyes constantly scanned the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of the boy they missed dearly.

It did not take long before Jane's gaze fell upon a secluded corner, and her heart skipped a beat as she spotted a small figure huddled against the wall. Without hesitation, she tugged at Nathan's sleeve, guiding him towards the spot where a familiar figure sat, desolate and teary-eyed.

"Ethan!" Jane's voice carried a mix of relief and concern as they hurried towards him. She knelt beside the distraught boy, wrapping her arms around him in a gentle embrace. 

Ethan, startled by their sudden arrival, looked up with watery eyes, his face a mosaic of surprise and relief. "Mom? You are here. How did you find me?"

"We've been looking everywhere for you," she said softly, wiping away his tears with a gentle touch.

"Son," Nathan called him as he kneeled beside him.

Ethan's heart clenched when he heard his father's voice. He couldn't look him in the eyes. 'Dad… I'm not your son.'