Chapter 686 Unspoken Feelings
Day Seventy-Three…
~~*****~~
When Jane left the Sparks Mansion, a small figure emerged from his hiding spot. Ethan had a sullen look in his eyes, trying to hold back his tears. Unknown to Jane and Nathan, the young boy overheard their conversation.
His heart was filled with anxiety and fear. "My Dad… he started to doubt me… that I'm not his biological son…" The boy wasn't ready to face this truth and be confronted by Nathan. This situation weighed heavily on him.
"He is planning to do another DNA test. I should leave… I'm afraid… he will hate me forever once he learns the truth." With that thought in mind, Ethan rushed inside the house. He headed straight into his room.
He searched for his bag and began packing his things. Ethan made up his mind– He would run away tonight and leave the Sparks Mansion.
"I am too ashamed to face my Dad… I know I'm not his biological son. And my parents are trying to use me… taking advantage of me so that they can get my Dad's wealth. I won't let them do that! My Dad already suffered enough." Ethan's animosity toward Monica and Vincent grew further because of this.
After packing his clothes and getting enough money, Ethan proceeded to his playroom to see his robotic friends– Powy, Riemc, and Star_S. He approached the three robots.
"Master! Do you want to play?" Powy asked him.
"No. I don't," Ethan responded in his sad voice.
"Why do you have a backpack, master? Are you going somewhere?" Riemc chimed in.
Star_S just moved to Ethan, encircling him.
"I'm leaving the Sparks Mansion. Can you help me? I don't want my father to know my plan. Furthermore, I am leaving my father in your care. Can you watch over him and take good care of him?" Ethan requested his robotic friends. He started to input some tasks in their respective systems.
"Okay, Master. We will help you," Powy reassured him.
A mechanical sound echoed in the room as Star_S joined them. He began his task, disabling the CCTV cameras scattered around the mansion.
"Be careful, Master. When are you going back?" Riemc asked him again.
Ethan didn't say a word. He just hugged his robotic friends. There was longing and sadness in his eyes. He even planted a soft kiss on their foreheads.
"Thank you, my friends. I will never forget you." Those were the last words Ethan uttered to his robotic friends before he left the playroom.
Meanwhile, Nathan summoned Butler Li to his study room.
"Master, do you need something?" Butler Li smiled at Nathan. He could sense that something strange was going on. It was reflected in Nathan's troubled expression.
"I want you to do something for me. Keep this a secret from my son. Get me a strand of his hair," Nathan ordered the butler.
Butler Li blinked in confusion. 'Is he going to use it for another DNA test?' He pondered to himself. In the end, Butler Li just nodded his head, not questioning Nathan further. He couldn't tell Nathan that Ethan also asked him to submit DNA samples to the hospital and check if they were matched.
"Ok, Master. I got it."
"You can leave now." Nathan dismissed Butler Li immediately. He was glad that his nosy butler didn't ask so many questions today. He was used to his blabbering mouth and nosy attitude.
*****
[ At Stephen's Place… ]
After alighting from her car, Jane made her way to Stephen's place with hurried footsteps. Filled with anticipation, Jane reached out and pressed the doorbell, its melodious chime resonating through the house.
It did not take long before Stephen's figure showed up, opening the front gate for her. He was surprised to see Jane. He missed her so much and he was glad to see her tonight.
"Jane, why are you here?" Stephen checked his time. It was already late at night.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, Stephen. There is something I need to get from you," Jane replied.
"Come inside," Stephen led her to the cozy living room. "Make yourself comfortable," he said warmly, gesturing toward the couch. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"I'm fine, thank you," Jane replied, taking a seat on the couch.
"Steph," Jane's voice carried urgency as she faced Stephen, her eyes reflecting a mix of anxiety and determination. "I really need to get the results of the DNA test I asked you for. Where is it now?"
Stephen, momentarily caught off guard, furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. The request seemed foreign to him. "DNA test? I don't recall you asking me for one," he admitted, his brow knitting in puzzlement
"I gave you two DNA samples last time. Where is the result now?" Jane asked him again, without realizing her mistake.
A ripple of concern crossed Stephen's face, evident in the deepening furrows on his forehead. "Are you certain you gave it to me? Perhaps you meant to ask my father?" Stephen tried to piece together the puzzle, recalling something. "Cherry already delivered the DNA result to you."
"No. Not the one. The first request I've—" Jane stopped mid-sentence as the realization had dawned on her. No wonder Stephen couldn't remember it because she did ask him that when her soul was still in Abigail's body.
"Wait," Stephen's voice interrupted her thoughts, his confusion growing. "Abigail was the one who approached me for the DNA test, not you," he stated, attempting to untangle the sudden contradiction. His mind grappled with the discrepancies in Jane's claims. Why was she insisting it was her when it was Abigail who had made the request?
Jane's expression shifted, a mixture of realization and embarrassment dawning on her features. "I... am just kidding," she smiled sheepishly. "It was Abigail who spoke to you, not me. I apologize for the confusion, Steph. My mistake," she admitted. "In fact, my sister sent me here to get it from you," Jane said as an alibi.
Stephen paused for a moment. He could tell that Jane was lying. He already asked Cherry to send the result to Abigail. She might have gotten it already. He couldn't help but wonder why Jane had approached him for the DNA test and kept it from Abigail, but he decided not to delve into it further, respecting Jane.
"I already gave it to Cherry. I asked her for a favor to deliver it to Abigail."
After hearing that, Jane suddenly stood up, her eyes wide open. "Thanks, Steph. I'll ask Cherry. She might have forgotten to hand it over to my sister. I'm going now."
Jane was about to leave but Stephen captured her wrist, stopping her from taking a step. Jane looked up, giving him a questioning gaze. "Steph?"
Lost in the contemplation of baring his feelings, Stephen's gaze lingered on Jane, his eyes fixated on her, trying to gather the courage to express the emotions that had been silently building within him. His lips parted, ready to voice the words that danced on the tip of his tongue, but a sudden wave of hesitation crashed over him.
A myriad of doubts flooded Stephen's mind, creating a barrier between his heart and his words. What if she didn't feel the same way? What if it ruined their friendship? What if their relationship would never be the same again? The fear of rejection and the unknown consequences held him captive, freezing the confession in his throat.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l