Chapter 23- Edmund Wentworth
“Aaron, come home this instant!” Edmund Wentworth shouted through the phone while talking to his son Aaron frowned.
“What is it? Is it important? I have work to do,” he responded lazily while seated at the back of his car. He was on his way back from having lunch with Tessa and he was happy that he had moved from being her enemy to being her friend.
“I want to talk to you about the shares. I’m thinking about what to do with them. You’re my only heir but you don’t even visit me. Why should I give them to you?”
Aaron sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew his father was just being dramatic. Since he also wanted to tell him about the kids, he agreed to go home, “I’ll be there shortly.”
He then instructed Enock, “Head to the Wentworth’s mansion.”
“Yes, Sir. I wanted to report my findings about the assignment you gave me. Harry had been working from Whitpalm although he used to show up here for business seminars. He had included Miss Hilton’s mother in a clinical trial. Apart from separating you two, he hadn’t done anything to harm the family of five.”
Aaron narrowed his eyes. He didn’t believe Harry was the type to do something so selflessly without expecting anything in return.
“Have our men keep their eyes on him. I don’t trust him,” he ordered.
“Yes, Sir.” It didn’t take long for them to reach the mansion and Aaron alighted from the car. He entered the house and went straight to his father’s study.
When he walked in, he found a cup of his favorite coffee waiting for him. Edmund glanced at his son and then his eyes lowered to the seat opposite him, “Take a seat.”
Aaron did as told and took a sip of the coffee. He then sat back and stared at his father, saying, “I’m here, Dad. Tell me why you really wanted to see me ”
Edmund took out the contract he had signed with the Winstons and pushed it towards Aaron.
“Have you forgotten about this? What do you think you’re doing? Do you want the company to fall in the Winston’s hands?”
Aaron glanced at the contract nonchalantly but he didn’t pick it up. He continued to drink his coffee, completely unfazed.
“I’m talking to you! Why are you so stubborn?!” Edmund shouted in a stern voice.
He maybe be sixty but he was still strong. His back was straight and he too oozed power and dominance. He was like an older version of Aaron. Only, his dark brown hair had grey streaks and his blue eyes had started to lose their glow.
Aaron arched an eyebrow at his father.
“Was Serena here?” He questioned.
Anger surged through Edmund. He hit his palm on the mahogany table and spat, “That’s beside the point! When are you going to honor your promise? I heard you banned her from the company and stopped her endorsements.”
“She deserved it.”
“You’” Edmund was almost breathing out fire from anger. “I’m going to set a wedding date for the two of you. You had wanted to marry her but now you’re dilly-dallying. How are we going to look
like to the Winstons? You shall marry Serena in two months!”
Aaron scoffed, he put his cup down before replying, “Are you going to tie me and drag me to the altar? I’m not marrying her, Dad. I already have someone I love and she’s the mother of my children?” Edmund’s eyes grew big and round.
“What did you say? Children? What children?”
Aaron puffed up his chest proudly, a smile crossed his lips at the thought of his little ones as he happily announced, “I have triplets, Dad You’re a granddad now.”
Edmund opened his mouth and closed it like a fish that was taken out of the water. His shocked look suddenly turned to a joyful one as he grinned from ear to ear.
“I’m a granddad? Are you serious? I have grandchildren… Not one, not two, but three?!” His eyes gleamed as he looked at his son with pride. “Atta boy! You just made me proud! I was starting to worry that you had other preferences”
Aaron frowned and squinted his eyes at his father. “Dad. I’M PERFECTLY STRAIGHT!” He said in between gritted teeth.
Edmund laughed heartily. “Of course! You’ve just proved me wrong! When do I see my grandkids? Quickly, bring them to me! Why aren’t they staying here? You also have to introduce them to Serena because she will raise them-”
“Dad, have you heard what I’ve said? I love the mother of my kids. I’ll never marry Serena and I’ll never let such a vicious woman near my kids!”
Edmund sighed and looked at his son, becoming serious, he proclaimed. “I can’t go back on my word, son and neither can I give away my shares to someone who’s not family. You will marry Serena and that’s final.”
Clenching his hands into fists, Aaron stood up from his seat and glared at his father. “I’m not marrying her and that’s final. If she wants to be a Wentworth so much, you can adopt her and make her your daughter.”
He left the study before his father could respond. Aaron knew the contract would be an issue so he hired five top-notch lawyers, including Tony, to go through the contract and find a gap that will give him a way out of it. He was yet to receive good news but he knew it could be done.
Nothing was impossible. It was time to pick up the kids so he went to the kindergarten after leaving the mansion When he arrived, he found the kids waiting outside with their friends.
Reagan was the first to see him and he patted his friend’s hand, saying proudly. “That’s my Daddy! He’s come to pick us up”
The friend glanced at Aaron and remarked, “But why didn’t he come with your Mommy? Both my parents come to pick me up. Are they divorced?”
Reagan frowned. “No, they are not!”
However, his friend continued. “My Mommy said if parents don’t live together then they are. divorced. It means they hate each other.”
That’s not true! My Daddy loves Mommy!”
Aaron got closer to his son and saw that his eyes were red. He crouched down to his eye level and looked into his eyes, “what’s wrong buddy?”
“Daddy, are you and Mommy divorced?” Reagan’s voice cracked as if he was about to cry. Aaron was stunned by the sudden question but he quickly composed himself. “No, son. It’s not like that.”
“Then why don’t you live with us? Do you and Mommy hate each other?” Aaron saw that his son was hurt so he pulled him into his arms and hugged him.
He stroked his back comfortingly and assured him. “No, son. Mommy and Daddy don’t hate each other. I’m building a very big house where we can all stay together. When your mother marries me, we will live together every day.”
Reagan nodded, believing his father and Aaron stood to his feet. Willa then rushed to Aaron and hugged his leg, “Daddy, I want ice cream! Can you buy me ice cream?”
Aaron chuckled and carried her. “Of course, Daddy will buy you anything you want!”
As Aaron led his kids to the car, he thought about how this arrangement was affecting the kids. T have to up my game like Tony said and make Tessa my wife soon.’
At the same time, Tessa had just finished her drawing when she received a visitor she hadn’t seen in four days. Her eyebrows creased when Harry entered her office but she didn’t say anything.
Harry had a bouquet of roses and walked towards her desk. He placed them down and said, “Tessa, I’m sorry about how I acted during our last outing. I was a bit drunk. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable ”
Tessa sighed and shook her head. “It’s fine. How are you though?”
She was referring to the punch Aaron had given him.
“I had dislocated my jaw but it’s healing,” Harry replied and then he looked at Tessa. “I would like to make up for my bad behaviour. Would you like to go for a milkshake? There’s a nice place that just opened nearby ”
Tessa wanted to refuse but she felt bad that Aaron had dislocated Harry’s jaw because of her. Nodding her head, she agreed. “Sure Let me just finish up here and then we can go.”
An hour later, Harry and Tessa were in a cafe. Tessa had ordered her favorite Oreo milkshake while Harry just got coffee.
She was busy glancing at her phone because Aaron kept sending her pictures of himself and the kids.
Aaron [The kids are enjoying ice cream after a long day at school.]
The text was accompanied by a selfie of Aaron and the kids seated around a table, having ice cream She smiled and replied.
Tessa [Nice. Have fun]
Aaron: [We are but not fully. You’re not here with us.]
Tessa didn’t realise that her lips had curled into a smile. She bit her bottom lip and replied.
-Tessa [Do those little devils even remember I exist? They are too excited to be with their Dad ]
Aaron: [Oh, trust me, you’re all they talk about. They are asking why you’re not here.]
Tessa was about to respond when Harry’s voice distracted her. “Are you talking to a client?”
She raised her head and felt guilty. “I’m sorry. It’s rude of me to be on the phone.” However, she didn’t clarify who she was talking to and Harry clenched his hands into fists.
‘It must be Aaron!” Hatred brewed within him but he maintained a smile on his face. “Tessa, do I still have a chance with you? We haven’t talked about what happened after our last date. I know I had rushed things a little.”
Tessa smiled awkwardly as she recalled how he had tried to kiss her. She brushed him off, saying, “I told you we couldn’t work out.”
“But what if we can? You need to want to try with an open heart-”
“Harry? What are you doing here?”
Harry’s words were cut off by a female voice and he cussed under his breath.
A blonde female with branded clothes and a haughty look walked up to their table and glared at Tessa
“Who are you and what are you doing with my fiancé?”
Tessa was stumped. She looked at Harry whose face had darkened and raised an eyebrow.
“Fiancé?”
Harry was about to respond but the lady beat him to it.
“Yes! Bitch! I’m his fiancée. How dare you seduce him?”
She then picked up Harry’s cup and splashed the coffee on Tessa’s face. “Scram!”
Delilah Kingston was the Winston’s family friend and there was a marriage promise between their families Harry didn’t expect to run into her that day.
“Delilah’ Are you mad?” Harry yelled but she ignored him and continued to insult Tessa “Stay away from my man, whore!”
Fury flared through Tessa Who did this woman think she was? The old Tessa would have been bullied but not her. She grabbed her glass of milkshake and splashed it on Delilah’s face.
“Ah! What are you doing?!” Delilah screamed as the cold milkshake slid down her face.
Tessa stood up and placed a dollar bill on the table. She glanced at Harry and said, “Next time, remember that you have a fiancée before you hit on someone. Excuse me.”
On her way home, Tessa received a call from Aaron and decided to join them. Since it was a Friday, it was ok if the kids had some fun before going back home.
She drove towards the mall where they were. Unbeknownst to her, someone was following her secretly.
When she entered the mall, she went to where Aaron and the children were and joined them.
They had ordered pizza and were waiting for it.
Aaron spread his arms, asking for a hug but Tessa frowned at him.
Willa saw this and egged her on, “Mommy, Daddy wants a hug.”
“Yes, Mommy. Give Daddy a hug. He must be feeling sad,” Nia added.
There were a lot of people in the pizza shop and to stop the looks, Tessa gave Aaron a quick hug. simply patting his shoulder and stepping back before he could wrap his arms around her.
“Yeah! Mommy and Daddy are hugging!” The kids giggled and Tessa flushed while avoiding Aaron’s eyes.
She had taken a whiff of his musky cologne right now and he smelled so good.
Seeing her flustered look, Aaron smirked. “Next time, let me hug you back.”
Tessa flushed and quickly sat down in between Reagan and Nia
At the same time, the person who had been following Tessa stepped away from where she was hiding. It was none other than Delilah Kingston, the woman who claimed to be Harry’s fiancée.
She dialled Serena’s number, eager to tell her what she had just witnessed “Hello?” Serena answered.
“Are you sure you’re still going to marry Aaron? I just saw him with a woman and three kids. They look like a family.”
“That’s not possible. Aaron doesn’t have kids,” Serena denied it.
Delilah cut the call and sent her the picture she had secretly taken and then sent a message.
[You better wake up. This woman has both your brother and your man wrapped around her little finger.]
On the other side, Serena jumped from the bed when she recognised Tessa in the photo A vicious look crossed her face as she clenched her phone in her hand.
‘So this bitch is back to torment me and steal my man? I let her go last time but this time, I’ll teach her a lesson.”
