CHAPTER THREE

“She awaits you inside, Young master.” Evenly stated in a polite tone, gesturing with her hands toward a door. 

She took the lead while he followed her. 

As Ethan entered the house, he noticed a woman sitting on a couch, her lustrous blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. She was claded in a red gown which fell off her shoulders, exposing her clavicle, exuding an air of distinguished eloquence and elegance. Her crusean morbid eyes widened in surprise as they focused on Ethan Albertine.

Although she appeared to be elderly, her skin was porcelain, and her ageless face shone under the white light that illuminated the room.

Her face appears to be familiar, possibly a case of déjà vu. Ethan stared, then averted his gaze.

The woman could not stop staring at him, which made him feel uncomfortable. Perhaps this woman wants a gigolo, but he will not be one.

"Mrs. Coker," Ethan said, breaking the silence in the air. 

"I heard you had some information about my mother and the incident with the ship cruise that claimed the lives of my family." He spoke, his heart pounding beneath his chest.

The woman leapt from the cushion on which she was seated and approached him. She came to a halt a few inches away from him, her eyes welling with tears and sadness.

She reached for his chin with trembling hands, causing Ethan to eat up.

Ethan gently slapped her hand away before it could touch his chin.

"Please be guided that I am married and will not engage in any act of fornication," he said sternly, taking a few steps back.

Mrs. Coker pursed her lips as she swallowed a non-existing lump down her throat.

"I am not trying to seduce you," she said, her voice teary.  

"I am your mother, son." She burst into tears, and Ethan flinched, his eyes widening in surprise.

He strained his neck to get a clear view of the woman's face. He gave a long stare before shaking his head.

The woman moved closer to him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Look deeply into my eyes, then at my face. Don't you notice anything familiar?”

Ethan shook his head. "Please, you are not my mother. My mother is long gone; please tell me where she is and what you know about the bomb blast that occurred 18 years ago.

"I am your mother. I survived the attack, and if you think I am lying, let me ask you a few questions. Isn't there a birthmark on your private part? Under your breast and left thigh?" She inquired, and his eyes squinted in shock.

Ethan's mouth parted for a word as his eyes scrutinised Mrs. Coker's entire face. He does, in fact, have some birthmarks on his private parts, thighs, and below his breast.

"You are my mother?" He drawled in a doubtful tone. 

Mrs. Coker nodded, drawing him into a tight hug, her soft hands caressing his back.

"I heard about your current situation and can not help but feel bad about it." She cried.

Following the hug and the outpouring of emotions. Both son and mother sat across from each other, staring.

“That night, what happened mother?" He inquired with tear-filled eyes. "Why did you abandon me?"

He could not keep it together any longer, and a tear fell down his cheek.

Mrs. Coker swallowed before opening her mouth to speak. "What happened that night is a topic for another day. That night, everything was just too much for me to handle. The thought of losing your father drives me insane."

She ingested another spit. "That night, after I left you on the private boat, I dove into the water to commit suicide. Fortunately, I was rescued by a business magnate who gave me a new life and salvation.

"To this day, I am still grieving the absence of your father. All of the family members were wiped out, including your younger sister, Diana." She burst out in tears.

Ethan's fist clenched and his teeth gritted against each other in rage. 

So his mother abandoned him to commit suicide, despite the fact that he thought she abandoned him to begin a new life.

He had harbored a lot of resentment for his mother, but now that he sees her as the only family he will ever have, he will shower her with care and love.

His mother's frequent sobs echoed in his ears, and he moved closer to her to comfort her.

“Ethan, mummy is sorry. I had no intention of staying away from you for so long. But I was thirsty for vengeance against those who had taken away our lovely family." 

"But you should have shown yourself to me so my mind could be at ease. I was in grief for almost 18 years, mother." Ethan retaliated softly.

"If I had shown myself, both of us would have died a long time ago. I am glad you survived despite the hussle and hardship." She spoke with eloquence.

She grabbed his hands, lightly squeezing them and spoke in a compelling voice. "Behold, son, 18 years of hardship and destitution have come to an end, and a new era has begun. I have money, businesses, companies, fleets of cars, and am a partner in Rolls Royce Car Limited. All of these will be transferred into your name."

Ethan gasped in shock as he looked at his mother. Although he knew from his mother's outfit that she was wealthy or at least a wealthy man's wife, now that she revealed her net worth, he could not help but be intrigued.

"Are you for real, mother?" Ethan asked, his eyes widening.

"Have I ever told you a lie since you were young? What I can't do, I'll tell you. And I will show you what I am capable of. So, now that you are the heir to the Stark Conglomerate, you will be introduced to the rest of the world soon."

Ethan responded with a nod.

"Oh, by the way. You mentioned previously that you are married?" 

Ethan nodded, then pulled up a sad expression. "Yes, but she is divorcing me tomorrow." 

"Why?" 

"Because I am not a billionaire and do not own businesses or corporations." Ethan gave a simple response.

A brief silence enveloped the atmosphere. "Well, if you love her so much. You can still work things out with her tomorrow." Ethan's mother suggested.

"It is late, mother. She is getting married tomorrow, and she has threatened to shoot me if she sees me begging her."

Mrs. Coker rolled her eyes and expelled air. "That was when you have nothing to your name. Evenly will take you to my car assembly tomorrow morning so you can choose a car for yourself; here's a marigold card," she says, handing over a purple and gold debit card, similar to the type used by top billionaires.

"The card contains five billion dollars. We can arrange for a stylist to meet with you tomorrow. I am confident that when you arrive in court tomorrow, she will rush to your side."