Redeemed Son In-law

He's the Youngmaster

Chapter 8

"Okay, I am not going to say anything against her, just listen to me" he murmured, his voice tinged with restraint. Determined to keep his emotions in check, he composed himself and took a deep breath, preparing to hear the tale. Eager to share his side of the story, he began speaking. "Well, you see, it all started when hiz parents decided to inform the entire family about the return of my stepmother, who also happened to be my father's best friend. At that moment, your father seemed quite elated by the news," he trailed off as Bryan interrupted him abruptly.

He paused for a moment, his words carrying a hint of sentiment as he continued sharing his perspective. "Isn't it obvious? It was because she returned that he immediately ran to her, leaving my mother behind," he stated, his voice laced with a touch of sadness. 

"That's not entirely untrue, young master," he replied in a neutral tone. "As I mentioned before, nobody besides your mother, me and your dad knew about your existence. However, your stepmother was aware of your father's relationship with your mother but had no knowledge of you. At the time of her return, you were only three years old. She came back hastily, driven by the fear of losing your father to someone else. She showered him with attention, desperately wanting to have him at any cost. The excitement surrounding her return infected the atmosphere, though I must admit, I wasn't as thrilled as others. I always saw her as a source of negative energy for your father. Unfortunately, he refused to listen, believing her friendship meant as much to her as it did to him." The room fell into a silence, thick with unspoken emotions, before he continued.

"Alright," he recounted, his voice tinged with resignation. "That very night, we all went to a club to celebrate her return, except for your mother who was not present. It was just the four of us: myself, your father, your stepmother, and your aunt. I must admit, in the haze of alcohol, both your father and I were intoxicated, but I cannot say for certain about the ladies. What saddened me the most was waking up the next morning to discover your father in bed with her, beneath the same duvet, both of them completely unclothed. It became evident to me that this was part of her calculated plan, alongside your aunt. They knew that by orchestrating such a situation, they would inevitably be propelled towards marriage." As he finished his explanation, Bryan's anger grew, manifesting in a forceful strike on the table.

"He said in a confused state, unsure of how they had ended up in the same bed together. However, everything became clear when she started to shed tears, accusing him of taking advantage of her. She claimed that he had begged her for intimacy, using his desire and longing for her as leverage. It was at that moment we realized he was being framed, and it became evident that they had purposely gotten us intoxicated. This was all part of their meticulously planned scheme. Despite his efforts to explain the truth to his family, they insisted he marry her, leaving him with no choice but to comply. He pleaded with them, explaining the reasons behind his hesitation, but they simply refused to listen," he narrated, his voice weighed down with sadness. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he carefully wiped them away.

With a heavyhearted sigh, he continued his account. "He made the decision to run away from home, seeking solace in your mother's embrace. He confided in her, explaining every detail of the situation. Although she wasn't thrilled about it, she chose to stand by him and support him through it all. Weeks went by, and he still hadn't returned home, until the news arrived that Lisa was pregnant. Even then, he was hesitant to come back, but circumstances forced his hand when his bank account was frozen, leaving him with no resources. And then, you fell ill, and he was desperate for money to seek medical help. He promised your mother he would return soon and asked her to wait for him. However, when he finally made it back to the apartment he had rented for your mother, she was nowhere to be found. All that remained was a letter," he explained, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and longing. He flipped through the pages of the album until he reached the last one.

He read out the contents of the letter with tears streaming down his cheeks. "I am sorry, Maxwell, that I have had to leave in this manner. This was not how I envisioned our life together, but circumstances forced me to make this decision. I truly believe it is for the best. I couldn't bear to see you suffer through these hardships. I hope that by leaving, you can rebuild your life and find happiness with your family, especially with Lisa. Please know that I still love you, but I must part ways with you. This is the end of our journey together. Yours sincerely, Cecelia."

"He didn't want to believe this devastating news, his heart heavy with disbelief and sorrow. With a determination fueled by love, he embarked on an exhaustive search for her, leaving no stone unturned. Every nook and cranny was meticulously combed through, but alas, there was no trace of her to be found. All they had to hold onto was a faint clue that she had left the town, but he refused to let go of hope and continued his relentless pursuit.

Yet, fate seemed to have other plans for him. Despite his unwavering dedication to finding her, circumstances forced him into a marriage he never desired. The weight of this reality hung heavy on his shoulders, overshadowing any happiness that might have arisen from this union.

Every single day, he carried the burden of her absence in his heart. It was a love so profound that it surpassed any affection he had for his step siblings. The bond between them was immeasurable, and the void left by her departure seemed impossible to fill. Lisa, his new partner, had to exert considerable effort before he could connect with her enough to bear a child - ultimately bringing forth the existence of your step sister."

In the midst of his recollections, he took a deep breath, the ache of longing etched onto his face.

"And recently, that's about six years now," he told me, "he told me to find out about you and your mother. Well, I was able to get to you and know she's dead, with her own pieces of the chain," he said, bringing out the key to the chain.

"You have that? Why on earth did you tell me to find it when you have it?" He demanded.

"I bought it from the person she sold it to, but it was difficult tracing it back to her since her identity wasn't revealed during the transaction," he explained. "This locket was the last memory she held of your father, but she had to sell it to raise money for an apartment and to support your education. Thankfully, I managed to retrieve it from the goldsmith before it was melted down. Perhaps if I had known where she was when I first laid eyes on this gold, she might still be alive today, or maybe you wouldn't have married into the Wesley family. They are known to be quite challenging people. But, in a way, I am grateful to them because if it weren't for them, I may never have found you. Your father would have been proud to see you today." The moment was filled with emotion between them.

"And after seeing me, you just assumed it's me?" Bryan demanded.

"I don't make assumptions; I rely on facts. As soon as I spotted you that day at the conference, standing in that corner, I assigned people to discreetly track your movements. It was after breaking into your house that I obtained the necessary information I needed. Are you surprised that I've been inside your house before? I was there, and I discreetly gathered information from your neighbors. That's how I came to know about your mother's passing and your sister being in the hospital."