“Hans!” Amalia scolded as she dragged her cousin out of the room.“Are you okay?” Stephen heard Hana asked the little boy as he began to cry. “Is he really my dad? Why doesn’t my dad want me?” Paolo asked as he hugged Hana tightly. “It’s okay, Paolo.” Stephen said as he walked up and picked Paolo up, holding the boy close, feeling his pain. “I’ll talk to your father. We’ll fix this.”Stephen could feel Paolo’s pain. He felt bad for the child, no child deserted the rejection Paolo had just received. “Can’t you just be my dad Uncle Stephen? Can’t you just adopt me?” Paolo cried out as Stephen allowed him to. “Your Auntie Amalia is speaking to him right now.” Stephen whispered into his ear.“I don’t want him as my dad! I want you Uncle Stephen!” The little boy wailed.Vanessa frowned and patted him on his back. “It’s unfair, so unfair.” Hana said angrily as she balled her fists. Stephen could see that they were already turning pale from the lack of blood.He nodded at Vanessa, tell
“What will you do to him?” Hans said as he eyed his cousin carefully. “I know men like you, you need something to hold over me so you can control me.”“Hans!” Amalia scolded her cousin. “It’s fine Amalia, it’s only normal for Hans to doubt me.” Stephen said with a nod as he handed the still sobbing Pao Pao to Hana.“Still, he should know that you aren’t like that.” Amalia argued as she crossed her hands on her chest and glared at her cousin. “I love you, Hans, I love you almost as much as I love my brother, but this is too much.”“It’s comforting to know that I still stand a step below the great Stephen Cho.” Hans said mockingly as he kept his gaze trained on Stephen. He was wary of his cousin, he had been since he was tricked into sleeping with a woman he couldn’t even remember.“I have no intentions of using Paolo against you.” Stephen told Hans quite honestly. “Even if I did, I know that Paolo is nothing to you.”“He is still my flesh and blood.”“Flesh and blood that you would s
With everything settled, the atmosphere in the room was much lighter. The news also made Claudette run off in order to organize a celebratory dinner. She was inviting all of the Cho and Sy relatives as well as some of Stephen’s and Vanessa’s friends that they said could be trusted with the news.Stephen, however, had requested that he and Vanessa break the news to Eldrich Cho first before his mother told everyone why there was a celebration that night. So all Claudette could do was inform the members of the Cho family that there was an announcement and that they were welcoming Hans home.Many would assume that it was going to be an announcement on Paolo’s parentage, so they would all show up.If Paolo was Stephen’s biological son, it made him the heir to the Cho family, legitimate or not. “Stay.” Stephen said as he drummed his fingers on his office table as he waited for a maid to set up the camera for a video call with his grandfather.“Are you sure?” Hans asked.He was the only o
“I’m going to be a great grandfather?” Eldrich Cho gasped. “I never thought I would live long enough to see any of my great grandchildren.” He said laughing heartily. “Grandpa, don’t say that.” Stephen said, frowning at the old man.“I’m only stating a fact, Stephen.” Eldrich Cho scolded. “My great grandfather never met me. The members of the Cho family don’t normally live that long.”“We will do whatever it takes to get you to see our children grow up grandpa.” Vanessa swore.“Thank you Vanessa.” Eldrich Cho said as he gave her a loving smile. “But we need to discuss more serious matters now. Like what do you plan on doing about Paolo Ong?”Stephen and Hans both nodded in agreement, the priority of the discussion for now should be Paolo and his future.“The first thing we need to do is to change his family name from Ong to Cho.” Stephen announced.“It shouldn’t be too difficult.” Vanessa said as she considered her husband’s connections. “The only person that can possibly oppose the
The Lu and Cho families had been enemies for generations.They had controlled Marina City being the richest and most influential families in the city and the nearby regions.While other rich and powerful families intermarried and eventually consolidated their influence and wealth, the Lu and Cho families avoided one another like the plague. At a young age all members of these families were taught the history of the rivalry between the two families.There were also large books in each family home that had a detailed list of living members of both the Lu and Cho families. Stephen reached up and touched the spine of the one belonging to the Cho family. He knew that his grandfather’s assistants updated the book regularly, taking note of marriages, births, and deaths. “I find it odd that they approached you.” Stephen said as he brought down the book and turned its pages. “You aren’t that distant that their books would forget you are related to me.”“Are you doubting me?” Hans asked. S
Hans kept glancing at Stephen nervously as he sat at the head of the table. His eyes also wandered to the familiar man that Stephen had introduced as his good friend John.John was in deep conversation with Andrew, Stephen’s other right hand man. Unlike most people, Hans knew that those two men were some of the most influential and powerful people.One was Stephen’s right hand man in the underworld while the other was Stephen’s right hand man in Cho industries. Both men wielded considerable influence despite not coming from powerful backgrounds. “Relax.” Hans heard Amalia tease him. Stephen had him sit higher up on the table, a symbol of how much trust he placed in his cousin and a symbol of their mended relationship. Hans was well aware of how events like tonight were used by heads of the family, such as Stephen and his grandfather Eldrich, to send a message.Tonight Hans knew that the message was. The Cho family was strong, the Cho family was united, and the Cho family’s futu
“Settle down!” Stephen announced as everyone around the table stopped their conversations and turned their attention to Stephen.“Now that you know the truth about him, I’d like to introduce you all to Paolo Cho.” Stephen had already asked for the adoption papers to be processed and Hans had already signed off. Paolo was his and Vanessa’s adopted son now and no one could question that fact.Hans picked Paolo up from his seat and carried the little boy.Now that everyone knew that Paolo was Hans’ son they could clearly see that the father and son duo did indeed look alike.They had the same eyes, the same hair, and even the same body type. Paolo smiled at Hans then looked around the room.Hans whispered something into Paolo’s ear, Paolo nodded and waved at everyone and gave them a sweet smile.“Paolo might be Hans’ biological son, but Hans and I have spoken and he isn’t ready to be a father.” Stephen told the members of the Cho family. “The reason why Paolo’s family name is Cho and n
Hans was surprised that his relatives were able to stay silent about Paolo’s existence. He had expected that at least one of his relatives would have gossiped the information to a friend.But it seemed that their fear of Stephen was even stronger, as no one had said a word and there were no signs of the news breaking out. Hans was currently at Philip Tower where his cousin had provided him with a temporary office. It was from here that he was coordinating with his managers and assistants back at home.He had been working hard in the day and at night he would come home and spend some time with Paolo before bed.Hana was a constant fixture, always watching over his interactions with his own son. Aside from Hana, Stephen had also introduced him to another young woman who kept him company when he interacted with his son. Her name was Alona Ty, a cousin of Stephen’s wife.Stephen said that Alona had her own story to tell and that Hans might be able to find it out on his own if she trust