The Son In-law's Revenge

Nora's Secret Baby

Epic 1

It was a chilly morning; the rain had drenched the earth during the early hours, leaving behind droplets that glistened on leaves and rooftops. Juris Jones Celestine lay restlessly in bed, his mind preoccupied with office affairs. He watched the raindrops slide down his window, each one a tiny, shimmering sphere. Though it had been four years since he handed the reins of his business to his son, Peter Celestine, Juris couldn't shake the lingering unease that plagued him. With a heavy sigh, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and slipped his feet into his slippers, the cold tiles sending a shiver through him.

Juris shuffled to the balcony, where he caught sight of Peter, briefcase in hand, climbing into his sleek, black Porsche. Peter, a former army officer and the current CEO of Wealth Club was the eldest son of Juris Jones.

Peter kept track of the time, frequently glancing at his watch. As soon as he stepped into the office, a cold chill washed over him, prompting him to turn on the heater and lower the air conditioning. The room soon warmed, and Peter settled into his chair, pulling on his jacket, which emphasized his athletic build.

Nora Grey, a staff member responsible for Peter's meals, entered the office, her dark curls bouncing as she walked. She found Peter without his blazer, and her eyes lingered on his toned arms. Her thoughts drifted, and she stood at the doorway, Peter's coffee in hand, her gaze far away.

"Nora?" Peter asked, a hint of concern in his voice. "Is everything alright? You seem lost in thought."

"Good morning, Mr. Celestine," Nora replied, her voice barely a whisper. She hesitated, then continued with an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, Sir. I just have a slight headache." She lied and immediately left after dusting the chairs.

Peter leaned back in his chair, browsing the internet on his laptop and sipping his coffee. A sudden interruption broke his concentration as a small hand tapped his leg.

"Mummy...? Mummy...?" A girl of about three years old stood beside him, looking up with wide, questioning eyes. "Excuse me, Sir. Where is my Mummy?"

"Who are you? How did you get here?" Peter asked, his confusion evident as he set down his coffee and studied the child.

"I'm looking for my mum..."

"Jessy!" Nora burst into the room, breathless, and scooped the girl into her arms. "Sorry, Sir. I... umm... I couldn't leave her at home alone. Her school is on summer break, so I'll find a place for her to stay by tomorrow. I'm sincerely sorry, Sir." Nora's face flushed with embarrassment, her eyes pleading for understanding.

Peter took a moment to process the situation, then a warm smile spread across his face. "You may go," he said, his gaze softening as he watched the young woman clutching her child, still apologizing.

Over the three years Nora had worked for the company, Peter had come to admire her resilient spirit and unwavering dedication to her work.

Nora was an intelligent and educated person, yet she worked as Peter's maid. He realized he knew very little about her, save for her name and her daughter's. As he pondered this, a knock on the door roused him from his thoughts.

"Come in," Peter called, sitting up in his chair.

Mr. Ethan, Peter's assistant, entered the room, greeting him with a respectful nod. "Good morning, Sir."

"Good morning, Ethan," Peter replied, swinging gently from side to side in his chair.

"I..." Ethan began, but Peter cut him off.

"What do you know about Nora? Nora Grey?"

Ethan hesitated, a look of confusion passing over his features. He cleared his throat before answering. "She's a cleaner who works for us, Sir."

Peter leaned forward in his chair, his gaze intent. "Do you know anything about her daughter?"

"Not until you mentioned her just now, Sir," Ethan replied politely, his hands clasped behind his back.

Peter nodded thoughtfully, tapping his fingers on the desk. "I just found out she has a child." He glanced at Ethan, who stood at attention, waiting for further instruction.

"I want you to keep a close eye on her," Peter commanded. "Find out everything you can. Who she speaks to, where she lives, any other jobs she might have... I want a detailed report by the end of the week." As he finished speaking, he caught sight of his father on the security camera.

"My father is here?" Peter asked, confused. Ethan nodded in response.

"Mmm," Ethan added, still nodding.

"Mmm?! And you didn't tell me?" Peter's voice rose in annoyance.

Ethan apologized, his tone contrite. "I'm sorry, Sir, but I tried to tell you. You didn't let me finish my sentence."

Peter stared at Ethan, disappointment etched on his face. He paced the length of the office, his hands on his hips.

In a low voice, Ethan said, "You need to stop panicking, Sir."

"I need to stop panicking?" Peter shot back, his panic mounting. "Remember, we signed a contract with him that by his next visit, I must have a girlfriend! How am I supposed to do that now that Bekky broke up with me?"

Ethan looked confused. "Who is Be—k—ky?"

"Never mind," Peter hissed, dismissing the question with a wave of his hand. He moved toward the window, hoping the view would help calm his nerves and spark an idea.

"Peter?" The familiar voice echoed in the room as Peter turned to face his father.

"Dad! You're here," Peter said, forcing a smile as he faced the older man, who simply shook his head and returned the smile before taking a seat.

"You may leave now," Peter said, his gaze fixed on Ethan. Ethan, anticipating the need for privacy, made a slight bow and discreetly left the room.

Juris Jones exchanged a brief smile with his son before diving into a serious discussion about the company's growth. The atmosphere in the room grew tense as father and son focused on business matters.

"Uncle, have you seen my mummy?" Jessy's small voice interrupted, as she ran into the office.

"Uncle? Who brought a child..." Juris began, his tone edged with annoyance.

Peter cut in, scooping up the little girl. "Her mother already apologized. They're on summer break, and she couldn't leave her alone. Come on, Jessy."

Jessy's presence continued to distract Juris, and he let out a frustrated sigh. "We'll have to continue this discussion another time," he said, rising from his seat.

"Bye, Grandpa! Don't forget to bring me some cookies next time," Jessy called out, hugging Juris's leg. The familiarity of her embrace brought a warm smile to the older man's face.

"I'll have some sent to you," Juris whispered, gently kissing her forehead. "It wouldn't be a bad idea if you eventually made me a grandfather." He glanced at Peter, who averted his gaze, feeling the weight of his father's expectations.

Left alone with Jessy, Peter watched as she played in his office. He couldn't help but notice the resemblance between them – her mannerisms, the birthmark on her leg that mirrored his own.

"Jessy," he said softly, drawing her attention. "Where is your daddy?"

She giggled in response. "You're my daddy!"

They shared a laugh, but Peter persisted. "I'm serious, Jessy. Tell me about your daddy. Who is he? Is he..."

"Jessy!" Nora's voice echoed through the hallway.

"That's my mummy," the little girl whispered.

"You should go to her now," Peter said with a warm smile, urging her towards the door.

"Where have you been?" Nora asked, her voice filled with concern as her daughter ran towards her.

"I was with Uncle Peter and Grandpa Jones," Jessy replied with a giggle.

Nora frowned. "You know you're not supposed to go anywhere without telling me. The manager won't be happy if he sees you running around the office." She adjusted her daughter's princess gown and tied her shoes.

"Sorry, Mum," Jessy apologized, recognizing her mother's frustration. Nora smiled and picked her up, carrying her back to her workstation.

"Try not to leave here again," Nora said gently as she prepared a dessert and took it to Peter's office.

Just as Nora served the dessert, a package arrived for Peter. It contained the cookies his father had promised Jessy.

"Wait," Peter called out as Nora was about to leave. "My dad sent this for your daughter. She asked for them earlier."

"My daughter?" Nora exclaimed in surprise.

Peter nodded. "Yes, he wanted to thank her for brightening his day. He appreciates the little moments, especially since he doesn't have grandchildren yet."

"Oh, I see," Nora replied, smiling. "Thank you, Sir." She took the package, feeling grateful for the kind gesture.