Burning Passion

CHAPTER 97: HIS FATHER

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"What was the hospital tells us, you and your mother died that day. Said, they did not able to save you both. But our father learns the truth. He investigates what happened at that time, and he finds out you were still alive. A janitor witnesses the crime and the one who took you when they dumped you in the garbage; thought you already dead."

He doesn't know what to feel. Is this a TV drama? How ridiculous coincides with his life story. The plotline is intriguing enough... but it involved his mother; something he cannot ignore.

"So, father then brought me to China? He actually cared about me?"

"He is. Everyone was shocked when he arrived at the mansion carrying a 1-year-old baby boy who looks exactly like him and me, but we have a different eye color. Also, what happens later... my mother received a slap in her face, and father declares a divorce. It hurts me to remember how she begs to stay married to him. I was 6 years old at that time, so I could remember until now..." he paused.

"Jeremy, how come you did not take revenge on me?"

"Can you really think that I can do that to you or I am that kind of person?"

"I begin wondering now..."

He chuckles, then returns to being serious. "I think, that time, I was happier to know that I have a brother. My mother was prohibited to get pregnant again, or it will also kill her."

"You do know all of these, huh?"

"It was just out of curiosity. I wanted to know things about my parents' marriage and your mother. Instead, I was led to that issue and dug into the past. At first, our father accused my mother who plotted the crime… but even how furious she is about the affair, she cannot do that. Then after many talks, Father assigned her to raise you to prove she was not part of it. But for my mother, it was her chance to remain as Harry's wife. Although raising you is more like a condition; Harry would not divorce her as long as you remain alive. Anyhow, a gossip pass to the clan. Give them the assumption you have our father's favor more than me as his eldest son; the reason they were cautious about you."

"No one would admit or point out who killed your mother... It is one thing why our father works hard to achieve that throne. So then, those who murdered your mother were just like vermin he can step on them, crush them, and could throw them to the garbage where they belong."

"Theo, the Shang Empire became our father's goal to take advantage of the power he could obtain. His success to take over the Clan gives him the feeling of taking revenge for the death of your mother. I could tell, why it is important to our father. Suppressing everyone to have power, it made him feel glorious. But I know, he never stopped seeking the truth about your mother's death," Jeremy's long statement.

Theo remains silent. Hearing all of this revelation, it gives him the chill. If all of these are true? Then the people who planned for his mother's death were still out there. Living in comfort, having the freedom of life, and probably dines with him at the same table.

"You can ask our father about this," he said to ascertain his doubts.

He peered at Jeremy. Contemplating to what he said, he's actually hesitant to talk to their father... but his hand moved on its own and took out his phone.

Theo remains staring at the contact with the name Harry Shang; he can't push himself to press the call button. He sat up, then walked toward the floor-ceiling window. He hurls a deep breath before he did the call. Loud thud slamming his chest, he's a bit trouble to calm down. How many years since the last time does he talk to him? He cannot remember.

"Hello?" The other line answered.

Theo closes her eyes. He cannot recognize this voice, but his heart must be. He tried to imagine what struggles did Harry goes through just to find him?

As Jeremy said, their father carries him by his very own arms. But why does he only shows that he did not exist in this world?

"You need not call me. I was fine."

The other line told him when he did not speak yet. "I call you not to ask about your condition."

That's not what he meant to say, however, he has no bravery to ask how he was. But then, Harry only chuckles giving him unexpected impressions.

So his father knows how to laugh after all? Could it be that he only turns cold when his mother dies?

"I already guess this… I know you wouldn't call me if it's not very important to you. So what is it?"

He could not respond instantly but took moments of silence before to speak.

"Is it true that someone killed my mother?" he asked with a jittery voice. It surprised him to be this emotional.

He waited for his father to answer; a long sighed heaving by the other line.

"So then, Jeremy, tell you about this already."

Theo presses his eyelids. Hands shaking, he clasps his left fist. 'So it's true.' His mother appeared not to die giving birth to him and his father did not despise him because of it.

"You need not worry about anything. Let me handle that matter. Just focus on your project for the anniversary."

Somehow, surprisingly that he could feel how his father senses his feeling at the moment. Also, more likely his father revealed to him that he has a plan to that day. The celebration is just less than 3 months away.

"Do you think I would just stand after I learned the fact?" He told Harry.

"Making your project a successful one is more than enough help. Leave the rest to me."

He's a bit surprised by his father's argument. Is he really talking to his father? Or he feels strange as nothing he could recall a moment with him from the past memories? And this feeling troubles him, not in a bad way but he seems to like it.

Warm...

That was the exact word to what he's feeling right now.

Theo heaves a sigh. But then, he still has the struggles to talk more even he has the desire to find the perpetrator among the Clan. Now, he wants to do something. This is not about being a successor, but about justice for his mother.

"Okay. That's all that I would like to ask you."

"Theo..."

It takes a long moment before his father resumes. "Is there another thing you want to ask me?"

He can't think of me. But he does have many questions he wanted to ask his father. He chose one carefully.

"Why do I feel you abandoned me all these years?"

"Are you pointing out the hearsays I don't want to see you?"

He takes a moment to answer. "Yes."

Harry inhales before he conceded.

"I feel guilt, I failed to protect the woman I loved."

It made him speechless. Is this his father's confession? It seems he truly does not know him at all. His mind wants to protest and raise questions. But now, his lost memories seem different to what he assumes as the truth.

"You are safer in Mainland City. Better for you to stay there with Jeremy." Harry added.

"Okay."

There is nothing he could come up to talk with him; maybe that was enough for him to know.

"I'll hang up the call now. Goodbye, Theo."

"Yeah... Bye." 'Papa...'

(to be continued)