Torn Between Twin Brothers

Jeff and Arman were so busy talking that they didn't realize they had arrived at their table already. However, there was no one sitting at the table. So, one by one, the children took their place at the table while Jeff excused himself and went outside to the rooftop to make a call to Tanaga.

Arman also excused himself to go to the kitchen to inform the head chef that the VVIP guests had arrived. Once the head chef heard that, he shouted at the busy kitchen staff.

"Listen, everyone, one of the big bosses is in the house with his family; you all know what to do right! Get moving!!!" He then began calling out names of his specialty dishes for the kitchen staff to start preparing.

After seeing that the staff began the preparations, Arman was satisfied. He then turned around and returned to the dining room.

===

Tanaga and James were still on the road when Jeff was finally able to reach him. "We're here already; where are you now? The children are hungry, and I'm afraid we will all be dead by the time you get here." Bantered Jeff while grinning from ear to ear.

"Go ahead and start without us; we're still on the road. We will probably be there in 30 minutes or so, depending on the traffic." Tanaga was busy with something on his laptop while he was speaking with Jeff.

James was gazing outside the window, deep in his thoughts...

It took Tanaga a long time to convince James to come out and have dinner with them. After long persuasion, he finally agreed when he heard that Ava would be there as well.

James had long thought about how to face Ava. At first, he was planning to avoid her at any cost. He still couldn't find the courage to face her after all these years. However, after contemplating so many times, he figured that it would be hard to avoid her if they would be attending the same school, and there was no point in avoiding the inevitable.

Moreover, he had a long conversation with Ashton, who just came back from Stonasia. Ashton had informed him of what he had learned. Ava had been playing video games with James all these years, and she was the little sister he had been chatting with for many years already.

Although Ashton liked Ava, he knew that she was already betrothed to James. So, he needed to give way to the rightful husband to be. He also mentioned to James that he thinks Ava mistook him for James. Although he never confirmed it when Ava asked, Ashton didn't deny it either.

After hearing what Ashton said, James finally decided that it was time for them to meet face to face and move forward from there. However, now that he was in the Kingdom of Stonasia, he couldn't find the courage to go through with his plan. So instead, he thought of another way to get to know Ava... That was to impersonate his twin brother, Ashton.

However, it seemed impossible to do so now because everyone would be around during their first meeting…

===

No sooner than Tanaga hung up with Jeff, his phone rang again, and when he looked at the screen to see who's calling, he saw that it was CEO Tanaka, his twin brother, calling from the headquarters in the USA.

He slid his finger, and a face identical to him popped up on the screen. "What's going on?" Tanaga questioned grumpily. He knows that Tanaka would never contact him at this hour unless it's urgent.

Tanaka, with a scowl on his face, while he kept massaging the back of his neck, sadly informed Tanaga of the issue that they were currently having with Troship Navigations Co.

It was the company they acquired from their mother. But, unfortunately, the family of their stepfather staked a claim on the company and put a hold on the operations of most of the vessels they owned. It's currently costing them millions if not billions of USD as long as the vessel doesn't move.

"Unfortunately, I can't go. I'm in the middle of a contract negotiation with the oil company for the Tanker ships. I was going to ask my sister-in-law to go with the legal team, but she might not be able to handle them. So, I'm kind of..." Tanaka then let out a heavy sigh.

"So, you called me instead! It's my only once-in-a-lifetime chance to bond with my children and you have to ruin it!" Tanaga barked at his twin brother. Just because he was single and had no children, he didn't understand how important it was for him to spend what little free time he had with his children.

"I know! I know! Alright! But, if only I could..." He didn't get the chance to finish what he was going to say. Tanaga already interrupted him.

"Forget it! I will fly out right now, have the legal team meet me there. Bye!" Tanaga then slid his finger on the screen before turning to James, who was still lost in his thoughts.

"Son, you heard what your uncle said... I'm sorry! But I'm going to have to leave right now. How about you go and meet with your uncle Jeff and your sister and inform them that I have an emergency to see to and won't be able to join you guys." Tanaga's face was solemn as he spoke. He really wanted to spend some quality time with his children, but it was impossible now.

James, who wasn't paying attention at first, heard what his father said, and his face brightened.

"Dad! How about you take me back to my apartment? I'm really not in the mood for company tonight. I will have enough time to meet with them in school, plus I have important things to do anyway." James was delighted that his father had to leave because it gave him an excuse not to attend the dinner, meaning that he won't have to face Ava yet. He will have enough time to come up with a plan.

Tanaga wasn't sure that it was a good idea, but he could see that he did look tired from James's face. So he gave in and told the driver to turn around and take them back to James's apartment.

===

Akira was disappointed when she heard from her uncle Jeff that her father had to leave and wouldn't be able to join them for dinner. But true to her personality, she only sulked for a short time, and soon enough, she was back to her usual self and having fun with her friends. She had been used to not seeing her father as she grew up. It's nothing new...

Tanaga had to undergo treatment for many years from the accident that happened before she was even born. And it was only a couple of years back when he was finally cured and started spending more time with the family.

However, the children were already grown and had minds of their own... No matter how much he tries to get close to them, he could sense that the children were more afraid of him more than anything. Especially Akira...

~~~o~~~

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