Chapter 330
Chapter 330
Alexander stood impatiently outside the restroom in the bustling airport, having waited for over fifteen
minutes without catching a glimpse of the familiar figure he'd seen earlier.
His phone buzzed with a new message on WhatsApp from Samuel.
"Hey, if you're not here yet, I can just grab an Uber home. Don't wanna be a bother."
Alexander glanced at the message and let out a weary sigh, a look of helpless frustration crossing his
face.
Ever since Nora's accident, Samuel had changed. He used to be the life of the party, a wild stallion that
couldn't be tamed. Even if the sky fell down, Samuel would handle it with an easy grace, his carefree
demeanor belying his competence.
He was the joker among their group of friends, always knowing how to lighten the mood. His smile was
a permanent fixture, mischievous and sunny.
But the radiance that once lit up his face had vanished after the accident. Samuel also began keeping
his distance from Alexander and their other friend, Harrison.
Alexander knew Samuel blamed him for not telling him about Harrison's schemes that had entangled
Nora in that whole 6G mess, and the danger it posed to her.
But the ties of brotherhood, forged since childhood, still held some sway. Samuel was civil to
Alexander, at least willing to talk and work with him.
But with Harrison, it was a different story. Samuel had boycotted any event Harrison attended, avoiding
any direct confrontation with him. Yet, professionally, Samuel remained impeccable in his duties.
Privately, however, Alexander feared Samuel would never forgive Harrison.
Worried about the strain in their relationship, Alexander quickly dialed Samuel's number.
"Samuel, I'm at the airport, man. I know your flight number, and when you were supposed to land. I'm
not blowing you off, man, don't think that."
"Just got snagged with some issue here. Hold on for a bit, I'll be right there."
Alexander tried to placate him, desperate not to let Samuel think he wasn't valued.
He hung up and made his way to meet Samuel but was suddenly stopped in his tracks. Hazel stood
before him, a little boy clutching her hand as they stepped out of the restroom, just a few feet away
from him.
His gaze involuntarily fell on the boy, and Alexander felt his blood run cold.
"Long time no see, Alexander," Hazel said with a smirk that he barely registered.
The world around him faded away. All he could see was the face of the boy, strikingly similar to his
own. How was that possible?
It couldn't be. Hazel had been pregnant during a time when he was tied up in Canada, dealing with a
crisis involving their chairman and the SilverTrust Bank. He hadn't been home in months.
The boy couldn't be his. Yet, the resemblance was uncanny.
The little boy, sensing Alexander's intense gaze, hid timidly behind Hazel, peeking out cautiously, both
scared and curious.
"Mama," the boy's small voice quivered, "is that man my daddy?"
Hazel didn't answer, instead brushing off the boy's hand and looking at Alexander with a triumphant,
mocking smile.
"Surprise, Alexander. I bet you didn't see this coming. Looks like I won this game."
Alexander was reeling, his mind a whirlwind of confusion.
Hazel continued, her voice laced with bitterness, "You turned us away when I begged you to believe he
could be yours. You were so sure, so cold. And now, look at him."
Alexander was speechless, trying to process the shock.
Hazel went on, "All the hardships I faced after our split, you're responsible for them. I could have
avoided all the suffering, but you made me struggle. And I'll make sure you pay for it."
Alexander didn't feel he owed Hazel anything. The divorce wasn't his doing. Even after knowing about
her infidelity, he had given her a chance to make things right. It was she who had betrayed him again,
not the other way around.
But the boy, looking up at him with frightened eyes, stirred something in Alexander's heart.
"I don't care what kind of hardships you've faced out there, and frankly, I can't be bothered to. But let's
set a time to talk about the kid, alright?"
He was resolute; he wouldn't give Hazel another inch.
Still, his heart ached for the child in front of him.
The kid hadn't done a thing to deserve any of this.
The way the little one shrank back, fear and unease written all over his small face, it was clear Hazel
hadn't been kind.
Hazel herself was decked out to the nines, dripping in designer brands from head to toe.
But the boy? What on earth was he dressed in? Owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
His pants were too short, and the sleeves barely reached his wrists, revealing thin, sallow arms marked
with noticeable bruises.
It tore at Alexander to see him like that.
It was obvious the child had felt the back of Hazel's hand more than once.
Alexander crouched down, his heart going out to him.
The boy instinctively scooted back.
"Don't be scared. I won't hurt you," Alexander soothed, then asked, "What's your name?"
"Kent Dawson," the little guy mumbled timidly.
Kent.
Kent, a name that spoke of gentle nobility, of warmth and nurturing.
That was the name he had chosen once upon a time.
Back then, he had desperately wanted a child, pleading with Hazel to start a family, even going so far
as to jot down names in a little notebook.
But Hazel refused to have a baby, taking precautions every single time.
Even after the divorce, his dream of fatherhood remained unfulfilled.
Little did he know that he would meet his child like this.