The Fall Bride (TSBS-3) ON HOLD

Chapter Nine

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.
― Lao Tzu

Ivan Dwayne

Life had thrown numerous curveballs on my way that hardly anything surprised me. This past year alone was full of challenges intending to drop me down on my knees, but I had managed to overcome every single obstacle.

As I gazed at the woman's bright face, flushed with mirth, I was surprised at how comfortable it was to join her. Four years ago, I had been attracted to her at first sight, and four years later, I still felt the same. I wasn't afraid of admitting the reality, but I was afraid of changing it.

First time in a year, I had laughed wholeheartedly, and became enamored with how she could deal with every situation. Not for the first time in this week, I had to admit Janet Julien was a woman in her own league. She didn't need anyone to stand on her own feet. She had managed to grow up without parents, take care of her grandma and brought up a child all alone.

I didn't come to this conclusion because she could cook up a love story on instinct, but because she wasn't afraid to deal with all types of situation by any means.

At first, it was her looks that had attracted me, but now it was her tenacity, independence and resistance that made me admire her.

"Ivan? You there?" Will clicked his fingers in front my face, breaking the trance of watching her cringe up her nose at the jasmine tea. "You wanted to say something?"

Shaking my head, I sipped the tea on my own and felt the warmth of it sooth me before looking at the man who had more things to do after this revelation.

"Will, I have a child."

He blinked, then suddenly, jumping up, he cursed. "What the fuck?"

I waited for him to get over the shock by leaning back and comfortably enjoying the refreshment.

As Will processed the new information, an alarming look came over him. "Ivan, you didn't go and adopt a kid from your centre, did you now? You wouldn't go that far for this business, right?"

I rolled my eyes at his absurd yet plausible conclusion. "No, he's mine. My child." My eyes strayed to Janet, lounging and watching us keenly, and I added gesturing between her and me. "Our child. He's three years old. More specifically, three and a half."

Perplexed, he turned to her then at me. "Are you sure he's yours? Do you have proof? Did you do a paternity test? What if she's lying?"

As my lawyer, Will was well aware of the true story of Vegas, but I hadn't told him about Caden yet. Since we only had a week's time, I wanted to deal with the lawyers as fast as I could with what I had.

"There wasn't a need for proof. I knew he was m----"

Janet scoffed, sitting up straight and narrowed her eyes at Will. "Do you think I'm trying to dupe him with a child?"

Will pressed his mouth in a thin line, no fascination on his face for Janet anymore instead only suspicion. "It is quite a common attitude of women for men with big bucks."

"What is up with you men?" Janet made a disgusted face. "All you think is how women can do anything for money. You're his lawyer, right? Then you should know my information. I'll only say it once, I earn in big bucks too. I don't need your client's money."

Before Will threw another insult, I intervened with a hard look. "Will, Caden is my son. You would know that if you see him. Don't accuse someone without facts."