Fly High | ✅

51 | Until next time

◈A D R I A N◈

Mom's getting married?! What's happening?

A million questions circled my mind. Things were happening too fast, too sudden. I was going through a heartbreak just a few minutes ago and now I was going to have a new family?

She seemed to take pity on my confusion and decided to shed some light. "James, can you pull over for a minute? I need to talk to my son privately."

"Yes, ma'am," James answered and slowly steered towards an empty parking lot of McDonald's. He got down from the car, nodded courteously at us before walking away and stood a couple of feet from the car.

Mom shifted her posture and faced me. "Charles is a good man. He's willing to treat you like his own son. Only if you agree to do your part," she added with a hint of warning.

So my step dad is called Charles, I thought wryly.

"You want me to play house with a stranger?" I scoffed in disbelief.

"Not a stranger. He's your father," she corrected.

"Bullshit! Dad's name is not Charles!"

Slap!

"Don't mention that bastard in front of me ever again! He doesn't even come close to a thousandth of Charles," she hissed. Her eyes reddened with tears, the usual expression every time I mentioned dad.

I bit my tongue, refusing to let out any sound of discomfort from my stinging cheeks.

"Just once," she breathed. She placed a cold palm against my cheeks and stroke softly. "Can't you let me be happy just for once?"

My eyes widened at the unfamiliar touch. This was the first time she initiated a motherly touch but I could sense a disguised motive lying underneath.

"Won't you be happier without me in your new life?" I confronted.

Her lips pulled into a tight smile. "I need you this time. We need you. This wedding isn't gonna happen without you."

I knew it, I thought bitterly and jerked my head away to avoid her touch.

She retreated her hand and placed it on her knees. "Charles needs an heir. Not just any heir, he needs a teenage son. Only then he can take over Blackburn Corporation."

"And what's that gotta do with me?" I asked dryly.

"Charles' father is very ill and he had written up a will stating that any of his children who has an heir is rightful to take over his business. Charles' brother, Dawson is vying for the company as well. Since they're both unmarried and childless, obviously Dawson is going to get married as soon as possible and produce an heir!" Mom huffed.

She looked over her shoulders to make sure James wasn't anywhere near the car before whispering, "That's when you step into the picture. I need you to pretend to be Charles' illegitimate son."

"Are you out of your mind?!" I bawled. "What if they find out I wasn't his son? They can charge us for impersonation!"

"Charles is an influential man. He has his own means. As long as you play your role well, we can live a whole new life! You won't get another chance like this, Adrian," she pleaded.