Tied To You

N

The Real Father

"Ava do you plan on going to university?" Karlie asked as sat down on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate.

It was the end of a long day. After lunch at the Gilded Dragon everyone went their separate ways. Michael went to visit his mother and took her out for dinner because his father was going to be stuck in the office all day. Karlie and Evan headed to Karlie's doctor appointment to check the overall health of their brewing baby. Ava went to go visit Brandon, but ended up going home because he wasn't there. Elena and Alvin spent the rest of the day checking out the multiple chain of hotels they own to see what it is they clan change.

"I do not know. Honestly, I would love to attend university but I don't know how I would balance managing the company and going to school." Ava said to her as she enjoyed her hot chocolate.

"My mom was pregnant with me and my brother and she still managed to finish university, manage multiple businesses and still have time to be a wife to my dad and a mother to my Ate Charleen. If she could do that, I know for sure you can. College is a great experience to make new friends and network, but I mean with your last name networking won't be very hard. In fact, people might be wanting to networking with you." Karlie said adjusting herself on the couch.

"I don't know what dad would say." Ava said with a bit of worry.

"It doesn't hurt to ask. The worst thing that can happen is he says no." Karlie smiled. "Go ask him. He's upstairs in his office, light on and door open. I saw it when I was putting Ellie to bed." Ava smiled and placed the mug on the coffee table. She got up and hugged her sister-in—law and made her way up the stairs.

She walked along the dimly-lit corridor, anxious to speak to her father. Not once has she mentioned the idea of attending university to her parents. She stood in front of her father's office and took a deep breath and opened the door lightly calling her dad's name. There was no answer, she tried again and still no answer. She peeped her head in and saw that her father was on the phone.

"Why is he on the phone this late at night?" Ava said in her head. Her father usually never takes calls at 9pm at night, let alone on the work day. Ava quietly stayed in the corridor, leaving the door the way it was as she listened to her father's conversation.

"I told you, now is not a good time to talk. My wife is in the other room and if she hears you, she will have a lot of questions. I am already trying to work on winning my wife's trust back. I will make some excuse to see you, but please do not call me at this time and please wait for me to call you." She heard her father take a deep breath. "I love you too darling. Good night." Ava stepped back and headed back down to the living room.

"So how was the conversation with your dad?" Karlie said with complete oblivion.

"When I got to the foot of the stairs the door was closed, but the light was still on. I didn't want to intrude because he's probably busy." Ava said trying to hide the lie.

"Makes sense, we did spend two hours at the Gilded Dragon. I would not be surprised if he brought his work home." Karlie replied. Ava sipped the last of her hot chocolate to prevent from reacting.

It was a quarter past 9pm when Michael walked into his family home. To his surprise, everyone was there, all awake and conversing with one another, this was a sight unfamiliar to him. He took his car keys and placed it on the rack by the door along with his blazer that he had been wearing all day.

"You're home earlier than usual." His mother said with a glass of wine in her hand. "Come join us son." With surprise written on his face Michael followed his mother into the dining room where his father and brother sat drinking their scotch and smoking their Cuban cigars.

"What's the occasion?" Michael asked as he planted himself on the velvet dining chair adjacent to his older brother. The only time the scotch and cigars came out was to celebrate something, but in this case he did not know what was happening. His brother didn't say a word, but rather handed him a fresh cigar still wrapped in its foil. He knew this was going to be a long night.

"We are celebrating tonight because you two dumbasses aren't slick." His father said taking a sip of his scotch. Michael arched his eyebrow in confusion. He glanced at his brother who was slowly puffing his cigar. He was calm, but a scary kind of calm, the kind of scary that was unexpected, a ticking time bomb to say. His mother placed her half empty wine glass on the wooden mahogany table and made her way to the side of her husband where she sat on the armrest of the velvet chairs as her husband wrapped his left arm around his wife's waist.

"I was told by a mutual friend that Cora Vales is pregnant and its possible that one of you guys are the father. Is that true?" His father asked. Michael looks at his brother as he does him and this is the first time in a long time where they are actually in agreement with each other. Both Solis boys nod their heads. Their father pursed his lips, tasting the warm scotch on his lips.

"I'm curious to know who's the real father?" Their mother asked putting emphasis on the word 'real' waiting for her sons to respond. Again, the Solis boys do not say anything but sip their scotch to prevent responding. "Don't make me repeat myself boys." Their mother said with an annoyed tone as silence lingers in the dining room. Their father watches waiting for at least Michael or Brandon to answer . Michael glances at Brandon and nods at him signaling him to tell the truth.

"Truth is....Michael is the father." Brandon blurted out. Michael filled with anger knowing fully well that was not the truth, but he didn't show any reaction. He wanted to know why his brother lied. What was Brandon's purpose of lying?