Chapter 398
When Oscar tried to pull up memories of Lance as a child, all he could picture was a defiant, rebellious kid who refused to be tamed.
Darwin’s expression darkened, and he waved him off dismissively. “I’m not talking about this. Get out of here. Don’t ruin my bonding time with my great-grandson p>
He had leveraged the hospital showdown to finally win Jasper’s favor, and he wasn’t about to waste a single second of this hard-earned playtime on Oscar.
Oscar gave Jasper a complicated look before pressing on. “Dad, all those things that happened when Lance was little… did he ever say he felt wronged? Did he ever tell you the truth p>
Seeing Sarah’s mask slip had triggered a tidal wave of guilt, and Oscar was desperate for answers. He needed to know if it had all been a massive misunderstanding or if p>
Was his own son truly as vicious as they had always believed?
“What childhood?” Darwin scoffed coldly. “I’m an old man. My memory isn’t what it used to be. I don’t remember any ancient history. If you really want the truth, or if you actually want to make amends, you should be asking Lance, not me p>
He refused to give a straight answer, but his underlying tone confirmed Oscar’s worst fears: there was absolutely a hidden truth behind the past.
Sensing the heavy tension in the air, Jasper gently tugged on Darwin’s sleeve. “Great-grandpa, I thought you were pushing the swing. Are you tired p>
“Don’t underestimate me, kiddo! I’m as strong as an ox,” Darwin chuckled warmly, giving the swing another solid push.
The flawless, joyful dynamic between the old man and the boy gnawed at Oscar’s curiosity. “Dad, who exactly is this boy p>
“You already know the answer. This is Lance’s son,” Darwin stated flatly.
He didn’t elaborate, but the sheer weight of the confirmation made Oscar’s stomach drop. Lance’s son.
If this were just some random kid Camilla had brought into the relationship, Darwin would never dote on him this intensely. This boy was blood.
Oscar couldn’t bring himself to leave. He stepped closer and knelt in front of Jasper, carefully studying the boy’s features. The longer he looked, the more he recognized the striking, undeniable resemblance to a young Lance.
A surge of overwhelming emotion flooded his chest. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the low growl of a car engine echoed behind him. Lance and Camilla stepped out of the vehicle. The moment Lance spotted Oscar, his expression iced over. “Why are you here p>
“I… I had some business with your grandfather. Lance, I’m your father, I—” Oscar stammered. Realizing the horrifying truth about the past had completely shattered his usual arrogant bravado, leaving him hesitant and deeply uncomfortable.
Lance didn’t even blink. He completely ignored the pathetic display and waved a hand toward the swing. “Jasper, come here p>
In this family, Jasper idolized Camilla first and Lance second. Hearing his dad’s voice, he immediately hopped off the swing and sprinted straight into Lance’s arms.
Lance scooped him up and walked inside with Camilla, abandoning Oscar and Darwin in the courtyard.
Oscar eagerly turned back to his father. “Is that boy really Lance’s biological son p>
“If he wasn’t, why do you think your precious adopted daughter went to such insane lengths to forge a fake DNA test and stir up a massive scandal?” Darwin snapped. “Oscar, you and Tessa owe Lance a massive debt. I left Sarah’s punishment in your hands because I hoped it would finally knock some sense into you. Don’t disappoint me again p>
The blood drained from Oscar’s face. Before he could even head to the hospital, his phone vibrated violently. It was Tessa.
“Oscar! It’s a disaster!” Tessa was sobbing so hysterically she could barely breathe. “Sarah… Sarah is gone p>
“Gone? What do you mean she’s gone?” Oscar pinched the bridge of his nose, his patience instantly evaporating. Now that the rose-colored glasses were off, every single thing Sarah did filled him with profound disgust. He already knew she was pulling another stunt.
“The hospital staff called and said they couldn’t find her! And the Carter family p>
The line abruptly went dead.
Only the steady, hollow beep of a disconnected call echoed against his ear.
Oscar dialed back frantically, but the call went straight to voicemail.
Panic spiked in his chest. He didn’t dare waste another second. After a quick call to the hospital to confirm she was actually missing, he floored the gas pedal and sped off to find Tessa.
Darwin watched Oscar’s taillights disappear down the driveway of Laguna Shores, his brow furrowing into a tight knot. A dark sense of foreboding settled in his gut. He immediately dispatched his head butler to investigate.
By the time the butler returned, half an hour had passed, and dinner was being served at Laguna Shores.
Before speaking, the butler cast a hesitant glance at Camilla. Darwin noticed the hesitation and waved a hand. “We’re all family here. There are no secrets. Spit it out p>
“The Carter family kidnapped Sarah and held her for ransom,” the butler reported grimly. “Tessa panicked. She wired millions of dollars directly from her personal account to pay them off, and then she personally drove them to the airport. By the time Oscar arrived, their plane was already in the air p>