Chapter 95
Jonathan’s POV
Living Room – Raymond’s Townhouse – A few moments later
Silence fell between us as I disconnected the call.
Daniel’s name and photo were staring at me from the file.
For years after searching who’s Adrian’s father p>
Now it was right in front of me.
One single paper and one single photo was all that I needed from that file of records and reports.
Raymond quietly asked.
“Are you sure?” Raymond asked. “I mean having the same name is not a coincidence you know p>
“Maybe p>
“Maybe having the same face is also a coincidence, right.” I said, exhaling.
I exhaled as I spoke the name again,
“Daniel Staf is the donor Imelda got impregnated with and gave birth to Adrian p>
Raymond was stunned as he not only knew him but met him while lived here during the time.
None of us spoke for several minutes.
“And I don’t think keeping this fact from Daniel is the right thing to do p>
I trailed off a bit as I removed my phone.
I had decided to call.
“Excuse me,” the doctor said, confused. “Can you fill me in on what’s going on p>
I exhaled.
“Actually,” I said, explaining.
“Daniel came here or rather ran with his girlfriend Imelda and took shelter here fifteen years back p>
“According to Imelda, he betrayed and left her…later she became pregnant and had Adrian, whom she made me believe for seven years was mine p>
“And,” I continued before the doctor could question. “And this Daniel?” I said, pointing to his photo.
“He has been my sworn brother for the past seven years p>
“Now I know he didn’t betray her, her father broke them p>
“I know she didn’t have Adrian the normal way,” I continued.
“She chose Daniel cause she knew him and knew using his sperm was the best option p>
“And, all the while I trailed off a bit.
“Look here,” I said, showing him the file.
“He consented to blood donations four months straight p>
“He thought he was part of a helpful cause by donating blood p>
“He never knew he was part of any fertility process or program p>
“He never consented to any of this stuff p>
“He never knew anyone let alone Imelda used his sperm to get pregnant p>
“Even now, his son is sixteen years old p>
“He gets called a bastard ever since everyone found out he’s not my real son p>
“I always thought he abandoned Imelda, whereas he never betrayed them p>
“Fredrick made Daniel leave p>
“He didn’t abandon Adrian, cause he never knew he existed in the first place p>
“Now I trailed off.
“More than Adrian should know who his father is p>
“Daniel is the one who should know he has a son p>
“But before that p>
“I have to tell the first person who will be affected…Veronica p>
“Your wife?” the doctor said.
“Yes p>
I dialed her number.
My heart melted the moment her voice fell into my ear.
“Hey, Johnny,” Veronica said on the phone.
“How are you p>
“How’s the investigation going on p>
Instead of telling her what she wanted to know,
I froze as words just wouldn’t come out of my mouth.
“Johnny?” she asked softly.
“Did you find Adrian’s father p>
Silence fell between us.
“It’s okay,” She said, thinking it was a dead end.
“We’ve already decided to adopt him, and he’s getting along well with me and Janet, so p>
I cut her sentence midway.
“Daniel,” I said. “Daniel Staf is Adrian’s biological father p>
Another episode of silence fell between us.
“He is Adrian’s father,” I continued. “There’s no if or but about it p>
“Johnny,” She trailed off as I understood this was as hard for her as for me.
“I once cursed him for not owning up to his son and p>
She trailed off.
“Are you sure p>
I didn’t answer.
“Come over here to Livelane,” I said.
“I’ll tell the driver as I can’t take any risk with you taking the local transport p>
“But Jonathan arrived in a limo at Livelane p>
“I know,” I said. “Charles already knows who I am, and now that the basement is open, Raymond’s life is in danger p>
“Unless I get Lori her justice, I won’t leave p>
“Jonathan,” Veronica said in a frustrated voice.
“Look, I know Lori suffered,” she said. “But I…we just got you back p>
“I can’t risk losing you again,” she said. “Please come back p>
“I promise,” she continued. “We’ll find a way and get her justice, please p>
I could hear her heart break in her voice.
I knew she waited for seven years to know who Adrian’s father was.
Who was the man who left him, giving Imelda the chance to manipulate our family.
“Nicky,” I said in a steady voice.
“I know this is a shock,” I said. “But there’s more to this than just the fact that Daniel’s his father p>
“I need you to come over and see the evidence p>
“There are pages, records, reports p>
“Everything Lori made sure survived intact p>
“Lori left a detailed note on everything p>
“It’s not only Lori or Daniel, but boys p>
“Jonathan,” Veronica said in a steady voice. “I’m coming right now, Lona is here so I’ll tell her to stay till we come back p>
I didn’t realize until I heard her voice that my voice carried a little unusual seriousness p>
The reason she made the choice in a moment.
“Veronica is coming over p>
“Ah,” Raymond said. “Can you explain the limo thing I heard p>
“Let me introduce myself,” I said. “Jonathan Rollings, CEO of Rollings Designs, a hundred dollars annual turnover. My wife is Veronica Rollings, CEO of Rollings Arts p>
“How different are you and Charles p>
“Charles adopted this town?” I said in a frank voice. “I can adopt ten of these types p>
“I also know Imelda p>
“She was my fake fiance who made me believe Adrian was mine p>
“I found out seven years back he wasn’t and have been finding out about his real father since p>
“Okay,” I said as I felt a new surge of energy enter me.
“Let’s review the rest and see what’s the difference between the one and two number files p>
“Okay,” the doctor said. “Let’s sort the number one files first as we have ten, then we’ll combine the details with Daniel’s p>
“Maybe then we’ll know if the number means anything p>
The more we compared the details and records, the more we were shocked.
The reason Lori gave Daniel a separate number p>
The reason his file had two instead of one p>
Was p>
Lori wasn’t protecting Daniel or just one child.
She wasn’t protecting the mother.
She was protecting Daniel as a donor, whom she chose.
“The more I see these?” I said.
“The more I think Lori deserves justice as much as Adrian does, and Daniel alike p>
Raymond sat across from me.
For the first time, Raymond didn’t ask questions.
“For fifteen years,” Raymond trailed off.
“I thought no one cared about Mom p>
“I thought no one would ever know how a small town woman gave her life to protect some unknown boys p>
“I care, we all care,” I said in a steady voice.
“I am sorry though,” I continued. “For finding out so late p>
“And, now since you took Charles name, I need more information p>
“Information?” Raymond said, confused.
“Yes,” Vance said. “The connection between Charles, the sheriff, and the clinic p>
Raymond was quiet for a few minutes.
“The sheriff,” Raymond began. “Back then he was a decent one p>
“At first,” he continued. “Like I said, he was a good, decent sheriff who went by the law p>
“Then Charles and Imelda came along p>
“The doctor just opened a new clinic p>
“Charles began his business and soon adopted the town p>
“Mom joined the clinic and met Daniel and Imelda p>
“Imelda put Mom behind bars, the sheriff began to cover Charles tracks p>
He exhaled.
“Charles grew, the sheriff became more obedient towards him, Daniel left, Imelda got pregnant, the doctor disappeared p>
“I moved to the border house, found out about Charles’ illegal work, he moved to the road, and the doctor he did contact Charles once, then never again p>
“Raymond,” Vance said. “No offence, but I’m a lawyer p>
“From what I can tell from my experience as a lawyer,” he continued. “There are some missing pieces, and some things don’t tally p>
“I’ll tell and give everything I can and have p>
Just then we heard a car coming closer.
I got up and went out as they followed me.
As I came out p>
I saw Ada was staring down the street.
Charles, who was staying over since the festival was standing beside her.
The sheriff also came over as someone must have called him.
Practically, everyone in the town had gathered as a large limo halted in front of Raymond’s house.
I could see Charles had become suspicious and might be wondering how much I knew about him and his work.
My driver got off and opened the door for Veronica as he bowed,
“Mr. Rollings p>
“Johnny!” Veronica smiled as she walked over hugging me.
I held her as I softly kissed her.
Then I introduced her to Raymond, making sure the town gets her introduction.
“Raymond,” I said smiling. “Please meet Mrs. Veronica Rollings, my wife p>
“Oh,” Raymond said, walking up. “I’m Raymond. Lori’s son p>
“Johnny,” Veronica said, holding onto my arm.
“You look exhausted,” she said as I could clearly see the concern in her eyes.
“Are you okay p>
“Mrs. Rollings,” the doctor said. “Don’t worry, I’ve been keeping tabs p>
“Thank you,” she said.
I held her in my arms and we went back into Raymond’s house.
We didn’t talk about Daniel, or Adrian.
We talked about each other as getting to know who we were was important.
Once I felt we’re on the same ground, I laid everything on the table.
Imelda’s fertility records.
Her recipient records.
Lori’s notes on the boys.
The boys files.
Daniel’s file.
Daniel and Imelda’s impregnancy records.
As she picked up one file,
“Take your time and read,” was all I said.
I knew she needed time to read and understand and absorb the facts.
We all sat in silence as Veronica flipped page by page, file by file.
Finally p>
She read Daniel’s file.
I gave her an order to read Daniel and Imelda’s files.
She followed my guidelines and read Imelda’s file first.
Then the clinic details.
The donor files.
The matching records.
And finally p>
Daniel Staf’s file.
Her fingers stopped moving as she stared at a page for longer than she needed to.
I saw her reading the paper again and again.
Then p>
I saw tears were welling up in her eyes.
She slowly closed the file.
She wasn’t angry, as I thought she would be.
She wasn’t shocked to find out it was done without his consent.
But she was devastated by knowing what he went through.
He was a man who never knew.
Adrian was a boy who never knew.
Both lost sixteen years of father-son relationship.
Veronica exhaled.
“Johnny,” she said.
“We have to tell him and Adrian p>
I nodded.
“It is something I want myself p>
As Veronica had finished going through the files.
Raymond got up and went to another room.
He came back carrying a metal locked box.
Unlike the other donor files.
Unlike the shelves full of files.
Unlike the ledgers in the basement, only one door hides them.
This box was hidden away in a room behind a painting.
“I found a false wall a few years back p>
I and Veronica exchanged a look.
Raymond removed a key from his jean pocket and unlocked the box.
There were documents.
Letters, photographs p>
And a sealed letter.
The letter was written for:
The one who comes to know about the boys.
Silence fell in the room as Raymond pushed the letter towards me.
I was confused as I picked the letter.
So far, I thought finding out who Adrian’s father was the only thing I came for.
But as I opened the letter, realizing these were Lori’s last words for a stranger p>
I had a feeling she was going to reveal something more bigger than I could ever imagine.