Luke's Identity 2

"Grandpa... Please don't take Luke away from me!!" Charmaine rushed towards the room, kneeled in front of Chairman Ji and begged him on all fours. "Please, I beg you." she pleaded.

The old man who was sitting on the couch in the study room was stunned to see the woman's strange behavior. He didn't even get what she's saying!

"Get up child. No one is taking anything from you." he reassured her. "Tell me what happened so we can make it clear. Did Li You bully you again?"

Charmaine bit her lower lip flap and stood up. She then shook her head but kept her head lowered. She didn't know what to tell him anymore. She was overwhelmed by confusion that she didn't want to trust anyone. "My son Luke... do you know about him?" she asked shyly as she occupied a chair across the old man.

"Who? Jienna's son?" the old man asked.

Charmaine froze. Sure enough, Grandpa Ji really knew. "Yes... Does... Leo knew about it too? Is he... planning to take him away from me?" she hesitantly asked. Her voice was trembling. It was as if she was about to cry.

Watching the young woman in front of him, Ji Chen finally understood her concerns. She was afraid that because Leo is Luke's closest kin, that the Ji family has every right to take him away.

"It's alright, Xiaomin. There's nothing to worry about. Leo doesn't know anything about it yet." he told her. "The truth is... I've known about this from the very start. But I hid it from Li You because I didn't want Jienna for him. Do you understand?"

Charmaine stared at the old man. No. She didn't understand. She didn't understand the man's biased towards her! So it turned out that Grandpa Ji didn't like the little boy because he's Jienna's son? Is that to say he won't allow Luke to enter the Ji household? That was what she wanted but she still feels bad for the little boy! He will be deprived of his father!

"You mean... you are not going to acknowledge him?" she mumbled.

"I didn't say that." Ji Chen said with a smile. "I said I wouldn't acknowledge him as Jienna's child. But I will allow it if he is to enter the Ji house hold as your son..." he clarified.

Charmaine was speechless. This only complicates the matters most! Didn't she runaway before because she didn't want to get married? And now Leo's grandpa was telling her Luke can only be acknowledged if she marries Leo?

"Grandpa... you know I don't want to marry Leo. We will only ruin each other's life!" She protested.

"Well... it's up to you of course. But Leo is a smart person. One of this days, he'll surely find out about Luke's identity. I advice you to act fast before your fear comes to life!" the old man explained. "Sometimes, life is a bit unfair. You only have two choices now. Either you marry Leo, or give up on Luke. It's your call."

To be with Leo, or be separated to Luke? It's a very hard decision!

***

In the Ji mansion's garden, there's a small playground just behind their chinese garden pavilion. There's a small stilts cubby house there, a slide and a couple of swings. That's where Charmaine found Leo and Luke when she went out to look for them. They were occupying the two swings and they were chatting happily with each other.

Charmaine sighed as she watched them from a distance. She hid from behind the bushes and observed them. She didn't get it. If Leo really doesn't know Luke is his son, then who can explain Leo's tenderness towards the child? In her premonition, Leo also loved the child, but he was rarely home and he usually didn't have time to spare for Luke. They never had moments like this. Leo has always been cold and aloof, even to his son. Why is he being kind now to child he just met?

But. whatever the reason is, it's a fact that they were father and child. If she gets in the middle of them, won't she just ruin their family a second time? Luke isn't hers, but Leo's child. How can she be selfish as to want Luke for her own?

"I thought you don't like me." Luke commented.

"Of course I do." Leo replied. They were still sitting on the swing. "Can I ask you something? Did your mommy date anyone when you were in the US?" he probed.

Luke glanced at the man sitting beside him. "Why do you wanna know? Mommy said you don't like her." the boy said with a sneer.

"Your mommy is wrong." Leo answered. "What else did she tell you about me?"

Luke looked away and was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "Nothing much. But I know who you are even if she didn't tell me." Luke asked with a smile while she stared at his eyes. "Mommy has only one person in her heart. And that's my dad." he said with a sneer.

Leo furrowed his brows. He didn't like the way that sentence was delivered! "Are you really his son?" he mocked.

Luke went silent for a while. Suddenly remembering Jienna, he made a face in front of him. He then snickered and stood up from the swing. He ran towards the cubby house and climbed up the ladder.

Leo Ji frowned. What a cheeky brat. He couldn't tell what he meant by that expression. Was he hinting that he's her son? Or was he insinuating that he's a fake? Well, no worries! He believes that he'll soon find out the truth.

"Hey Luke! Be careful!" Charmaine yelled when she saw the little boy climbing the cubby house. They seemed to have finished talking so Charmaine finally decided to show up.

"He'll be alright." Leo assured her. "Let's have a seat over there while Luke's still playing!" Leo stood up from the other swing and walked towards Charmaine. He didn't wait for the woman's response before grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards the pavilion.

"I want to ask you something. Please have a seat. " Leo gestured to a bench when they got into the pavilion sitting over a koi pond. Charmaine complied and sat down obediently. Leo then sat next to her.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

Leo looked straight into her eyes. Yes. There it is again. The indifference in her eyes was making his heart ache. Where did the gleam in her eyes go? Her blushing face when she gets close to him? The smile she wore whenever he's around? None of those could be found now.

"Have you been dating someone else lately? Have you.... successfully gotten over me?" Leo suddenly asked.