Chapter 9: Truth untold

I didn't expect him to do that. Showing his picture of his younger self to us. And what worse is that Dane resembles him a lot. From the jet-black hair, pale skin, and ruby eyes.

'What should I do? I can't deny it. The pieces of evidence are already there. But, more importantly, what is Dane's reaction?'

I took a glance at Dane to see his reaction. But, rather than being surprised, his face shown calmness. As if it wasn't a matter. It left me speechless.

"You seem calm, kid. I thought you will get bewildered by the fact that you look a lot like me when I was a kid. Don't tell me you already knew?" the duke put down the frame and walk toward our direction.

"Well, I already guessed. So, why did you show it?" Dane stares at Duke Darwin with a calm look.

"I wanted to know the truth," Darwin stood beside the couch me and Dane sitting and look down at us. "Of why you look a lot like me? My parents are dead so it is impossible to have a little brother. So that leaves me to that incident nine years ago."

He shifts his gaze from Dane to me. When our eyes met, I suddenly felt nervous. Not because I am scared of him but because I have to tell the truth. I always told Dane that his father is great at the capital. And, I told him that he looks like his father. If I am correct, Dane put that clue together, and the answer would be obvious.

Dane is a smart kid. He learns faster than the average kid in our town. He was a total genius. At work, he would suggest some new ideas, and those ideas turn out to be the best. The boss seems proud to have someone like him. He is a nine years old kid but he already acts like an adult.

Even though I always told him to relax and be himself, he always answered 'I am already myself.'

It seems like it runs in their blood.

"Well…," I avoid his gaze and look down at my hands. My head was in a scramble situation. Finding the right words to say and the fidgeting of my hands tells everything.

"James, prepare their room for tonight," Darwin crashed the silence and walk toward the door.

"Our visitor needs some rest. We will discuss this matter later on," he opens the door and closes it behind him.

"I will go to prepare your room. Please excuse me," James bow his head and leave the room leaving me and Dane alone.

"Mother you're okay?" I didn't expect him to ask about my well-being. I thought he will stay silent because of what he discover today.

"I'm okay. But more than that, y-you okay? You're not mad, are you?" I grasp both of his shoulders and look at him directly in the eyes.

"If you are concerned about a while ago, I am fine. I already guessed. So, is my theory correct?" he stares me in the eyes. "You always told me that my father is someone great in the capital and I look much like him. When I saw the duke for the first time, it didn't slip my mind. But, when you got treated that where I started to guess. My father is a great man and I look like him. The answer is obvious. That man is my father, correct?"

I let out a long sigh and nodded. "You're correct/ Duke Darwin is your father."