Truth in Blood

Chapter 6

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Arthur's face fell, but he nodded in understanding. "You don't have to believe me right away. But I hope you will give me a chance to explain. There's so much you need to know about your father, his family... and about the legacy that awaits you."

Kyle's fists tightened at his sides. Legacy? What kind of legacy had left him and his grandmother struggling all these years? But even as his anger swirled inside him, a part of him was curious and desperate for answers.

"Alright," Kyle said quietly. "I will listen."

Kyle sat rigid in his seat, his mind still spinning from the revelation. His grandfather's eyes were filled with warmth and excitement, but Kyle's chest felt tight. The luxurious surroundings suddenly felt stifling. He had grown up in cramped apartments, with little more than the bare necessities. Now, they were telling him he was the lost heir to an empire?

Arthur's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "You see, it's all the adults fault, but it's so unfortunate to know you had to suffer for our mistakes." Arthur took a deep sigh before he continued. "Your mother and my son were secretly seeing each other while he was engaged to someone else, someone I wanted him to marry. But he was in love with your mother and rebelled against my will; then I threatened him with his inheritance, and he gave in to my demand."

Arthur raised his head and looked at Kyle, who was listening attentively to his sad story. "After a year, I found out he was still with your mother, even after he was about to be married to another woman in a few weeks. I sent people to threaten your mother to leave my son and held my son hostage and forced him to marry the woman I had prepared for him."

"You are indispicable, someone capable of doing all that cannot be my grandfather." Kyle spat as he stood up to leave, but was held back by Arthur, who had hurriedly rushed to his side.

"I'm so sorry, son," he pleaded, repeated. "I have suffered greatly for my mistake, and I want to correct all the wrongdoings I have done. I know I cannot undo the past, but please help me have my peace."

"Peace! Do you think you deserve one?"

"This was my only son's dying wish—to find his son and bring him home where he belongs."

Kyle was stunned as he looked curiously at Arthur. "What do you mean?"

With a deep sigh, Arthur answered his query. "Patrick became depressed and lost all that was to life after he married Vanessa; she could not make him happy, and he died three years later. It was only on his dying bed that he gave me a quest, which was to find your mother. He had not gone to look for her, for fear that I might hurt her. He then informed me she was pregnant with his child and was sure she would keep it, because that was their greatness wish."

"You are so mean, and you didn't bother to look for us."

"We did, but we found out that your mother died during childbirth and the child was with her mother, but her whereabouts were a mystery. We have been searching for years and had met with dead ends until a few months ago, when someone saw a person that looks like my son, which turns out to be you."

"I don't believe this; you can formulate this for all I care."

"Kyle, I know this is overwhelming, but you are my grandson. My blood. It's only right that you take your place here."

Kyle shook his head slowly, disbelief still clouding his mind. "I don't know about that. I grew up with my grandmother, and she raised me. I don't think I belong here. She works as a cleaner, and she worked hard to take care of me. I have my own life—"

Before Kyle could finish, a soft, female voice interrupted. "You know; we've had a lot of people come here pretending to be the lost heir. Maybe we should confirm it with a DNA test first."

Kyle turned toward the voice and saw a beautiful lady with dark hair that flowed like silk over her shoulders and a sharp, discerning gaze that appraised him coolly. She sat with her arms crossed, her posture elegant yet guarded.

"Kelly is right," Arthur said with a nod. "We've had imposters before, people who claimed to be part of this family for their own gain. It's only fair to both you and us to make sure, but there is no doubt you are my grandson."

Kyle exhaled, grateful for the logic in her suggestion. "Yeah, I agree. I don't want any misunderstandings. I didn't come here looking for anything, and I don't want to be mistaken for someone I'm not."

"Good. By the way, I am Kelly, your cousin." Kyle only gave her a cold gaze that screamed back off.

Arthur smiled, pleased with Kyle's level-headedness. "Good. Let's get it done right away. It won't take long."

The men who had escorted Kyle stood silently by the door as one of them stepped forward with a doctor and a lab technician. After a brief greeting they sprang to action as if they had been informed what they were supposed to do before now.

Kyle watched warily as the DNA sample which was a mouth swap, was taken into a small kit. The procedure was quick, and though Kyle was still disoriented by everything, he felt a small sense of relief. The test would give him answers—one way or another.

While they waited for the results, Kelly remained quiet, studying Kyle with an intensity that made him uneasy. Her earlier remark about imposters stuck in his mind, making him wonder how many people had tried to con their way into this family. His eyes shifted to his grandfather, who seemed lost in thought as he sat back down behind the desk.

Almost an hour later. Finally, the doctor that Kyle had learned was their family doctor reappeared with the results in hand. He approached Arthur and handed him the envelope, his face unreadable. Arthur's hands trembled slightly as he opened it, his eyes scanning the document.