137 The Father Of My Child

"Three months from now would be fine." Dr. Aijohn gave his answer.

Then he looked at Dr. Grace. "Dr. Grace would it be enough for the preparation? " He looked at her with a bittersweet smile but she looked down and avoided his eyes.

She looked so lovely in her black dress. Though she looked unusually pale and devoid of any sign of a happy disposition, her beauty and elegance never waivered. Why did she look lifeless? Shouldn't she rather be happy and excited?

He fixed his gaze at her for a long time, waiting for her answer. But still she remained silent. Everyone else looked at her, wondering what happened.

Then, something dawned on him.

He felt that her loss of enthusiasm had something to do with him. Perhaps, this was just an elusion. He just couldn't allow himself to fall as a victim anymore. Or, perhaps, she was just tired and sick.

Mr. Wayne broke the silence. "Please, excuse us. I have something to show to my son as a proof of my faithfulness."

Everyone looked at him. All of them knew what was that condition he was talking about, except Dr. Grace. Jim, likewise, wondered. What was his proof? Jia and his son was safe in their new hideout. His condition in agreeing to the said marriage was to set them free. But they were already in his hands! Was he producing substitutes to fool him?

However, Brian and his arresting team was ready outside. They had compiled and documented beforehand all those evidences they got to prove his involvement in his family's abduction. Judge Ramirez, likewise, gave his full support together with those evidences he was holding. Mr. Rex, though until this moment remained a mystery man, had sent ahead his assurance for his cooperation through Arvin.

Jim suddenly remembered his promise to Jia to connect her online. He promised to let her see how the dinner would progress. With this, he stood up, excused himself and went outside.

The moment his video call connected, he immediately saw Jia hugging Jian in too much fear. She was sobbing silently.

Then a man spoke up. "Tell your husband what happened! "

"Jiiiim, some of his men followed us here. And they forcefully took us away by pointing a gun."

"Whaaaaat? How did it happen? " The video was immediately cancelled off. Jim was suddenly gripped in fear. There was no one there to defend them. Anthon and Brian were even with him!

"Hahahahahaha! You think I am that stupid? " Mr.Wayne's laughter was defeaning. He did not notice that he followed him outside.

"What kind of a game are you playing with me? Did you come here thinking that I did not know that your family is already in your hands? Why did you still appear? In what way would you fool me? "

Jim was both dumbfounded and terrified but he tried to remain calm.

" The issue is still the same. Release my family! "

" I have thought of ending their life once and for all. But because you did not report me to the authority, I would be gentle with you as well. "

Jim was already impatient that he wanted to choke him to death right at that moment.

"What else do you want? " He demanded.

" Go to a country that officiate marriages even if you are married here. After three months, when the launching would be finally executed, I will set them free. Understand? "

Jim trembled in anger and defeat as he heard him. If he would facilitate his arrest now, how could he ensure his family's safety? He was suddenly afraid that if he would be angered, a single order from him would endanger them both. And who knew if by this time, he was already able to bribe somebody from the authority? Even them were not too safe to trust.

Jim angrily left him and went back inside. He followed as well with a victor's gait. What could he do? He fell again in his trap.

__

After Mr. Wayne and his team left in Judge Ramirez' resort, he sent some men back to investigate. He remembered the attendant who opened the gate for them. The same attendant who provided the ball to Jian. Perhaps, a shocking amount of money would be enouh to buy his loyalty... Unfortunately for Jim, he heard the conversation of those men who rescued Anthon and Jian. And unfortunately, his brother also worked in La Verde Highlands who happened to be the gardener whom Jim paid to buy those antibiotics for Anthon. Why would the evil always suceed?

Just this morning, Mr. Wayne received the confirmation that they had finally traced the location of their target! What a good luck!

___

Jim turned white as a paper when he came in. No one dared to ask him in front of Mr. Wayne. They suspected what happened but how could they break into their privacy openly? Even Dr. Aijohn was greatly affected. He feared that his suspicion was true. That he found and held them captive as his threat to his unruly son...Unable to take in the scene, he excused himself and went out.

Dr.Grace felt nervous. She was afraid that he wouldn't come back anymore.

Mr.& Mrs. Ybañez felt uneasy as well. They finally regretted the day when they went to see Mr. Wayne for their bargain. They may had their own share of corruption, deception and greed but it never reached to a point where they stained their hands with a human blood...And they just couldn't retract on this agreement easily. If Mr. Wayne was able to do this wickedness to his own family, how much more to them?

"Shall we go ahead? "Mr. Wayne broke the silence again as he looked around.

Madamme hesitated so Mr. Ybañez rescued her. "Let's wait for Dr . Aijohn. "

The wait provided Jim the opportunity to inform Anthon about what happened. He also informed Judge Ramirez who, in turn, got enraged of Mr. Wayne's extreme wickedness.

Just as he was done informing, Dr. Aijohn walked in. Mr. Wayne did not waste time...

"As what Dr. Aijohn said that three months would be fine, how about your annulment?" Mr. Wayne directed his question to Jim with a warning look.

"It's not a problem. We can go to a country that conduct marriages to married people in another country. "

His every word in this statement punctured his heart like a big and long needle used for core needle biopsy.

After this, the wedding details were discussed. The venues for both the wedding ceremony and the reception, the number of guests, the wedding planner and everything else.

"What can you say Dr. Grace? "

Mr. Wayne asked after he noticed that she was not participating in the discussion. She seemed to be uninterested and relied every matter to her parents. She was not with herself all throughout the discussion and she just kept on staring at her phone.

"Gracie, dear."

"Darling.. "Mr. Ybañez poked her. "If you don't like it, speak! "

"Dr. Grace.. "

Annoyed by the foolishness of this discussion, she stood up and slammed the table with her hand.

"I don't want this marriage anymore. I'm backing out! I'm sorry..."

Everyone was dumbfounded! They least expected her to act this way.

"What's the problem, Dr. Grace? What part of the agreement you did not like? " Mr. Wayne calmly asked.

"Those wedding details that you agreed are perfect. But never the persons involved! " She looked at them angrily one by one.

"I'm sorry, mom and dad. I'm sorry, Dr. Jim... Mr. Wayne.. But I can't go on with this.. I'm sorry.." She was already crying when she said this.

Mr. Wayne was horrified. He had already spent great lengths for the actualization of this plan.

"Dr. Grace, we can talk about this. Just tell us what you want. " Mr. Wayne panicked while the rest froze in their seats.

She opened her bag and pulled out a rectangular strip. Then, she slammed it on the table.

"I want this wedding but not with you anymore, Dr. Jim, but with the man I now love....the father of my child..."