139 Odd and Suspicious

Dr. Aijohn closed his eyes as he hugged the broken half of his heart who was now clinging around him. His tears fell silently as he pressed her head towards the side of his face, supported by a hand at the base of her nape.

He thought that everything between them would totally end after the engagement dinner that night. He never thought that the woman he had played on at the start for his own interest, the woman who was about to be married with someone else, the woman whose despicable wedding set up he had tried so hard to fail, was now in his arms claiming to be in love with him. And she was carrying his baby? And he was soon going to be a daddy?

Dr. Grace was crying even harder and louder. She thought that she would be losing him forever and even if fate may allow them to meet again one day, he would then just be a stranger. She thought that her path in the crossroads of life, was only destined to failure and rejection. She thought that she may only be allowed to see him back through the memory of their child.

Madamme Ybañez, who was ever been indulgent to the whims and caprices of her daughter was happier than her. Her tears fell like torrents, washing off the cream and pink shades of her cheeks. Her heart, who always reached out tenderly for her happiness as every mother would do, was now inflated with too much joy and excitement.

Mr. Ybañez, who always stood out as a strong and intimidating figure in front of Mr. Wayne and the rest of the dignitaries in his circle of friends and comrades, was likewise moved to the extreme emotional scene. The mist in his eyes glistened and soon became big drops of silent tears. His aristocratic aura which concealed his indecisiveness, was now falling as his shoulders began to move. The person involved was not somebody else, but the most precious treasure in his life.

When everyone calmed down and the sound of their sobs was hushed, Dr. Aijohn planted a long kiss on her forehead. It was when Mr. Ybañez walked towards them.

"Dr. Aijohn, beginning tonight, call us mom and dad. " He gave him a warm smile as he opened his arm to hug him. An act of welcoming him into the family.

Dr. Aijohn was overwhelmed. He thought he would be angry with him for not asking their permission from the very start. They trusted and respected him even before he met their daughter. How could he break it?

Madamme welcomed him as well. Who wouldn't be happy to know that the man her daughter was in love with was the man they had trusted unrealistically? They had known him for so long and had even funded his vague research plan without hesitation. Just because of the many valuable traits they had seen and admired in him. Who wouldn't be comfortable to entrust their daughter as well?

Dr. Jim, who just got over with the shocking surprise, watched them silently, envying the way the Ybañez couple treated Dr. Grace and most especially, Dr. Aijohn. He silently wished his own family was as accomodating and close - knitted as them.

Mr. Wayne was too shocked to see the twist of the event! At first, he was carried by the strong emotion in the atmosphere but as everyone calmed down, he turned into a rage.

"What does this mean, Mr. Ybañez? Does it mean that your word of honor is dissolved just like this? I would not allow this! " Mr. Wayne's eyes bulged out in anger.

The Ybañez couple, who totally forgot the initial plan why they were all here, was suddenly guilty and afraid.

It took him some time to summon his courage and gain back his composure, before he calmly stood before him and apologized.

"Forgive us, Mr. Wayne. You know that we do not intend this to happen. Though we are willing to admit our pleasure of the turn of the event. Our child's happiness matters most. When we first came to talk to you, it was mainly because of her. Because we wanted her to be happy. But when we knew that your son's happiness was not her, we wanted to retract. What parent would be happy to know that her or his child would dive into a loveless marriage? It would be worse than a suicide! "

" But she still wanted it. What else could we do more than just wish that her life may turn out well in the end? "

Mr. Wayne was now visibly shaking.

"Mr. Ybañez, you know very well the extent of my preparation. You just can't easily retract as you wish. You just can't tell me that! Tell your daughter to save her face! "

"My daughter was never a part of the agreement though this is all about her. In fact, until now she doesn't know. " Mr. Ybañez meant the research launching exchange.

"I would never accept that. Jim was willing to sacrifice. She should do the same. I wonder what kind of heart she has. Just few weeks ago, it was my son. Now, it is another? In just few weeks with him? Is she still reliable?"

This stirred up the anger of the Ybañez couple. And so were the rest of them who were around.

With flushed face and quivering hands, Mr. Ybañez looked straight into his eyes, fierce as a lion.

"Does the happiness of your son matter to you, Mr. Wayne? Do you value the things which are important to him? If I am in your place, the moment I knew that he is married happily, I would be the one to withdraw. Just what sense there is to gain the whole world if your family is being destroyed in the process? "

Mr. Wayne also angrily flailed his finger against him. "This is all about him also. I am just giving him a way for a better life. I just want him to gain a good reputation by marrying someone he could be proud of! "

He was not yet through. " You just do not know where that woman comes from. How can he present her to his society? All his life he would be hiding her to keep away from

shame."

Dr. Jim lost his temper this time. He couldn't just sit down in a corner anymore and watch.

" Who ever said that? And who sets the standard in choosing a spouse? Dad, let me tell you once and for all, whoever she is and wherever she comes from, it doesn't matter with me and that society you are so cautious of. She and my son is my life and I will always be proud to tell the whole world about them."

Dr. Grace, who was oblivious of the plan, couldn't keep her silence and confusions anymore. She had long been curious as to what made Dr. Jim change his mind. And to top it all, his decision seemed odd and suspicious.

"Dr. Jim, what are those things I do not know? "