Chapter 13 - The bond

Troy's POV

"Troy!" Kate exclaimed happily, walking towards me as I got out of the car.

"Hey." I gave her a slight smile.

She hugged me and said. "You always worked so much, and we couldn't see each other properly. And you didn't come to the mansion to see me often. But you changed. Thanks for making time for me. You made me so happy."

I bit my lower lip, embarrassed without saying anything and forced a smile as I pulled back. Actually, I came to the mansion to see Alec. I really liked that little boy. I missed him when I didn't see him.

"Let's go inside." Kate suggested as she grabbed my hand. I nodded and followed her.

"Welcome, Troy. How are you?" Kate's mother, Camila greeted me, giving me a warm smile.

"Hello. Fine. And you?"

"I am fine. Thanks."

"Where is Alec?" I asked, looking around as I didn't see him.

"He is in his room. Alec is a little moody today. Especially after talking to his mother." Camila informed.

"May I see him?" I asked.

"Sure. Kate will show you his room." She replied, giving me a polite smile.

"No need. I know where his room is. The last time I was here, he showed me his room." I informed. She nodded.

"I am getting jealous. And I thought you came here to see me. But you spend more time with Alec than me." Kate pouted.

"Umm..." I mumbled, running my hand through my hair without knowing what to say.

"Kate always was jealous. Especially when she and her sister were little. She always got jealous when I gave more attention to her sister than her. Because Kate was a calm child, but her sister was a real troublemaker." Camila commented, amused.

"Mom!" Kate scowled, making Camila chuckle.

I knocked on the door and walked in. Alec was sitting on the bed, holding his teddy bear. He looked sad.

"Hi, buddy." I said cheerfully and approached him as I closed the door behind me.

"Hi." He muttered without looking at me.

"What happened? Why are you sad?" I asked, concerned as I sat down on the bed beside him and stroked his hair affectionately.

"I miss Mommy." He replied as his eyes welled up. "Mommy says she will come soon, won't she?" He asked with teary eyes.

"Of course, she will come. Mommy loves you." I said, giving him a warm smile, and pulled him into my lap.

"But Daddy didn't come. Maybe Mommy doesn't want me too." He muttered as tears ran down his cheeks, making my heart sink.

"Where did your Daddy go?" I asked, wiping the tears off his cheeks with my hand.

"I don't know. Mommy says he went to work when I was a baby. I have never seen him." He replied, sniffing.

I placed a tender kiss on his head as I hugged him tightly.

"Don't worry. Mommy will come back soon. I promise." I said softly and stroked his cheek gently. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes." He mumbled, nodding.

"Then you should stop crying. If Mommy finds out that you cry, she will be sad." I said, looking at him.

"Fine. I will not cry anymore." He promised and wiped his tears off his cheeks with his little hands.

"Good boy!" I exclaimed, giving him a tender smile. "Do you want to go to Theme Park with me?" I asked softly, stroking his hair.

"Yes!" He said as his eyes shone. I smiled in relief after seeing him happy.

"However, we need to ask permission from your grandmother." I said as I stood up, holding him in my arms. "But before that, let's wash your face." He nodded, wrapping his arms around my neck after throwing his teddy bear onto the bed.

After asking Camila's permission, Alec and I went to the park. Kate wanted to join us, but at the last minute, her father had called her and asked her to come to the firm urgently. So she went to the firm.

We had a lot of fun in the park. Moreover, seeing Alec smiling and joyous made me happy. It was unbearable to see him sad.

"Please!" Alec said, giving me puppy eyes as he pointed to the Ferris Wheel.

I smiled and nodded. He jumped happily while holding my hand and gave me a wide grin.

"I love you, Troy. You are the best!" He confessed, looking up at me while holding my hand.

I looked at him, surprised as happiness filled my heart. I bent down in front of him and smiled at him tenderly.

"I love you too, buddy." I admitted, tousling his hair playfully.

I parked the car in front of the mansion and looked at Alec in the rearview mirror. He was sleeping peacefully in his car seat. I smiled and got out of the car. I opened the door and took Alec in my arms carefully without waking him up. Then I carried him inside.

I put Alec in his bed and pulled the cover over his body, smiling softly. Then I leaned over Alec and kissed his forehead.

When I turned around, I saw Kate looking at me, smiling. She extended her hand towards me, looking at me warmly. I gave her a lazy smile and held her hand. We left the room, closing the door behind us.

"You will be a great father." Kate commented as she pulled my hand, stopping me, and rested her hands on my chest, looking into my eyes affectionately.

"Thanks." I smiled slightly.

"Do you have some time? I want to talk to you about the wedding. Did you think about what I told you at the restaurant?" She asked hopefully.

I sighed, nodding. "Yes. If you want to get married this summer, then it is fine for me. But not on my birthday. Let's get married at the end of July. So at least, we have two more weeks to get ready." I replied.

"Fine." She beamed at me happily and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, lost in my thoughts and looked at my yin-yang tattoo. It was the time to really move on. I should forget the past.

****

Kate and I were about to leave the restaurant when her phone rang. She picked up her phone after informing me it was her mother. Her expression changed as Camila told her something on the phone.

"I am coming." She said in worry and hung up her phone.

"What happened? Did anything happen to Alec?" I asked anxiously as my heart skipped a beat.

"No, he is fine. My aunt...She had a heart attack. She is in the hospital now. My mother should go to Toronto. My cousin, Daniel, said to my mother that her condition is critical." She informed. "I have to go to the mansion." She added, giving me an apologetic look.

"Oh. I am sorry for her." I stated, but I couldn't deny that I felt relieved that nothing happened to Alec, despite the fact that I felt bad for her aunt. "Let's go then." I placed my hand on her back as I led us out.

When we walked into the living room, Camila was talking on the phone anxiously. As soon as she hung up, Kate approached her and hugged her mother.

"Did you talk to Daniel?" She asked as she pulled back.

"No, it was your father. He told me he would come as soon as he finishes his business in London." Camila informed. "The jet is ready. I will go now." She added.

"Troy!" Alec screamed happily as he ran towards me, smiling.

"Hey, buddy." I greeted him, smiling as I bent down and hugged him.

"Are you here to play with me?" He asked hopefully. "Granny? Why are you sad?" He asked, looking at Camila as he noticed her.

"I am fine, honey. Don't worry. My sister just feels bad. I am worried about her. So I am going to Toronto to visit her." She gave Alec a reassuring smile.

"I will come with you." Kate stated as she ordered the maid to pack her suitcase.

"No, you have to stay with Alec." Camila refused.

"Mom, I cannot let you go alone. You don't look fine. The maids will take care of Alec while we aren't here." Kate insisted.

"No, we can't leave him alone with the maids. Especially when his mother isn't here. You know he is moody because of it, and he doesn't listen to them when they try to feed him." Camila stated.

"I will look after him." I intervened as I took a step towards them, still holding Alec in my arms.