Came To Bring You Home

A slight dark light flashed in Riana's eyes as she felt the disdain from Miriam but the courteous smile on her face never wavered.  She was very familiar with this woman. 

Miriam Baxley, she had always been following Andre around; proclaiming herself one of his faithful followers and looking at her with those eyes, those eyes filled with disdain. But Riana always knew, call it a woman's intuition, that Miriam Baxley loved Andre. Of course, she had said nothing about it and played her part well as a new actress in Beva, the Alliance capital city.

There is an old saying that man proposes but heaven disposes. That saying replicates her situation perfectly. 

Andres might have been a famous playboy but he was still a young master of the Valois family and as such, he was very careful in his dealings. When Riana had found out she was pregnant, she had broken up with him, using her ailing mother as an excuse. 

She returned to her hometown in Cloud city. She intended to contact him when she was in her third trimester. By then it would be too late and Abortion would be off the table. 

Knowing Andres and his longing for familiar warmth, he would marry her if only for her son. Getting him to fall in love with her and stay faithful was no problem once she was Madam Valois.

Her plan was indeed flawless but what she could not anticipate was that Charles, Andres's elder brother and the heir to the Valois family would be killed in a dungeon accident raising Andres to the heirship in one go. The very next month, his engagement to Su Yanyi, the daughter of the Su conglomerate was announced. 

As if to thoroughly destroy her hope, the next day, her home played host to this despicable Landon Brown alongside some members of the Valois family. She had been forced to sign a contract. One that forbade her from revealing through words, actions or writing about the father of her child. It was an ironclad contract.

Now that she thought of it, the rage, the hatred and helplessness still lingered in her heart. The look in their eyes was like they were looking at a mere insect. She had a feeling that if she was not carrying a child of the Valois family, she would be killed without mercy. Toward the child, she had felt...

"Mom" A voice called her in worry. Raising her eyes she met eight eyes looking back at her.

"Mom" Her son's worried voice repeated, "Are you okay? Do you feel ill?"  

He turned to the other three, "I am sorry, can we hold this discussion another day" Riana quickly stopped. 'How can it just be over?' She had waited 17 years for this day.

"No need, Zane, I was just lost in my thoughts. They are from the Valois family, they had come all the way from the capital city, to turn them away is a bit too much" 

She watched as Zane shook his head, "How can you say that? You will always come first?"

She sighed and said with a bit of doting and helplessness, "This child.....although he has grown he still clings to his mother, we have let you watch a joke, our apologies"

___

Edward watched the little drama in front of him, paying attention to the smug look Riana did not bother to hide. He understood her anger and acted accordingly.

With a slight bow, he proceeded to say," You are the mother of young master Zane, how can your health be a joke? We will invite a family doctor to check up on you, our discussions can continue afterwards." His tone was respectful and pleased Riana.

She shook her head. If she continued, it would only create a bad impression. "You don't need to trouble yourself, I was just lost in my thoughts". 

She sat up straighter, she wasn't that helpless actress anymore, her son was the 2nd rank student in the entire Alliance. She knew that all old families like the Valois valued their face. If he should join another family, it would be a slap to them.

When Zane saw that his mother was done, He gestured for the three of them to continue to talk with an apologetic smile on his face, "Please continue." His gaze was sincere making it hard for one to still stay angry.

Landon began with a friendly expression looking every bit like a kind next-door neighbour, "Mr Zane, we were sent here by your father to bring you home. He apologizes for not being here, he wanted to oversee your welcome party and everything involved in person." 

Seeing his shocked eyes, Landon continued not giving him time to think, "I would implore you to forgive your father for missing 17 years of your life. A while after your conception, Our Valois family's heir, your Uncle, Master Charles died. Your father had to step up and take over. By the time he got news of your existence, he was already engaged to the only child of the Su conglomerate in order to consolidate his position as heir."

A sorrowful sigh left his man and he quickly continued to speak, "Our Valois family has a lot of enemies. To protect you, we could only have your mother sign a contract. To come for you just now, we have wronged you very much. We have already sent news to news outlets announcing your legitimization. Mr Zane, no, young master Zane, your father, the family head of the Valois family, Lord Andres de Valois, your grandfather and all other members of your family are very excited to welcome you back to the Valois family. In their excitement, they decided to host a party in your welcome tonight. What do you say?"

Zane's eyes were closed, his brows furrowed as he rubbed his head, looking very shocked and troubled. However, contrary to their individual thoughts, Zane was screaming in his head. 'How amazing! As expected of Landon Brown, the Valois genius lawyer! I am not disappointed at all.'

Landon simply took the words out of his mouth. The questions, Who? Why? and what next? had been answered even before he asked them. The huge info dump would slow his thinking process, and at the same time, he was expected to give a response without properly processing his feelings. 

The fact that a party was thrown and the news already sent out had thoroughly abolished his retreat. If he decided to be stubborn, he would not only anger the Valios family but other guests. How then would he survive in the capital city?

Not only that, the use of 'Our' Valois family instead of 'the' was to bring him nearer and the way he had casually mentioned the 'secrets' of the Valois family would pull him closer and get rid of unfamiliarity. 

He even gently turned Zane's anger and grievance to the invisible 'enemies' that prevented him and his father from being together. 

He resisted the urge to smile. What a good Play.! Landon Brown was indeed a level 32 lawyer. It was just a pity he was in someone else's pocket. He wondered if he could bring his father's side. Forget it he was just a little boy with the potential he had nothing substantial to offer. 

Of course, he was not going to reject them or be stubborn about it. He was not foolish, this was the carrot, if he rejected it, they would bring the stick.

"Mr Brown sure has a lot to say but isn't it a little unfair springing this on me like this? It seems my opinion is really irrelevant in this matter." He raised his face and none of the sadness, anger, shock was visible, rather a smile adorned his face. It was a really small sincere smile.

"I want to reject this, whatever it is. But it seems like I am damned if I do and damned If I don't. Mom, what do you think?" His gaze on his mother was as warm as ever.

It was as if he never noticed the pit Landon Brown dug by subtly suggesting if Riana had announced the news of his conception on time, the situation would be different.

Seeing his mother about to speak, Zane quickly cut her off, "Sorry, Mom. I didn't think of how awkward this should be for you."

He turned his gaze back to the three guests, a helpless awkward smile on his face, "I guess it is time to start making decisions by myself. I will come back with you guys. You can return to pick me in three hours or rest here. I need some time alone."

As Zane quickly walked out of the room, the pure, sincere eyes soon turned to one full of mirth.

[You enjoyed yourself, didn't you]

Zane's face was of pure innocence as he retorted, "I don't know what you are talking about"