Chapter 4

“Shut up and don’t interrupt me!” Mr. Hugo shouted back, stopping Cillian in his tracks.

“Even at 20 now, he still doesn’t know how to manage the smallest company I own.”

“But he will learn if you teach —”

“Don’t give me that nonsense. Haven’t I been teaching him? Have I not sent him to the most expensive school? What has he learned? Even if he wasn’t interested in school and had shown interest in other things, I would have supported him."

"I’m not the type of father who would force his children against their will due to my very own experience. But what did your son do?” He asked and tried to calm himself down. After much silence, he continued.

“Look at that boy over there; he’s 16, four years younger than our son, but he is the one managing the entire company in the south. He manages the companies efficiently while still facing his studies. He has good grades in class and you can never see him bullying others with his wealth or intelligence.” Mr. Hugo said and Callum blushed, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose while looking downwards.

“I have never seen him close to women for sexual purposes neither does he have a female friend.” Mr. Hugo paused as if in deep thoughts before continuing.

“I’m sure he’s straight though. I’ve tested him in different areas and he has always passed the tests. The only thing bothering me is the fact that he doesn’t have friends.” Mr. Hugo said worriedly as if just realizing that part of his son.

“I — I have a friend Dad.” The shy boy said and earned a horrible stare from his supposed half-older brother.

“You do?” Mr. Hugo asked with exuberance.

“Yes Dad.”

“And I never knew about it no matter how much I investigated?”

“Well —” Callum drawled, rubbing his hands nervously.

“Talk to me boy.” Mr. Hugo encouraged.

“He is Shane Lambert.” He answered and everybody gasped.

The Lamberts were the top and the most powerful family in the state followed by them, the Owens.

“As expected of my boy.” Mr. Hugo praised after recovering from his initial shock.

“Come and give Dad a hug.” he requested and the boy blushed even more.

He was mortified but still stood up to give his father the requested hug while his step brother’s hatred for him grew instantly. Cillian felt his position as the head of the Owen cooperation being threatened.

“Now I know why I couldn’t find anything about those close to you, you’re wonderful Son.” Mr. Hugo said after the boy went back to his seat.

"Thanks Dad.” Callum replied while his mother rubbed his hands appreciatively.

If eyes could kill then innocent Callum would have been dead for long with the type of hate stare directed to him by Cillian.

“Freya, I hope you understand now?” Mr. Hugo asked and thankfully Freya wasn’t a shallow woman without reasoning, it was her fault after all.

“Yes I do.” She replied.

"Welcome to our home.” She said stiffly to the mother and son.

"Thank you Freya, please treat us well.” The woman replied politely and Freya gave a little smile in return.

"Well, well, well.” Mr. Hugo said standing up to do the introduction.

"Freya, Cillian.” He called his first wife and son.

"This is Caitlin Bory, your co-wife,” he said to Freya.

“And your step-mom.” He said to Cillian only to hear him scoff but he ignored that.

“My stepmom? The last time I checked, my real mum isn’t dead yet.” Cillian responded in hopes of provoking his father.

“Cillian!” Mrs. Freya called strictly and he kept mute.

“She wishes to be addressed by her father’s name, Bory till she is accepted by you. .” Mr. Hugo continued, ignoring his son’s snide remarks.

"Well then, I don’t —”

"You are highly welcomed into the family Caitlin.” Mrs. Freya said, stopping her son from angering his father any further.

"Thank you, Mrs. Freya” Mrs. Caitlin Bory replied politely.

"No need for that, you can just call me Freya.”

"Okay, Freya.” She replied, earning a smile from Freya who was gripping her son’s hand in warning not to do anything stupid.

"Okay! This is Callum, your stepson, and please, take him as your son, too.” Mr. Hugo said to Freya.

"I will,” Freya replied.

“Take care of me, Mum,” Callum said innocently which got Freya grinning from ear to ear.

Who knew she would feel such sweetness from being addressed as a mum by a nerdy-looking boy?

‘The nerves of that brat.’ Cillian howled angrily in his head, throwing a look full of pure hate at Callum.

“I will, Callum.” Mrs. Freya responded. Mr. Hugo didn’t bother to talk to Cillian and went on to introduce his first family to his second family.

“So Caitlin, this is my first wife and son.” He said, looking at her and Callum.

While the duo smiled at Freya in response, Cillian wasn’t smiling at all.

"Hey! Callum right?” Cillian asked his half-brother.

"Yes,” Callum answered, feeling excited that his senior brother was finally talking to him.

“There’s a fact you need to know. I will never accept you into this family. Just know that you are still a b*st*rd illegitimate son.” He said and walked away.

Callum felt his heart shatter. He had always wanted to have siblings and when he was told that he had an elder brother from a different mother, he had always been anticipating to meet him. Now, this was what he got.

“Hey, Son?” His mother whispered lovingly.

"Yes, Mum.” He answered, looking at Caitlin's black orbs.

“Don’t let it get to you okay?”

“Okay, Mum.”

“As I told you before we came here, it won’t be easy. He will come around okay?”