At the café, the mother and son engaged in a conversation.
Hirvan was curious as to how his cheap father found out about him. So he asked.
" What was that give it away?"
" I don't know. You should ask him yourself. At that time, you had not woken up from the coma, and I was not in the mood to indulge him and shoo him away. When you mentioned wanting to visit Astra City, I panicked, fearing that you had discovered something about him and intended to seek revenge. Given your impulsive behaviour before the accident, I wouldn't put it past you!
Anyway, I have noticed you have become more mature and mellow compared to before. You seemed to believe there was more to the situation than meets the eye, so I trust you can discern between truth and falsehood."
Mrs Smith stated the facts. Of course, she had a good talk with that man before bringing up the matter of the meeting with Hirvan. She believed it would be more appropriate for Hirvan to hear the full story from his father rather than from her.
The other reason that she agreed to connect the two of them was the possibility of a changed soul.
If it had been her former son, not in a million years, they might have been able to converse as they were now.
A week after her son fell into a coma, she had a dream where her late husband and son appeared content.
Her son said with a smile that he was sorry and thanked her for tolerating his childish behaviour until now. He hoped she would have an easier life with the replacement and treat him like her son.
Despite her initial dismissiveness, the dream's significance became apparent upon witnessing her son's transformation. Over the past two weeks, she had moved through various stages of grief.
First, The dream had shocked her out of her mind.
Then, Anger welled up within her at the thought of her son giving up easily and allowing a stranger to inhabit his body. Ultimately, she felt sorrow at the potential loss of her son. Concerned about the repercussions, she hesitated to confront the situation directly.
In the event that there was a one-percent chance that her son was still present, her impulsive decision could potentially cause her to lose her son forever.
This opportunity could allow the stranger to break up their relationship and take control of her son's body and identity. There was a vast possibility he could misuse it.
The good news was the new Hirvan seemed to be an upright person.
After two weeks of observation, Mrs Smith held a positive view of the impostor. He had managed to mend relationships among his siblings and even with herself. Though she could not fully accept the individual as her son, she believed there was a divine reason behind God granting this boy a second chance. And her son was also content with the decision.
" Okay. I'm curious, who is my father?
Hirvan believed that it wouldn't make any difference whether some middle-aged big-bellied man came and talked to him about father-son nonsense. He will eventually grow tired of playing the role of his father when the novelty wears off.
He was confident in himself enough to see through his intentions and eliminate him from their lives at some point. But the next moment, his worldview turned upside down.
" His name is Elian Ashford."
The mention of the name caused Hirvan to choke on his drink, leading to a fit of coughing.
" Hey, Are you okay?"
Mrs Smith stood up and rubbed his back, assisting in easing his cough. Offering some napkins, Mrs Smith continued.
"He is two years my senior, divorced, and childless from his previous marriage. He currently lives alone in Astra City," she explained.
Mrs Smith described the man she once loved. Her mood became complicated upon learning about his marriage.
Mrs. Smith anticipated Hirvan's reaction, well aware of Elian Ashford's prominence in the financial and business world. To safeguard her mental well-being, she had intentionally avoided news concerning him for two decades, fearing the urge to lash out or make contact, either of which could be detrimental.
Therefore, she had no idea he was alone all these years.
" I am sorry, I didn't catch it. Who is my father?"
Hirvan's Adam apple rolled up and down and said with a trembling voice.
"Elian Ashford," Mrs. Smith reiterated with a hint of a smile in her eyes.
Hirvan found himself bewildered by the revelation.
Could it be possible? Was that man really his father? Their past dynamic as rivals further added to his disbelief and inner turmoil.
In his previous life, they were rivals in every sense, close in age, with Elian serving as a constant benchmark of success.
His cleverness, adaptability, sixth sense for business investment, and ability to make a name for himself at the age of eighteen, were constant reminders of his shortcomings. Hirvan had to go through hell to catch up with that man. Despite being younger than Elian by three years, Hirvan had the impression that he was at the bottom of the mountain when it came to achievement, while Elian was at the top. Hirvan didn't feel satisfied even after working hard for a decade.
This dynamic brewed animosity within Hirvan, leading to intense competition and resentment.
At first, he had hated Elian from the bottom of his heart. Despite being an orphan with limited education, he was able to secure a deal with major companies. Yet, the next day, Elian would take him down a peg by announcing his collaboration with the international enterprise.
The worst part was that others perceived his achievements as mere reflections of his father's influence, unaware of his humble beginnings and unwavering efforts. His hard work was overlooked and dismissed as a privilege bestowed upon him.
At that time, he was so infuriated that he could spit nails.
Every night, he wanted to bite off Elian's head and be done with it.
After gaining a solid footing in the business world, his hatred diminished significantly. However, the rivalry between them became more prominent.
Hirvan's internal turmoil heightened upon discovering his true parentage. His new reality as the son of his former rival stirred a maelstrom of conflicting emotions and apprehensions about potential family dynamics.
'Ah, this is a nightmare! To think he's my father now. Why, dear God, is this some cruel joke? How could I become the young master of my rival family? What about my sons? What should I do if I were forced to compete with them?
Please, may death offer a more merciful escape. Now, Can I die in peace?'