Chapter 6
James pulled back his hand from Thomas' soft grip. He then chuckled, shaking his head, refusing to believe, "You can't be my father. I'm an orphan, sir." He said, getting on his feet.
Thomas also stood up, emotions, guilt, and embarrassment washed over him, "And what about the name?"
Yes! James knew his surname was Thomas and his grandfather's name was Crag. He only knew about his grandfather's name as a result of a story told to him by people when he was growing up.
But he shook his head, "Anyone can bear any name similar to another but that doesn't mean he's the person." James replied, almost sounding rude.
Thomas nodded, "You're right but the case here is different. You're my long lost son, James." He stepped out from where he seated to touch James but he moved back, vigorously shaking his head once more.
Thomas' expression changed to regret, his eyes almost downcast, yet with a determined face, he said, trying to be persuasive, "I know this is unbelievable, but you are. You are my son. Look here," he rushed over and took a document of his, showing it to James.
"We bear the same here. You're James Thomas and I'm Thomas Crag. Please, believe me. I can show you more evidence if you want." He stated, but James stood there, silently, not believing any single thing.
"Look here again." Thomas removed a locket hung around his neck, revealing a tiny picture to James—a boy at the age of five holding a ball in his hand and a man standing beside him. The man happened to be him–Thomas.
"This is me and you with your favorite ball that I bought for you when you were still little, remember?" He asked, observing James' shocking composure. "Do you remember when I'd call you to come to have breakfast, and you'd refuse and go out with your friend, Jack, to play football because it was your favorite?"
Boom! The whole revelation came as a shock to James as his eyes flew open, astonished. The picture shown to him was the real him and Jack was also his best friend whom he never joked with.
"This can't be true. H—how do you get this image of me from?" James stammered, still staring at the picture with disbelief, "and how do you know Jack was my childhood best friend?" His heart raced.
Thomas tried to force a smile onto his face, "I wouldn't have known this if you weren't my child, James. Believe me, I'm your father and you aren't an orphan. You have a father, and he's standing right in front of you." Thomas said firmly, nodding his head in support.
Tears streamed down from his eyes. He was emotionally touched seeing how battered James was dressed.
Although there was evidence that backed it up, James' heart clenched together, his face tightening. "I have a Dad like you and I've been living like this?" He spat, "you can't be my father! A man who never asked about his son's existence is not worthy of being called a Dad."
He angrily grabbed his documents, shoving them roughly into his file, and was about to leave, but Thomas ran ahead of him and fell to his knees.
"I'm sorry, son," he began, regret flashing through his eyes, "I know you would be mad at me for not finding you all these years but I actually searched for you; I made endless searches about you but couldn't find you." A trace of sorrow ran in his expression.
James, still holding his file tightly, glared at Thomas, his jaw tightening, "And you sit back to enjoy all your wealth alone?"
"No, no, James. Don't get this all wrong. I keep thinking about you every day of my life; that's why I go with this locket as a memory, but I'm glad fate has brought us on a path."
James continued to glare at Thomas, his blood boiling. He tried to voice out how angry he was but he chose to hold his angry words with gripped lips.
He furiously picked on his heels to walk toward the door when Thomas called after him, "I'm willing to hand over all my wealth, including this company, to you as proof that I still love."
Galp! James' steps ceased, his face still tightened but he reluctantly turned, staring at Thomas, speechlessly.
Thomas got up from his knees and rushed forward to him, nodding his head to James, confirming what he just said, "Yes, son. I'll give them all to you as the heir and the next of kin that you are." His demeanor was more serious. No joke.
A mixture of shock and disbelief flashed through James' eyes. The man who was serious about what he was saying.
"I'll make up for you, I promise. I just don't want to lose you again." Thomas added, his voice cracking with emotions.
But James' anger flared the more. Indeed, it was clear that the man was his father but how on earth wouldn't he get to find him merely knowing how wealthy he was?
"Keep the fucking wealth to yourself! I don't need them!" James yelled, infuriated. "You abandoned me for years and have resurfaced to get me back just because you're rich? Never!"
His reddened eyes shifted to the locked door, "Just get this damn door open and let me go!" His raged expression was coupled with thin patience.
Thomas looked at his angry expression, annoyed with himself for being the cause. He hesitated before unlocking the door again with the previous code.
Once the door was opened, he said to James calmly, "Anger has taken the best of you because of everything, but please, go home and think about it, and once your mind is made up, don't hesitate to come back and claim your birthright."
James only swallowed hard without a word. Glancing at Thomas for the last time, he walked away with the words of Thomas' offer echoing in his mind whether to forgive and take over everything.