THE LIES THAT BUILT MY FAMILY

6

Chapter six 

Elena stared at the paper in her hands and then looked back at Philip, still unable to believe what she was holding.

  She read the document again, hoping that she had somehow misunderstood what was written there but the words remained the same.

  Her fingers tightened around the paper.

  “Philip, are you serious?”

  Philip leaned back against the couch and smirked. “I have never been more serious in my life.”

  Elena stared at him for a moment before shaking her head. “You actually want me to pay you this amount?”

  “Yes.”

  “You must have lost your mind.”

  “No. I finally found it.”

  Elena scoffed. “You're asking for an outrageous amount of money.”

  Philip nodded. “I know.”

  “Do you even understand who you're dealing with?”

  “The Hawkins family?”

  “Exactly.”

  Philip chuckled. “I know the Hawkins family very well.”

  He reached for his phone and opened a document he had prepared earlier.

  “I spent the past few days calculating the value of Hawkins Network, including its major businesses, properties, investments, and other assets I could find. Do you know what I discovered?”

  Elena remained silent.

  Philip looked at her. “The amount I'm asking for is nothing compared to what your family has.”

  Elena's eyes narrowed. “You calculated my family's wealth?”

  “I had plenty of time.”

  “You are unbelievable.”

  “No, Elena. What's unbelievable is that you think I'm asking for too much after everything you've put me through.” he said and stood up. “Nineteen years, Elena.”

  She swallowed.

  “Nineteen years of my life.” Philip said pointing at the papers in her hand.

  “You allowed me to believe that three boys were my sons. I raised them. I protected them. I spent money on them. I watched them grow up. I gave them my love.”

  His voice remained calm, but his eyes were filled with pain.

  “And now I find out that none of them is mine.”

  She suddenly raised her voice. “And if you continue saying these things about me, I will sue you.”

  Philip raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

  “For defamation of character.”

  He laughed. “Go ahead.”

  “You think I'm joking?” Elena said, her arms folded..

  “No.”

  “I can destroy your reputation.”

  Philip stared at her.“You've already destroyed my life. I'm not afraid of losing my reputation.”

  Elena's lips tightened. She knew Philip wasn't bluffing.

  For years, she had known him as a calm man. He rarely shouted. He rarely fought back. Even when things went wrong, he always tried to find a peaceful solution.

  But the man standing in front of her now was different.

  Elena took a deep breath and decided to change her approach.

  She softened her voice.

  “Philip, let's forget about all this for now. The boys miss you.”

  Philip's expression immediately changed. “Don't.”

  “They've been asking about you.”

  “Stop talking about them.”

  “They are your sons.”

  Philip looked directly into her eyes. “No. They are bastards, Elena. Stop talking about them as though they are mine.”

  Elena's face hardened. “How can you call your own sons bastards?”

  “They aren't my sons.”

  “You raised them! Then how can you suddenly turn your back on them?”

  Philip looked away for a moment because deep down, it wasn't easy.

  He had loved those boys.

  He had carried them when they were babies. He had attended their school events. He had punished them when they misbehaved and celebrated them when they succeeded.

  Whether they were his biological children or not, they had once been the center of his world.

  But now, every memory hurt.

  Philip looked back at Elena. “You should have told me the truth nineteen years ago.”

  Philip picked up the divorce papers. “If you think the money is too much, there's another option.”

  He held the papers toward her.

  “Sign this.”

  Elena looked at the document. “And let the marriage dissolve?”

  “Yes.”

  She stared at him. “You would really walk away from me?”

  Philip gave a small nod. “Yes.”

  Elena suddenly smirked. “Fine.”

  Philip narrowed his eyes. “Fine?”

  “I'll think about it.” She placed the papers back inside the envelope. “But remember something, Philip. If I eventually sign this, I will never forgive you.”

  Philip didn't answer. He watched as Elena walked toward the door but before leaving, she turned around.

  “I hope you're ready to live without me.”

  Philip simply looked at her. “I already am.”

  Her smile disappeared before she walked out.

  A few minutes later, Elena sat inside her car outside the hotel.

  She didn't start the engine but waited. She expected Philip to come running down.

  She expected him to knock on the car window and apologize. She expected him to beg her to return home.

  After all, that was the Philip she knew. After some minutes, 

  Elena checked the entrance again.

  Nothing.

  “Come on, Philip,” she muttered.

  She waited another thirty minutes and still nothing.

  Inside the hotel room, Philip had already locked the door.

  He placed his phone on the table, removed his shoes, and climbed into bed.

  He pulled the blanket over himself and closed his eyes.

  For the first time in weeks, he felt strangely peaceful. He didn't care whether Elena was waiting outside. He didn't care whether she expected him to beg.

  He was done begging.

  The following morning, Philip woke up early.

  He sat on the edge of the bed for a few minutes, thinking about what he needed to do next.

  There was only one person he wanted to speak to.

  Tyrel Hawkins.

  Elena's father.

  Philip knew that if there was anyone who could give him answers, it was the old man.

  He quickly dressed and left the hotel.

  About an hour later, he arrived at the Hawkins estate.

  The massive gates opened after the guards recognized him.

  Philip drove inside.

  The estate looked exactly as he remembered it. Beautiful, Expensive and Untouchable.

  He parked his car and stepped out.

  As he walked toward the main building, he noticed several cars parked around the compound.

  There was some kind of gathering.

  Philip frowned.

  He entered the house and immediately heard several voices coming from the main hall.

  Tyrel Hawkins was holding a little gathering and Philip didn't want to interrupt.

  Instead, he quietly walked toward the guest room and entered.

  He sat down and waited. He didn't have to wait for long before Tyrel noticed him.

  The old man's expression immediately changed.

  “Philip?”

  The meeting was suddenly adjourned.

  Tyrel excused himself from the people in the room and walked straight toward the guest room.

  When he entered, Philip stood up.

  “Good morning, sir.”

  Tyrel smiled faintly. “Philip. What brings you here?”

  They exchanged pleasantries before Tyrel sat down.

  Philip followed. “How have you been feeling lately?” Philip asked casually.

  Tyrel looked at him. “I'm fine. Why do you ask?”

  Philip smiled. “No reason. I just wanted to check on your health.”

  Tyrel studied him for a moment and saw there was something different about Philip.

  He couldn't quite place it.

  Philip noticed the old man's expression but remained calm.

  He had not come here to argue and neither had he come to accuse anyone.

  He needed to know how much Tyrel knew.

  And more importantly, he needed to know what the old man was going to tell him.

 He took out the paternity test and placed it between him and the old man.