The next day, Fran didn’t go to any of his classes. He arrived at N Company half an hour before his appointment time. As he thought, Nigel Alva went straight to the company from the airport. Uncle Steven got Fran an appointment with Nigel Alva and it seemed like he was the only one who dared to meet the boss of a huge company after a tiring business trip. Well, Fran didn’t care about Nigel Alva’s condition. What Fran wanted was some answers.
Fran couldn’t lie to Noah anymore. It was so hard for him to hide the truth from Noah. Though, he sent an email to Sean yesterday stating that he found Mister Jin’s children. His friend did not reply to him yet. But Fran was sure Mister Jin would be surprised.
“Mr. Franco Olin, this way, sir…” A man who had a default smiling face and was wearing a fine suit gestured to Fran. He must be Nigel Alva’s secretary. The man ushered Fran towards Nigel Alva’s private office.
“Mr. Alva, Mr. Olin is here to see you…” announced the secretary upon opening the door of the office.
Fran saw Nigel Alva reading some documents. Nigel didn’t even look at Fran. Fran was not there to be intimidated by this guy. So, he opened his mouth and spoke straightforwardly.
“I know you have an idea about my relationship with Noah, but, I’m not here because of that, Mr. Alva.” Fran took a deep breath. “Did you know about your father…?”
Nigel Alva’s gaze left the documents and finally he looked at Fran. “The last time I saw you, you were this pretty little thing that was too nervous while singing on his grandma’s birthday party. Now, you’re here as my brother’s knight.”
“I am asking about your father, Mr. Alva. Did you know that he is—”
“…alive.” Nigel Alva finished Fran’s sentence. He looked unbothered.
Fran controlled his emotions. “So, you really knew that he is alive. Why did you lie to Noah and Natalie, then?”
Nigel Alva’s laugh thundered in the whole room. “You are questioning me why I lied to my siblings about that man? Tell me, Fran, what kind of father would leave his children because of his own selfishness? Does he still deserve to be called a father?”
Fran knew Mister Jin was not a hundred percent innocent. Based on his friend’s stories, he did something unforgivable towards his children, hence, the notion that he didn’t deserve to see them again. However, Fran believed that Mister Jin also deserved to be acknowledged by his children. Fran saw how his friend regretted the fact that he left his children for his own reasons.
“I know your father did something wrong,” Fran continued on. “But it’s not enough to hide his existence to your siblings. They deserve to know about their father.”
Nigel Alva looked at Fran in pure disgust. “You don’t know anything about my family. You don’t have the right to tell me what I should do about my siblings. My mother raised us alone while that man you are defending abandoned his whole family. Tell me, Fran, am I the villain for protecting Noah and Natalie from that kind of man? They grew up well even without a father. They don’t need to know about that person. They are happy now.”
Fran snorted. “Happy? Are you sure about that, Mr. Alva? Have you seen how Noah would visit his father’s ‘grave’ so often because he misses him every day? Or have you seen him reminiscing about his memories with his father because he didn’t feel enough love from his family? The fact that your mother even deceived Noah by presenting him a grave and told him it’s his father’s. Is that how your family shows love to one another? By telling lies? Natalie doesn’t even know anything about her father because you robbed her off of that. I don’t know what kind of happiness are you talking about, Nigel. A happiness sugarcoated with lies is quick to crumble. So, why don’t you tell them the truth now?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Fran looked Nigel Silva straight in the eye. He could feel his knees shaking a little bit; after all, the man in front of him was someone most people would not want to offend. But Fran was determined to fight for the people he loved. So, he toughened his resolve and went on.
“You can insult me no matter how you want, Mr. Alva, I won’t even feel a thing. But, to separate Noah from me? I doubt you can actually do that. For you to believe that Noah will agree to leave me, then, you don’t really know your brother at all.”
Before Nigel Alva could say anything, Fran continued on.
“All I want for you is to tell Noah and Natalie the truth. Let them decide if they want to see their father after you tell them what actually happened. And one more thing, Mister Jin, your father is suffering from an illness—”
“He’s dying.” Nigel interrupted him.
Fran’s eyes grew wider. “You knew about his illness, too?”
Nigel smiled. “Of course, who do you think I am?”
Fran felt his rage rose up from the pit of his stomach. He grabbed Nigel by the collar. “You knew everything and you still decided to hide the truth from your siblings? What in the devil’s name are you? You’re fucking sick in the head! And you’re still smiling despite of everything that’s been happening?”
“He deserves it. He deserves to die. There. I said it.”
Fran was in rage. “NIGEL ALVA!!!!”
The door of the office was kicked open. They saw Noah entered the room.
Fran was surprised to see his boyfriend. He immediately let go of Nigel Alva. “W-what are you doing here, Noah?”
Noah was not smiling. Fran couldn’t read his facial expression. “You didn’t come to school. I went to your house and I saw you rode a cab, I followed you. I’ve been listening outside. I heard everything.”
“Noah…”
Fran saw Noah walked towards his brother Nigel. He was startled when, without any warning, Noah punched his brother right in the face. Nigel fell on the floor.
“How dare you lie about father to me and Natalie? You made us believe that he’s dead!” Noah shouted at his brother.
Nigel had a bleeding nose. “It’s for your own good. That man is not a good person. He left us for his own reasons—”
“I don’t care about those things! I will ask him everything when I see him…”
“Don’t tell Natalie about that man. She doesn’t—”
“I’ll tell her about father, Nigel. And it’s up to Natalie if she wants to see him or not. It’s not your decision to make.” Noah said.
Nigel smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “So, you’re going to abandon me, too…”
Fran felt goosebumps all over his body upon hearing what Nigel Alva said. Maybe at the bottom of Nigel’s heart, he was also hurting because of his father.
Noah squat down in front of Nigel. “Brother, let’s see father—all three of us.”
Nigel shook his head. “I hate that man.”
“We’ve heard everything from mom’s perspective. It’s time for us to hear about father’s side, too. Nigel, it’s not too late for us. Now is the perfect time for our wounds to start healing. My desire to see father does not mean that I want to abandon you. We’ll do this together—you, me, Natalie, and Fran.”
Nigel Alva looked defeated. Though, somehow, his facial expression became somewhat soft. “I won’t promise that I will be in my best behavior when I see that man. But, I’ll promise to be with you and Nat. Let’s tell our sister together, Noah.”
Noah extended his arm to help his brother to stand up. Then, he turned to Fran and hugged him. “Thank you…”
“I’m sorry for keeping this to you.” Fran apologized.
“It’s okay, Fran. I know you have your reasons.” Noah let him go. “Who would have thought that the friend you were telling me about happens to be my father? I know he’s not in his best condition, that’s why, I want to see him immediately.”
“You will see him, Noah.” Fran held his boyfriend’s hand. “And he will be okay…”
Noah kissed him on the forehead.
The three of them went to see Natalie. Noah and Nigel told their sister about the truth. Natalie cried, though, eventually she expressed her desire to see her father, too. The siblings started to prepare to fly to A Country immediately.
Of course, Fran would be with them. He decided to email Sean about the turn of events. Fran informed him that Mister Jin’s children would be meeting their father in few days’ time.
Fran expected Sean’s answer to be favorable, but the answer he received from him a few hours later, made his heart broke into tiny little pieces.
This was what Fran received from Sean:
He’s not doing okay
Sean [email protected]
to me
Fran,
I’m sorry for replying to your message this late. We’ve been hiding something important from you. Jin doesn’t want me to tell you—but, his health has been deteriorating the past few months. It’s not true that he declines your requests for video calls because he’s too shy about his appearance, the truth is, he is too weak to even open his eyes nowadays. Fran, Jin is not doing okay. I am sad, afraid, and confused. I don’t know what to do. I told him about his children, he just showed me a weak smile. I guess, he really wants to see them. Thank you for finding them, Fran.
This morning, the doctor told us something. Jin only has a month to live. He’s too weak. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I will die with him. I’m sorry, Fran. Thank you for everything.
Sean
Fran couldn’t believe what he was reading. He told Noah and his siblings about Sean’s email. Noah, Natalie, and Fran cried all night. Nigel, on the other hand didn’t cry but, it was obvious that he was not happy, too, about the news.
nooooooooo
thanks for the chapter <3
Why !? Let them talk properly ! Thanks for the chapter 🙂
Oh no 😭
Thank you for the chapter <3
Poor Sean – he sounds so alone already.