Chapter 26: Chapter 26
-25-Father-in-law.
"There will be a time in your life when you want to find something with everything you have but you still won't be able to find it. And then you will find it in the most impossible way possible." [Stuart]
.....
"Really? Let me see first." Stuart asked as he moved towards the gate to take a peek at the woman his little Ron was talking about.
"Oh. Do you want to meet her uncle?"
"Yeah. I would like to say sorry on your behalf."
Coming in front of Stuart Ron opened his arms wide stopping him. "Oh. Don't worry about it. I have already said sorry to her. And she has forgiven me."
"Oh wow. My pretty boy is growing up."
Ron huffed and puffed as he gazed at Stuart trying to show him that he didn't like what he said.
"Don't call me Pretty uncle. I'm Handsome."
Ruffling his hair, Stuart smiled bending down to his level.
"Okay, Big boy. Let's go. Your Dad is waiting for you."
Trying to fix his hair again, Ron smiled and uttered a single word.
"Okay."
Holding his index finger, Stuart took Ron to the Rolls-Royce. Unaware of the fact that the girl for whom he was searching the whole world was so close to him.
When Christian and Riley returned home it was almost time to prepare dinner. Just as Riley took out the keys to open the door she found her parents standing in the corner. Surprised but happy by their visit. She practically leaped into Stephen's arms. In the whole month, Only Milly was the one who had visited them at the hospital once a week. Her father never came. She was disappointed but understood his reasons.
Stephen Brown was never the one to sacrifice his standards and principles even if the world turns against him. For him, loyalty was forever important. He always took his time in forgiving. And even so, it was an unforgiving mistake from her. However, if he was here and she was not dreaming it only meant one thing, Riley's place in her father's life was even above then his famous standards.
While Stephen Brown allowed her daughter to hug him to his daughter's heart content. Seeing her this near to him brought out a lot of emotions. Anger, love, disappointment, affection. But he was never the one to expose his emotions. He was known for his self-control in the outer world and he will maintain that image of his in front of her husband.
He had tried to thoroughly investigate the beggar. But the information he found about him was very less to judge him. 'If only Ril-boo had first told him about it.' There was no evidence regarding if Riley dated him before the marriage. There were a few meetings of Riley to a man whose face was a little unclear as to whether it was him or not. Aside from that, he was found to sing for money on the streets. His pictures were a little blurred, but the body build was the same. There was no data about his education, or family. However, there was an interesting fact about him was that he wasn't born in Newyork. He came from a small city which wasn't mentioned in the information he got. Overall, he was here today to find out more about the man his wife Milly Brown was bragging about. His ears had started bleeding hearing her saying such nice words about the beggar. 'If she wasn't his wife, and he didn't know her he might have believed she had a crush on the beggar.
Christian on the outer side was too calm. For he knew, the old man was here to investigate him. From the last few weeks, he had employed some people to keep an eye on his father-in-law. For he knew he was investigating about him. His people might have done a good job of keeping his information safe since he was here to find out himself.
Smiling Christian finally decided to end the awkward silence between them. When Riley was practically hanging in the arms of her father. He had exchanged the pleasantries with her mother and had opened the door with difficulty to his home. Now they were sitting on the small couch in the living room.
"Hello, Sir."
"Hmm," Stephen Brown hummed a response to his greetings coldly since Milly had pinched him to answer. 'She!' He thought inwardly frowning.
"How are you doing?"
Ignoring him, Stephen asked Riley to prepare a coffee for him. Frowning she stood up, and Milly followed her knowing he needed some alone time with Mindy.
The moment they left, he asked coldly
"So how do you know my daughter?"
"I used to sing near her office When one day a thief stole her purse and I brought her purse back. That's how we met. She thanked me and wanted to give me some money. But I refused her. I sing for money sir, I don't exactly beg. I have self-respect too. So Riley had brought me to a restaurant for coffee. That's how we got to know each other."
Stephen nodded at him, acknowledging his answer. it was true and Riley had told him the whole story back then and he had even scolded her to take a beggar to a restaurant. He felt a little relief towards his answer too. At least he wasn't exactly a beggar and had some self-respect too.
Christian knew the story was true since he was stalking Riley. He had seen the whole video clip of their interaction. And then for appreciating him he had sent him a large sum of money.
"Parents?"
"They are no more."
"Oh. I am sorry."
"It's okay."
"Do you have any siblings?"
"Yes, A sister."
"Name?"
"Emma."
"Hmm. Where is she?"
"She is a farmer and lives in Greenwich village."
"Oh."
"Your hometown?"
"Greenwich village sir."
"Education?"
"I have completed high school sir."
"Then why are you begging. You could have done a job?"
"I came from the village sir and didn't know anything. I had done a job in the restaurant but a billionaire has falsely accused me of stealing and had fired me. After that, they even made sure that I couldn't find a job. So to meet ends I have started using my hobby of singing to earn some money."
"Who did you offended?"
"I don't know if you know him, sir, but his name is Christian Evercast."
"Damn." Hearing his answer, Stephen laughed hysterically. The woman he was coveting fell in the arms of the man he had destroyed.
'Was it a Destiny? His laughing echoed in the living room as Riley and her mother entered with the coffee.