Chapter 490
490
The man didn’t respond. Caitlin kissed his lips softly, trying to ease him.
“Be good. Just give me a second.”
She reached for her phone. The screen lit up with a familiar name–Zeke. She answered immediately.
“Hello?”
“Caitlin, I’m back,” came Zeke’s quiet
Zice on the other end. “Sorry I didn’t tell you in advance.”
“It’s okay! Where are you now? Did you go back to Graystone
“Not yet. I’m at the headquarters.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “I’ve seen the results… it’s true.”
Zeke was sitting alone in the SY Capital Partners headquarters office, staring at a freshly printed DNA report. Before returning home, he’d arranged for someone to secretly obtain a sample of Zorro’s hair from Graystone Castle and run a paternity test.
Now the truth was undeniable–there was no blood relation between him and Zorro.
The confirmation hit him hard. He sat in silence for a long time before finally calling Caitlin.
“So what are you going to do now? ” she asked, her tone gentle but concerned. She needed to know his next move–this would determine how she could proceed with her own plans against Zorro.
“I need time. I want to think.”
Zeke wasn’t ready to act. He needed to process the betrayal, the truth, and the storm it brought with it.
“Okay,” Caitlin said. “But promise me something: don’t go back to Graystone to confront him. Not alone. Don’t do anything reckless. Do you hear me?”
“I know…”
His voice was tight, barely holding together. Caitlin could feel the weight of his pain and confusion.
“We can take our time with this. If you’re willing to team up with me, I’ll help you get justice–for your real father.”
“Just give me a little time, okay?”
“Okay.”
Caitlin frowned slightly, worried that Zeke might do something impulsive. If he faced Zorro now, unprepared, the consequences could be deadly. Trying to steer him away from danger, she said gently, “Why don’t you come back here? Tomorrow’s my birthday–I’d really like you to be here.”
There was a moment of silence on the line before Zeke replied,
“I’ll try.”
The call ended. Caitlin turned to Sebastian and/shared what had happened.
“I’m really worried he’ll go after Zorro. If Zorro turns on him, he won’t stand a chance.”
“Don’t stress too much,” Sebastian said, taking her phone and powering it off. “He probably knows better than to walk into the lion’s den.
4901
He pulled her into his arms, his dark eyes locking onto hers.
“You should be more worried about me. Your man still isn’t legally your hirsband. We’ve been losing in sin here. It’s about find you feed
Though Sebastian had already proposed, and Caitlin had accepted, they hadn’t made it official yet. Until they registered their mariager, th still technically just dating.
Sebastian always said he didn’t mind, but deep down, he wanted to be her legal husband–official, exclusive, forsyst
Caitlin laughed at his mock–serious tone.
“If it means that much to you, I’ll give you the title. We’ll pick a good day and get remarried.”
“Really? Seriously?!”
It was the moment he’d been waiting for. Sebastian’s face lit up, his joy uncontainable. He swept her into his arms and spon her around in circled.
After a few dizzying spins, they both collapsed onto the bed.
His eyes burned with emotion as he looked at her.
“I love you.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close as he kissed her deeply. And just like that, the night melted into sweet, overwhelming passion.
S Country.
Capital city, Link City–SY Capital Partners Headquarters.
After ending the call with Caitlin, Zeke sat in silence, staring out the window, lost in thought. Eventually, he stood and ordered his team to prepare the car. He was going back to Graystone Castle.
Now that the truth was out, Zeke had nothing left to hold back. He and Zorro were no longer father and son – not in any way that mattered.
He had made up his mind to avenge his real father. But first, he needed to gather evidence. And that meant returning to the castle.
It didn’t take long for word of his return to reach Zorro.
“Boss, the young master is back!” one of his men reported.
Zorro turned away from the golden falcon he’d been tending to and smirked coldly.
“Didn’t I say he’d come back? Of course he would.”
A moment later, the castle gates swung open, and several cars pulled in.
From his place atop the estate, Zorro watched Zeke step out.
“Bring him to the study,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
In the study, Zorro looked up as Zeke walked in./
“So, you came back? I thought you were done with this family–wasn’t that what you swore? ”
Zeke looked haggard–pale, disheveled, bruised from old and freshw
alike. He didn’t need to fake weakness; it showed on him naturally.
“Father…I was wrong.”
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490
He knelt on one knee the moment he entered, bowing his head.
“I let my emotions cloud my judgment, I shouldn’t have said those things to you.”
Zorro narrowed his eyes, suspicious.
“And what brought about this sudden epiphany? You left here so full of pride and defiance.”
Zeke knew he had to sell the act, and sell it hard.
He put on a pained expression, even letting his eyes glisten with tears.
“It was Caitlin. I made a mistake because of her. Going to New York, trying to win her over… all it got me was heartbreak and nearly getting myself kiked.
He unbuttoned his shirt and showed the fresh bandages on his arm–new wounds atop the old ones on his chest.
Zorro frowned, his gaze narrowing.
“Who did this to you?”
“I think it was Sebastian,” Zeke said darkly. “Who else would have a reason to hurt me ? No one else would dare.”
“I was foolish,” he continued. “While I was recovering in the hospital, I realized something–no one in this world has ever treated me better than you. flet a woman make me forget that. I forgot who I am and where I come from.”
Zorro listened, pleased by the remorse in his voice. For years, he’d seen Zeke as too soft, too easily swayed by emotion. But now, finally, his son seemed to understand.
“Good,” Zorro said, stepping forward and helping him up. “You’ve seen the truth. You’ve changed. That’s all I ever wanted. From this day on, you are once again my only son.”
He gave Zeke a reassuring hug, then turned to his men.
“Prepare a welcome feast for Zeke. He’s been through enough. And send Alicia to dress his wounds.”
“Yes, sir!”
Zeke had successfully regained Zorro’s trust. It was the first step in His plan.
And next… came step two.
AD