Chapter 236 He is a CEO and Also a Father.
Tiffany had been worrying about how to get close to Sam.
"David, can you go grab us two cups of coffee? That gourmet cafe about a mile from the office, Gabriel's favorite," Tiffany ordered with an air of entitlement.
David stood firm. "I need to be by the Sam's side at all times."
Tiffany was irritated. "We're in the office. What could possibly happen? Besides, Gabriel is here too. Just get going and don't waste time."
David hesitated.
"I'll take Sam to see Gabriel."
Tiffany reached for Sam's hand, but he subtly dodged her attempt.
Miss Foster was to be Mr. Lancaster's wife, and David did not dare disobey. He turned and re-entered the elevator to fetch the coffee.
"Sam," Tiffany cooed with a beaming smile.
At that moment, it was just her and Sam in the executive area. Gabriel was in his office, separated by a door, and Alex was somewhere out of sight.
Sam wanted nothing to do with her. He headed straight for his daddy's office.
"Do you wanna know why your mommy left you?"
Sam's steps halted.
"Come over here with me, and I'll tell you everything," Tiffany reached for him again.
This time, Sam didn't pull away.
He, too, was eager to know why.
Out of the surveillance cameras' sight, Tiffany's smile grew faintly more pronounced.
"Your mother was originally expecting triplets, and having twins is already a handful, let alone three. The doctor suggested she terminate one to ensure the healthy birth of the other two."
It was a story identical to what his great-grandmother had recounted!
Sam believed it, at least in part.
"She refused, adamant about giving birth to all of you. As a result, you were undernourished in the womb compared to your siblings, born tiny and frail."
‘He does fall ill often, the doctor also mentioned his weak constitution, and both Dad and Grandma sigh about how thin he is.‘
"The other two were robust and healthy. Your mom, seeing you weren't thriving, didn't want you. She only wanted your brother and sister."
‘Ethan and Emma certainly seems healthier than him.‘
"She didn't want you because she had them. She favored your siblings over you."
Tiffany's words pierced Sam like an arrow, haunting his thoughts.
Sam clenched his small fists by his side, breathing heavily, eyes welling up like a little bunny's.
Tiffany reached out to pat his head, her voice soft but her words venomous.
"Your brother and sister dislike you too. They've hogged Mom's love, keeping you from her affection. While you longed for a hug, they were in her arms, cuddling."
"They have what you don't."
"Ah..." The sting of her words triggered Sam, who let out a sharp, shrill cry.
Tiffany, startled, quickly covered his mouth.
Gabriel, hearing the commotion, arrived and immediately pretended to embrace and soothe Sam: " Sam, no more shouting. I'm here."
As Gabriel approached, he saw Sam's screams and Tiffany's gentle comforting.
He went over, picking Sam up in his arms.
"Sam!"
His stern call silenced the boy's screams, though tears continued to flow without a sound.
Gabriel's heart sank, his gaze sharpening into a blade as it fell on Tiffany.
"What did you tell him?"
Tiffany felt her scalp tingle, too fearful to meet Gabriel's eyes.
"I was just telling him that I couldn't be his mom anymore, and that he should listen to his daddy."
"Gabriel, I don't know if something I said upset Sam..." Tiffany's voice trembled.
Gabriel, holding Sam, turned to enter his study.
As Tiffany tried to follow, Gabriel snapped.
"Get out!" His voice was a cold command.
Tiffany froze for a moment, a rush of hurt flooding over her. With eyes brimming with tears, she turned and ran away.
Gabriel paced his office, soothingly rubbing Sam's back as he held his son close.
"It's okay, it's okay. Daddy's here, don't be afraid. Just tell Daddy what's wrong. I'm your superhero. I can fix anything for you..."
Gradually calmed by his father's voice, Sam fell asleep on Gabriel's shoulder.
Yet his sleep was restless, with furrowed brows and tear streaks on his cheeks, clutching tightly to Gabriel's shirt collar.
Gabriel urgently called Colin, not caring whether he was asleep or not.
"Colin, Sam just started screaming out of the blue, crying silently. What's going on?"
Dazed, Colin took a moment to register who Sam was before snapping fully awake.
"Was he exposed to something traumatic?"
"He was kidnapped two days ago, but he didn't have any nightmares that night."
"Who was he with when he screamed?"
"Tiffany."
After a brief pause, Colin analyzed, "It's possible the kidnapping left a delayed traumatic effect. Autistic children sometimes have delayed reactions, and we can't rule out that Tiffany said something to set Sam off."
"What should I do now?" Gabriel, always the powerhouse executive, was uncharacteristically repeating this question out of concern for his child.
However, he was also a father.
"Observe him when he wakes up, keep things calm for the next few days, have an adult sleep with him at night to provide immediate comfort."
"Alright."
Gabriel abandoned his work, packed up, and left with Sam in his arms.
"Alex, come drive!"
Alex dropped his half-finished work email in a rush to serve as the driver.
Fearful of alarming the grandmother, Gabriel didn't mention the screaming incident at the company. After settling Sam down, he hesitated but decided to call Sophia.
Sophia rushed over to the old family home, urgency evident in her steps.
She arrived still wearing her bandaged face and house clothes. When Madam Lancaster saw her, she pulled Sophia into an embrace filled with pity.
"I've heard all about it, Sophia. You've suffered."
Sophia replied, "Grandmother, Sam's my boy. A little injury is nothing, as long as Sam's alright."
"Sam..." Madam Lancaster started, then paused.
Just then, Gabriel came downstairs, after making sure Sam was awake. He relayed to Sophia, "Sam doesn't want to see you."
'Does he really not want to see me, or are you just saying that?'
"I don't need to lie to you. After Sam found out you're his mother, he's been off," said Gabriel, offering the clarity that Madam Lancaster had been seeking. It's no wonder Sam suddenly wanted to know more about his mom today.
Sophia said, "I'm going to check on him by his door."
Gabriel nodded, and Sophia crept upstairs to Sam's door, stealing glances through the slightly ajar door. There he was, sitting on the carpet, staring blankly at his toys, and a sharp pain wrenched through Sophia's heart.
Sam had been refusing to see Sophia, and he had even refused to go to preschool.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
