Chapter 198
Zeno and Sebastian sat in front of Nana, who was busy staring from one person to another.
Ken had left them the moment Julia entered the house, he was busy trying to help her out with things she absolutely didn't help with.
His voice could be heard from the living room as he questioned Julia about everything she was using to cook.
Sebastian had never been so grateful for his son's irritating questions as he was at that moment; Ken's voice warded the awkwardness away, giving them some kind of easy environment to quietly think of what to say the old lady sitting in front of them.
Zeno hadn't looked at her the whole time; he was scared of seeing the disappointment in her eyes; she had always been big on family and reproduction; what would she say now that she'd discovered that he could never give her the granddaughter-in-law she always asked of? As traditional as she was, this might just be a deal-breaker for her.
Nana cleared her throat, causing them to shift uncomfortably in their seat.
"I was worried about you, Zeno; it's been two nights since I was told you were with Sebastian. I thought you would call, or he would call, but none of you did," She tapped her feet on the floor.
Zeno bit his lips and glanced at Sebastian, who seemed more confident and was giving Nana short glances.
"I'm sorry, Nana. He was just a little sick and I decided to keep him here to recover," Sebastian explained but immediately regretted it when he saw the eyes Nana was giving him.
"Yes, my dear child, I was lucky enough to see your method of treatment, it was quite intense," She replied, eyes narrowed.
"Nana..." Zeno called cautiously.
"Ah, he speaks," Nana smiled at Zeno.
"Tell me, Child, are you feeling better now? I'm sure Sebastian is perfect in his field," Nana continued.
Zeno's face was red and hot, he glanced at Sebastian and was shocked to find him looking at him expectantly to answer Nana's ridiculous question.
'Shamelss!' He cursed mentally.
"Nana, what you saw -"
"I'm disappointed in both of you," Nana sighed and slowly shook her head.
Zeno's heart broke as he heard those words, he balled his fists around him and faced the ground. He knew it, he just knew it. There was no way she would be accepting of him and Sebastian.
Sebastian shifted close to Zeno and placed his hand on his thigh, his eyes locked on Nana, "I'm sorry if you don't appreciate what I and your Grandson share, Nana, but if what you want is for us to stay away from each other, then I'm sorry, I'll have to turn down your offer before you request it," He said calmly and respectfully.
Nana shook her head, "I just got more disappointed," She stared at Zeno.
Zeno blinked slowly, staring at the table in front of Nana, "Nana, I'm really sorry, okay? I know you have hopes of me giving you another family one day in the way you've known to be right... but this way is also right, Nana; yes, none of us can carry babies in us, but we can still have children of our flesh and blood, there are means, Nana, I promise you won't have to worry about that," He placed his hand over Sebastian's on his thigh.
Sebastian was locked on Zeno'news profile, this was the first time Zeno was openly speaking to both him and someone else about their future. They had never talked about it, but there he was, speaking confidently about it. It gave Sebastian butterflies; he felt proud, and he felt loved.
Nana sighed, "What are both of you talking about? I thought you should be apologizing for letting me find out, or rather, confirm my suspicions by myself. Do you know how Turing it is to want to know something but can't ask directly because you think you'd offend someone if you did? Yeah, that's how I felt, and that is why I'm disappointed in both of you for trying to hide it from me." She frowned.
Sebastian and Zeno slowly stared at themselves, a wave of understanding and embarrassment washing over them.
"Nana... you knew?" Zeno questioned.
"I had a hunch, the moment the son of Orion stepped into my home, I could feel the atmosphere charged up between you two; as she stayed longer, the man made it too obvious with his intentions, and when he asked to sleep in your room, I was 95% certain about my hunch, and here I am, right." She gave Zeno an open look, letting him know where she was coming from
Sebastian immediately sighed in relief. He thought he was going to face another human who didn't want him to date Zeno.
"You're right, Nana. My intentions can't be hidden with your cute grandchild over here, but I get where he gets the genes from, you're one fine woman," Sebastian praised her.
Nana giggled softly, "Oh, please, you flatter me. Now you know why I hammering about you marrying my nonexistent granddaughter. I wanted you to tell me already, but none of you said a word," She smiled broadly.
Sebastian wanted to say something, but Zeno beat him to it.
"So... you're not angry? You don't hate me? Not disappointed? Well, at least, not in the way we thought. And..." He locked his blue eyes on his Nana, "Did you just call Sebastian son of who?" He raised a brow at her.
Sebastian went quiet, too. He had missed that part, but now that Zeno mentioned it, he wanted to know too.
Nana smiled, "Angry? No, I'm not, why should I be? You hardly love someone, Zeno, then when you finally found someone, you'd think I'll be against it? No," She shook her head.
"I'm not disappointed either, nor do I hate either of you, children. If I hated your kind of love I wouldn't love Nicholas, and, I knew you switched a long time ago when we came to Paris, I saw the way ran away from women, I do hear your little conversations with Nicholas about Cassian, and, you work in Nicholas' club, what straight man would want to work there?" She stood and went over to Zeno.
"I love you, dear child. It doesn't matter who you love, I will love you and whoever it is. And look who it is, a fine man, trust me, my old soul has no objections," She leaned down and kissed their foreheads one after the other and turned to leave.
"I'll go save the girl from our little boy, he's quite a handful," She chuckled and stepped forward
Zeno immediately stood and gently held her arm, "Come on, Nana," He hugged her from behind, "I'm happy for your acceptance, delighted. But, you can't run away from my question: how do you know that Sebastian is the son of Orion? Tell me, Nana, trust me, I have a lot of surprises in store for you, too," He pleaded beside her.
Nana took a deep breath and turned to face him, "I would have loved to tell you that Sebastian introduced himself as 'Sebastian Orion' the day he came to the house, but I already knew that. And, as you're already dating him, it means you might have also discovered how they are related to our family," She said in a quiet voice.
Zeno stepped back from her, a sarcastic smile on his face, "Of course. I had to be the last one to know. Why, Nana? Why did no one ever tell me what they did? Why was I kept in the dark? Am I that dumb?" He questioned with teary eyes.
Nana stepped forward and held his hand, "It's not like that, we were trying to protect you, the people your parents worked with, they were dangerous, that's why we got a house to raise you, a simple house, to give you a normal childhood, it was out of love Zeno, not because anyone thought you were dumb," She explained.
Zeno nodded, "Okay, Nana, let's pretend I understand what you're saying, let's move on to the next question. Are you aware that Mom and Dad never died?" He asked, his eyes staring right at hers to see her reaction.
He was shocked.
She didn't seem fazed by that news.
"I don't want to assume things, Nana, answer my question, please. Are you aware that my parents never died?" He asked again.
Sebastian went behind him and held his hand, but he got pushed away, "Just let me be, Sebastian, please," Zeno said without looking at him.
"Yes," Nana replied.
"No, Nana, No! That's what you're supposed to say! Say no! It's you and I who were supposed to be shocked about this news, why am I the only one?!" He chuckled humorlessly.
Nana didn't respond; she went and hugged him, "Calm down, Zeno, I'll explain what I know to you," She whispered.
Zeno looked down at her face, "Nana?" He called quietly.
"Yes, Zeno?" She smiled at him.
"Were you ever in comatose?" His heart thundered dangerously; he hoped her answer wouldn't break him.
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