Chapter 331
Natalie said, "Chill out, I've already hit up Thundertop. Felix can bounce whenever he wants if he's down."
Connor's jaw dropped. "Mom, why didn't you run this by me?"
Natalie shot him a frosty look. "Run what by you? You think you're calling the shots now?"
She kept her tone icy. "You've been wishy-washy since forever. That's why your dad handed the Clinton Group to your bro instead of letting you both run it."
Connor squirmed, clearly uncomfortable. "Mom, drop it. I don't want to talk about this."
Natalie just looked away, ending the convo.
Half an hour later, Felix strolled into the living room.
Seeing Connor and Natalie looking all serious on the couch, he frowned. "Dad, Grandma, what's up?"
"Sit down first." After Felix plopped down next to Connor, Natalie turned to him. "Felix, you're not actually your parents' kid. Your real mom is Celeste, your aunt who went MIA when you were little."
The room went dead silent.
Felix shot back, "Grandma, that's not funny."
Seeing his serious face, Natalie sighed. "I'm not joking. After Celeste had you, she left you on our doorstep. You looked sick, so I took you to the hospital. Connor's newborn had just died, so he suggested passing you off as his and Ximena's kid. That way, Ximena wouldn't be crushed, and you wouldn't be labeled a bastard."
Felix went quiet, his face turning ghostly pale.
He'd been Ximena and Connor's son for over twenty years, and now this bombshell? He couldn't wrap his head around it.
"Grandma, are you for real?" Felix asked, still in shock.
Natalie nodded. "I've been hunting for your real dad all these years. When you had that car crash, I found him and did a DNA test with your hair. Turns out, he's your dad."
"Who is he?" Felix pressed.
Natalie said, "He's at Thundertop now. If you wanna meet him, I'll let him know."
Felix's eyes went cold. "No thanks. He never looked for me, so he clearly doesn't give a damn. I don't wanna meet him either."
Natalie frowned. "Felix, when he found out you were his son, he wanted to meet you, but I stopped him. If you change your mind..."
Felix cut her off, "No, I don't wanna meet him. I've got work to do. If that's all, I'm out."
After Felix stormed out, Natalie looked worried. "Connor, go after him. Felix bottles stuff up. I'm scared something might happen to him."
Connor nodded. "Got it. And about Ximena, if you can, try to talk her out of this divorce thing."
Seeing Connor's stressed face, Natalie nodded. "I got it. You go."
Felix left Harmony Garden and just drove around aimlessly.
He knew Connor was tailing him, but he didn't care.
Without thinking, he ended up at the MY FASHION building.
It was after hours, and people were streaming out, but no sign of Gianna.
Felix pulled out his phone and, almost on autopilot, dialed that all-too-familiar number.
He figured she'd ignore it, but just as the call was about to drop, Gianna picked up.
"What do you want?" Her voice was ice-cold, and Felix's grip on his phone tightened.
A few seconds of awkward silence later, Gianna snapped, "If you got nothing to say, I'm hanging up."
Felix blurted, "I'm downstairs at MY FASHION."
She hung up.
Felix let out a bitter laugh. Gianna was dodging him, cutting ties. Maybe it was for the best; at least she’d be safe. But damn, it still stung, and he felt like crap.
Up in the MY FASHION CEO's office, Gianna felt uneasy after hanging up. Something was off with Felix today.
'Did something happen?' She sat there for a few minutes, then decided to go check it out.
Five minutes later, Gianna was knocking on Felix's car window.
The window rolled down slowly, revealing Felix's stony face.
"What's up?" Felix asked.
Gianna stared at him, poker-faced. "I should be asking you that. Why'd you show up at my work outta nowhere? Don't tell me it was just on your way."
Seeing her cold front but the worry in her eyes, Felix's heart softened. "Nothing. Just feeling a bit worn out."
Gianna frowned, ready to walk away, but then she opened the car door and got in. "Spill it. What happened?"
The car was dead silent. After what felt like forever, Felix finally spoke, his voice cold. "Just found out my parents aren't my real parents."
His tone was flat, but Gianna was floored, her eyes wide. "You look just like your dad. How can you not be his son?"
Felix explained, "My real mom's named Celeste. No clue who my real dad is, but Grandma says he's at Thundertop. If I wanna meet him, she can set it up."
Gianna bit her lip, thinking. "I've heard of Celeste. She was a big deal in Dawnridge, super kind, did a lot of charity work. Then she just vanished. Never thought she was your mom."
Felix added, "Grandma said she left me on the Clinton doorstep right after I was born and then disappeared."
Hearing the bitterness in his voice, Gianna pursed her lips. "Maybe she had her reasons."
Felix shot her a cold look. "You defending her?"
Gianna replied, "No, I just don't want you drowning in hate or sadness."
Before she could say more, Felix pulled her into a hug.
Gianna froze for a moment, then slowly hugged him back.
This was the first time she'd seen Felix so vulnerable. Finding out the people he called parents for over twenty years were actually his uncle and aunt? That had to be brutal.
Gianna whispered, "Don't be sad. This will pass."
After a few seconds, Felix let her go, his face back to its usual cold mask. "I'm good now. Thanks for today. Next time I call, just block me."
Gianna, taken aback by his sudden shift, frowned. "Felix, what the hell? Are you just using me and then tossing me aside?"
