She turned sharply to him. "You called the reporters, didn't you?"
As soon as she slammed the door, Azrael leaned back in his seat with a smirk, waving his hand to Luka and his driver to leave.
"You're not an airhead." He lit a cigarette. "That makes things easier."
She glared. "How could you do this?"
He took a swig. "It was just too convenient."
"What?"
He smirked looking at her blinking in confusion. "Our son conveniently got lost in a foreign country half an hour before my plane departed."
Valerie's heart skipped a beat at "our son," but his next words quickly doused her in cold water.
He took a drag. Her blonde eyelashes fluttered cutely like butterfly wings when she was seething.
"...You think I planned this?" She scoffed. "Why would I risk my son's life to fake a chance encounter with you?"
He took another drag, amused.
"Have you thought about how this will affect Roe?"
"How will it affect him?"
"You...!" She pointed at him before coughing, taking out her handkerchief making him frown. "You told him you are his father!"
"I am his father." He slid the window open.
Valerie coughed, swatting at the smoke with teary eyes. "But... cough... why would you tell him that? My brother said all we had to do was sign an NDA and no one will know. But look what you have done now! Cough... cough... Everyone must be talking about this by now!"
Irked by her coughs, he snuffed the cigarette, throwing it out of the window. "I thought you were smart."
She coughed violently, glaring at him with bloodshot eyes.
"I called the reporters because we needed an audience for our touching reunion," he handing her a water bottle, patting her back. "We are a family reuniting after four years apart. It should be at least this dramatic."
"Pfft..."
Valerie choked, spraying water all over him.
Her breath hitched.
Droplets clung to Azrael's cheek and the front of his shirt. For a second neither of them moved before Valerie suddenly tried to bolt.
But he was quick to grab; she fell on him and struggled but froze when his cool eyes pinned her down.
"L-Let go!"
He slowly lifted a hand and wiped the water from his face, his gaze lowering to his damp sleeve before returning to her.
There was a pause.
Valerie coughed again, but she quickly covered her mouth with her handkerchief, trying to muffle her coughs.
He grabbed her other hand too. She tried to take it back, but his hold was tight.
"Marry me."
He kissed the fake wedding ring she wore, patted her hand with his left hand. Her eyes fell on his ring finger to see a matching ring.
"What?"
'KNOCK! KNOCK!'
Flinching, Valerie turned to see her uncle worriedly trying to look inside.
Just then he let her go.
Valerie quickly scrambled back, fumbling with her purse. "I'll be insane to marry a man like you! You think I faked the encounter with you? I don't even remember you! That night I was too out of it, and you used me for your five-minute cheap thrill."
His face darkened, replaced by a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"I will never forgive you, nor will I ever let you get close to my son and I certainly won't marry you!"
She threw the crumpled blank check and torn-up card on his face, slamming the car door behind her.
....
The next day, Victor had directly gone back to the Sinclair's office after landing.
"Uncle, did you see the news—"
His quick stride faltered, looking at Azrael Hawthorne sitting in his uncle's seat. Not across from it like a guest but in it.
Uncle William was seated to the side, his posture noticeably restrained, like he was hosting someone far above his standing.
For a second, Victor thought he was seeing things.
"How dare you come here!"
Then Azrael lifted his gaze and coolly looked at him. A faint smirk touched his lips, looking at the familiar, glaring green eyes.
But unlike his sister, Azreal didn't feel amused looking at his ugly mug.
"You told my son you were going to throw him in an orphanage?"
The words landed heavily, sucking the air in the room. Victor's temper snapped instantly.
He strode forward without thinking, his fist already raised. "You—!"
But before his punch could land, he was slammed to the ground. His arm twisting sharply behind his back.
The impact knocked the breath out of him; he clenched his teech to hold in the scream.
"Let go of me!" Victor struggled, his voice rising. "Who do you think you are, coming into our office—"
'PTAK!'
A slap resounded in the empty room. "That's enough." His uncle's voice cut in, low and firm.
Victor froze, breathing hard with his head turned.
Uncle William was no longer looking at him. His gaze was fixed on Azrael. He slowly stood up.
"Mr. Hawthorne," he said, his tone strained, "Please leave. We will contact you through the lawyer."
Azrael sneered.
"Oh, a lawyer," he said lazily toyed with his lighter. "I have some business with a lawyer too."
Victor frowned, still on the floor, anger burning in his chest.
Azrael lifted his hand slightly. Luka quickly stepped forward, placing some file on the desk.
The room went silent. William flipped through the pages one by one, his expression dropping. He fell on the chair, barely steading himself
Seeing his uncle let out a resigned sigh, Victor pushed himself up. "Uncle, what is this?"
Azreal waving his hand casually. His man quickly let Victor go. At first, his brows furrowed in confusion then his expression changed.
He flipped another page, then another. Color drained from his face.
"Uncle...?" he said quietly in disbelief. "What is this...?"
Uncle William closed his eyes briefly before opening them again, his face heavy.
Azrael stood up adjusting his cuffs slowly, then buttoned his suit jacket, his movements unhurried, controlled.
He walked past Victor and stopped beside Uncle William, placing a hand on his shoulder. He patted it.
"Tell Valerie to pick up her phone, will you?" he calmly walked out, leaving them devastated.