The Billionaire Secret

Copyright © 2021 Bethel-Gold.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed "Attention: Permissions Coordinator," at the address below.

Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author's imagination.

***

"Congrats big brother" Dimitri tapped his back and came to sit beside him on the sofa that was placed in front of his bed.

"Thank you, very much little brother," he comments then finished up his drink, placed the cup on the table, and crossed his legs on the table as he lay back on the couch. "Where are the rest of the team?" he asked and Dimitri pointed to the door.

In came Aiden and Caleb who were both carrying trays and a small cooler in each hand.

"It feels like Christmas or your birthday, so enjoy this treatment while it lasts," says Aiden who came up to him and shook hands with him after putting down the items he was carrying.

"Thank you, guys, for helping me get out before the party began" Cade sighed then shook hands with Caleb who hit him lightly at the back of his head.

"Anything for you, bro" Dimitri tap his back and shook him a bit aggressively before his hand was slapped by Cade who threw him a dirty look.

"Your mum didn't really look pleased with how you guys behaved" Caleb states and they rolled their eyes except for Cade who just wore a small smile on his lips.

"I'll apologize," Cade said "Mum is quite aware of how I feel about crowds and how much I didn't want to go to this university in the first place" he looked at Aiden who was scrolling through his phone then to his brother and Caleb "I would have preferred a university with not so much population" he shrugged.

"It's just to get the degree, I could do that online or go to a non-populated university for that"

"But dad is against that, you are very aware of how much dad takes pride in doing things in an expensive and executive way" Dimitri states, and Cade shrugged.

"At least I got out alive, no more girls trying to get my attention because I am the son and next heir to all my dad's property" he put his hand behind his head while laying back.

"If I didn't have a girl, I would have enjoyed the attention I get from those girls" Dimitri comments.

"You're still with your girl but that didn't stop some of those girls in your university to throw themselves at you" Aiden pointed out and grabbed some snacks from the tray she brought in then threw a pack to each of them.

"I am not that kind of guy, I am loyal and I stay with just one girl which is my lady, Daniella"

"Yeah, whatever"

"There is going to be a dinner later tonight to celebrate the success of Cade's graduation" Caleb mentioned and both brothers let out heavy sighs "What is the problem now Dimitri? We are quite aware of why Cade feels such a way"

"I forgot about the dinner and already asked Daniella out on another date... she has been feeling stressed out these past days and I wanted to ease up the stress she is feeling" he explains.

"I am not a fan of being around your girlfriend but I would do anything to third wheel in your date" Cade looked at his brother.

"Nah, I go on my own... singles aren't invited," he said.

"If I bring my cute brunette friend, can I come along?" Aiden asked and Dimitri shook his head.

"No third wheel, no double dates. It's just going to be me and my love" he said to them and Caleb rolled his eyes after which they met with Cade's own who looked bored.

"I will just take a walk and probably be back when dinner is almost done," he says.

"I know that you know that you can't even try it," Aiden told him and he grunted.

"I'll just be present, I don't want to have to go over with it again and again till mum thinks it's okay for me not to have that dinner celebration"

"I wonder why you don't like the attention of others, it's quite a good feeling actually, although some will mess with your business, that's all part of it" Dimitri encouraged.

"I have heard you" he stood up to his feet "See you guys by dinner," he said then grabbed his phone and walked out of his room to go for that walk.

When he got downstairs, he saw Sofia and Audriana sitting on one of the sofas in the living room as they talked about something and giggled, not wanting to bother them, he walked quietly away from there and to the back door from the kitchen to leave the house.

His phone rang and when he checked who the caller was, a smile instantly graced his lips.

"Hi, I was about to call you," he said then heard a small sigh from the person on the other side of the call.

"It's fine Cade, congratulations on your graduation," she said to him and he chuckled.

"Thank you, dear, how did your day go? Are you feeling better now?"

"Yeah, I am good, thank you. I think my stomach is settled now, I took a few medications that Dave prescribed for me so it calmed the storm in my stomach"

"I am glad to hear that, please be careful of what you eat, okay?"

"Sure boss" she replied as a soldier would. "Tell me about how your graduation ceremony went,"

"I wish there was more to say honestly" he looked up at the empty street then turned to the right to see if its where he wanted to stroll to.

After much contemplation, he decides to head the other way.

"My cousin, friend, and younger brother managed to drag me out before the party started, you know how I am with the crowd?" he told her "I'd just prefer something quiet and small, nothing too noisy or elaborate. Also, there would be a dinner with the mostly close family" he informed.

"Okay, that's good... make sure to attend"

"I have to, don't want to make mum mad anymore. She wasn't pleased with how we behaved earlier"

"No mother would be pleased to see their son act in such a manner. I will be heading out to run some errands, I just wanted to make sure that you were okay and that your graduation went well"

"Thanks, dear, have a lovely day," he said and they said their 'goodbyes' before he disconnected and continue walking.

...

The day was slowly getting tired as the sky began to darken, luckily for the workers at the tavern. It was quite packed with so many customers requesting the most expensive drinks and wine they had in store.

They were quite short on staff seeing as just a few worked the evening and night shifts so getting the customers their drinks was quite a hassle but those working their shift could pull through. They were able to get 'Big Mark' to stop his whining and get him a standby waiter who would answer his beck and call.

"Damien, could you arrange for me some chips and two cans of those sodas for the big guys by the door?" the brown-haired woman in a small pink dress, an apron tied around her waist, and a scarf packing her hair on top of her head.

"Sure Lex" the man on the counter winked then began arranging what she asked of.

"Hey Lex" a big-chested man who had a wife beater on with a worn-out cowboy hat on his head, called out to her and she turned around to look at him with her brows raised as she awaits what he wanted to say to her. "Some dude back there wants to have a word with you," he said.

A frown instantly crowned her feature as she looked behind him at the man he was talking about. At the far end of the tavern was a man in an all-dark brown attire, sipping from the cup in front of him as he checks his watch from time to time.

Lexi suspected that he might be the one she has been avoiding for so many years and feared what he would do to her this time, now that he was able to confidently approach her at her place of work.

Seeing the uneasiness that played on her face, the big guy offered to walk him out and keep him away from the building.

"No, it's fine. I will go see him now, nothing to worry about" she said and called one to the working waitress to serve the table she was going to serve then walked to the man in slow steps as she tried to think of what she could say to him so that he can get off her tail.

The man was one of the reasons she made a really harsh decision and she didn't want to keep running away from him. She needed him to leave her alone and just mind his business since she had made a choice to stay out of his way.

"You would have just stayed hiding under the shadows instead of coming here to disturb my work" she napped then sat on the chair opposite him.

The man raised his head to look at her and familiar grey eyes met with hers for a while before she looked away and focused her gaze on the cup he was sipping from. She could feel the same kind of chills he gives every single time they look into each other's eyes.

It definitely wasn't the good kind of chills and she didn't like it one bit.

The man said nothing but continued to look at her as he sips his drink. He noticed the fear she held for him and it was something he cherished more than anything. Maybe this time, she might just give up and do what he wanted her to do so that he can leave her in peace if it pleases his heart.

He was aware that she was fidgeting but commends her for her ability to cover it up and look bold in front of him.

It was funny how those familiar sets of beautiful orbs brought about comfort to her long ago and now these sets that stared at her didn't rather they were cold, dry, and empty of anything remorse, conscience, or emotions.

"I was wondering that you might actually send one of your minions to deliver whatever message you have for me" she comments then looked back at those cold eyes, trying not to let it get to her. "Maybe I just got lucky or whatever you want to get across to me is something really huge and important to you" she shrugged and he let out a small laugh.

"If it's concerning our last meeting then no," she said firmly and he smirked.

"We both know that you can't stand to your words for too long because no matter what, you will always respond to my every request"

"You're a monster" she states.

"You haven't complimented me in a while so I'll take it, thank you" he bowed a little then continued sipping. "So, not to take too much of your time, he would be coming to town soon, I will lure him here and as soon as he comes, he will surely look for you so I want you to accept him and welcome him into the family" he instructed.

"Treat him like family and from there I will take it over," he said.

"And to think that I will listen to you?" she asked with sarcastic laughter.

"I bet you have no choice except you want to completely lose all that you have now" he threatened and that shuts her up.

She could feel her eyes water after he said that, she was carefree and was bothered about a few things. Those things were people she cared deeply for and it hurt her that she lost them soon.

"You bastard, you took almost everything from me, and now you want to take it all from me? I hate you?" her words were coated with the number of dislikes she bore for him.

"That's why you need to cooperate so that it stays at an 'almost everything' level as of now," he says to her then finished his drink, stood up, put a few cash on the table, and waited to say something to her. "I will see you when I see you next, remember my offer and pick wisely"

She watched him walk out the door and couldn't explain whether she felt relief that she might not be seeing him in a while or what steps he was going to take this time to pull through his threats.

"GOD help me" she muttered then stood up and went back to work.

Cade didn't feel settled, what he got to know of the previous day was quite a disturbance to his night's rest. He was restless all through the night and no matter how much he told himself that he would just ask his parents the next day so that he could stop thinking about it, he just couldn't relax and wait for the day to dawn.

His graduation was a little over a week and a half and was to start his training in his dad's company so that he could take over it when the time is near but he is thinking of skipping his training to think over what was revealed to him.

They possibly couldn't have hidden something that huge from him, something he should be hearing from them first and not from someone he least expected from.

He parked his car close to one of his dad's cars in the garage, came out of his car, locked it, and made his way to the front of the house with the hope that they were home and not having one of their many dates.

Normally, when he or his brother were to come and visit, they make sure to call before coming no matter how seriously they want to meet with their parents, they call to avoid all sorts of inconveniences.

For instance, when Dimitri wanted so badly to ask his dad for something and when he arrived at their residence, what he saw made him take a forever oath to always call before coming in. He was glad that they weren't fully undressed when he walked in on them about getting to their business.

Cade so wish that wasn't the case and that they both were home else he might just have to pretend not knowing what he knows which would be impossible seeing that he was desperate to know more of it.

He knocked on the door severally when no one answered after he rang the bell numerous times.

"Please be home, please" he pleaded and was going to bang the door again when it opened to his dad who had his shirt rumpled, smeared pink lipstick on the side of his cheek and lips, and his slightly gray hair looked like fingers ran through them numerous times.

Donald just stood there looking at his son who was interrupting his alone time with his wife and wondered why he didn't just call to know if he could come at this time now.

"Hi dad" he greets with a wave and Donald nods then looked behind him and back to Cade before coming closer to whisper something to him"

"Do you maybe mind coming some other time? I and your mum are kind of busy and we need serious focus on our business" Cade raised a brow at him with a look on his face.

"Aren't you guys like too old for whatever you're doing?" Cade asked seeming uncomfortable but didn't have any intention of returning back home.

"You are never old for anything when you are with the right person" was Donald's reply "You'll understand when the right time comes"

"I can't come back some other time, I need you guys to answer something to me," he said with a serious face.

"It can't wa-"

"Babe, who is at th- oh, Cade" Patricia interrupted him and stopped herself when she saw Cade standing by the door "You're here," she said in a small voice.

"Yeah, I was telling him that he can come some other time" Donald put his arm around his wife's shoulder.

"No way, he hardly ever comes here to ask something from us, this might be so urgent," she said then made way for him to enter the house.

The house was still the same vintage theme as it was when he moved into his apartment during his college years. There was just a new framed picture of his parents when they went for their just concluded vacation.

"Yeah, whatever" Donald muttered and went to bring them something to eat or drink as they delve into the important matter that Cade wanted to urgently discuss.

"How are you, Cade? Hope all is well?" Patricia asked when they settle on the couch that was in the middle of the large living room.

He nods "Yeah, I am good. I just need you both to answer something to me," he told her and she seem tensed and at the same time confused and worried about what he was talking about.

"Is it serious?" she touched his hand and he didn't reply but just shrugged.

Soon Donald came with the snack, placed them on the stool in front of them, sat beside his wife, and put his arm around her shoulder as he waits for what his son wanted to say to them.

Cade noticed that he had wiped the smeared lipstick from the side of his lips and adjusted his shirt properly but his hair remained the way it was when he came in.

"Does it have to do with your training that are coming up? If it does, I am not changing my mind on letting you leave for that vacation" he spoke then took a can of coconut drink, opened it, and handed it to his wife then threw one to Cade which he caught.

"You can go anywhere you want so far it doesn't mean that you will be leaving New York anytime soon, you have a lot of work pending for you to take over so there is no running away this time," he told him and took a can himself.

"Thanks" he gestured to the can of juice and then state his real reason for coming. "I am trying to set a good example to Dimitri so running from what I am not excited about doing will not be a good thing to teach my little brother," he says "If I wanted to leave, I would have done that a long time ago" he muttered the last part and earned a glare from his dad and a scolding look from his mum.

"I came here because I heard something and a little part of me is hoping that it's false," he said then took out a small envelope from inside his jacket and handed it over to them.

Donald, confused about what he was saying, took the envelope and opened it then unfolded the paper inside before reading the content of the paper. The look on his face gradually turned sad, and sorry from confusion.

Patricia who saw how his countenance changed when he read it, took the paper and read what was inside and her eyes widened then looked at Cade who looked rather worried and sad.

"Cade darling, we can explain" she began and he shook his head.

"Why didn't you just tell me from start? You could have just told me instead of letting me hear it from an outside source" he accused.

"Son, let me tell you this. We never saw you as some kid we adopted, you are our son and that's how we have been with you when we took you in, we never wanted you to feel like you are left out so that even when you come to know of it, you wouldn't feel like you don't belong" Donald explained.

"You all are very much aware of how much I like to stay away from all these socialite parties and billionaire hangouts, now I understand why," he said to them.

"Cade, I am so sorry, we are so sorry that we didn't let you know of this" Patricia stood up to come to sit beside him with her hand resting on his. "We have wanted to tell you in the past but there was no chance given to and we just thought it might not really matter for you to know it yet"

"So, it was best if someone else told me?" he asked and stood up from the sofa he sat on. "Mum, dad, I really appreciate all that you have done for me, everything, I really appreciate all your kindness and how you made me feel like am a part of this family but don't you think that I needed to know my real root and where I came from? Who my real parents were and why they decided to give me to you?" he asked.

She bowed her head as she felt sad about how he felt. He sat back on the sofa and side hug her so that her head rested on his shoulder.

"I am so sorry Cade, please forgive us. We didn't want or mean to hurt you this way, please forgive us" she cried and he kissed her hair and rubbed her arm.

"It's fine mum, I would have just appreciated it if I learned of this information from you both, that's all I am saying"

"We are sorry about that, no keeping secrets anymore," Donald said.

"It's okay, I just need to ask some other things too. Who are my parents why did they leave me? Didn't they want me? Are they still alive? How can I locate them?" he asked too many questions and his parents looked at each other.

"You are the son of my best friend Lexi, she gave you to us some months after our wedding. I didn't know that she was pregnant or had even given birth not until the night she brought you to us" Patricia said and he frowned.

"Did she state her reasons?" he asked.

"She didn't tell us anything, she just said 'He is your child and you didn't see me' and she left after saying such. It was strange, the manner that she came, it looked like she was running away from something or someone but we didn't know who due to how surprised we were by your arrival" Donald explained further and Cade paused in thought.

"So, she just left me with you both without giving any form of explanation and she looked scared when she dropped me?" he asked for clarity.

"Correct, we haven't seen her since then," Donald said.

"She didn't try to reach out to at least check on me?" he looked at both parents and they both stared at each other before looking back at him.

"There were very rare times where she would call to know how you are faring and when I asked to put you on the call, she'll feign bad network and would hang up the phone," Patricia said.

He felt a bit of a tinge in his chest that his real mother didn't want to see him or have any contact with him.

"When last did you speak with her and how can I contact her? You should have her contact, right?" he asked and Donald shook his head.

"The last time she did call was when you were twelve and since then we heard nothing of her and she would call using private numbers so we never actually got the chance to get a number to call," Donald said and he nods his head.

Although along with the information about his real mother, he didn't get anything solid aside from the location of her place of work and a really young photo of her riding a horse he guessed that he could at least be something he could use to locate her.

"You aren't sure if she's dead or not?" he asked for confirmation.

"No, we aren't sure about that but we do hope that she is still alive. She cares so much about you Cade, she just told me every time she called that she had her reasons for letting go of you, she would say that it's for your own good and thing would seem clear when it's the right time and that she loves you a lot" Patricia said to him and he scoffed.

"Loved me enough to give me up and cut off any form of connection with me? She wouldn't even talk or see me and she talks about loving me" he said with a shake of his head.

"Cade, I don't want you to take all these in the wrong way. I know Lexi to be a really good and sweet lady and for her to have made such a decision, I do believe she has her reasons and if she said that it would get clearer with time then let time make things clearer for us. Just please don't harbor any hateful feelings for your mum, please" she said.

"You are very much aware that I am not capable of hating anyone, I am just hurt by this information and trying to process it all but I will be good," he tells them and Patricia hugged him which he returned.

Donald felt bad for what Cade was going through, he loves Cade as much as he loves his own son Dimitri that was why he wanted to leave most of their properties in his care but he and Dimitri seem not to have any care for the wealth, just so far, they are okay, they don't need all the flashy things.

Dimitri sometimes would like to be spoilt but it's in rare cases. Cade on the other side wanted something simple, a life simple and free of all these attention his family gets but he didn't want Cade to feel left out at the same time that was why he involved him in most things and released some major deep family things to him. His sons are his pride.

He just watched his wife and son hug each other and after a moment, they leaned away so he stood up to bring his wife back to where they were sitting down.

"I know that I don't do this much often but I would like to ask for something" he looked at his dad and then at his mum.

"What could that be?" Donald inquired.

"I need to leave the country in search of my mum," he said and Donald was about to say something but he beats him to it. "I want to see her and hear from her why she left me and who my real dad was, I want to know of my root and just everything about me and that thing she said time would reveal, I want it to be revealed now," he told them.

"What if it's something dangerous?" she asked and he shook his head.

"I doubt there is something sketchy about her reasons for leaving me, I just want to know, I need to know about this" he looked at both of them and Patricia rested her head on her husband's shoulder.

"It's fine, we understand. You deserve to know about this and you can leave but for how long will you be gone?" Donald asked.

"I am not sure, I can't say but I will try to keep in touch with you guys so that you don't get worried about me," he told them and they nod.

"Where exactly are you going to live and what's the name of the country or state you are going to meet your mum from how you are speaking, I can tell that you know where to find her so where exactly are you going to?" Donald asked when he stood up to leave.

"You don't have to worry about that, I will keep you guys updated on how I am faring so you will have nothing to worry about, and please don't try to send someone to locate where I am, I will be fine out there" he directed his last few sentences to his dad who just rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, whatever just keep us updated or I will send some agent to come after you" Donald warned.

"Yes sir," he salutes then walked to the door, opened it, and stepped out "Thank you guys for everything and I am sorry if I caused you any heartache" he apologized.

"It's okay, but just one question," Patricia said and Cade knew what she was going to ask. "I think I have an idea of who let this out to you but can you at least let me know who told you this?"

"That shouldn't be important now mum, I will call you guys later" he hugged her and shook hands with his dad then walked to his car so that he could prepare to leave.

It has been over two weeks since Cade moved into this small town on the outskirt of Chicago and when he landed, he made sure to contact his parents and little brother to fill them in about his trip and was already getting settled in the apartment he had booked before arriving.

He wanted to relax and know his environment first before going to his mum's place of work and seeking the answers he needed. Although while sightseeing, he made a few friends, one at the supermarket he shops at, the other was the receptionist at the hospital Michelle worked in and he also met with Michelle once in a while.

He had taken her on a few dates and they got to know more of each other gradually, it was quite pleasing to meet her after months of speaking on the phone, she also helped him to settle in properly and he was grateful for that.

Presently he was seated on the couch in his small living room as he went through the information he got from Daniella. He knew his parents were aware that she was the one who let him know of it but he didn't want to cause any form of chaos, she was enough headache for him, he didn't want his parents to have another problem with her.

It was just too bad that his little brother was still captured in her dangerous claws and hoped that his eyes would be opened to see all her wrongdoings and he can know that she isn't someone that he should want to marry.

He looked closely at Lexi's picture and could see the slight resemblance of himself in her. He had her green eyes and smile. She was a beauty indeed, she had blonde curly hair that was gathered in a pink scarf and she was wearing a brown lady's suit as she stood like a fierce woman ready to battle whatever comes her way.

He smiled then dropped the picture and took the paper that her place of work address was written on then sat back on the couch as he thought of how his meeting with her will go.

With what his mum and dad told him, it was very obvious that she might not like the idea of seeing him anywhere around her and he wants to just know why she had to take such a decision. If not anything, he deserves an answer to all these, and also, he wants to know who his dad was, whether or not he is dead, he just wants to see how he looks like and what made his dad and mum separate or whatever that happened.

He thought of it going well and properly. Like she will be all emotional when she sees him and apologize for leaving him when she would have just taken full responsibility for him then she would explain all things to him and want to be in his life then he would forgive her and accept her back as his mum.

Cade relaxed back on the couch and lifts his legs to the top of the table then closed his eyes as he reminisces on the day he was set to leave when his brother and friend came to help him pack up and escort him to the airport.

...

"Where would you be lodging? Will you need to take your car? How long would you have to stay? Hope you would stay long enough for me to take over the business. I don't want to work there Cade, please come back on time" Dimitri pleaded.

Cade shook his head and then looked at Aiden who shook his head too and shrugged at his childishness and the numerous questions he threw at him.

"I wonder which I should answer first" Cade put the rest of the clothes he arranged for himself to take so that he wouldn't have to worry about cloth shopping.

"Any of the questions I asked" Dimitri sat on his bed as he awaits his response.

"I booked for an apartment there already" he started but was interrupted by Aiden who silently remarked.

"An apartment? I doubt you have plans of coming back home" he shrugged when Cade threw him a glare. "Or you could have said that you wanted to relocate and that would have been the best word for it" he shrugged yet again.

"I have no plans of taking my car, I don't really know how long I will stay but it's certain that I will come home and update you guys on how I am faring," he said then thought for a moment "Is that all the questions that you asked?"

"I guess, but why can't you just tell me your main purpose for leaving? I know it's not just 'exploring' as you put it, there is something to your leaving and I want to know, just fill me in and no one will have to know anything. Just us bro" Dimitri came closer to him and whispered the last part to him.

Cade laughed it out and put the two bags that were packed beside his bed as he awaits the time to get to when its two hours to his flight so that he could be on his way.

"Dimitri, I am going for some self-discovery and you know how much I have told you that I wanted to explore outside the walls of our world?" Dimitri nods "The time has come," he said to him.

"But how about your training? You will need them before taking over the company gradually"

"I talked with dad about it and he permits me to leave" he pats his brother's shoulder "Just be good and well behaved, I want you to look over our old people," he told him.

"I will just make sure that you come back home in one piece, else we would have a strong beef" Dimitri warned then pointed his finger at him "Call and pick up your calls, else we would send down an army to look for you"

Cade chuckled at that and they both shared a hug and he hugged Aiden too before making his way out of his apartment, with his two nest buds following behind him.

"We will go eat something before I leave," he tells them and they agreed.

...

"Such a boy" he muttered then picked up his phone to dial his brother's number. It was still in the morning and he calculated that it would be late evening over there and Dimitri would either be with his girl or out with the guys.

After two rings, the line was connected and instead of Dimitri's voice being sounded, it was Daniella's voice that he heard.

"How are you doing Cade?" she asked just when he was about to disconnect the line.

"Where is Dimitri? Put him on the phone, I need to speak with him" he told her but she let out a laugh.

"Dimitri went out for a walk and would be back in some hours, you know how grumpy he can be sometimes?" she chuckled "He needs it," she says.

"Okay, when he gets back, tell him I called to say hi to his whining ass, bye," he said and was going to hang up when she spoke again.

"How is your stay over there? Have you met mummy yet? Did she welcome you with open hands? Have you guys had your reunion?" she asked.

With all the questions she was asking and the manner in which she spoke, he felt like she was mocking him somehow but was going to ignore that fact. She wasn't worthy of his worries or time.

"I really do appreciate what you did by sending me all the details I need at the moment about my real mum but it will be best if you mind your business and stop meddling in our family business. I do appreciate but mind your busin-"

"If I minded my business like you are saying, would you have ever known that you were adopted because your parents didn't want you?" she interrupted him and he paused.

He can't be sure that his parents didn't want him but it seemed like that presently so he had nothing solid to argue about and hoped that when he meets with his mum, she was wrong about him not being needed by his parents.

He ignored that and repeated what he was saying earlier "As I said, I do appreciate so stay out of our business or Dimitri will have to know why you know this if you didn't get it from my parents, and don't worry, your crocodile tears wouldn't work this time" he said and was about to hang up when something crossed his mind.

He was positive that he wouldn't get a straight answer or wouldn't even get an answer to it but he decided to ask anyways. "How did you get this information? Who filled you in?" he asked and she hissed.

"As you told me, it's none of your business," she said angrily and disconnected the call.

Well, now he was sure that she wouldn't be excited to talk to him anytime soon.

"I just wonder how she found my brother in the first place" he muttered and closed his eyes due to the pending headache forming at the back of his head.

...

He walked up to the counter to see a bulky man preparing drinks as some of the waitresses came to pick them up and serve their customers. The tavern was not something he expected if he was being honest.

It was very wide, with tables, chairs, and booths spreading in different places of the building. The counter that the barman stayed behind was quite large and long with different kinds of drinks sitting on the large shelf behind him.

He expected it to be a bit of a mess and disorganized due to the environment it was located in, it was in fact noisy as expected but well organized, from the waitresses' uniform to the barmen's cooperate wear.

This was going to be an executive kind of tavern and he nods in amusement.

When he was seated on one of the stools by the counter, the barman came closer to him and asked what he wanted.

"Oh, I don't drink," he said and the man gave him a weird kind of look because he came to a tavern, was seated on the stool, and said he didn't drink.

"What do you want kid?" he asked with a small furrow on his brow.

"Oh, I came here for someone. Name is Lexi, heard she's the head waitress here" he said while drumming the counter with his fingers. "Do you know if she is around?" he asked the man who looked down at his drumming fingers irritably before looking up at him.

"First, stop that drumming kid, it's annoying" he pointed "And yeah, Lexi is more of our boss here, what do you want with her?" he asked.

"I have some personal business with her" he responded.

The man leaned his elbow on the counter and stared at Cade for some seconds "What kind of business?"

"It's personal, please I really need to speak with her" he pleaded.

The barman was going to say something when a feminine voice spoke from behind him.

"Relex, I will talk to him" Relex looked behind Cade and nodded then went back to his work while Cade turned around to look at the middle-aged woman standing there with her arms crossed as she stared at him.

"Lexi?" he asked to confirm and she gestured for him to follow her as she walked to the other end of the tavern and then settled down on one of the booths there. "I am glad to meet you Lexi," he said when he settled in front of her.

"Why are you here?" she asked him and he was quite taken aback by her response but decided to let it slide.

"I came to look for you, I wanted to know who my real parents were when I came to know of you" he explains, and could see the change in her face when he stated his reasons.

"Just that? Thought you were in some kind of danger" she hissed and he frowned.

"You would have wanted to see me if I was endangered?"

"That isn't the case here so it doesn't matter. You shouldn't be here or even know about this in the first place, it's even more risky for you now that you have come to this knowledge" her tone was harsh and he felt bad for wanting to meet with his mum.

Was it now a crime to know who your real parents were?

"Why do you detest me so much? Why don't you even want to talk or see me? I know you should have your reasons but I want to know what they are, I want to know why my parents left me" he told her not looking pleased with how she was behaving with him.

"Are they tired of you? What did they say to you? What did Patricia say about me to you?" she ignored his question.

"You really didn't want to see me, even when you called you never wanted anything with me, to begin with? Why? Just give me a reason"

"Because I had to, I just needed to do so. I needed a life better than I was living then and since I couldn't get you off at the pregnancy stage, I decided to give you to my very good friend, who will take care of you like you should be taken care of"

He could see that her eyes held sadness while she told him that but were masked when she noticed him looking intently at her.

"I told you all that you need to know, now, you will leave here and never come back, you don't know about your real mother and have never met her. Don't call me mum or ask about your dad, don't even try to locate him, it isn't worth all the troubles that would follow" she stood up and walked away from the table.

...

"Cade? Cade?" he heard his name being called and turned to the sound of the voice but couldn't see who that was because his eyes were closed, "Don't tell me you've been sleeping like this all day?" the woman's voice sounded and he groaned a bit then opened his eyes slowly.

A frown creased his brows and he looked around his room then to the woman standing in front of him with her hands resting on her hips as she stared and him with a shake of her head.

'Oh, it was a dream' he thought as he referred to what he just saw now.

Now, he isn't sure if he should go ahead with his plan of seeing his mum, it might turn out to be like how he dreamed it or even worse which he really doesn't want.

'What if it turns out okay? Where's the positive Cade always giving the cheers and positive vibes?' he decided to brush it away and hoped that it goes out as he wanted it to.

"It's just a dream, nothing to worry about" he muttered under his breath and sat up.

"What did you say?" Michelle asked as she sits beside him then touched his face and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Oh, it's nothing" he offered her a smile which she returned "How was work? I am sure that you are tired by now and hungry" he kissed her cheeks and stood up to get her something to drink.