Chapter 5
"Wren, why didn't you answer my calls?" Matthew's voice had a hint of hoarseness, his eyes full of concern and anxiety.
"Why should I answer your calls?" I retorted, standing in the doorway so he couldn't get inside.
"Wren, I know you went to the office today. You must've overheard Magnolia and me talking. But it's not what it looks like. Please, let me explain," Matthew said.
I replied coldly, "Even if I'd walked in on you two in bed, I wouldn't care for an explanation. We've been divorced for a while now. Your private life has nothing to do with me anymore.
"I talked to a lawyer. He said we both have to agree for the DNA test to count. If you still care at all, do the paternity test with Silas, so he can get what's rightfully his."
"I've never once doubted that Silas is my son. Don't let Magnolia's nonsense bother you," Matthew replied.
"Even if it wasn't her, there'd still be others questioning it. It's better to get the DNA test done. I hope you get where I'm coming from," I insisted.
Seeing how stubborn I was, Matthew could only nod. "Alright, I'll do the DNA test with Silas. We'll let the facts shut them up."
With that, Matthew handed me the document folder he'd been gripping tightly. "As I said on the phone, I've finished my will. It's all in here. I'm leaving it with you for now, so you won't have to worry."
He wanted me to keep his will? I opened the folder and pulled out the documents. Everything was there, all the bases covered.
There was a handwritten will with his signature and stamp, an audio recording, and even a video will with a lawyer as witness.
The will said that once he was gone, everything from the Foster family, including the Foster Group, would go to Silas.
"All of it to Silas?" I asked.
"That's right. He's my only heir," Matthew said.
"And your parents?" I pressed.
When it came to inheritance, the first ones who got a share were the spouse, kids, and parents.
He got divorced. Even if Silas was his son, his parents came first.
"My father passed away last year. As for Magnolia and her mother, they have no claim to my estate," Matthew said.
His dad passed away last year?
I really didn't know about that. Hearing it now, I couldn't help but feel a little down. To be fair, Matthew's dad had always been pretty decent to me.
Matthew's dad and Magnolia's mom were a blended family. Matthew's mom died in an accident when he was two years old.
So after Matthew's dad passed away, legally speaking, Matthew and Magnolia, along with her mother, no longer had any parent-child relationship.
"Wren, I swear Magnolia's out of my life for good. Please, remarry me. Let's get back together, okay?" Matthew pleaded.
His eyes were bloodshot and shining with unshed tears. When I saw him like that, my chest tightened. I couldn't bear to look at him, so I quickly turned away.
He lost his mom when he was a kid, then his dad passed away, and now he was fighting cancer.
Life was really cruel to him.
"Don't worry. Even though I'm sick, I promise I won't ever drag you down.
"All I want is to spend whatever time I have left with you and Silas, the three of us together, to finally feel what it's like to have a real family, something I've never experienced since I was a kid," Matthew said.
His words hit me right in the feels. My inner savior complex was suddenly in overdrive.
Just then, Silas came running out of the bedroom. When he saw Matthew, his face lit up. "Hi, Dad."
"Hi, Silas." Matthew hurried over and scooped Silas up into his arms.
Blood relation really mattered.
Matthew lingered with Silas for quite a while before he finally headed out.
*****
The next day, Matthew and Silas went in for the DNA test. While we waited for the results, Matthew showed up every day to hang out with Silas, acting like he had zero doubts about the outcome.
When the results finally came in, it wasn't the three of us. Matthew had even invited Magnolia. He didn't even glance at the report himself; he handed it straight to her. "You go first."
Magnolia took it, opened the folder, and pulled out the results.