Sterling returned home that evening. He opened the door of his room, expecting to find Hunter like he always does, but to his surprise, David was waiting for him. "Dad! What are you doing in my room?"
"Is it true? Have you been sleeping with your family?" David asked the question out of the blue. Sterling knew it would come to this, but the bigger issue was that he wasn't prepared to face it. "I take your silence as a yes. And here I thought at least; he's not like Hunter."
"It's not that Dad. Hunter was pumping all of us with some chemicals in the beginning. Every time I interfered with his plan, I ended up doing stuff with them. Unlike him, I care about Mom and the girls."
"You're talking like Drew now. No wonder she trusts you!"
"Drew was affected by Hunter just like you and me! It's not her fault that she blindly trusted her father."
"Oh, you're not affected by Hunter. At least not like I was. He took everything from me. Just like you're doing now."
"Really, Dad, are you going to blame me after that apology?"
"Of course, he told me you would end up like him. It's in your blood. You're just another hunter."
"Am I, though? I could be another David for sleeping with my mother!" David couldn't answer after that revelation. "I know Jon is your son, and you've hidden it from us. And here you're accusing me of doing the same thing. Dad, that day when you found out about Grandma and Keira, you weren't hurt because Hunter and Drew took your family; it's because they stole your woman." Sterling raged up with all the pent-up anger he was holding for David. "And you were worried about Mom because of what Hunter threatened to do. You only saw them as objects, unlike me. Every single relationship I've had matters to me. No matter how small an amount I've spent with them,"
"How did you know about Jon? Did he tell you that?" David rolled his wheelchair forward.
"Seriously? Are you going to blame him, too? Of course, that's what you always do! Take it out on your kids!"
"You did what I was afraid of."
"Back then, I hadn't done it yet. You prevented me from spending time with my family in gatherings and outings just because the girls were dressed up a little revealingly. I hadn't even hit puberty back then. How was that my fault? Whereas you slept with your mom and impregnated her! And you had the balls to suspect ME of doing such a thing! You're a hypocrite!"
"You're seriously accusing me of being a hypocrite after what you did? There's no difference between you and him! You're both just scum that takes advantage of women when they are vulnerable."
"Dad?"
"What? Are you going to say that you love them? How can Brenna and Catherine find another man or woman when they're in love with you? You made them fall for you instead of Hunter! We're still in the same mess because instead of exposing his ass you were having fun sleeping with them."
"Dad!"
"Is that why you want Eva to marry Brenna? So that's just another excuse for you to fuck your sister behind a cover, right?" David was so furious; he grabbed his son by the collar, yanking his t-shirt.
"DAD!!! You're standing up!"
David looked down. Without realising it, he was on his feet standing straight. "Dad, you are walking again!" Tears started filling Sterling's eyes. David noticed it and realised what he was doing.
"I'm the scum, aren't I?" David let go of his son and was going to drop to the floor, but Sterling caught him and helped him to balance.
"No, you were just manipulated."
"Fuck, that asshole! He knows how to push my buttons. He just turned you and me against each other, and I didn't even realise it."
"That's what he does, Dad. I'm sorry for the things I said, and I'm sorry for not telling you about my relationship with the family. It's just."
"I know, kid! You have no idea how much I loved your grandma, Nora. I know the feeling. You're not him. You're just a teenager who shows his affection in a way that people don't usually do. At least, that's how I comforted myself. But when I saw her with Drew and then with Hunter..."
"Dad, look at me! Whatever happened with Hunter changed Keira and Grandma Nora, but Mom and the girls are still the same as me. Drew even mentioned that Hunter could have drugged them back then. So, please try to understand my point. The girls are safe, and I will cherish them for the rest of my life."
"It's a good thing, you ran away! There's no way you've learned to sweet-talk from your mother or me."
"Speaking of Mom, do I have your permission?"
"Seriously, at least let me have some dignity!" David chuckled. "I am walking, but I still can't get it up, I think!"
"Are you sure?"
"It's okay. She needs happiness. And if you can give it to her. And she deserves better than what I can offer."
"So, what do we do with that bastard?"
"Yeah, actually, what's the deal with him? He's saying that you're joining him or something."
"Let's say...I have to get him where I want... to strike!" Sterling, let go of his grip. David moved his muscles to feel his strength coming back. "Dad, before you go away for the treatment, we have to train! You look like a shrimp!"
"Fuck you!" David felt his stomach. "I just realised we've never had a father-son bonding time."
"Just so you know, I haven't had my first beer!"
"Wait until you're 21!"
"Seriously?" David walked away as he was filled with joy. "Go tell them the happy news, Dad! I have to visit a rotten pig! Just act like you are mad at me in front of him."
______________________
In Hunter's room, Hunter was rubbing oil on his hurt muscles. Sterling entered the space and yelled. "What the hell did you do? Why did you tell him?"
"Oh, did Daddy say you can't fuch mommy? Don't worry, Granddaddy will go fuck Mommy!"
"In your dreams, after what you did! Ophelia is out of the choices!"
"Choices?" Hunter struggled to get up on his feet and continued. "You were actually thinking of sharing?"
"You said it yourself. There are too many of them. If you hadn't told my dad, I would have helped you with Mom!" Those words confused Hunter. He was still sceptical though. That's when Sterling struck him with a treat. "Brenna's been telling Eva about how big you are. She got a glimpse of it when you were having an erection or something like that."
"Huh?" Sterling scratched his head realising that he was bullshitting too much. But on the other hand, Hunter who hadn't had any action lately couldn't refuse when an offer like Brenna was presented on a silver plate. "I'm listening!"
"You know what I get out of it."
"You get access to my network." Hunter didn't even think for a second. He was so desperate that he didn't even think of the repercussions. "I'm handling other houses just like ours. You have no idea how much you can earn by selling taboo content on the dark web. Plus, participation grants you even a lifetime's worth of sum." Hunter continued to talk about his connections. Sterling listened carefully. "...and I will let you have it when I get to fuck Brenna!"
"I see!"
"There's a lot I can offer if you could let me have Ophelia!"
"You should have thought about it before you opened your junk of a mouth. David is now aware. He won't let me near her. Thanks for that, idiot!"
"Talk like that again, and you will see another side of me!" Hunter glared at him.
"You think threatening me will get you out of the situation you're in right now?" Sterling stretched his elbows and said, "I'll text you the details. Just wait for Mallory and Aliza's wedding. Then you can have what you want." Sterling turned around and left the Oldman. He regretted talking about his woman indecently but to hurt him for what he did, Hunter had to trust him first.
__________________
Sterling knocked on the door to his son's room. Lisa was nursing him. "Is my handsome having a taste of my favourite drink?"
"Your mother told me about how you and Catherine drained her as kids. You're not getting near my breasts, babe!" Sterling sat next to her and caressed his son's head. "It's hard to believe we made this miracle of a child."
"I know, right? All the struggles you had to endure to get to me and now he's surrounded by one big family!"
"Do you think...mom and dad will come around after seeing his face?"
"We can't know for sure. That's an issue for another day." Sterling threw his right arm around Lisa and pressed her against his warmth. "I'm nearing my twenties and I'm already a father of three."
"Three?"
"Sydney's kid!"
"Catherine told me about it. I thought she was pulling my leg."
"She doesn't want her kid to be exposed to her fame. I can understand it."
"We can raise the kid here. No one has to know about it."
"She said she has a plan." Sterling sighed. "Lisa, as my girlfriend and the mother of my firstborn, you should know something about me."
"You're fucking your sisters, is that what you want to say?"
"How did you...Catherine!!!"
"Don't blame her! I can pick up on stuff you know."
Lisa released herself and placed Ludwig in the cradle. Then she turned her attention to Sterling. "Sterling, this family is strange. Ever since I got here, I've faced both resentment and love but now all I get is affection. I'm even happier now and we haven't had sex since we got back together. It's all you. Your family is the most cherished bond I've had other than Ludwig. If they can feel the same pleasure I got with you, who am I to stop it!"
"You're not disgusted?"
"I can't hate you for being true to your feelings. That's what makes you the man I fell in love with." Lisa kissed him on the forehead and pressed his head against her belly while standing.
"I can't wait to put another one here."
"Are you trying to turn the Johnsons' mansion into Johnson's orphanage?"
"Johnson's mansion?"
"That's what they're calling our home in the town." Sterling snuggled his nose into her belly. "Stop it! It's tickles."
"Let me show my love for you, kind lady!"
"Ruff!" A sound got their attention. Cerberus was there. [Boss!"] Sterling noticed that Cerberus wanted to share something.
"Did you miss me, buddy? Come here!" Cerberus approached as Sterling rubbed his neck. "Babe, I'm going to play this one outside. I don't want him to wake up Ludwig."
"Sure! Have fun you two!"
Once they're outside, Sterling runs towards the pool. 'Act like you're following me while I run!'
___________________
Sterling sat by the poolside and Cerberus did the same next to him. "What do you want to say?"
[First thing first, Oldman is keeping it down after what I did earlier. Drew is warming up to me. I think she's not afraid of dogs anymore.]
"Is there anything else you wanted to say?"
[Yes!] Cerberus looked at his owner and looked around. [When I came to see you in your son's room, I heard something]
"Did you hear my thoughts?"
[No, I'm sure it wasn't your thoughts. I couldn't make any sense of it then I realised it.] Sterling understood what Cerberus was implying. His eyes widened as he looked in the direction of his son's room. [It was indeed an infant's thoughts!]
"That's impossible. How could you hear him? Is our connection somehow related to my genetics?"
[If that's the case, I should be able to hear your sisters or your parents' thoughts but as you know, I couldn't.]
"What if this connection didn't recognise any genetic bond before me? That could be an answer!"
[Then we need answers. Oldman nearly recognised me. If he were to find out about our connection...]
"I'm sorry, buddy! You have to stay with Rebecca for a while then."
[It's alright! I missed Mom too! It's just an excuse for me to see her again.]
"Yeah, she doesn't come here as often as she did a few weeks ago! Thanks for guarding my family!"
[Our family, father!]
"Father?"
[If Rebecca is my mother, you're my father, right?]
"Then father of four, it is! Seriously, maybe I should model for a condom ad next. The irony in that ad will be too much for the girls to handle."
[I see that you're more of a dog than an actual dig in that case!]
"Is that how you're going to talk to your Oldman? I'm going to let your mother know so that she can punish you!"
[I'm hungry though. Can I get something to eat?]
"Sure, let's go!" They moved away from the pool area.
___________________
The next morning, Sterling got downstairs just to see Ophelia, Aliza and Mallory running around the house arranging everything. Drew was there watching all of it. "What's going on here?"
"Mallory's parents are coming." Drew yawned and continued. "Mallory just realised that her parents haven't officially met our family before the big day because you brought Eva's folks."
"That's not like her. Doesn't she always...you know!"
"....have everything planned from plan A to Z? Yep, turns out marriage was too much exigent, she forgot to invite her own parents."
"At least, they know she's getting married to Aliza, right?"
"They thought she was getting married to me for some reason."
"Wait, what?" Drew yawned again.
Sterling grabbed her hand and brought her to the living room. "You keep yawning. Didn't you get any sleep?"
"I was going through the evidence."
"Evidence?"
"Against Dad! It's all prepared." She looked down and rubbed her elbow. "Tiff texted me about the treatment. I will be leaving after the wedding."
"Are you sure you want this?"
"I won't be able to see what you're planning. At least, I will return to a house where it's safe to feel myself around my man." Sterling blushed. "Do you like it when I call you my man?"
"Of course, I do!" Sterling scratched his head.
"David told me about what happened last night!"
"He did!"
"Well, he's walking again. At least, some good came out of Dad's stupid plans."
"His plans are what put him in the wheelchair in the first place." Drew placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Don't take it all on yourself! We're with you. You have allies!" She looked around the surroundings before kissing him on his lips. "Take some rest! Dad's not home!" She moved away leaving Sterling who was still processing that kiss from his aunt.