After the chaotic lunch, Lucas, Eli, Ethan, Cury, and Satraus finished their meal. Cury and Satraus tried to left, and Lucas and Eli remained at the table.
But before going "Eli, how did you end up here? Did Lu... I mean, your dad is getting you here?" Ethan asked, already resigned to Lucas's new title.
Eli nodded happily. Lucas smiled triumphantly, pleased that Ethan had acknowledged his new role.
"Really, how many days are you planning and playing this?" Ethan asked Lucas, his voice tired.
"Oh, what plan? What play?" Cury asked.
"Ah, Ethan, let me talk about this later, not now," Lucas quickly interjected.
"Okay, Eli, you have to wait with Dad. Later, I'll be back to pick you up from here," Ethan said, before leaving for the hospital with Cury and Satraus.and Lucas and Eli remained at the table.
While waiting, Lucas turned to the boy. "Ahhh, Eli, your Papa... did he ever cry? Like when something makes him remember?" Lucas asked softly.
"Yeah, he's cried many times!" Eli said simply.
"Ohhh, really? Last time when?" Lucas probed.
"After you hugged him," Eli said.
"Ah, did you see that?" Lucas asked, his voice laced with pain.
"Yes, after you hugged him, Papa became so upset. When we got back home, he looked at that broken watch and cried. Not only that time, but whenever he sees that watch, he always cries," Eli revealed.
Lucas's heart stumbled. Ohhh, it's been years, and he still has that watch! I'm such a stupid fool! I should have believed him that day. If I had, now he would at least be living a happy life, Lucas thought, overwhelmed with regret.
Ethan returned suddenly. "Eli, shall we go now?" Ethan picked up the boy. "You may go now," Ethan told Lucas curtly.
"Ah, Dad, if you're my dad, why don't you be with us?" Eli asked, clinging to Ethan's neck.
"Hey, he can't be—" Ethan began.
"I wanted that, but your Papa didn't allow me! Cruel Papa!" Lucas said, pouting dramatically.
"Hey! What are you trying to do? He's just a baby, don't tell him anything!" Ethan warned.
"Papa, Papa, please can we all go home together? Please, Papa, make Dad stay with us!" Eli pleaded.
"Hey, just in one day you already wanted this dad! If someone else gives you so much food and gifts, you'll also be saying 'Papa, let them also inside the home!'" Ethan snapped, but instantly regretted the harshness. "No, I guess he's busy," Ethan corrected himself.
"Ahhh, actually, I'm not busy at all," Lucas said smoothly.
Ethan stared at him, resigned.
"Hey, tomorrow is the parents' festival! You can both come with me!" Eli said happily.
"Ethan, Eli is happy if we're together! Do you want him to become unhappy? And moreover, as you know already, Eli is calling me Dad! Now he's not just your son, he's my son too! Then I should be with my son!" Lucas argued, using pure emotional manipulation.
Ethan sighed, defeated. "Only until the camp," he conceded.
"Heyyyyy!" Lucas took Eli from Ethan's hand and cheered. "Yes! We can go home together now and for parents fest tomorrow!"
Both Lucas and Eli were so happy. "Until now, Eli was the only baby, now another baby is adding... Oh god!" Ethan sighed, watching them. They all went home.
It was late, but Sefan still couldn't sleep. She hadn't spared a thought for her dead brother, Damien. Her thoughts were entirely focused on her new plot.
Oh, how should I trap him? It's not easy to take Eli from his hand before Victoria comes here! As I got that Lucas is the one who saved Ethan, which means they're already together now! Then the one Lucas hugged that day was Ethan? Which means Selena told the truth! But why did Arlo lie to me?
She remembered she had broken her phone. She grabbed her bag, took out another phone, and called Arlo.
"Hey, Arlo! No matter what, tomorrow I need to talk with you! That's it!" Sefan ordered, ending the call before Arlo could reply.
Ohhh, why is she angry? Did she find out Ethan is here, or about my relationship with Ethan? Arlo worried.
Meanwhile, it was late. Eli was fast asleep. Ethan stood in front of the bathroom door. As soon as Lucas opened it, Ethan handed him a t- shirt. "Shhhhh! Take this t-shirt. Don't come out without a t- shirt."
Lucas took it and dressed. Ethan grabbed Lucas's hand and led him to the couch. "Sleep here," Ethan said.
"What? Me, here?" Lucas complained.
"Shhh. Eli is sleeping. This is the reason I don't want you to be here. If Eli wakes up, it's too hard to put him back to sleep again. Yes, you have to sleep here. Wait, let me bring you a bedsheet," Ethan said, retrieving the bedding. "Just sleep here. I'm tired. I have to go sleep with Eli."
"Sleeping with Eli? Sleep with me!" Lucas whispered, his voice low.
"Hey, shut up! This time is not for flirting. Just sleep here," Ethan warned.
Lucas grabbed Ethan's hand, pulled him onto the couch, and wrapped him in a deep hug inside the bedsheet. He kissed him deeply, affectionately.
"Lucas, what are you doing? Eli is sleeping in the room. He'll hear!" Ethan protested.
"Shhh. He's not going to hear," Lucas murmured, kissing Ethan even deeper, which made Ethan eagerly involved again. Lucas quickly moved on top of Ethan under the bedsheet and tried to open his T-shirt.
Suddenly, Ethan stopped him. "Hey! Hey! Calm down, not now! Please, I'm afraid Eli will wake up!" Ethan pleaded.
Lucas understood. "Okay," he said, giving Ethan a sweet, pouty look.
Before going to the room, Ethan leaned down and kissed Lucas softly. Their eyes met, full of unspoken history and longing.
"Can I ask you one thing?" Lucas asked, his voice low and serious.
How did you end up raising Eli, who is Rayn Sliver—my step brother—and your sister Clara's son?"