FOREVER HATE YOU'S
49. Father Status

Flo is shocked to find the figure of the woman he knew as the mother of Arthur coming to his residence. His feelings were suddenly not good. Moreover, her husband Zach has not returned from work. Flo is afraid of mispronouncing or taking action.

"Hi, Mrs. Walton?" greet Jane kindly to the woman she knows as Brianna's sister-in-law.

Flo tries to singly smile, but he is confused to have to entertain Jane or even reject the presence of the woman openly.

"Can I meet Zach Walton, your husband?" jane asked with a clear look of intimidation.

"Uhm, uhm ... Zach hasn't come back." Flo tried not to get nervous. He believes there is something about Jane coming this time, because the woman immediately wants to see Zach, instead of meeting Chico like the other day Jane gave a miniature helicopter to the boy and left immediately after seeing Chico satisfied with his gift.

"Can I come in?" jane asked because Flo did not allow her to enter their residence.

"Y-well, sure." Flo is wrong. On the one hand he couldn't possibly refuse the boss of his brother-in-law, right?

Jane enters Flo and Zach's residence. It was a small apartment that also housed Chico, his granddaughter. Small, but the place is comfortable and clean. He was quite grateful for this, at least his grandson did not live on the street and still get affection from those closest to him.

"Did Brianna live here with you?" ask Jane to Flo.

"Brianna lives in the same building. But the apartment is located on the 5th floor."

Jane mangut-mangut understand.

"What do you want to drink, ma'am?" tawar Flo's.

"Not bother. I'll just wait for Zach."

"What's wrong, I'll make you a drink while waiting for him. After all, Zach's clock was erratic" said Flo, who stood up and walked quickly to the kitchen.

That opportunity, Flo used to immediately contact Zach.

"Where are you, Zach?"

"What's up, honey? You sound panicked?" ask Zach across the call.

"Don't go home."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, don't go home. You can go anywhere first. There's Mrs. Jane's here and I'm sure she wants to talk to you about Chico."

Zach was surprised to hear that. "So why can't I go home soon? I need to get home quickly to protect you. Maybe he already knows everything and intends to take Chico away from us."

"He wants to talk to you. I don't want her planning anything for you if you refuse her request later." Flo's obviously scared if Zach's doing anything.

"Calm down. I'm not gonna be anything. I'm worried about you guys. Wait for me, I'll be home soon."

"But, Zach, I can distract him, he'll leave if you don't come back."

"Wait for me. I'll face it. And don't answer any questions when it comes to Chico. Let me finish it."

Zach closes the call after saying so, leaving Flo anxiously awaiting the return of her husband.

Flo immediately made a drink for Jane, unfortunately he too long called Zach until when he returned the boy who should not have met Jane was already on the side of the middle-aged woman while chattering cheerfully.

Flo was stunned by the sight, she almost dropped a tray containing a glass of orange juice she had made for Jane. She was afraid that Jane had said something to Chico but the other side of her heart said everything would be fine.

"I can write my name, Grandma."

Flo can hear Chico's speech which makes Jane look cramped. The woman even held out every word that came out of the boy's mouth.

"Please drink, Madam." Flo invites and Jane smiles in response.

"Thank you, sorry to bother you."

"No problem."

Flo takes a seat in front of Jane and signals Chico to move to her side.

Chico shakes. "I was telling Grandma, Mom," the boy refused.

Flo grew increasingly agitated at the closeness of the two people. He looks toward the entrance repeatedly, hoping that Zach will quickly get there and separate Jane's proximity to Chico.

"This is a picture of me as a baby, Grandma. Momma said I liked staying up all night" Chico said, pointing to her childhood photos of Jane.

Jane, who saw a picture of Chico as a baby, was moved by her heart to realize she had spent so much time with her granddaughter. It felt like she was hugging Chico right now and instantly said that the child was her grandson but she tried her hardest to hold him back. Jane waits for Arthur to return and pick up Chico together.

Flo secretly listens to Chico's story, observing Jane's treatment of the boy. Not wrong, Flo believes that Jane actually already knows that Chico is her grandson.

Before long, the sound of their Apartmen bell was heard and Flo swiftly opened the door. He saw Zach there and they looked at each other meaningfully.

Zach enters his residence and finds a heartwarming sight where Chico sits on his grandmother's lap.

"Ehem..." Zach cleared his throat, making Jane aware of the man's presence.

"You're home yet? I need to talk to you, Zach."

Zach nodded. His face was not as gracious as his previous encounter with Jane.

Flo knows what she has to do, she invites Chico to enter the room immediately.

"Chico, let's go to the room first. Your father will talk to Grandma Jane."

Chico did not refuse, he was indeed an obedient child and understood many situations. If this is the case, the sign is the time for parents to talk and Chico understands that.

Flo leads Chico's hand and enters the room at the end.

"We'll just play here." Flo unloads the basket containing Chico's toy and the boy is thrilled to be able to play again at this hour.

Meanwhile, Zach sits opposite Jane in the living room. He looked seriously at the woman.

"What do you want to talk about, ma'am?"

Jane thins her lips. "I already know that Chico is my grandson" he said to the point.

Zach fell silent, he thought Jane would make small talk first. All the excuses he had prepared all the way home seemed to just disappear from his mind. Zach felt blank right then and there.

"I know and know very well that you've been involved in keeping Chico's growth and development since Brianna's womb. I also know you think of him as a child of your own. But, I hope you'll share the role of father with my son, Arthur. Because after all, he's Chico's real biological father" Jane said with pleading.

Zach was once again silent. He can't make a sound even though he really wants to keep Chico for himself, Flo and of course for Brianna.

"Zach, we won't take Chico away from you. He will be your son too. We can take care of him together, but Chico deserves to know who his real father is just like Arthur who also deserves his father status."

"Can't!" The voice that had been restrained since, finally came out so firmly from Zach's lips. "How can I give a father's right to a jerk like your son, ma'am!" pepukas.

Jane knows why Zach should be upset. He knows what makes Zach emotional. This must be about what Brianna experienced while studying at university. He had heard of it where Arthur bullied Brianna a lot.

"Your son is a coward, ma'am. He ruined my brother's life. So, don't let Chico know that he has a loser father like Arthur!" press Zach unmitigated.

"Zach .." Jane's voice wails, though she doesn't want Zach to continue the sentence that pierced Jane's heart as a mother to Arthur.

"I know Arthur was guilty of Brianna. Even he did a lot of things that hurt your sister, but the night they did a one night stand, Arthur was drunk, and Brianna was on drugs. So this isn't Arthur's absolute fault."

"Hey ma'am, you still want to defend your son as it turns out!" zach said he didn't accept.

"That's my duty as his mother" Jane replied to Arthur in the past. "So from that, as her mother I came here to apologize to you. Also Brianna I'm gonna do in front of him when he gets back to New York" he said in earnest.

"That doesn't affect anything, madam. In fact, my brother's life has suffered for years because of your son's behavior."

"I know. For that let if now Arthur wants to be responsible by bearing the burden that Brianna has been responsible for himself."

Jane looked into Zach's eyes. "Chico also has the right to know if he actually still has a biological father who never threw it away."

Zach gasps at Jane's last words.

"I'm right, right? From the beginning, Arthur never knew Brianna was pregnant with her child. So it could be said that he never intended to throw the child away. You covered her up with Arthur, without giving her a chance to see his actions, if she knew that Brianna was pregnant after the night," Jane said, leaving Zach speechless.

...To be continue......