Episode 18

"What do you want to talk about?" Zhia asked, stepping outside with Rayden.

"Don't we have a lot to discuss now? Like about Luca and Lucia," Rayden said with a cool expression.

"What is there left to talk about? They are my children and will always remain that way," Zhia declared, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Are they not also my children!" Rayden countered emphatically.

"Seven years ago. The woman who seduced me, promising to pay a handsome sum. That was you, wasn't it?"

Rayden continued, pressing Zhia for the truth. But once again, she remained silent, tears streaming down her beautiful face.

"I suspected it was you. No wonder you seemed so familiar from the moment we first met at the company," Rayden continued, his realization setting in.

Suddenly, Zhia knelt at Rayden's feet, pleading, "Please, don't take them from me. They are all I have in my life. I beg you, Ray! Hikss....hikssss....."

"Stop, what are you doing?" Rayden exclaimed.

His icy facade melted in an instant, his unbreakable walls crumbling at the sight of Zhia crying at his feet.

Rayden crouched down and instinctively embraced Zhia's trembling form.

"Do not cry anymore. I never intended to separate you from Luca and Lucia. After all, you are their mother, the woman who bore and gave birth to them."

Rayden's words immediately calmed Zhia's heart.

"You promise you won't take them away, right?"

Zhia sought confirmation of what she heard.

"Yes, I promise! I, Rayden Cano Xavier, always keep my word." Rayden replied, a warm smile unknowingly spreading across his face.

He hugged Zhia even tighter, kissing her forehead tenderly.

Zhia was startled by Rayden's kiss, looking at him with questions in her eyes.

Their gazes locked, and Rayden unconsciously caressed her tear-stained cheek.

His face drew closer to Zhia's, nearly kissing her sweet lips, when suddenly, his father's voice interrupted them.

"Cano! The doctor is looking for you both; he says the results are out now!" Nolan called out with a mischievous grin on his face, enjoying the interruption of his son's intimate moment.

"Damn, that old man. Always interrupting!" Rayden cursed inwardly.

"We must go now," Zhia stated, rising to her feet and heading back into the room.

Her face felt incredibly hot, her heart pounding wildly. Zhia could never have anticipated Rayden's actions.

Meanwhile, Rayden followed, his mood deflating with disappointment.

The hospital director was already there with the DNA results, just waiting for Rayden and Zhia to reveal the truth.

"What are the results, Doc? Luca and Lucia are truly Cano's biological children, right?" Julia asked eagerly, her eyes shining with hope.

"It must be! Just look at their faces, they're the spitting image of Cano as a child. Isn't that right, Doc?"

Nolan joined in, as impatient and hopeful as his wife. They both seemed like soulmates forever.

"Ma, Pa! It was Cano who had the test, so why are you two so impatient?" Cano said, always with a cool demeanor.

"Be quiet, Cano!" Julia and Nolan exclaimed in unison, irritably silencing their son.

"Ehmm…hmmm! Mr. and Mrs. Xavier, the results are in my hands. They show almost 100% certainty, or more precisely, 99.9% accuracy, that Luca Maverick and Lucia Maverick are the biological children of Mr. Rayden Cano Xavier. These results are accurate without outside interference."

The hospital director announced the findings and handed the DNA test results to Rayden.

Zhia remained silent, knowing the outcome from the start. There was nothing more she could do now, as even the Xavier family knew about her children with Rayden.

"Thank you, Doctor! You may go now," Rayden said to the director, not wanting his parent's behavior to be witnessed.

"Of course, Sir! I'll take my leave," the director replied and exited the room.

Just as Rayden predicted, as soon as the doctor left, his parents joyfully expressed their happiness in a childlike manner. Rayden still felt embarrassed that Zhia saw his parents' antics.

"Woaaah, it's true? You are officially my grandchildren now! Hahahah…."

Julia cheered, thrilled by the confirmation that Luca and Lucia were indeed her son's biological children.

She hugged and kissed the twins with glee, overwhelmed with happiness.

"Congratulations, my love! You're a grandmother now."

Noland shared in the joy at his wife's happiness.

"Hey, don't call me a grandmother! Call me grandma, okay, dear!" Julia said, her beaming smile never fading.

"Well then, how about you both call me Grandpa?" Noland suggested to the twins.

"Papa!" Luca and Lucia instead called out to their father, running to embrace and kiss Rayden.

"Yes, my dears!" Rayden responded, his smile blooming beautifully.

For the first time, Rayden was officially addressed as 'Papa'. He could not express the joy he felt with any words in this world.

Zhia just smiled, watching her twins' happiness at now having a father.

"Darling, I feel neglected now!" Noland complained to his wife, his face showing disappointment as Luca and Lucia chose Rayden over him.

"Me too!" Julia agreed, feeling the same exclusion.

"Papa, Luci wants a lift!" Lucia requested.

"Luca too, Pa," added Luca, not wanting to be outdone by his sister.

"Alright, come here. Papa will carry you both."

Rayden lifted both twins, Luca on his left and Lucia on his right.

"Mama, now Luci has a papa! Yayyy…" Lucia cheered to her mother.

"Yes, darling!" Zhia replied, smiling faintly.

"Mama, Papa! Let's go home now," Luca suggested, tired.

Julia and Noland exchanged glances. They really wanted to take their grandchildren home right then, but Rayden signaled for them not to take that step now.