Divorced Heiress
Chapter 45

My father began to scold Michelle, listing the mistakes she had made and how as a result, she would have to submit her resignation letter. The audacious woman dared to deny everything, and I couldn't help but let out a humorless laugh. "Ms. Boyer, I remind you that the person involved is waiting outside. If you have such a bad memory, I can bring him in so that he can tell us how things happened." I said. Her body tensed next to me, and she gave me a furious look. She turned her gaze back to my father and nodded her head, not having any other options since she was caught between a rock and a hard place.

"Alright, I have violated the agreement. I have told Mr. Lancaster about it, but I didn't have any ill intentions. I thought it would be good for him to know..." Michelle said.

"That is a decision that is not up to you. He is my son, and I decide who, when, and how to tell him. It shouldn't concern you whether Mr. Lancaster knows or not." I said before setting Tristan down on the ground, as he was restless and uncomfortable on my lap. My father went on to give her a sermon and said that he wouldn't take legal action because he had worked for the company for many years.

He gave her a deadline to submit her resignation letter and return to Paris. Michelle left the office defeated, leaving me alone with my father and with Tristan, who was now playing with the ornaments on the coffee table.

"Why didn't you tell me he was here?" I asked, making sure no one was listening.

"It was a last-minute decision, I'm sorry, daughter. Before going to Ms. Boyer, I had to sign the contract and moved the meeting up, I forgot to let you know." He apologized to me, knowing that if he had told me earlier, I wouldn't have brought Tristan with me. "Will you tell him now?" He asked curiously, and I looked at my son for a moment, recalling how scared he was of Alexander.

"I suppose it's for the best. Why wait any longer?" I responded, feeling the nerves bubbling up in my system. This wouldn't be an easy task.

"You have my full support, it is certainly for the best. Seize this opportunity that is here and tell him who Tristan's father is before fear for that man grows in Tristan." He said. I nodded and gave my father a smile. I didn't know what I would do without him and his advice.

I took my son's little hand and walked with him and my father to the living room, where the pair of men were waiting. Julian was sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, and Alexander was standing, pacing back and forth as if he were impatient. As he noticed our presence, he locked his eyes on me and the little one walking at my side. I couldn't decipher his gaze, but he seemed distressed, and that made my stomach churn with nervousness.

"Apologies for the delay, I had important matters to attend to. Would you like to toast with champagne? Or is it too early to drink alcohol?" My father amusingly asked, taking a seat next to Julian. I also sat down but on the individual sofa, looking for the right moment to speak to Alexander.

The cheerful chestnut-haired man accepted a glass of champagne, as it was the best way to seal deals. Alexander barely responded, just agreeing with Julian, and my father asked Maga to bring the bottle of the finest reserve.

"Mama, look at that mean man." Tristan whispered to me as he sat on my lap, continuously looking at Alexander, who had his eyes fixed on us as if he wasn't listening to the conversation that was taking place between my father and Julian. "He's not mean, my love. He didn't do it on purpose. It was an accident, but I will ask him to apologize to you and buy you another ice cream, alright?" I said. Tristan nodded excitedly at the mention of ice cream, and I couldn't help but let out a giggle. "Ice cream, yes, ice cream." He clapped his hands and my heart almost melted from my beautiful and intelligent son.

"Ms. Petit, can you give me a few minutes of your time?"I stopped looking at Tristan to raise my gaze and meet Alexander who looked expressionless, my son hugged me hiding his face from him and I caressed him to calm him down. "I need to talk to you, can you?"

"I can, I'll leave my child with Maga and join you." I said before getting up from my seat and hugging Tristan's body that clung to me as if his life depended on it.

"No, Ms. Petit, take the child." He said with a cold voice and my skin instantly bristled.

I would have preferred to tell him the truth with Tristan far away, but if that was what he wanted, I was not going to oppose it.

Alexander left to the parking lot after apologizing to those present and all I did was follow him, feeling the effects on my stomach and my legs trembling like jelly, I was afraid of falling due to nerves, but I remained strong for Tristan.

He reached the side of his car and stopped to turn to look at me, I didn't know if it should be me who starts to let everything out.

"I'm listening, Mr. Lancaster." I preferred he spoke first, while searching for the right words to tell him that he was Tristan's father.

Alexander snorted, while looking at the back of the child who didn't even want to look at him and he looked at me after a few seconds in which it seemed like he was overthinking.

"Last night... Last night you told me something that has left me a little unsettled." He said with a firm voice, although there was a hint of nervousness.

"I told you many things, please, be clearer." I responded, finishing clarifying my mind, I had already thought of the right words I was going to use.

"You told me that if anyone were the father of that child, he wouldn't be answering my questions, even though it's your private life and you shouldn't have to give me explanations. So I understood it and now that I see it, I feel... I feel something in my chest telling me that I'm not so far from reality. But I need to hear it from your own mouth, Sarah. Tell me, I need to know."

I looked at him surprised, because I didn't imagine he would be able to think clearly about my words, but apparently he had been thinking about it all night and all day, enough to finally understand the message I wanted to give him.

I took a deep breath and was forced to calm my nerves and the accelerated beats of my heart that I could hear in my ears.

Calm down, this was the right moment.

I stared at his honey-colored eyes, which looked at me impatiently, waiting for an answer from me, the answer he knew, the answer I hid thinking it would be best for everyone, but I didn't realize the damage it would cause to my son. I stroked Tristan's dark hair, as if he was giving me the strength I needed to let go of the answer, and nodded my head.

"You're right, Alexander." I responded without beating around the bush and a barely audible gasp escaped his mouth. His tough expression was replaced by one of disbelief and he barely blinked. His gaze fixed on the back of the little black-haired boy who didn't even want to look at him, and I could see how his eyes welled up with tears.

"You're the father of my son."