You Are The Pursuit of My Life novel Chapter 169

"Irene, there's no reason for you to be mad. Let me tell you, your best choice now is to marry Edric. You already have two children together anyways. I'm sure it'll be easier for you to stay with their father than finding a stepfather for them."

"Mom!" A childish, nasally voice suddenly came out of nowhere. Looking around, they saw Eden standing at the door with his eyes peered wide open. "Aren't you going to marry Nathan? Why is it Edric now?"

Shocked, Irene stared at Eden. Since when was Eden awake? Shouldn't he be taking his nap? Judging by the look on his face, he must've heard their entire conversation. Joanne should be d*mned!

"Because Edric is your biological father," Joanne answered Eden with a measure of spite.

"Joanne White!" Irene raised her voice. At this moment, she really wanted to rip Joanne's mouth apart.

"Edric is my father? Is that true?" Eden's eyes searched for Irene's face, seeking confirmation. He only believed in Irene's words, so he wanted her to testify to it.

"Of course it's true. The little baby in your mother's belly is also Edric's... Edric is your father," Joanne said.

"Joanne, you, leave right now! Otherwise, I won't play nice any longer." Irene reached out and shoved Joanne. Seeing that Irene was enraged, Joanne didn't dare to stay any longer and left obligingly. Eden stood at the door of the house, crying with his mouth puckered up.

Irene rushed over to hug him, while coaxing, "Eden, fret not. I'm here. Don't cry."

"Mom, is Edric really my father?" Eden insisted on knowing the answer. Irene was left with no choice; she sighed and nodded as a reply. "Why doesn't Dad want us? I saw on the TV that he got engaged to another woman. Why doesn't he want us?"

"It's not that he doesn't want us; it's just that his hands are tied," Irene explained. But obviously, this made no sense to a child.

Eden had seen with his own eyes when the news channels had announced the engagement between Edric and Lily. He had been disappointed, but back then Edric was just another man to him, so he had not been a great deal bothered by it.

Now that he knew Edric was his father, Edric's innocent mind couldn't comprehend the entire situation. He couldn't understand why Edric didn't want him when he was already so well-behaved; why didn't he want Irene when she was so nice?

Refusing to accept the fact that Edric didn't want them, Eden was positively upset. "Mom, Dad is a bad guy. He's a bad guy!"

"No... Dad isn't," Irene explained.

"He is! He is the big, bad guy! I hate him!" This was the first time Irene heard Eden express hatred, and the subject of his wrath was Edric, his biological father. She didn't know what to say; she could only console him in her arms.

And, right on the dot, Edric chose to show up at this moment. Normally, Edric would take this time off work to visit Eden and play with him. It wasn't any different this day as he came bearing many of Eden's favorite snacks and toys, looking forward to their playtime. Stepping into the yard, he immediately spotted Irene carrying a very upset Eden. Naturally, he rushed forward and asked in a very concerned manner, "What happened?"

At the sight of Edric, Eden freed herself from Irene and ran to him. Edric spread his arms, anticipating a hug, but Eden clawed at Edric's hand and shouted fiercely, "Bad guy, you're a bad guy! I don't want to see you again!"

Edric grimaced in pain as Eden turned around and ran back into the house. After a while, he rushed out with a toy gun in his hand. He pointed the gun at Edric with a face brimming with anger. "Liar, get out of my house, or I'll beat you to death!"

Staring at a very emotional Eden, Edric could sense his palpable anger. Children were straightforward creatures who had yet to learn how to hide their feelings. He knew that if that were a real gun in Eden's hands, there would've been a bullet right through his chest already.

"What happened?" Edric looked at Irene again, who was smiling bitterly. "Joanne was here a while ago. She just made a scene. She spilled everything about me, you, and Eden, and he heard all of it."

Edric was rooted to the ground. He recalled the countless times he had met Eden, all the good times they had spent together. Little did he know that it would lead up to such animosity.

He could see through Eden's beautiful and clear eyes that the trust they had shared before was long gone. Instead, they were replaced by anger. No matter how Irene tried to persuade Eden, he refused to put down his gun.

He pointed the toy gun straight at Edric and shouted, "Liar, you big liar, get out of here! We don't want to see you! Forever!"

As Edric caught the despiteful look in Eden's eyes accompanied by his hurtful words, he felt as if his heart was being sliced apart with a knife. After all, this was his very own son.

Half of his blood flowed in Eden's vein. If life wasn't so cruel with them, they would've lived happily together. Eden would've looked up to him as a proud father, and they would've had a close father-son bond, but now everything was shattered. They would never be the happy father and son they were supposed to be. Right now, he was nothing but a liar to Eden. A big, fat, liar!

"Edric, I think you should leave." Seeing that Eden remained inconsolable, Irene could only plead with Edric to leave. Surprisingly, Edric stood his ground and stared at Eden. He really wanted to apologize to Eden and beg for his forgiveness, but at this moment, he just couldn't fumble for the words.

How was he ever going to make up for all the pain he had caused Eden? How was he going to get Eden to forgive him? "God, help me! Please!" he screamed in his heart. At that moment, Edric was washed over by a sense of helplessness he had never experienced before.

When Edric returned home trudging under the weight of his distraught heart, Margaret was enjoying the nutritious soup Loraine had made for her. She was happy to see him and quickly urged Loraine to also get a bowl of soup for Edric.