Chapter 29: 29. Who Are You?

Bastian's expression began to change when he heard Calvin mention Lincoln Stuard as his father’s name. The man even looked Calvin up and down, as if trying to confirm something.

"Bastian! "Don't tell anyone about this, okay? "I know you work at that company, so just forget it! "I'm sure my mom got the wrong person!" Calvin said with a grin.

Bastian simply nodded, but he couldn't hide the shock in his face.

"I understand, but why did you say your father didn't want you? "What made you think that?" Bastian asked.

"I don’t know! But what I do know is that there were some bad people who have been after us since I was a kid. My mom was always running away from them, and we kept moving from place to place. It seemed like they really wanted to get rid of me!"

"Bad people?"

"Yeah, I saw them when I was little. Back then, my mom even left me with our neighbor and told them I was never born! Every time they came looking for me, we moved to a new place."

"Where is your mom now?"

"She’s somewhere safe. We deliberately live apart! She told me I just needed to live as Calvin Dale, without any connection to my father. So, I don't have to meet him."

Bastian looked drained, holding his head as if he had just heard something overwhelming.

"Don’t take all of this too seriously. The important thing is that I’m an adult now! "I don’t have to deal with those people anymore, and I can decide my own life," Calvin said, offering Bastian some snacks.

"Thanks, but I’m not hungry. Emm, I have to go now, Calvin."

"Okay!"

Bastian stayed still, wanting to leave, but his eyes remained locked on Calvin, as if he didn’t want to part from him.

"What is it, Bastian?"

"Can I hug you?" he asked.

"Oh, come on! I'm not some whiny little kid. "Stop feeling sorry for me, I'm totally fine!" Calvin explained.

"That's not it. I want to hug you because I care!"

"Oh, for God's sake! Alright, come here! Haha!"

Calvin stood up, and Bastian immediately pulled him into a hug—like someone who had longed for someone for a very long time.

"Enough of this! I'm not a kid anymore! You're overreacting, Bastian!"

"Listen to me, Calvin! From today onwards, you can rely on me! I will help you!"

Calvin pulled away from the hug and smiled.

"I told you, you're overreacting! I don’t need your pity, I just need that crazy brain of yours! If you really care about me, teach me how to do business—that would be way more useful!"

"Of course! "I’ll teach you everything you want to know! "I’ll turn you into a young, wealthy business executive!" Bastian declared with determination.

"Wow! That sounds awesome!"

"I have to go now. "I have some business to take care of," Bastian said as he finally left.

"Alright, take care."

Bastian walked away quickly and got into a car. At the same time, another man entered from the other side. A well-built man with tan skin—the one who had been pretending to be Lincoln Stuard—slid into the seat beside him.

"Boss, this was exhausting! ""I had to sit through so many proposals, and I have no idea why they even came up with such ridiculous business ideas!" Nathan complained, having spent the day impersonating Lincoln on his orders.

But instead of responding, Bastian was lost in thought, holding his head.

"Boss? Are you listening to me? Have you picked the winner yet? "You saw the live presentations, right?" Nathan asked, trying to confirm.

"Nathan, tell me—who am I right now?"

"Of course, you're Lincoln Stuard!"

"No... I don’t want to be Lincoln! I just want to be Bastian!"

"Oh, come on, Boss! What the hell is going on? "Why are you talking nonsense?" Nathan asked, confused.

"I'm going crazy, Nathan! Damn it! My head hurts!"

"What's wrong, Boss? Are you feeling unwell? Do we need to see a doctor?"

"No, that's not it! I think... I have a child!"

"What?!" Nathan looked completely shocked.

***

Classes ended that day, and Calvin walked out of the classroom sluggishly. After the business proposal competition results were announced yesterday, he found out that the winner was not William or himself, but a student from another university whom he didn’t even know.

"Damn it, I’ve lost all motivation," Calvin muttered.

He walked down the campus corridor when someone called out to him and ran closer.

"Calvin, wait!"

"Andreas! "Hey, what’s up?"

"Have you seen the competition results?" Andreas asked.

"Yeah, of course, I have."

"Come with me!" Andreas said.

"Yeah, I know, we both lost! "The first-place winner is even from another university!" Calvin replied.

"Oh, come on! What are you even talking about? Just follow me!" Andreas immediately dragged Calvin toward the announcement board. A group of students was gathered around it, but they quickly moved aside when Calvin and Andreas arrived.

"Read this, Calvin!"

Calvin squinted at the board, noticing his name listed below the winners.

"What is this? Special invitation?"

"Yes! "They weren’t interested in our proposals, but they were interested in us!" Andreas said excitedly.

"Interested in us?"

"Yes! "They’re offering us a business project we can work on!" Andreas explained.

Calvin gaped in surprise, then turned to Andreas with a beaming smile.

"Wow! That’s awesome!"

"Of course! "It’s Stuard Corporation!" Andreas replied excitedly.

"Okay! "Let’s celebrate!" Calvin said, immediately throwing an arm around Andreas.

The two chuckled and headed to the cafeteria, where they started feasting. As they ate, their conversation shifted to William.

"I didn’t see William’s name on the list! "Did you?" Andreas asked.

"No, I didn’t!"

"Why though? "Wasn’t he the faculty’s top candidate?"

"I don’t know! Maybe the judges weren’t too impressed with his proposal. Besides, if he were offered an invitation like us, do you think he would even take it? "He’s already rich," Calvin replied.

"He might be the mayor’s son, but let me tell you, an offer from Stuard Corporation is a whole different thing, buddy! Turning it down would be foolish! "Even the rich wouldn’t pass up an opportunity from a major company like that!" Andreas explained.

"Why’s that?"

"Connections! They’ll help you grow in this industry!" Andreas clarified.

"Wow, that means we’re really lucky!"

"Yeah! "Absolutely!" Andreas grinned.

***

Meanwhile, in another place, Lincoln was preparing documents with Nathan.

"Are you sure that this student named Calvin is your son?" Nathan asked.

"I’m pretty sure. He’s Maria’s son. "But to confirm it legally, I’ll arrange a DNA test," Lincoln replied.

"Wow! Boss, you’ve always been so quiet and nerdy, and suddenly you have a son! That’s amazing!"

Lincoln shot Nathan a sharp glare. "Are you mocking me or praising me?"

"Of course, I’m praising you! A lot of people thought you were gay, but it turns out you’re completely normal! I’m really relieved, Boss!"

"You little brat!" Lincoln grumbled.

"So, what’s the plan now, Boss?" Nathan asked.

"Of course, I’ll prepare to make my son the sole heir of my company! But__"

"But what?"

"I need to find out first… who was responsible for separating me from Maria and my son!" Lincoln muttered with a serious expression.