Acquiring custody

"What's your name?" Jenica asked gently, looking at the weak boy lying in the hospital bed.

She had been staying in the hospital for a week now, and her other son had woken up. Now that the child was awake, she decided to ask him his name. She didn't want to hear him being called Totoy.

"Totsie, Ma'am," he whispered, but she heard him.

Totsie, what a name.

Then she introduced herself to the young boy as his mother and presented Alex, who was standing beside her, as his father. And Carlos' reaction? Well, just as she had expected.

"I don't know you, Ate and Kuya."

Jenica sighed-she had anticipated this outcome. When she first saw his photo, she let Carol pursue her little boy. So technically, this was their first time meeting each other.

"Don't call me Ate. Call me Nanay."

Totsie shook his head. He refused to accept that they were his parents. Ever since he could remember, Tata Pobe had been the one taking care of him.

Jenica didn't force him to call her Nanay and instead asked what he knew about the factory.

"I don't know, Ma'am. Tata Pobe was the only one who raised me." He looked around. "Where is Tata Pobe?" he asked.

Jenica explained what had happened.

According to Agent Z, Totsie was hit by a car because he was being chased by people connected to the woman he had stolen from. When they saw that the child had been hit, they didn't bother calling an ambulance. They just left the bleeding boy lying on the street. Even the driver who hit him didn't get out of the car-he simply sped away.

Jenica's eyes narrowed. She searched for the owner of the car, and she didn't return empty-handed. This happened a few days after her son's operation.

That night, she waited for the car's owner in the parking lot of a well-known restaurant to ask for an explanation.

"What? I don't think I did anything wrong. That bastard is a thief!" the car owner said.

A glint flashed in Jenica's eyes but quickly disappeared. "So you're saying it's okay to let a child die because of what he did?"

"Why not? At least I helped lessen their population!"

What a bastard.

Because of what he said, Jenica became even more determined to file a frustrated murder case against the driver.

While Totsie was recovering in the hospital, Jenica worked on the case. She stood as Totsie's guardian.

But the court wanted the child's legal guardian. Jenica was furious. She searched for the shameless man who had raised her son.

Looking at the burly man, Jenica frowned. She was currently in disguise as she stared down the man who had raised Totsie.

"So you were the one who taught him to steal," Jenica said. "Aren't you ashamed?"

"Why? Can shame put food on the table?" the man replied, looking her up and down. "You probably never experienced starving for days."

Jenica didn't argue with him. She knew he wouldn't accept anything she said-people like him were too narrow-minded.

He studied her carefully. "You must be Totsie's mother. Aren't you ashamed for abandoning your baby on the side of the road?"

Jenica clenched her fists. "It's not your turn to talk," she said.

The man smirked. "I was the one who found your baby. Shouldn't you at least thank me for raising your son?"

"Raising?" she sneered.

The man laughed. "For five years, your son was nothing but a freeloader. Now that you're claiming to be his mother, I think I have the right to ask for payment."

The audacity to ask for payment! But Jenica didn't want to owe him anything, so she pulled out a check.

"I will give this amount to you," she said, her eyes narrowing. "But I have conditions-you will represent my son's case as his guardian. After that, I will legally acquire full custody of my son."

When the man saw the amount written on the check, a wide grin spread across his face.

"I'm easy to talk to!"

But Jenica didn't trust his words. She had already prepared a contract before even looking for him. They both signed it.

"I'll see you in court tomorrow," Jenica said before walking away.

Pobe simply watched her retreating figure.

The next day, they met in court. After several legal proceedings, Jenica's side won. However, the driver filed a countersuit against her son for stealing a woman's bag.

But since the man had no direct connection to the woman Totsie had allegedly stolen from-and because the woman never appeared in court-the case was dismissed.

A few days after the driver was charged, Jenica went to court again to fight for her right to Totsie. She presented a DNA test. And since she had already spoken with Pobe, the process of acquiring custody of the child was expedited.

"Tata!" Totsie cried out, tears streaming down his face.

Jenica was at a loss for words. She glanced at Alex, who stood beside her. Since he was the father, his presence was required. Now, she and Alex were the child's legal parents.

"Totsie," she called softly.

But the child refused to be comforted. He ran toward Pobe. However, the man had already fled-taking the large sum of money he had received after the court hearing.

Totsie had no choice but to follow Jenica and Alex.

"Don't worry. You'll meet your twin brother, Sham, soon," Jenica promised the child.

"Sham?" A worried look appeared on the child's face. "Twin?"

"Yes."

So Jenica told him about Sham. But no matter what she did, she could still feel that Totsie did not accept her. Her biggest fear was that he wouldn't accept Sham either.

"Give him time," Alex whispered beside her.

Jenica sighed and let the child be. She brought him to the house she had purchased while they were staying in the hospital. It was still in the city center but far from the syndicate's influence. This way, Jenica's worries would lessen.

Then she turned to face Alex, who was looking at her with a deep gaze.

"So you sent me divorce papers just so you could remarry?" he asked, a dangerous smile playing on his lips.