Chapter 33

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, man...," Tyson stopped Adam from rushing past him. "The meeting is supposed to start in less than a minute's time, if you take off then what?"

"I don't understand why I have to, but I feel strongly that God wants me home now, handle the board till I get back," Adam said hurriedly.

Tyson shook his head.

"You know I'm not in the position to do that, it's you that has to be in charge here. Besides this is the deal we've been trying to close for ages," Tyson told him.

Adam looked away. Tyson was right but he still felt the need to go home.

"Fine then, just distract them or talk about other topics till I return; I'll be back soon!" Adam said and dashed outside.

"Other topics like what?!" Tyson yelled at his retreating figure.

"Figure it out, Tyson! That's why you're the manager!" Adam yelled back before entering the elevator.

"Gee thanks," Tyson snorted before rolling his eyes and walking slowly to the conference room.

Adam ran to where his SUV was parked and immediately started the engine.

Not too long after he was driving out of his company.

What going on, God? He asked silently as he went slightly over the speed limit.

Soon his estate came to view.

He honked at the entrance.

After all the normal security procedures had been taking care of at the gate, he made his way towards his villa.

He didn't bother parking in the garage. Adam saw a strange van parked in front of the house, he pulled up beside the van.

He grabbed his phone and dialed his security number.

"I'm going to need security down here, there's a case of illegal trespassing, I'm going to make sure the kids are alright," Adam said and cut the call.

He got down cautiously and went to peer at the driver seat of the other vehicle, he saw it was totally empty.

On the other side of the van was a logo.

Adam's heart skipped a bit when he realized it was an orphanage logo, worse it wasn't an orphanage in their state.

He quickly headed inside.

He heard some noises coming from indoors.

He called his security again as he walked towards the door. "Get your butt down here now Ted,” he instructed fiercely.

"We're nearing the main house, sir!" Ted said and Adam disconnected the call.

Just then he heard Lucy yell, "No! We're not going anywhere with you!"

Adam quickly busted into the house.

He saw the kids all huddled together by the bottom of the staircase. Reece and Caleb were shielding the other two smaller ones while Lucy was glaring at Vanessa who stood some feet away from her.

To their right stood a middle-aged man in an ash suit. He had on a pair of square spectacles. He was holding a black file of some sort.

A woman in her late forties stood beside the man. She was also wearing a suit but hers was gray in color and she had on a pair of kitten heels.

"What the heck is going on?!" Adam thundered.

Vanessa just looked a bit startled to see him there. Relief entered the kids' faces and Scarlett quickly jumped up from where she was crouched down and ran to hug Adam crying.

"They want to take us away...," she said in between muffled sobs.

Adam's grip around her tightened and his eyes turned to slits as he glared at the two strangers in suits.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't have you thrown in jail right now, first you trespass on my property then you try to take my kids away. I want to know your excuse," Adam said sharply making the man shiver involuntarily.

"Adam." Vanessa walked up to him and grabbed his arm. "Adam, stop overreacting, they're with me."

"Of course, they are." Adam shrugged off her hold on him and carried Scarlett. He rubbed her back as she sniffed continuously.

"Why are they here?" Adam's eyes hardened on Vanessa.

"They wanted to take us away!" Matt said at the top of his voice.

"Yeah! But we put up a good fight!" Reece supported.

"Yeah!" Caleb sided.

They were all feeling more comfortable now that Adam had arrived. They were already on their school holiday.

"You wanted to take them away?" Adam demanded harshly, facing Vanessa.

"Of course, I did!" She screamed at him. "They're not your kids, Adam! Just some random street urchins! The only reason I put up with them living with you was because you said before our marriage, you're putting them somewhere else and there would be no interference between us."

She looked back and glared at the remaining four kids that were still by the staircase.

"Now we're getting married in three days' time and you've not yet made a move to kick them out so I'm doing you a favor by doing your job for you!" She finished.

Vanessa then looked at the man who felt emboldened and took a step forward towards where Adam stood.

"Sir, my name is Lucas," he introduced. "I'm the attorney of Jonswaq orphanage, this here is one of the caretakers that monitors the children." He nodded towards the woman.

"I'm Kaitlyn." She stretched her hand forward for a handshake, but Adam just kept staring at her blankly till she awkwardly withdrew her hand.

"Okay so? Did you lose your way or something?" Adam asked in a rude tone.

"Adam!" Vanessa called sharply. "I called them here."

"Why?!" Adam snapped at her. Scarlett gripped his neck a bit tighter.

"Because the kids have to go," Vanessa replied firmly. "And they have to go now."

Adam inwardly knew the reason God wanted him to return home. Vanessa had thought he would've been in a meeting around this time, so she wanted to get them out quickly before he got back.

"Sir, there's no need to be worried; I assure you, Jonswaq orphanage takes very good care of the children, and Miss Vanessa has acted on your behalf and signed the legal necessities that needed to be signed," Lucas said with a small smile.

Adam faced him with a growl. "Your name is Lucas isn't it?"

He grabbed the man's collar so suddenly no one saw it coming. And he still managed to balance Scarlett on his left arm.

"Look, ass...,” Adam started with a snarl. "You're going to do yourself and everyone else a favor by getting your smelling butt off my property. Else...," he ended with a threat before letting go of Lucas' collar.

Lucas fearfully stepped backward quickly.

"Adam stop this madness you're exhibiting!" Vanessa snapped at him.

He cocked an eyebrow at her and smirked. "Mad's the only way to do it, baby," he said in a mocking tone.

Reece let out a quiet snicker.

Dad is so cool. He thought with a wide grin.

Adam faced Kaitlyn and Lucas again. "Get out of my house this instant, these kids are already spoken for, go find another idiot to bug," he snapped at them.

"No!" Vanessa yelled just as Adam's security men entered. Adam gestured for them to hold on.

He then turned to Vanessa.

"I'm not leaving them," he told her calmly.

"Then you leave me no choice," Vanessa concluded in a shaky breath. "Adam Hunt, now's the moment you'll choose who you prefer in your life. Me or them."

Adam's eyes went wide for a small fraction of time. Tyson had seen this coming a long while ago.

Vanessa straightened up when she saw his shocked expression.

"Yes Adam," she continued coolly. "If it's them you want then it's over between us, our wedding, engagement, everything would be broken, and you'll never be involved in my life again; not even as friends."

She fixed her blue eyes firmly on his black ones.

"But if it's me you want; they've got to go now. Not to a nearby flat or wherever but they've got to go for good. You'll never see them again, not even a faraway glance."

Adam looked at the children. He could feel Scarlett hugging him tightly, not wanting to let go.

"Vanessa...," Adam started but she shook her head.

"Choose Adam, me or them," she said firmly.

Adam let out a loud sigh. "I didn't expect you to do this, especially when you know I can't live without—" he stopped and looked away.

A small glint of triumph entered Vanessa's eyes while the kids had a contrast look of horror on their expressions.

Adam slowly walked to the children. He unwrapped Scarlett's arm from his neck and put her down near Lucy.

"You understand I have to do this," he said in a whisper searching her green eyes. She turned away from him. Adam sighed and stood up and looked at the rest.

Reece was clenching his fist while Caleb looked lost, Lucy just had on a blank expression while Matt looked like he was about to cry.

"I have to let go, you all understand? It's what best for my life right now. I love you all okay?" Adam said and kissed each of their foreheads.

"Don't touch me!" Reece pushed him back when he approached him.

A flicker of hurt went through Adam's eyes before he walked away from them. He went back to where Lucas and Kaitlyn were standing.

"Alright, I've made my choice," he said nonchalantly.

"You guys can leave now."

Kaitlyn beckoned to the children while Lucas and Vanessa shook hands.

"Let's go kids," Kaitlyn said. "You'd love it at Jonswaq, I promise."

The children slowly dragged their feet to follow her and Lucas to their van.

"Un...no," Adam said suddenly with a relaxed look. "My kids are staying at my house."

He pointed at Lucas, Kaitlyn, and Vanessa. "You guys can leave now," he stressed the guys.

"What?!" Vanessa shrieked while elation leaped into the kids' eyes.

"You almost scared us, dad!" Reece grinned widely as he flung his arms around Adam from behind. Caleb also hugged Adam and Reece from behind while Lucy gave him a side hug.

She was cleaning off the tears from her eyes.

"I thought you didn't want us anymore," she whispered.

Matt and Scarlett both hugged each of his legs.

"Daddy!" Scarlett grinned.

Adam laughed and threw his arms around those he could. "You seriously didn't think I was giving you guys up, did you?"

Vanessa's second shriek made Adam turn to her again.

"Geez stop being melodramatic Vanessa," Adam said. "Did you really think I was going to choose you? Admit it, we're toxic for each other. I want you to be a sweet home simple girl while you want me to be all bank statements and publicity."

He shrugged. "We can't both have what we want, might as well cut off from each other before we make the mistakes of our lives by getting married."

"How dare you say I'm toxic?!" Vanessa screamed. "I loved you and—" Adam interrupted her.

"Yeah, yeah, sure. We hurt each other emotionally and call it love. That's a nice one," he chuckled slightly. "We so loved each other."

Lucy rested her head on Adam's shoulder while Caleb put an arm around Adam's waist.

"These kids are by so far the best thing that ever happened to me," he smiled a little. "They're a gift from God, and heck I'm taking the whole package."

He grinned.

Adam felt more peaceful as he looked into Vanessa's raging eyes. He didn't feel regret or remorse at all, he felt free.

"You will regret this," Vanessa vowed and tried to storm out but he grabbed her hand and pulled off the engagement ring.

"I'll keep this for a better woman, now you can leave." He nodded at Ted to escort her and the two other bozos out.

Vanessa started sobbing.

"How could you break my heart?" She asked in a low tone.

Adam smirked a bit. "Your heart is broken, huh? Why don't you get your dad to fix it for you?" Adam yawned a bit.

"He's a cardiologist after all," Adam added lazily.

He knew what was hurting Vanessa was the fact he had rejected her instead of the other way around.

The children laughed at Adam's witty comeback and Vanessa glared at them all.

"You will regret messing with me, Adam Hunt," she vowed and stormed out dramatically. The security men escorted the orphanage people outside.

After Adam watched them all depart through the window, he faced the five kids...his five kids.

"Come here, you guys." He opened his arms, and they all ran to him and engulfed him in a giant bone-crushing hug.

"What about what Miss Vanessa said, all those threats?" Matt asked after a while of them all staying in that position.

"Ehn...it's nothing. After all the lion doesn't look back when small dogs bark," Adam answered.

Reece was the first to pull out of the group hug, soon they were all seated on the sectional sofas in the sitting room.

"I honestly thought we were goners," Caleb admitted with a small chuckle.

"I knew Daddy would come," Scarlett said confidently.

"What now?" Lucy's lip looped into a grin. "Dad?"

Adam looked at them one by one. From Lucy to Reece, to Caleb, to Matt, and finally Scarlett.

He grinned at them.

"I don't know the future, but I do know we're family."

Scarlett squealed and ran to hug him again. "And family," Adam looked up from the little blond girl back at the others. "Sticks together till the end."

"Like we would," Matt inputted with a nod and a smile.

"Like we would," Adam affirmed.

"Let's pray?" Lucy suggested.

They all held each other's hands and formed a small ring in the sitting room then they closed their eyes.

"Dear God in heaven," Adam started. "We'd like to say a big thank you for seeing us this far." He chuckled a bit. "Honestly, having kids wasn't in my plan...," he said quietly.

"Being dependent on someone else other than myself wasn't in my plan," Lucy said humbly. Adam let out a small grin even though his eyes were still closed.

"Going to school wasn't my plan also God," Caleb confessed next.

"Living with a bigshot was definitely not my plan," Reece said aloud.

"Yeah, living with the person who bumped into me and knocked down my cookies wasn't my plan," Matt admitted.

Scarlett shrugged a bit when Adam turned to her.

"Honestly, I didn't have a plan. I was plan-less...,” she giggled a bit.

"But God, despite it all you made us understand we're mortals and subject to your rule. Your ways are not our ways God, they're way higher. You made us understand that you're a loving father that knows what's best for us, even though we don't understand your methods," Adam took over the prayer again.

"But Lord, we're coming down on one knee in humbleness before your will. Guide us through this path and help us understand what it means to be a true family. In Jesus' name we pray," he concluded.

"Amen." The kids chorused.

They all opened their eyes and smiled at each other.

Adam's smile was the widest. He had kids now. He had a family of his own because God had been good to him despite his stubbornness.

As he looked around the chatting children, he had just one thought in mind;

The kids are here to stay.