Chapter 34 - Blood Ties

Xavier's heart pounded with excitement as he raced through the city streets, his Audi darting perilously through traffic. In the rear seat, Mickey was knocked out, with blood oozing from the cut on his temple.

"When is the traffic gonna end for heaven's sake?" Xavier yelled, striking his hand on the steering wheel. He was unable to hold out any longer. Each moment seemed to drag on forever while Mickey's fate teetered on the edge.

Xavier screeched to a halt at the emergency entrance of "Healthy Core Hospital." He lifted up Mickey's frail form, his costly suit now tainted with the boy's blood.

"Help! I need help here!" Xavier yelled loudly while he quickly entered through the doors.

Nurses and doctors hurried to help, creating a bustling scene around them. Xavier's voice quivered as he detailed the events, not once averting his gaze from Mickey's ashen complexion.

"Sir, we need to take him now," a nurse said firmly, trying to take Mickey from Xavier's arms.

Reluctantly, Xavier gave him away, feeling helpless as they wheeled Mickey away on a stretcher. Covered in blood, he stood feeling more lost and scared than he had in years.

A young nurse walked towards Xavier. "Sir, are you the boy's father?"

The question hit Xavier like a punch to the gut. "No, I... I'm a friend of the family. His mother's in Singapore, I can't reach her."

Just then, Xavier's phone rang. It was Mark.

"Xavier, where the hell are you? The meeting with GlobalTech starts in 15 minutes. We can't lose this deal!"

Xavier exploded, his fear and frustration boiling over. "Fuck the deal, Mark! Mickey's had an accident. He's hurt bad, and I can't get hold of Isabella or Ava."

There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end. When Mark spoke again, his voice was low and serious. "Shit, Xav, I'm sorry. But you know how picky these guys are. I can't represent you, and they won't reschedule. We're going to lose this deal." The uttered. "For real." He added.

Xavier cursed under his breath. He knew what was at stake – millions in potential revenue, a game-changing partnership. But as he glanced towards the emergency room doors, none of that seemed to matter.

"I know what we're losing, Mark," Xavier said, his voice tight. "But I have to be here. I have to do this."

After ending the call, Xavier tried Isabella's number again, but it went straight to voicemail. He pictured her in some high-rise conference room, unaware that her son's life hung in the balance.

A doctor emerged from the ER, his face grave. "Mr. Stone? We need to operate immediately. The boy's lost a lot of blood. Do you know his blood type?"

Xavier shook his head, feeling utterly useless. "I... I don't know. Can't you check?"

The doctor nodded. "We're typing it now, but it will take time we don't have. We need donors, fast."

Without hesitation, Xavier rolled up his sleeve. "Take mine. Test me."

The next minutes flew by in a haze of needles and inquiries. Xavier’s thoughts raced as he recalled the numerous occasions he had given blood throughout the years, never envisioning that it could potentially rescue the life of Isabella's child.

Xavier walked back and forth in the clean hospital hallway, his fancy suit now marked with Mickey's blood. The surreal atmosphere was created by the rhythmic beeping of machines and hushed voices of medical staff. His thoughts ran quickly, going over the accident with clear imagery.

"Mr. Stone?" A nurse approached, clipboard in hand. "We need some information about your son."

Xavier started. "He's not my-" he began, then paused. "What do you need to know?"

As he answered questions about Mickey's medical history, Xavier felt a growing unease. How could he know so little about a child he cared for so deeply?

As the nurse drew his blood, Xavier's thoughts drifted to Isabella. Her phone was still off, unreachable in Singapore. He'd left urgent messages, praying she'd check them soon.

Dr. Patel emerged from the operating room, with some paper in his hands.

"Mr. Stone?" Dr. Patel's voice pulled him back to reality. The doctor's eyes were wide with surprise. "It's a match. You and Mickey share the same rare blood type."

Xavier felt a wave of relief, quickly followed by confusion. His blood type was incredibly rare. The odds of Mickey sharing it...

As they prepped him for the donation, Xavier's mind whirled. "Doctor," he asked hesitantly, "how rare exactly is this blood type?"

Dr. Patel looked up from his charts. "Extremely rare. Less than 1% of the population. It's quite remarkable you and your son share it."

Son again!

"He's not my-" Xavier started to protest, but the words died on his lips. A nagging thought, one he'd been subconsciously avoiding, began to take shape.

Hours passed in a haze of worried waiting and hurried updates. Xavier barely noticed the discomfort of the donation, his entire being focused on willing Mickey to pull through.

Finally, Dr. Patel emerged, a tired smile on his face. "The transfusion was successful. Mickey's stable now. You can see him soon."

Xavier sagged with relief, tears pricking at his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.

As he waited to visit Mickey, Xavier's mind raced. The rare blood type, the doctor's assumption... Could it be possible? He did the math in his head. Mickey was about five years old. Five years ago, Isabella... Was married to him and she didn't cheat because she wanted the marriage to work...

No. He shook his head. This can't be, his grandma forced him into their marriage so he hated Isabella, and nothing happened between them. They'd never... had they? But then, there was that night. The charity gala. Too much champagne, a moment of vulnerability...

Xavier's hands shook as he approached Dr. Patel. "Doctor, I need to ask you something. Is it possible to... to run a paternity test?"

Dr. Patel's eyebrows rose, but he nodded. "Of course. Given the circumstances, I can expedite the results."

The next few hours were torture. Xavier sat by Mickey's bedside, watching the boy's chest rise and fall. He looked so small, so fragile. And yet, Xavier couldn't help but notice the similarities. The shape of Mickey's nose, the curve of his jaw...

"Mr. Stone?" A nurse entered, holding a folder. "The test results are ready."

With trembling hands, Xavier opened the folder. His eyes scanned the page, landing on a single word: POSITIVE.

"Congratulations," Dr. Patel said, entering the room. "The test confirms it. Mickey is your biological son."

Xavier stared at the results, his world tilting on its axis. "How... how is this possible?" he whispered.

Dr. Patel placed a hand on his shoulder. "DNA doesn't lie, Mr. Stone. Mickey shares your rare blood type because he inherited it from you. He's your child."

A storm of emotions swept through Xavier. Joy, confusion, anger, fear. How could Isabella have kept this from him? Why would she...

The sound of heels clicking on the tile floor pulled Xavier from his thoughts. He looked up to see Isabella rushing down the corridor, her face pale with worry.

Their eyes met, and Isabella froze in her tracks. She took in the scene - Xavier by Mickey's bedside, the test results in his hand, the doctor's sympathetic expression.

In that moment, Xavier saw the realization dawn in Isabella's eyes. The secret she'd kept for five years was finally out.