Chapter 249

Chapter 249

The head of the Jenkins family hospital personally walked into the study carrying sealed test reports, escorted by bodyguards.

"Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Rivera, the urgent results are ready." The director's expression was extremely grave as he handed two thick document envelopes to Augustus and David respectively.

The air in the study seemed to freeze in that moment.

Augustus accepted the envelope with trembling hands, his fingertips cold from extreme nervousness.

He took a deep breath, tore open the seal, and flipped directly to the last page.

When he saw the line "Confirmed biological kinship relationship," Augustus's vision instantly blurred.

He urgently tore open Robert's report as well—the results were identical.

Iron-clad evidence!

Sophia was indeed his sister Delilah's biological child! And Robert was truly his brother Francis's bloodline!

"Delilah... Francis..." Augustus let the report slip from his hands. He covered his face as the pain, regret, and longing suppressed for over twenty years finally burst forth like a dam breaking.

This business mogul who commanded respect and made decisive moves in the corporate world now cried like a child who had lost his most precious treasure, his sobs heart-wrenching.

He suddenly stood up, stumbling toward Sophia and Robert with red-rimmed eyes streaming with tears.

"Children... I've failed you!" Augustus reached out with trembling hands, wanting to touch them but pulling back in guilt, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm sorry for letting you suffer alone all these years, even keeping the very demon who wanted to kill you close like a treasured son... I've failed Delilah, failed Francis!"

Watching Augustus before her, even Sophia's usually cold heart felt an indescribable ache.

Blood runs thicker than water—that bond etched in their very bones could never be severed by any conspiracy.

"Uncle," Sophia called out softly.

That single word instantly healed the deepest wound in Augustus's heart. He looked up sharply at Sophia in disbelief, tears of wild joy bursting from his eyes.

Robert also called out with reddened eyes, his voice deep: "Uncle."

Augustus nodded frantically, pulling Sophia with one hand and grasping Robert with the other, crying and laughing simultaneously: "Good... good children! You're both precious children of the Rivera family!"

After Augustus's emotions settled slightly, Sophia helped him sit on the sofa and handed him a glass of warm water.

"Uncle," Sophia looked at him, asking the question that had long circled in her mind, "what exactly happened back then? Why did my mother and little uncle suddenly disappear and end up wandering?"

Hearing this question, Augustus's grip on the glass tightened suddenly, deep pain and hatred flashing in his clouded eyes.

Augustus sighed, his gaze seeming to pierce through time back to those blood-soaked years. "Over twenty years ago, the Rivera family's business was at its peak, but this also threatened the core interests of several powerful overseas forces. They united to launch a frenzied retaliation against the Rivera family—it was a premeditated stranglehold. The Rivera family was attacked from all sides, our assets severely damaged, even our ancestral estate was burned down."

He paused, his eyes reddening again: "To preserve the family bloodline, we had to scatter and flee. At that time, your grandmother took young Delilah and Francis, escorted by several bodyguards, retreating south. But our enemies pursued us like rabid dogs..."

Augustus closed his eyes in pain, his voice trembling slightly: "In one brutal chase, the bodyguards were killed or wounded, and your grandmother became separated from the two children in the chaos. When I fought my way out with reinforcements and followed the trail, I only found pools of blood and devastation... Delilah and Francis vanished without a trace."

Sophia felt her heart tighten. She could imagine that stormy night years ago, how desperate and helpless her young mother and Francis must have been.

She took a deep breath and carefully retrieved from her inner pocket the hair clip she had always treasured.

The clip was worn at the edges from age, but the name "Delilah" carved on it remained clearly visible.

"Uncle, this is the only thing my mother left behind." Sophia placed the clip in Augustus's hands, her voice gentle.

The moment Augustus's gaze fell on that hair clip, he was struck as if by lightning.

He dropped his water glass abruptly, his trembling hands cradling the clip as large tears splashed onto it.

"I gave this to her..." Augustus wept uncontrollably like a child who had lost everything. "This was what I personally carved for Delilah's tenth birthday... She loved this clip most, always wore it, never wanted to take it off..."

Looking at this clip that bore witness to their sibling bond, Augustus's heart shattered completely.

He seemed to see that little girl with pigtails who used to follow behind him, sweetly calling "Augustus."

But now, with things changed and people gone, his sister lay forever at rest, never to return.

"Delilah... I came too late... I failed to protect you..." Augustus pressed the clip tightly to his chest, sobbing heart-wrenchingly. His anguished cries echoed through the study, bringing tears to everyone's eyes.

Sophia felt her heart ache deeply. She stepped forward, gently patting Augustus's trembling back, her voice soothing: "Uncle, please don't be too sad. If mother has a spirit in heaven, seeing how much you miss her and that we've finally reunited, she would surely be comforted."

David, who had been standing silently to the side, watched this scene with slightly reddened eyes.

He had deeply loved his wife—that pain of losing one's beloved, he understood better than anyone.

David stepped forward, patting Augustus's shoulder, his voice low and sincere: "Sophia's right. The dead are gone, but the living must go on. Though Delilah is no longer here, she left us Sophia—this is the continuation of her life. From now on, we'll protect these two children together and never let anyone harm them again."

Augustus looked up at David's determined gaze and nodded through his tears.

Two men who had once commanded wind and rain in their respective domains now completely dropped all defenses and grudges because of the same woman.

David walked to the liquor cabinet, took out a bottle of spirits he'd treasured for years, and poured two glasses.