Chapter 23

Jason Stokes:

We entered the hotel through the second gate and headed straight to the special hall where the birthday party live video was playing.

"This way sir" the hotel manager said, and we followed him. He already knew about me and Casper, so, he wasn't shocked when he saw me Lexi Ryan walked past me when we entered the hall and winked at the manager who instantly looked away from her. She blew her chewing gum and said "Cool hall" while snaking her long nails in the air "Thanks ma'am" the manager said We took our seats and started watching the live video of our multimillion birthday party "Daddy" Carolyn babbled, got down from her seat and started walking to where I was.

"Hey Lyn" I said to her, picked her up and sat her down on my lap "You haven't wish me happy birthday yet"

She babbled something and I assumed that it was her way of telling me happy birthday.

"Thanks, dear."

Carmella who sat close to me started whimpering when Casper went onto the stage with Dad. She was extremely happy to the extent that she couldn't keep it in.

"Here" I said as I passed her my handkerchief "Thank you" she replied and used it to wipe her tears away Two hours later, I received a call from a friend that I couldn't pick inside the hall. So, I walked out of the special hall with Carolyn in my hand.

"Hey John" I said into the phone "Is it true?" John asked "Is what true?"

Carolyn tried to get down, so I put her down.

"That you decided to celebrate your birthday without informing me."

"I thought you were still out of the country."

"I came back two days ago but being out of the country isn't an excuse."

"I'm sorry for not informing you. How was your journey? Where are you now? Can you still make it here?"

"I'm far away. I can't make it."

John and I chatted for five more minutes before hanging up the phone. After hanging up the phone, I looked around where I was for Carolyn, but she wasn't there.

She must have found her way back to the special hall, I thought and walked back in.

"Is Carolyn here with you?" I asked Carmella, who was watching the TV screen.

"Sorry?" She said when she finally noticed me "Carolyn, is she here?"

"She gave me an intense look for some seconds before replying me "You took her out with you"

"Fuck" I swore and walked out of the hall with Carmella behind me. And even though Carolyn's safety was guaranteed inside the hotel, I was still mad at myself because of how careless I was toward Casper's daughter.

"She was standing here with me while I was on the call. I don't know when she walked away" I told Carmella She said nothing and started looking around where we were.

"I know she is safe" I assured her "I will call the manager now but for the meantime, you go this way, I will go the other way"

We separated and I brought out my phone to call the hotel manager. I dialed his number and he picked up instantly.

"Hello sir"

"I'm looking for my niece. She is two."

"I'm on it, sir"

I hung up the phone and started walking round the hotel for Carolyn About three minutes later, I saw Carolyn, but I couldn't get to where she was because she was standing in front of the door where the birthday party was being held.

I picked up my phone and dialed Carmella's number.

"Hello" she said "I've seen her. She is standing in front of the big hall. I don't want to risk everything"

"Okay, I will be right there"

I hung up the phone and wondered what people's reactions were going to be if I walked to the door and stepped inside the hall.

I moved to a corner to avoid being seen and watched Carolyn from there. I sighed in relief when I saw Carmella but when I turned my head back to where Carolyn was, she was no longer there.

"Where is she?" Carmella asked.

"I think someone helped her in."

She looked at me worriedly, "The plan is ruined."

"Not yet," I said back to her and started heading back to our special hall.

Casper Hart:

After my speech, the congregation started applauding and I confidently started walking back to my seat.

"Daddy," a tiny little voice called but surprisingly, everybody in the hall heard her voice. They all stopped clapping and turned their heads to where the little girl's voice came from.

Carolyn, I thought. I cocked my head and looked at her, she was jumping up in a stranger's hand.

I had no idea what was going on. This was not the plan. I looked at Lexi for some explanation, but she just shook her head.

The congregation were now murmuring among themselves.

"Jason has another child? Unbelievable…from one scandal to the other"

"Daddy," Carolyn called again while trying to get out of the hold of the dumbfounded stranger.

The dumbfounded stranger put Carolyn down when she was back to herself and Carolyn started staggering to where I was. I knew my action might destroy Jason's plan, but I couldn't deny my beautiful daughter.

Carolyn released a high-pitched laughter as she was running toward me and I bent down to welcome her into my opened arms.

The murmuring became stronger and mom who had been watching everything horrifically couldn't help herself from getting out of her seat and walk toward us.

"What do you think you're doing?" Mom asked angrily "I can explain"

Almost everybody in the hall were capturing what was happening and I was already imagining what the headline was going to be 'Jason Stokes illegal daughter showed up on his twenty sixth birthday'

My phone vibrated at that moment and I brought it out of my pocket, it was Jason.

"Hello" I said "We're leaving. We're heading to Dad's house. Tell them that you have an explanation"

"Okay"

"Everything was my fault, I'm sorry" he said "It's okay"

I hung up the phone and saw Lexi and Maxwell by my side.

"Your explanation?" Mom said angrily "Let's go home mom. I will explain to you when we get home"

Mom walked back to her seat and tapped Dad who was still in shock. Dad gave me the most aggressive look that I had ever seen in my entire life and I looked away from him.

"What is going on?" Lexi whispered to me "I don't know. Jason said that we should go to Dad's house"

Mom whispered something into dad's ear and dad got out of his seat.

We all walked out of the hall in a straight line: dad, mom, Lexi with Maxwell, me with Carolyn and over three hundred cameras on our faces.

When we got to the garage, dad angrily pushed me to a wall even though Carolyn was in my arms "Do you think you introducing your illegitimate daughter to the whole world is cool or what!? What is wrong with you!?"

"I can explain dad"

"Don't give me that shit! And you..." Dad faced Lexi "You knew all about his stupid plan and you allowed him to pull it!"

"Adrian, let him go. He said he have an explanation" mom said to dad "That I'm not ready to listen too! Not this time around! You went over the boundary this time around son"

Dad angry walked to where his car was, opened it and started it. His car screeched as he drove away.

"Whose fault is this? This wasn't the plan" Lexi said "It was Jason's fault"

"Jason!?"

"That was what he told me on the phone"

We entered Jason's Lamborghini and followed them