HAPPY MONDAY, GUYS! I hope you will like this chapter. Happy reading:)

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JACE's POV

I felt like my heart was broken seeing the animosity on my son's face while staring at me. I couldn't even say anything. I felt like my whole body become frozen. I wanted to approach him and tell him that I was his father but for some reason, my ability to move and talk suddenly disappeared.

I've never been scared like this my whole life. That kind of fear that my own son wouldn't be able to accept me as his father was too much to handle.

"Papy, are you okay?" He asked my father full of worry. JC was wearing descent clothes this time not like those baggy and old clothes that he was wearing when I first saw him before.

"I'm okay, mi nieto." My father answered and then sat up while smiling at my son. JC sat in a squatting position beside his grandfather. I could see the worry on his face.

"But your lips are bleeding." He ruffled JC's hair.

"Don't worry about me, mi nieto. Papy's fine." Suddenly, JC stood up and then looked at my direction angrily.

"I thought you were a nice guy but I was wrong! You're a bad guy! You punched my papy!" I felt like my world crumbled upon hearing what my own son said. I felt like a thousand needles pierced my heart at the same time. The inexplainable pain was just too much for me to handle but I tried my best to stay strong. I persevered and pulled myself together.

I couldn't blame him for acting like that. He just witnessed what I've done to his papy with his own two eyes. I stepped closer towards him.

"S-Son, listen to me. I—" I was about to hold his hand but to my surprise, he pushed me away.

"You're bad! You're bad! You hurt my papy! I don't like you anymore!" He kept on saying those words while continuously pushing me away. My eyes brimmed with tears. Every word that he was spitting at me was slowly killing my heart.

I looked up in order to prevent my tears from falling. I've never expected this kind of rejection and anger from my own son and I didn't know how to handle it. We've been longing for his return for so long but I didn't expect it to be this difficult.

"Boss, there's a group of unknown men and they're on their way here. I think, it's better for us to leave now." One of my father's men, who was with JC a while ago, informed him.

"Neo, stop. We need to go." My father said with an authoritative voice and JC instantly stopped. He was about to go to my father but I was quick to stopped him by the wrist.

"Son, no, don't. You will come with me because we're going to go home together." I told him with a serious voice and his little eyebrows creased as his lips parted in shock.

"I'm your son, Mister?" I nodded my head.

"No! You're not my daddy!" He was about to kick my foot but I quickly evaded his attack and then scooped him up onto my arms.

"Let go of me! No! I don't want to come with you, you bad man!" He kept on struggling but I didn't let him go.

"Jace! What do you think you're doing to Neo?!" My father asked exasperatedly.

"Don't call him that! His name is Jacob Christiano, JC for short, and he is Christine and I's son!" I answered through gritted teeth, emphasizing every words. He was about to answer but one of his men spoke again.

"Boss! They're coming! We need to go now!" They then began running away. My father hesitantly running away while kept on glancing back at JC who kept on struggling in my arms.

"Papy! Papy!" He then began crying loudly and then started punching me. I wanted to stop my father and his men from escaping but my son kept me occupied. I didn't want to leave him there just to run after my own father because JC was my utmost priority.

"Six, I'm sorry for coming to your rescue late. I can't believe that we took that long to finish all doctor Baron's men. Anyway, where are your father and doctor Baron?" Viper asked.

"Doctor Baron is dead now while my father went that way! Make sure to apprehend him and his men! Don't let them get away!"

"Copy, six!"

"You heard that, men! Let's go!" He was about to go when I spoke.

"Viper, make sure not to kill my father." I ordered with an emotionless face and he smirked.

"You don't need to ask me that. I know." He then led the way. I wanted to go with them but I should get JC out of there first. I should make sure that he's safe.

"Let me go! I want to go with papy!" My jaw clenched. I put him down on his feet and then held him by the shoulders as I sat in a squatting position before him.

"Listen to me, son. Your mommy is waiting for you at home. Don't you want to see your mommy?" He finally stopped struggling and then wiped his tears with the back of his hands.

"My mommy? But I don't have a mommy." I shook my head.

"You have a mommy. Those bad guys took you from us when you were still a baby. Mommy and daddy have been looking for you for so long. Please, son. Come with daddy and let's go home." I begged him with a cracked voice.

He seemed so confused as he looked at me before throwing a glance at the direction where my father went to.

"But what about papy?" I almost sighed in relief because he finally calmed down. I cupped his face.

"Don't think about him anymore because he'll be fine. C'mon, let's go home to mommy." He didn't answer for a couple of seconds and I thought, he would say no. But to my surprise, he slowly nodded his head.

My heart leapt for joy before gathering him into my arms and then hugged him tightly. The tears that I was holding back since a while ago pooled down my cheeks because of so much emotions. I couldn't explain how happy I was.

This was the first time in a long time that I hugged my own son and it felt surreal.

"Welcome back, buddy." I whispered to him and then kissed him on the forehead. After that, he didn't struggle anymore when I lifted him up and carried him onto my arms while walking away from there.

CHRISTINE's POV

After praying for I didn't know how long, I finally opened my eyes and then looked around. Everything was silent and I felt like I could already hear the beating of my heart because of so much worry, fear and anxiousness.

Until now, Jace haven't returned home yet and many negative scenarios began appearing on my mind. But when I realized that, I shook my head and then took a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself down.

"Just trust Jace and everything will be alright." I said to myself while pacing back and forth. It was already 1 am. I tried to sleep off my worry but I just couldn't fall asleep.

"Ma'am Christine, I think you should go to bed now. I'm sure sir Jace is on his way home." Our maid said with a hint of concern. I forced a smile.

"I can't sleep knowing that he's on a dangerous mission." Her eyebrows creased upon hearing what I've said.

"Mission?" I groaned inwardly. I told her a while ago that Jace went to Oregon for an important meeting. I was about to answer when we heard the sound of Jace's car arriving. Later on, the door opened. We both rushed towards the door and my heart almost stopped beating upon seeing my husband with a child in his arms.

"We're home, mi amor." Jace uttered with an emotional smile on his face before he strode his way towards me. For some reason, I couldn't move my body as my heart started pounding in mixed emotions.

When Jace finally stopped in front of me, my gaze went to the small boy that was sleeping in his arms and my tears automatically fell as unexplainable happiness surged within me. Oh, God! My son finally came home!

My tears of joy pooled unstoppably while looking at him in awe. Just seeing him automatically filled the missing piece in my heart.

I slowly raised my slightly trembling hand and was about to touch his cheek but for some reason, I was afraid to do so because of the fear that I might just be dreaming.

I was scared that the moment I touch him, he would suddenly disappear on me and I would wake up from this dream without him.

"Son, wake up. We're home. Your mommy is here." Jace said to him gently. He stirred and then groaned.

I thought, he was going to wake up, but his breathing became steady again. I looked at him from head to toe. His clothes weren't baggy and old anymore and he looked so handsome.

I couldn't believe that Neo was actually my son! If I only knew back then that he was JC, I wouldn't've let him go.

I suddenly remembered our first and second encounters. He mentioned to me that he'd been so hungry because they didn't have food to eat since the night before that day. Just thinking that my son didn't have anything to eat and has to steal food just to survive was too painful for me as a mother.

"M-My son." It was all that I could say before finally has the courage to touch his hand. I released the breath that I didn't know I was holding when I felt his skin. He felt so warm, soft and fragile. A smile of happiness formed on my lips as my tears of joy continuously falling nonstop.

"I'm sorry, mi amor. He fell asleep in the car while we're on our way home. Do you want to carry him?" I nodded my head.

"Then, it's better for you to sit down on the couch. He's heavy." He then recommended and I did as I was told. After that, he carefully placed our son on my lap while pillowing on my arm.

I chuckled when he didn't wake up even after all that. "He hasn't changed. He's still a heavy sleeper, mi amor." I said and then kissed JC on the forehead. I couldn't explain what I was feeling. Finally, my son came home to us.

I stared at him in awe. The longingness for our son that has been residing in my heart for more than three years was overwhelming.

If this was all just a dream, I didn't want to wake up anymore.

"Yes. I could remember years ago, when he was still a baby. Even though we make love while he's asleep, he never wakes up in his crib." Jace said amusedly and then sat beside me. I glared at him.

"Stop it! He might hear you!" I rebuked and then wiped my tears. Jace laughed but he still looked emotional too.

I shifted back my gaze to my sleeping son.

"I can't believe that JC is finally home, mi amor. Thank you for making all this possible. Thank you because you kept you promise." Another batch of tears fell from my eyes. Even though I didn't want to cry, I couldn't help it. I just felt so happy and emotional at the same time.

"You don't have to thank me, mi amor. JC is our son and he belongs here with us. His home is with us." He emphasized the last sentence with a serious face.

I caressed JC's soft cheek while looking at his facial features full of awe. His eyebrows were upturned and long. His lips were reddish in color. His cleft chin looked so good on him and that made him more attractive. He really looked handsome especially with those tantalizing electric blue eyes of his.

While staring at him like that, I couldn't take it anymore. I embraced him ever so tightly and when I felt his small frame, my emotions poured. I cried like a child.

After more than three years of crying and mourning over him, he finally came back to us. I showered kisses on his face and forehead but I made sure not to overdo it because he was asleep. It was so hard to control myself to not wake him up because I knew that he was tired.

"Mi amor, stop crying. JC is finally with us. You've been crying for so long that you deserve to be happy now. You don't have a reason to cry anymore because our family is finally complete." He whispered to my ears after he enveloped JC and I into his arms.

I looked at him and I couldn't help but to chuckle even though I was crying when I saw his tears. "You say that but you're crying too." He chuckled as well.

"Just like you, I can't help but to feel emotional. We're finally complete, mi amor. Our family is finally complete." He then kissed JC's forehead. "Welcome home, my son. Daddy and mommy will make sure to give you all the love, happiness and care that you deserve."

I caressed his cheek in a feathery manner. "Yes, sweetheart. Your daddy is right. Mommy and daddy will do everything for you to forget all those unpleasant memories while growing up. All your sorrows and tears will be replaced by smile, laughter, and happiness. Our love will heal you, my son. I promise you that."

I didn't know how long we were on that position. We just watched him sleep. If it was possible, we didn't want to let go of him but eventually, we brought him to our room and carefully put him to bed. With all those movements, he stirred a couple of times but thankfully, didn't wake up.

That night, Jace and I slept with JC lying between us. After more than three years, I fell asleep feeling so happy and complete. I felt like all the heavy load inside of me disappeared just like that. I've never thought that I could be so happy like this again.

Then morning after that, I woke up early and a smile automatically appeared on my face upon seeing JC. He was still sleeping like a log.

"Good morning, sweetheart." I whispered to him before planting a soft kiss on his forehead. My smile widened when he groaned in irritation as his forehead knitted together. He even stretched his arms. I thought, he would finally wake up but he didn't.

I mentally shook my head. Looked like he really was tired with all the adventures that he'd been through.

After that, I watched JC's sleeping face for I didn't know how long. Even if I would stare at him for a whole day, I would never get tired of it.

Jace was still asleep as well. He looked so tired yet I could see that he was happy as too. I carefully got off the bed and then walked to Jace's side of the bed to kiss him on the lips. I couldn't control my amused chuckle when he groaned irritably with his eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh, my. Like father, like son, huh?" I said to myself while shaking my head in amusement. I decided to go downstairs to cook for my son and husband. While preparing the ingredients, I was humming merrily. My heart was swelling with so much joy while smiling widely.

While I was in the middle of cooking, I gasped in surprise when someone suddenly hugged me from behind and then kissed the side of my neck.

"Good morning, my beautiful wife."

"You startled me!" I hissed and he laughed heartily.

"I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to startle you." He the rested his jaw on my shoulder before burying his face on my neck and sniffing me.

"Hmmm. I miss you, mi amor. I feel like I've been away from you for so long." I couldn't help but to laugh.

"You just didn't see me for a couple of hours and you're already saying that?"

"Of course. Maybe, this is the result of me being so hopelessly in love with you." He then began showering my neck and shoulder with small kisses. I couldn't suppress the smile that appeared on my lips. He's such a sweet-tongue guy!

"You really love sweet-talking me like this. How many women did you manage to get because of being a sweet-tongued guy, huh, mi amor?" I teased.

"Well, that's the part of me that I'm proud of." That didn't sit well with me. I craned my head and glared at him. He threw his head back and laughed.

"I can see the jealousy on your face." He then kissed me on the lips. I couldn't help but to pout. Just thinking that he was this sweet to other women too was killing me already.

"Hey, let me finish first. I'm proud of myself because I've never been this sweet to any woman before. You were the only woman who made me like this. You know how I was before, right? But everything about me changed when I met you.

"You made my world upside down. When you turned me down a couple of times, I couldn't explain the frustration that I was feeling. I kept on thinking of you and I felt like I was going crazy if I didn't have you. That never happened to me before you came into my life.

"When you became mine, you changed me for the better. My friends kept on teasing me because according to them, I became a corny guy. Those fùckers even invented a name for all the members of TBG who were in love, entitled 'The pussy-whipped club'.

"But even so, I've never felt embarrass about it. So, what if I'm a pussy-whipped? They don't have any idea how sweet your kitty is." The giddy smile on my face disappeared upon hearing the last part.

"Jace! You're really a hopeless horny man sometimes!" He laughed loudly. I shook my head in disbelief. He managed to make me smile and feel giddy of his words but then, he suddenly changed direction and became naughty in an instant.

"I love you." He uttered sweetly. I sneered at him.

"C'mon, mi amor. Where is my I love you too?" He demanded sweetly and then kissed my cheek a couple of times, urging me to say the words. My heart melted just like that.

"Fine. I love you too."

"You sound like you're being forced to say so." It was his turn to pout. I suddenly laughed because he looked funny. I faced him and then squeezed his cheeks.

"You're so cute, my husband. Of course, I wasn't. I was just messing with you." He finally smiled before he cupped my face and then kissed me on the lips.

It only lasted for a couple of seconds, but it took my breath away. After that, he helped me with the cooking. He said that he would be the one to finish it. He looked so happy and lively. It has been so long since I've seen him like this and it made me happier knowing that my family is finally complete.

"Are you sure, you can do it?"

"Of course, mi amor. Just sit there and relax while I'm cooking her, okay?" I did as I was told and then sat on the kitchen island stool while watching him cook. He was topless and wearing only his shorts. Damn! He looked so hot with that apron on him.

"I'm sure, JC will love these because we cooked it with all the love that we have for him." He said with a smile on his face.

"I hope so." I bit my lower lip and then stared at my husband wearily.

"What happened? Why the sad look?" I sighed.

"Nothing. I'm just scared that he might not accept as his parents."

He turned the stove off before he approached me and then held my hands. "You don't have to worry about that, mi amor. Just like I've told you before, JC is our son and whatever happens, his home will always be here with us.

"We are his parents and our love for him will surely lead him back to us. His heart will recognize that love for sure because he already felt how much we loved him when he was still a baby. I'm sure, the connection we have with him as his parents will serve as his light in the dark." His words made me feel a lot better.

I nodded my head. "You're right. JC is our son. We just have to believe and be patient."

"That's the spirit." Captured my lips for a passionate kiss.

"But I'm still curious though." I uttered while catching my breath after that delicious kiss.

"About what?"

I pouted. "I'm just wondering how you managed to rescue JC. Don't you have any plan of telling me about it?" He silently stared at me for a couple of seconds before he answered.

"Of course, I intended to tell you about it. I was just waiting for the right time." He then heaved a sigh before he finally started narrating everything that happened until to the part where he finally saw and rescued JC.

I couldn't believe that his father was indeed the one who was with JC when Jace rescued him. It wasn't clear yet if he was one of the enemies but one thing was for sure, he was connected with doctor Baron.

Now that the leader of the Alma Hama Group was finally erased, I was hoping for a peaceful life for our family. Now that JC was finally with us, I couldn't ask for more.

"I had a lot of things that I wanted to ask my father but I didn't have the chance to do so. Besides, I was so mad at him that time because of what he did." I could see the resentment in those grey orbs of his.

"Maybe, that was not the right time for you two to talk. I'm sure, the next time will be the right time. For now, I think we should forget about everything and focus on our son and our family." His face softened. He then heaved a sigh.

"You're right, mi amor. We should focus on our family." I smiled and was about to answer when someone suddenly spoke at the doorway.

"Sir Jace, your son has run away!" Our maid informed us in panic. Jace and I went panicked too.

"Jace, our son!"

"Don't worry, mi amor. I'll take him back home." Jace then ran towards the door and I followed him. When I exited the door, I heard JC's screams at the gate while Jace was trying to persuade him.

"No! I want to go home! Let go of me!" He screamed again and my heart got broken. I could see how much he wanted to get out of there. My eyes brimmed with tears. I couldn't explain the pain that I was feeling.

I thought, everything would be alright now that he finally came home, but I was wrong. 

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What do you think of this chapter?

What do you think of the reaction of JC in this chapter?

Will JC be able to accept them as his parents?

Do you think that Jace's father was the one who took JC from them?

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