The Royal Contract-Chapter 1307: Between a father and a son

"Where is Edison?" Zach noticed that the young boy was nowhere to be found.

He and his fiancee had been roaming around, mingling with their guests that he lost track of their child. He could not help but worry since he was still new to this parenting act.

He had promised to help Ria in raising their child. Yes! He wanted to be Edison's father, not just his stepfather. Therefore, he already had his lawyer prepare the adoption papers.

"Don't worry, Zach. He is with your father." Ria tapped him on his arm, reassuring him.

He guessed he still had many more to learn about caring for a child. However, he knew he was up to the challenge.

He swore that despite his busy schedule. He would always find time for his family. He would never neglect the opportunity given to him to have a family of his own.

"I can't help it." He smiled with relief. "I am always afraid he would go missing if I lost sight of him." He finally admitted what was running through his mind. "That something bad would happen to him."

That was what he felt every second Ria left Edison in his care. He could not take his eyes away from the boy, terrified he might get hurt or lost in his watch.

"That is perfectly natural. It only means you care and you love Edison." Ria explained to him.

She immediately turned and faced him, putting her warm palms across his cheeks while looking deeply into his eyes.

"Every loving parent wishes they could have eyes on their child twenty-four seven. But the reality is, we can only do so much to protect them." Ria shared with him.

He could only imagine what Ria had gone through all those years of raising Edison alone. She had to be the mother, the breadwinner, and the caretaker of a sickly child.

But he believed she managed with not just flying colors. She surpassed his every expectation. She was indeed an incredible woman, a superwoman in his book.

"Yeah, I guess I am still learning. I only hope that I will be the father that Edison needs." Zach smiled, feeling so much better.

Of course, there were times that he doubted if he would be a good father. But it did not mean he was not up to the challenge. On the contrary, he was ready to try.

Besides, why would he be scared when he had her by his side? He was lucky to have this woman in his life who would do everything for the welfare of their child, or hopefully children, soon.

"Of course, you will be the best father to Edison." She guaranteed as if she had never doubted him for a second.

She looked at him with so much love and respect that he felt an overwhelming emotion he could not explain. But most of all, he could not wait to marry her and be with her for the rest of their lives.

Who would have thought that the boy who never cared for anyone but himself would end up loving and committing to this woman and her child too?

"Only because you made me want to be one." He said, but before they could say more, they heard a voice calling them, disturbing their private moment.

He guessed their break was over as his mother sought their attention. But at least his mother had warmed up to Ria and the idea that he would marry her regardless of whether his mother agreed or opposed.

He initially thought he would have more difficulty convincing his father about this union. But somehow, Edison did the job for him. His father, just like him, adored the young kiddo.

"I think your mother is looking for us," Ria informed him, hearing his mother's voice calling for them.

He was not entirely sure what had transpired between Ria and his mother, but somehow, his fiancee found a way to soften his mother's heart. She convinced her to be more amicable in their relationship.

Again, he could only thank Ria for her superpowers. She truly knew how to work her magic, not only with him, Edison, but also with his parents.

"Thank you for trusting me." He whispered into her ears, knowing how lucky he was that she agreed to marry him and be the father of her child.

He pulled her hand into his lips, kissing the ring he had placed on her fingers. Soon, he intended to put another one, hoping to seal their everlasting love.

"Thank you for loving not only me but Edison too." She responded with a lovely smile that could have lightened up even his darkest day.

Not a second later, her arms wrapped around his shoulder while kissing him. He supposed words would not be enough to express how much they loved each other.

However, good things had to last to give way to better things, as his mother appeared before them. "Hey, the guests are looking for you two." His mother said in her reprimanding tone. "You will have all the time in the world some other time, but not now."

He could not remember the last time he heard her mother speak to him like that, with care, love, and affection. It must have been years.

Still, he felt her love every time he spent time with her, just different now. Now, he finally realized how difficult it was to have a family.

"Yes, Mom." He pulled Ria back to the party with his mother hot on their tails.

He could tell that Ria was slightly embarrassed for being caught making out with him by his mother in one of her parlors.

He watched her cheeks turn pinkish red, making her look more adorable. But more than that, he could also see how excited she was to become part of his family as his parents welcomed her with open arms.

"And by the way, where is your father?" His mother asked him when they saw that he was not back yet at the party. It seemed Edison was still with him too.

He could only suspect where they could have gone. He remembered a place where his father would love to take him when he was a child. His father called it his secret room.

The Senator, despite his position and power, had one weakness. He was afraid of his mother, especially when she was in a foul mood.

"I will go and get him." He quickly volunteered. He also thought it would be a good time for Ria and his mother to bond while entertaining their relatives and friends.

"Why don't you show Ria around and introduce them to some of our other guests?" He suggested.

A family affair in their household had always been a massive affair. He could not remember a family celebration that consisted of a few people.

As the son of a successful politician, his concept of family had extended beyond blood relations. It included friends, associates, and people who supported his father's political career.

"I am more than delighted." His mother responded with a friendly smile as she ushered her fiancee into the awaiting crowd.

He could not blame Ria if she could not remember many of these people's names. It took him almost his entire childhood to get their names right.

However, if she planned to be part of this family, he believed it was better she understood now what and who she was marrying herself into.

"I will see you in a bit." He promised as he walked in the opposite direction, exiting the other hallway away from the noise and the growing crowd.

After a few minutes, he stood outside their mansion and passed their expansive lawn. He could already tell from the commotion in the other building that he would find the people he sought in there.

He entered the well-maintained barn his father had converted into his private area. It was considerably farther from the main house, making it not accessible to his mother, who never liked the outdoors.

"You see this." Zach could hear his father's voice from outside the door. He could tell his father was probably showing off his prize possessions to the new, youngest family member.

He still recalled how his father told him that it was not the money that made a man wealthy and successful but the experiences he acquired in his lifetime.

He also remembered thinking that was a load of crap. How could those pieces of junk signify wealth? He always thought that his father's collections were nothing but some worthless thrash.

"Oh! Did you take that out of a monster?" He walked into Edison, holding the piece of the tooth his father had kept on one of their trip to Africa when he was just a young boy.

"No. But a great hunter gave it to Zach as a token of his bravery." Suddenly, he could not help the tears welling up in his eyes. But, of course, he kept it at bay.

He did not realize that his father kept that after all these years. To him, it was a useless tooth that had no value. Continue your journey on novelbuddy.com

But now, he realized that it was more than that. He guessed no amount could measure up to the memories brought up by those worthless objects.

"Cool." Edison expressed in his most amazed and excited voice. "Zach is brave." He added as he held to the tooth as if it was a delicate gem he was afraid to lose.

"Yes, he is. And he is going to be your father now. So, I think he would want you to have that." His father said as he looked up and stared directly into his eyes.

"Really?" Edison could not seem to believe his ears. But whatever it was, Edison hugged his new grandfather with love and affection.

Now, he wondered if he was surprised by receiving the tooth or the thought that he would become his father.

Nevertheless, in his thought, he could not wait to have a bonding moment like this between a father and a son.