AFRPR 62

Chapter 62

The man spoke firmly.

“Estelle, I’m your real father.”

“…”

“I found you too late. I’m sorry… I’m really sorry.”

The man, who claimed to be Estelle’s biological father, tried to come closer.

As Estelle instinctively stepped back, she noticed Lennox.

“Duke, when did you get here…?”
“I came as soon as I heard the news.”

Lennox’s gaze moved to the uninvited guest.

The man, who had been about to reach for Estelle, quickly put his hand behind his back.

“Is he your biological father?”
“That’s what he claims. I’m going to find out if it’s true.”

“Estelle, why do you talk so coldly? I came because I am your real father!”

The man looked hurt.

Lennox ignored him and asked Estelle:

“Let’s hear it together. That’s fine with you, right?”
“…It’s fine.”

“What?! Even if you’re married, this is a private matter…”
“I wasn’t asking you.”

Lennox cut him off.

“My wife says it’s fine, so I’ll stay. You can pretend I’m not even here.”

He said the first part to the man, and the second part to Estelle—his tone and expression completely different for each.

“Have a seat.”

“Oh… okay.”

Lennox politely pulled out a chair for Estelle.

She sat down, and Lennox sat beside her.
The man hesitated, then took the seat across from them.

Estelle knew this conversation was extremely personal—something Lennox didn’t need to know.
And yet, just having him beside her made it easier to breathe.

She looked straight at the man and spoke in a low voice:

“Tell me why you claim to be my father.”

“Was your mother’s name Selene?”

Estelle didn’t answer—she gave no reaction at all.

The man continued.

He told her he had met Selene in a remote village where he was the local lord’s son and she was a maid. They fell in love and promised to marry, but his parents didn’t approve.

They sent him abroad to study. He wrote letters, but never got replies—likely because his parents interfered.
When he returned, Selene had disappeared. People told him she had stolen money and run away, so he gave up.

Years later, before his mother died, she confessed that Selene had been pregnant and the theft story was a lie to make him give up.

After hearing this, he searched for Selene again, which led him to the Bellonsa Count’s family. There, he found only Estelle.

“People must have told you that you look like your mother, right?”

“That’s just words.”

The man hurried to take something from his pocket.

“No! I have proof! We exchanged rings when we promised to marry—look!”

It was a ring similar to the one Estelle’s mother used to wear, but without engraved initials.

He insisted that if he had known about the pregnancy, he would never have left for his studies.

Estelle studied him—gold eyes like hers, light brown hair, drooping eyes, a gentle face.

“I haven’t asked your name yet.”
“Tom. Tom Newman.”

“Mr. Newman, I’ve heard enough. Please go for today. I’ll contact you later.”

“W-wait!”

Not wanting to leave empty-handed, Tom quickly added:

“How about we do a test?”
“A test?”
“I knew you’d doubt me, so I found a skilled doctor. He can check if we’re related just from a single hair.”

He glanced nervously at Lennox, whose eyes were cold and threatening.

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

Tom happily promised to return tomorrow with the doctor.

After he left, Estelle leaned back in her chair.

“Do you believe him?”
“No.”

“Then why agree to the test?”

Estelle looked at Lennox, her golden eyes tired.

“Have you ever waited for someone you knew would never come?”
“No. I don’t waste my time.”

Estelle smiled faintly.

“I have. When I lived alone with my mom, I dreamed that my father would visit with gifts. But he never came… and my hope turned into anger. I swore that if I ever met him, I’d never forgive him. Silly, isn’t it?”

“Not silly at all. I’ve thought the same way before.”
“When?”

“My real father cheated on my mother. Back then, I had the same thoughts as you. Am I silly?”
“No. It’s natural.”
“Then so are you.”

Estelle felt they had grown a little closer.

“I don’t care if Tom is real or fake. Now that he’s claimed to be my father, I’m not letting him go easily.”

She remembered her mother’s ring:

S♡C

The heart was between S and C. The C must be her father’s initial.
Tom Newman’s name had no C.

So he definitely wasn’t her father.

The next day

Tom returned with the doctor.

“Hello, madam. I’m Dr. Jerry.”

Tom explained proudly that Jerry’s method could determine family relations with a single hair.

Jerry took one hair each from Estelle and Tom, then put them into a flask of clear liquid.

“If it turns green, you’re related. If nothing changes, you’re not.”

The liquid turned green.

“Estelle! You are my daughter!”

Tom tried to hug her, but Lennox blocked him.

“Where do you think you’re touching? She’s my wife.”

Tom backed down, intimidated.

The doctor laughed loudly.

“This method has never been wrong! And look at your eyes—they’re the same! Rare color, isn’t it?”

Tom agreed, then looked at Estelle.

“If you called me ‘father,’ I’d have no other wish.”

Estelle muttered quietly:

“How amusing.”