Jonathan’s eyes darkened as he looked at Michael’s innocent face. Instead of answering right away, he crouched down to meet Michael’s gaze. He said, “I need to explain something to you first.”

Even though he wasn’t sure if Mike could fully understand at his age, he knew he had to say it.

He continued, “Son, it’s not that I didn’t want you or didn’t accept you. From the very beginning, I truly didn’t know you existed, or that your mom had given birth to you. I’m really sorry for all the times I hurt you before, Mike.”

Jonathan gently kissed Michael’s forehead and said, “It’s all my fault, Mike. I came into your life too late. But from now on, I promise you’ll have the very best of everything.”

Jonathan kissed Michael’s cheek again, unable to hide his affection. He thought, ‘I finally have a son–my very own child.’

Michael’s cheeks flamed. He thought, ‘Mr. Lime just kissed me. Am I dreaming?’

Jonathan gasped in alarm as Michael collapsed into his arms. Without hesitation, he scooped the boy up and rushed him straight to the hospital.

Michael’s face was flushed bright red, looking just like a tiny apple.

The doctor reassured Jonathan, “Don’t worry. The little guy was probably just too excited and fainted for a moment. It’s nothing serious–he’ll be fine.”

Jonathan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He said, “As long as my son is okay. So, when will he wake up?”

The doctor replied, “Don’t worry, Mr. Lynn. Your son is just sleeping now. He’ll wake up naturally when he’s rested.”

Jonathan thanked the doctor.

While Michael was still asleep, Jonathan called a nurse to draw blood from Michael’s finger, and then had his blood drawn as well. He arranged for another DNA test using both samples.

This time, he watched as the samples were sealed and sent to the lab, and signed the Paternity Test Consent Form himself.

He didn’t doubt Gary’s results, but a paternity test run by a third party without the subject’s consent was legally invalid.

By the time Jonathan returned to the room, Michael had already woken up.

“Mike, you’re awake,” Jonathan said as he strode over and gently stroked Michael’s hair. “Are you feeling any better?” he asked softly.

Michael shook his head, his gaze fixed on Jonathan’s reddened hand. Then he exclaimed, “Mr. Lime, your hand is hurt.”

Jonathan smiled reassuringly and said gently, “It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt at all.”

Michael said, “How could it not hurt? You should let the doctor bandage it up for you. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“Alright, I’ll get it bandaged in a bit,” Jonathan said. He remembered how Michael had shown him the same concern before–Michael used to sneak into his office just to see him.

A warm feeling washed over Jonathan as he realized the unbreakable bond between him and Michael. He thought, ‘Mike has been sneaking out to see me.’

‘He’s such a little boy, yet he would take a taxi by himself, over and over again, just to come to my company and see me. There were even several times when he’d just squat beside my car, waiting for me.’

The more Jonathan recalled those moments from the past, the heavier the guilt and remorse weighed on his heart, making it hard to breathe.

He thought, ‘Why hadn’t I been more careful? If I’d only been more vigilant, Michael wouldn’t have had to skulk around, so small and alone, just to see me.’

Jonathan’s chest clenched beneath a crushing weight of guilt. He drew Michael into a tender embrace, his heart leaden with regret. He murmured, “Mike, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I missed three whole years of your life.

“From today on, I’ll be right beside you every step of the way. I won’t miss a single milestone in your life ever again.”