Chapter 9 Children of the Ludlows

• “Hello, James?” On the other end of the line, Jonathan Ludlow spoke lazily. “Are you done with work? It’s the middle of the night here...”
• “Remember the woman you’re looking for from five years ago? I have news on her.” James stood up and walked over to the French windows, gazing into the distance.
• On the phone, Jonathan’s voice took on a certain excitement. “Really? Where is she? And who even is she?”
• “I haven’t seen her yet, but I saw your son.”
• “Son?” Jonathan’s voice was an octave higher as he repeated the word. He was stunned for a few seconds, and then he opened his mouth again. “What’s going on, James? When did I get a son?”
• James’ dark eyes curved a little. “We found a boy that looks exactly like you, and that woman most probably gave birth to him.”
• “Exactly like me? Then he should also look like you, right?” Come on, James. We are identical twins! “Have you ever thought that the child might be yours?”
• “I’m not like you; I don’t go around sleeping wherever I want. I know better than you, whether I have a son or not.” James sounded very certain.
• “Then—”
• James interrupted Jonathan. “You don’t have to get so worked up about it. I’ll help you carry out a DNA test, and then you can decide if you want to come back after the results are out.”
• “I’m not there, so how are you going to get my DNA?”
• “Don’t forget we’re paternal twins, so we don’t just look alike; our DNAs are almost identical as well.”
• James ended the call, then he sat down and called for his assistant, Dom Morse.
• Phone in hand, Dom quickly appeared in front of James.
• Before he could stand still, Dom showed his phone to James. “Young Master James, I have something to report. Look, this boy in the commercial looks exactly like you...”
• “No need. Take my DNA sample and run a test to see if he’s related to me.”
• “Huh?” Dom was surprised. “You already knew? Then… these children might be yours?”
• That’s impossible!
• I’ve been with Young Master James for so many years. Save for that night with Cindy a few years ago, I never saw him share a bed with any other woman!
• No, he hasn’t even looked any woman in the eye, much less slept with them!
• How would he suddenly have children of that age?
• “Wait, children?” James frowned.
• “Yes! Fraternal twins! There’s another little girl, the younger twin.”
• As Dom spoke, he paused the commercial at a frame where the children’s faces could be seen clearly. “The boy is Kenneth Burns, while his sister’s name is Angela Burns. Such beautiful children! Also, when the director sent me the video, he said that they were geniuses, and they filmed the whole commercial without any cuts!”
• James looked at the screen showing the two adorable and similar faces, then his frown dissipated. His usually cold face now grew ever so warm. “If they really were children of the Ludlows, it wouldn’t be a surprise for them to be so skilled.”
• Dom didn’t know what to reply to the slightly egotistical comment. In reality, James had never praised anyone or even himself, but this statement meant that he was praising himself in an indirect way.
• Did he just toot his own horn or something?
• Dom was about to agree with the notion when James’ calm voice sounded again. “Jonathan is quite amazing, isn’t he? To kill two birds with one stone...”
• “Huh?” Dom was puzzled. “Young Master Jonathan?”
• “Yes. These two are most probably his children. He had been looking all over for the woman, see. Just do what I told you, and don’t leak this news out yet. We’ll see what to do when the results are out.”
• Dom finally understood as he nodded repeatedly. “Understood! I’ll get to it immediately!”
• James’ gaze returned to Kenneth’s photo once again, and he narrowed his eyes. No matter who their mother was, any part of the Ludlows must never be left astray.
• Moreover, these children inherited all the exceptional genes of the Ludlows, so even for someone like him who disliked children, he could still feel a certain familiarity and affinity with them. He had a strong assurance that these children must be part of the Ludlows!