Sterling was hurrying up to downstairs. Lucia followed him to stop him on his way. "Wait, you're going to ruin the party mood?"
"You don't understand. He has been accusing me of trying to get it on with my family while he has been doing it way before all of these shenanigans."
"We don't know that for sure. It's just something we both came up with. Until we have proof, we can't accuse him."
"What am I supposed to now?"
"Listen, Sterling, just enjoy the party tonight! Everyone is here. We can't put him on the podium for a suspicion." Lucia let go of him. "Come to think of it why do we have a podium?"
"Oh, that's because we are having a ramp walk. I'm going to rate your swimsuits and the winner gets a grand prize."
"Why didn't you tell me about it? I'm not walking like some model in front of the people!"
"What if I tell you, you will be getting paid for that?"
"You should have started with that!" Lucia joined her cousin as they made their way to the pool.
A backyard filled with attractive women in two pieces, everyone else was enjoying the party. A guy approached Sterling with a camera set. "Hello, you must be Mr Johnson! We have the equipment we asked for!" He showed a bag with some equipment. "I will come back to pick it up in two days. Are you sure you can pull it off?"
"Don't worry, my sisters and her friends are great with editing! We're filming the whole then we will edit it."
"Then I'll see you in two days! Have fun!"
"Thanks for trusting me with the job!" After the man left, Lucia asked Sterling what that was about. "Oh, that guy is working for a guy I worked for. They need an ad for swimsuits. So, I suggested doing it here. They didn't trust me at first then I showed them the picture of our pool. The guy bought my idea."
"So, you're using the girls as models to earn money on the side."
"I asked them beforehand. They agreed to it. Even Mom thought it was fun."
"I didn't agree to it." Lucia pouted. Sterling, pulled against his left chest.
"That's because it's your first lesson. You're going to be judging these babes with me. Let's see what turns you on!"
Lucia looked at her cousin from top to bottom and said, "You just need someone to take over every time you get a boner, don't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Sterling started whistling and left the place smoothly.
_______________
While everyone was enjoying themselves, Drew was pouring some drinks from the table. "Are you drinking on your own?" Sterling joined her and asked. "It's a party, Drew!"
"I was pouring something for...Luica! I thought I could start a conversation with her like that!"
"I can tell it wouldn't work! She hates Daikiri. You're getting the wrong drink!"
"Oh, thanks for saving my ass!"
"Speaking of ass, I see that you're not wearing the bikini I bought you! You look great in hot pants but this is supposed to be a promotion for those swimsuits"
"It looks great but you forgot that I am packing something down there."
"Yeah, the thought crossed my mind this morning only. How are you holding up by the way? With all these lovely ladies in cute bikinis, you must be dying from the inside."
"Surprisingly, that part of me is gone. The only thing turning me on is your abs." Drew brushed Sterling's belly and breathed some air on his collarbone.
"Drew, we can't!"
"I know. I can wait for you until I'm ready for it." She kissed him on his right cheek. "Can you help me connect with my daughter?" Drew asked as her eyes found Lucia who was setting up a table in front of the ramp. "You haven't tried any funny business with her I hope." Drew turned around to frown at him.
"She said she wasn't interested. Wait...I have an idea, why don't you take care of the judging process with her?"
"What?"
"We're having a swimsuit competition. The girls will be performing rampwalk and you're going to judge their skills with your daughter."
Drew thought for a moment. "What if she asked why I was there?"
"Just say, I got to take care of Ludwig."
"Your baby is your excuse? I hope you don't turn up like David." Drew built up some courage and went over to where Lucia was. Sterling leaned in on the table and watched her walk up to her daughter. That's when a thought struck. He looked around. Lisa was chatting with Amber and Tiff. Ophelia was serving meals with Keira. The mothers were busy so where was his son? Sterling ran inside the house as panic rushed in.
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The door swung open as a panting Sterling entered where his son was sleeping. He shouldn't have been alarmed because the baby was in the care of Nora. "Grandma?"
"Shhh! He just went to sleep right now!" She slowly placed the baby inside his cradle. Then she smiled as she admired him sleeping peacefully. Sterling walked up to her and stood next to her watching his baby. "I thought I left him alone. I got scared. I'm an awful father, aren't I?"
"Nonsense, you're a great father. An awful father would be your grandfather."
"Grandpa Johnson?"
"The fact that you don't even know his first name says what kind of a man he was. This one time, he left Keira in the car to buy drugs. She was only six months old that time."
"I see. So, both my grandfathers are pieces of shit."
"Language, young man. Don't forget you're in a room with your only son." That's when Nora realised what he said. "Oh, David told you, didn't he?"
"I don't hate you, Grandma, if that's what you were thinking. I don't know if I can physically hate someone like you. Every time, Dad made things worse for me, you used to call me and check up on me. I'm grateful for that."
"Because I knew that he was taking his anger he had for Hunter on you and I'm partially responsible for it."
"You're not. I talked to Drew. She believes you were tricked into doing those things."
"What?"
"We don't have proof yet. She is looking into it..."
"...that explains everything. My behaviour was completely uncharacteristic of me. But how?"
Nora started worrying. Sterling placed his arms on her shoulders and turned her to look in her eyes. "Grandma, look at me! I will handle him. Jon has been helping me uncover the secrets."
"Jon? Jonathan? Is that how you two know each other?"
"Yes. I didn't know he was your son though."
"I can guess!" Nora looked down. "He was ashamed of his existence."
"Grandma?" Sterling thought for a moment. Bora was filled with all sorts of emotions after all the regrets she had been bearing all these years. "I'll watch over him. Why aren't you out there?"
"I don't know. The bikini you bought me is for young people."
"Huh...hello, you stopped ageing when I started growing. What do you mean by young people? Get out there and show them girls, the body of Nora Johnson."
"You think I have a nice body!"
"If you weren't my grandmother, my hands would be playing around your waist right now. Who knows, maybe my fingers can slip inside."
"You are a naughty boy, aren't you? Ophelia raised a bad boy!" Nora smirked.
"Huh, Grandma, if you keep looking at me like that my hands will definitely slip inside."
"I wouldn't mind it, you know?"
"What?"
"Aha...look at your face! Nora still got it." Nora started walking away. Sterling was frozen by what had just happened. "By the way, I'm winning that competition of yours. None of your girlfriends can beat my years of experience." Nora blew a kiss and left the room.
"Wait, you're participating too!" Before he could say anything she was already gone. "It's you and me Ludwig. Well, I can't watch Grandma Nora's infamous rampwalk but it's the sacrifice I have to make for Drew. When you're a big boy, you will be surrounded by a happy family." Sterling started moving the cradle.
__________________
Moments earlier, Lucia was setting up the table for the competition. Drew slowly approached her. "Hey!" Drew waved at her daughter. Lucia turned around and stared at her blankly. "Sterling told me you're judging with me!"
"Huh...he ditched me, didn't he?"
"No, he just...had to take care of something!"
"Is that why he is running inside?" Lucia pointed at Sterling who was running inside the house. Drew turned around.
"He probably got an erection from all this!" Lucia chuckled at Drew's comment. "So, Lucia how are we going to judge them?"
"I...why is it weird?"
"Yeah, I know. I've always wanted to meet you in person but now that we have I don't know how to process this."
"Sterling keeps telling me you're not a bad person but I have to see it myself. If you want to be part of my life, you will have to prove it."
"That's all I'm asking for. Right now, let's get into the task at hand!" Drew took the mic and gave it to Lucia. She grabbed it and tapped on it twice.
"Attention ladies and Grandma Nora's sons!" Jonathan raised his beer standing next to David. "Welcome to the bikini contest brought to you by Livia swimsuits!" She passed the mic to Drew. Drew continued from there as the contest started.
Jonathan put his beer down. "So, that's how he was earning money!"
"It's one of his incomes. As long as he's not pimping them like that bastard, I'm fine with it." David clenched his fist.
"Don't beat yourself up, David!"
"David?"
"During your absence, I learned so much about you, you, hypocritical asshole!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Let's go somewhere else!" Jonathan grabbed the handle of David's wheelchair and they both went into the kitchen.
________________________
A couple of minutes later, Jonathan went upstairs after he had argued with David. He checked Sterling's room. He wasn't there. So, he went to Lisa's room where the baby was. He opened the door and went inside. Sterling was sitting on the bed. He just lolled at Jonathan as he came and sat next to his nephew. "You didn't answer my texts!"
"I was busy!"
"Kid, I'm a detective. I know it when you have something on your plate."
"Am I that obvious? And stop calling me kids, it's weird now that you are my uncle!"
"Says the guy who's planning to fuck someone who was his uncle!" Sterling gently elbowed him for that comment. "You want to know who my father is, don't you?"
"It's not that I want to. I'm sick of being lied to."
"We're more alike. When I learned the truth about myself. I hated myself."
"Grandma mentioned that earlier."
"I thought I was an abomination. A being that shouldn't be alive. I even tried to end myself but Mom, was hurting. Every time she came to visit me, I could see the pain in her eyes. She only wanted her kids to be happy and her grandkids to have fun but David was obsessed with this idea of you turning out to be like Hunter."
Sterling carefully listened to Jonathan's words and turned to look at the cradle. "Promise me that boy will grow up knowing the truth about your lifestyle."
"I wasn't planning on lying but I can't tell him everything...for obvious reasons." Sterling then stared at the ceiling. "At least, I let him know little by little in a way he wouldn't be affected by my lifestyle or society."
"I'll help you with that!"
"So, my guess was correct. You and I are brothers!" Sterling rolled his eyes to his left where Jonathan was sitting. "Dad hated Hunter and Drew..."
"...because your Grandma Nora was his first love and they stole her from him." A drop of tear rolled down his cheek.
"Fuck, we're a messed-up family indeed."
"Dude, you're fucking your sisters and my brother is my father. Of course, we're messed up."
"Do you hate him?"
"Hate is a hard word. If I were in your place, I would have. He's my father. He took care of me even behind his own family's back and I'm grateful for that."
"Now that I think about it, you're the reason for our debt and I've been paying you. Shouldn't you be the one paying me?" Sterling frowned at Jon.
"You know I've been overtiming just for you." They both laughed together.
Jonathan continued. "Sydney's baby is indeed yours. That's what I wanted to tell you today but you know, things took a different turn."
"So, I'm a father of two now." Sterling sighed and hopped up on his feet. "Well, I should be responsible unlike my dad."
"Our dad!" Jonathan got up too and extended his hand. "Brothers?"
"You know, I've always considered you as such." He slapped his hand and got into a hug. Sterling then moved towards the window.
"So, what's the plan?" Jonathan asked.
"Do you know his whereabouts?"
"Hunter booked tickets online to come back here. So, he will be here soon."
"I have a perfect trap for him. From what I've gathered he always has a scenario planned in his head. I will play that scenario for him and hit him where it hurts."
____________________
Two hours later, inside the kitchen, David was drinking. He tried to get up on his own. His kegs were weak so he dropped. The noise got someone nearby's attention. Drew showed up and helped him back to his wheen chair. "Idiot!"
"Why did you...*hic* come back?"
"Seriously, David! Why did you drink this much? Aren't you on medication?"
"Fuck you...Hihi...get it...we've never tried that, didn't we? Me on top!"
"Shhhh...keep your voice down, Idiot! Do you want your whole family to know what you've been doing during your business trip?"
"My son knows *hic* he's so smart!"
"Wait, you told Sterling?"
"No, Jon!" That took Drew by surprise.
"Jon is your son? But how is that even possible?"
"Mom and I used to...you know *hic* Drew, you took her from me *hic* I trusted you and I hurt Sterling because I didn't want to *hic* hurt you, Sterling I'm sorry. Where is he? Jon, help me find your brother *hic* he's all alone!" David went unconscious. Drew moved his wheelchair and took him back to his room. After she left, a furious Sterling emerged behind the wall. He came in after he noticed David falling in one of his cameras he had installed for the shoot. He didn't know by then that he would he listening to a secret that could change his life.
"Mom, he cheated on you! How could he?" Sterling made his way to the backyard. The night was falling. With the loud music, he noticed his mother dancing with Nora and Keira. Sterling was piling up his feelings for her just for the sake of his dad but after learning that he wasn't loyal to Ophelia, those feelings got released into his system. 'On this day, I see clearly, every woman in this house will be mine, especially you, Mom! I'm your man from now on!'