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“You know I love you, right? It’s important to me and you that you know that,” Adrien expressed. He was still looking straight at the skyline. Despite his words, it felt devoid of the emotion it was trying to convey.
“Yeah, and I love you, too. Does . . . does this have to do with what you want to tell me?” The man was confused. HIs father just dragged him up to the roof of their mansion on this warm, summer night wanting to talk, but this was getting a little weird.
“Louis, if you were given an option to learn a painful truth or believe a beautiful lie, what would you choose?” Adrien still stared forward.
“Dad—”
“Just answer the question. And think about it. It’s important that you’re sure.”
Louis had always been taught that being honest and true to others and oneself was a virtue. However, sometimes lies and secrets were important, too. However, his own father was keeping a secret, a lie, from him. He could keep living life without knowing what this lie was. He could forget about this conversation and continue his life as normal. Or he could learn this truth that would cause him pain, but he would know. He would know what his father knew.
“I . . . I choose the truth. I don’t care if it hurts me. You seem to care a lot about this, Dad, and I want to know why.”
Adrien still looked forward despite Louis looking at him with expectation.
“You’re not mine, Louis.”
“What do you mean?” There was a hint of panic in his voice.
“You’re not my son.”
Louis was panicking. Not his son? His dad cared for him for eighteen years. Ever since he could say it he always called him dad. He was there for everything. He taught him how to ride a bike, how to play the piano, how to get a girl, the talk. He was open and very supportive after he came out to his parents as gay. Then it was teaching him how to get a good guy and that it’s okay to wait. His father had treated his boyfriend like another son after his own family ostracized him. He was a busy man, but made time to shower he, Emma, and Hugo with love. How could he not be his father’s son?
“I . . . I’m not your son?”
“No. I’ve known for a long time, had thought so for even longer.”
“So Mom cheated on you.” Louis was devastated, but his father remained stoic.
“Cheating on me.”
“She’s still doing it?!” Louis was angry and confused and hurt. His mother was so sweet, like an angel, his father would say. Well, not father now.
Adrien nodded. His eyes looked dead.
“Who?” Louis begged, “Who is my father?”
“Luka Couffaine. A man your mother could accept even when he was true to himself.”
All the memories rushed to him: how “Uncle Luka” always remained single, how he and his mother interacted, his father never paying them attention whenever they did anything.
“How long have you known?” His voice was soft and delicate.
“Probably the day you were conceived. That’s as long as I know she’s been sleeping with him, in his bed or ours.”
“She slept with him on your bed?!” Louis was suddenly filled with rage. “H-How could she do that to you?! You and her and Aunt Alya and Uncle Nino and even him! You all said that she was head over heels for you! How?!”
“I told you. She accepted him when he was true to himself.”
“What does that even mean, Dad?!”
“It means that for a long time I haven’t been true to myself. It means that your mother never truly loved me. Even before she became disloyal. I don’t know who I am, Louis, this façade has been put up for so long.”
“Why’d you even marry Mom, then? Why’d you love her?”
“Because I just wanted to be loved, even if it was fake, even if it wasn’t fully, even if it wasn’t true. Your mother took love for granted. She was surrounded by it. Love is a privilege. Do you know that, Louis? No one has the right to be loved.”
“That doesn’t mean someone shouldn’t be loved, Dad! Everyone deserves to be loved, yes even the worst person to live.”
It was silent except for the sounds of the city.
“Am I the only one that’s his?”
“Yes, Emma and Hugo are mine. I made sure to test all of you.”
“Do they know?”
“It’s up to you, Louis. I only told you because I believe you truly deserve to know.”
“What’re you going to do now?”
“I’m glad your grandfather, even from behind bars, begged me to go through with a prenuptial agreement and abide by his criteria. I thought we would grow old together and be each others’ until we die, so it wouldn't matter. I’ve been looking for a place. I found a place close to the office. Two bedroom, two bath. Once it’s been finalised, I’m going to divorce your mother. I own most of our assets. It’ll be a 74:26 split in my favor.”
“Why look for a place, then? Why not kick her out?”
“I’ve been hurt and abused in this place for too long, Louis. I just want to get away. You’re free to the other bedroom in the apartment if I get it.”
Adrien walked away from the railing and walked toward Louis. He looked up and stared Louis in the eyes. Louis had always been able to read people. He could pinpoint the fine details of a portrait, of a face, of even a body, and describe the emotions shown so beautifully. But his father was an enigma. There was always something off, but now as he looked at his father, he saw a man who had been shattered and was trying to pick up the pieces.
“You’ll always be my son, Louis. If you need some time to truly come to terms, I’ll give it to you. If you want or feel the need to approach Luka or your mother or your brother or sister, I’ll be there for you. I still love you.”
“I love you, too, Dad.”
And they embraced, both feeling the hot tears of the other stain their shirts.