Chapter 38— Is He My Son?

"What are you doing here?" Lena barked glaring at Axel who was holding Trent's and Itzel's hands. He let go of Trent's hand and a smile embraced his lips. "Lena, how are you?" Axel asked, he took no notice of Lena's pissed expression. "Are you both okay?" Lena inquired holding Trent's and Itzel's hands bringing them to her side. "Yes, Uncle Axel said he is Uncle Henderson's friend and he got us cupcakes, " Trent smiled showing a small gift bag to her. "And candies too, " Itzel added gleaming. Lena took a sharp breath and slowly exhaled, she was doing her best to keep her temper in check in front of the kids. "Axel is not your uncle, and how many times have I told you both not to take anything from strangers, " Lena scolded. Trent's and Itzel's heads were downcast as she spoke. A sigh escaped Lena's lips and she crouched in front of them. "Look at me, " she mumbled in the calmest tone cupping their cheeks with each of her hands. "I'm sorry Mommy. Please forgive me, " Trent purred after he raised his head to meet Lena's gaze. "I'm sorry, Aunt Lena. We are sorry, it's all my fault Trent didn't want to speak to him but I convinced him after this man told us that he was Daddy's friend, please forgive us." Itzel apologised clasping her hands together. "It's fine. Sorry, but we'll have to return his gifts ok? He is a stranger." Lena muttered and the kids nodded. They stretched the small gifts bag in their hands to her which she took and straightened herself up. "Cleo, " Lena called. "Yes, " Cleo answered speaking for the first time since she began to watch the scene. "Please take Itzel and Trent to the car, I'll join you guys soon." Cleo nodded and beckoned Trent and Itzel to go with her. "What do you think you are doing Axel?" Lena barked when they were out of sight. "Is he my son? The little boy Trent?" Lena scoffed and threw the gift bags at Axel, "Your son? You must be crazy stupid! Stay away from me, from Itzel, from Trent. Away from Henderson. You are bad news, I want nothing to do with you. You should be thankful that this is a school else you would have seen the crazy side of me, Axel, don't you dare come here again!" "Lena, please can we just talk things out? I'm sorry for..." Axel didn't get to complete his statement because of Lena mocking laughter that filled his ears. "I know how much of an asshole you are but I think I thought highly of you, you are nothing but a lowlife parading himself in high class." "What can I do to get your forgiveness, Lena? I just want to get to know my son." Axel mumbled taking Lena's hand in his, but she yanked her hand out of his grip immediately. "Stay away from me! And for your information, you are not Trent's father. Stop fooling yourself!" She snarled in rage. Anger surged through her as she stared at Axel's face. "This is the last time, I would be warning you. Don't push me Axel, or else you'll live to regret it!" Lena said menacingly before she stormed off. 'Why is all of this happening now?' Lena cried muffling her sobs from being heard with the pillow. She should have believed Matteo when he said Axel wasn't just going to leave her alone after they bumped into each other after long years. The monster was out to destroy her, 'how did he even get to know the school Trent and Itzel attended?' She wondered but after giving it a thought, she realised that it must have been quite easy for him since he was a very powerful man. Lena went straight to the school authorities and confronted them as to why they let Axel see Trent and Itzel. They said Axel had come to give a donation and they had no idea that he was meeting the kids. They apologized to her and promised never to let anything of that kind happen again. Cleo had so many questions in mind to ask Lena but when she saw that Lena wasn't in the mood to talk when she came into the car she kept quiet. Lena's headache had worsened, it was very chronic, the headache had tripled and the pain was becoming very unbearable. "Lena, are you ok?" Cleo gasped when she saw Lena's state. "Cleo, when did you come in?" Lena asked. She wiped her tears and tried to rearrange her hair before she sat up but Cleo had already been everything. Lena's hair was ruffled, her face was pale, and tears streamed down her cheeks from her eyes which had turned red. "I'm sorry I just barged in, I've been at the door knocking but I got no response. I came to tell you that dinner is served." Cleo mumbled sitting beside Lena. "Oh, I didn't hear you knock." "I know, it doesn't seem like you did. You've been like this ever since you talked with Axel, did he do something to you?" Cleo's voice held concern. She didn't like the present state Lena was in, Lena was in a much better mood before they left the house. Lena forced a smile on her face, "I'm okay Cleo, you don't have to worry about me. I'm just really tired, you can go have dinner. I'll eat later, I'm just really sleepy now." Lena was able to convince Cleo that she was fine, well she thought she did because Cleo agreed to leave the room but unknown to her, Cleo was still very much disturbed. Somehow Lena managed to drift off to sleep after taking her meds. She didn't have dinner because she had lost her appetite, all she wanted was to wake up and find out that all of this wasn't reality but she knew it was. And she had to brace herself for the possible outcomes. " Please don't do this, I beg you let me go," Lena cried out, her voice coming out in stutters as she clutched the bedspread tightly. Her head wriggled from side to side. She appeared to be having a really bad nightmare! Henderson scooted to her, sitting beside her he tapped her on the shoulder. She wrapped her hands around Henderson holding him tightly as she tried to calm her frantic heart after she snapped out of the nightmare! "Shh, it's ok Lena." Henderson purred, one of his hands smoothed her hair while the other smoothed her hair. On hearing Henderson's voice, Lena's eyes were forced open and she pulled away immediately. "Henderson, " She sputtered. 'When did he return from his business trip or had she started to lose her mind?'