“The Boy on the Doorstep”
Lucas’s grip on the door tightened as he stared at the stranger. The man before him—Elijah—was tall, with sharp features and an air of authority. His expensive suit and the red sports car behind him contrasted starkly with Lucas’s modest life.“I’m Elijah,” the man repeated, his tone unwavering. “And I’m here to take Matias back where he belongs.”
Lucas’s chest tightened. Take him back? The boy who had brought joy back into his lonely life? His son, in every way that mattered?“Who on earth are you?” Lucas demanded, his voice trembling.
“I’m his uncle,” Elijah said, stepping closer. “His biological uncle.”Lucas’s mind raced. For 17 years, he had raised Matias as his own, never knowing who had left the baby on his doorstep. He had tried to find answers back then—contacting local authorities, asking neighbors—but no one knew anything. Now, out of nowhere, this man appeared, claiming a connection to Matias.
“You have no right to be here,” Lucas said firmly. “Matias is my son.”Elijah’s gaze softened slightly, though his posture remained stiff. “I understand how you feel. But Matias has a birthright—a family that’s been searching for him for years. He’s the heir to my brother’s estate, a legacy he deserves to know.”
Lucas’s stomach churned. “Your brother abandoned him! Left him alone in the cold, on my doorstep. Where was this ‘family’ when he needed them?”Elijah exhaled deeply, his confidence faltering for the first time. “My brother made… mistakes. But he’s gone now, and I’ve spent years trying to make amends. We didn’t know where Matias was until recently. Please, Mr. Carter, let me explain this to him.”
Lucas’s heart pounded as he tried to process the man’s words. He glanced over his shoulder, where Matias stood in the hallway, his face pale. He had heard everything.“Is it true?” Matias asked, stepping forward. “Are you really my uncle?”
Elijah nodded, his voice softening. “Yes, Matias. Your father was my brother. I didn’t know he’d—” He stopped, struggling to find the right words. “I didn’t know what he’d done until it was too late. I’ve been looking for you ever since.”Matias looked between the two men—the father who had raised him and the stranger claiming to be family. His eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Why now? Why did it take 17 years?”
“I had nothing to go on,” Elijah admitted. “Your father didn’t leave a trace. When I finally found you, I wanted to come right away, but I didn’t want to disrupt your life. I thought… I thought you deserved to know the truth.”Matias turned to Lucas, his voice trembling. “Dad, what do I do?”
Lucas placed a hand on Matias’s shoulder, his voice steady despite the ache in his chest. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. This is your life, son.”Elijah stepped closer, his expression earnest. “Matias, I’m not here to take you away from the man who raised you. Lucas is your father, and I can see he’s done an incredible job. But you also have a family—a legacy—that I’d like you to know about. I’m not asking for you to leave; I’m asking for a chance.”
The room fell silent, the weight of the moment pressing down on all of them.Finally, Matias spoke. “I’ll hear you out,” he said, his voice steady but cautious. “But I’m not going anywhere without my dad.”
Lucas felt a surge of pride and relief as he pulled Matias into a hug. Elijah nodded, a faint smile on his lips.
“Fair enough,” Elijah said. “Let’s take this one step at a time.”
And for the first time in 17 years, Lucas felt like the past and the future were finally colliding—offering a chance for a new beginning, together.