The Last Option

The following week, Phil filed a paternity suit in court and request little Nathan be declared the sole heir to Nathan and Norma Hicks, until then known as Nathan Sullivan. As there was no will to support his status as heir, Phil based his claim on irrefutable DNA tests, which showed that the baby was the son of the deceased, but was gestated until its birth in another womb, there being no opportunity for the legitimate parents, given the unfortunate incident where they lost their lives, to change the previous and still valid will, to declare him as such heir. Upon receiving the court summons, Rebecca Hicks stormed into Phil Wilcox's office.

"Can you explain what the hell this is, Phil?" Rebecca threw the letter angrily on the desk. "And why am I finding out in this way that my brother had a son?"

"Calm down, Rebecca," Phil said, raising his hands and pointing to one of the chairs in front of his desk. "Please sit."

Rebecca thought about it for a few seconds before sitting reluctantly in the chair. Phil leaned back in his chair, staring at her blankly.

"So?" she claimed him again. "I'm waiting!"

"Me too," Phil said calmly.

"Waiting for what?"

"For your cousin to enter through that door too."

That said, the office door opened wide, giving way to Louis Randall, who despite being furious like his cousin, was a little more controlled. He also had an envelope in his hand. "And here he came. Go ahead, Louis, sit down."

"No thanks, Phil," Louis said through clenched teeth, "I'm better on my feet. I see you've been busy." He also tossed the letter of summons on the desk. "What does that mean?"

"I asked him the same thing too," Rebecca said, "and he didn't answer me."

Phil sighed as he searched his mind for the right words to begin explaining the situation to them.

"It's simple: Nathan and Norma had a son, and in his name I'm requesting that he be recognized as such."

"And can you tell us when that happened?" Rebecca asked. "Why was I not aware?"

"It was a very personal matter for Nathan and Norma, which they preferred to keep a secret until the child was born. They had tried every procedure and technique available to parenting, but they couldn't be, at least naturally. The problem was with Norma and her uterus, so they had to resort to a last option which was to rent a womb. They put an egg of hers fertilized with his sperm in another womb and voila, the miracle was possible. The baby was born but unfortunately it was after they died, so they couldn't meet him or complete the necessary procedures for him to be recognized as their son."

"And you, as a champion of justice, will do what they won't," Louis said. "Where is that child now?"

"He's being well cared for, if that is what worries you. When the time comes you will know him."

"But Nathan didn't leave a new will," Rebecca said. "The one in force is the one that says I inherit everything."

"As I already told you, Nathan didn't have time to make a new will. You must recognize that child as your nephew and share with him your brother's inheritance."

"You know that won't happen, Phil," Rebecca said arrogantly. "Maybe it's a trick of yours to give some bitch my brother had some of his money. Things will continue as before, I will claim the inheritance and you will put that nonsense aside." "I have all the necessary evidence, Rebecca, otherwise I wouldn't have proceeded in court. The child is the legitimate son of your brother and Norma. I was present at all times from conception to birth."

"I imagine those were the strange expenses Nathan had at a fertility institute here in New York," said Louis, who had been silent up to that point, "and at the baby and children's stores."

"And the transfers of money to a private account," Phil continued, "as you've already found out with the company's accountant, Louis. Those expenses were for the care of the rented belly and for the things of the baby when it was born. Everything is there."

Louis could not believe that after he had managed to get Nathan out of his way, a son would show up to ruin his plans to keep everything. He could not allow the inheritance to be divided; he already had in mind how to take all the money from Rebecca little by little without her realizing it, but now, now a son of his worst enemy was involved to continue tormenting his life. Even after death, Nathan wanted to remain the owner of everything, even if it was through a son, and he could not allow it. He could not allow it.

"If, as you say, there is evidence, then we cannot deny the existence of that child," Louis said, feigning serenity and resignation. Rebecca turned to look at him quickly with eyes of fury.

"How can you agree to this?" she claimed him energetically. "This is some bitch's trick to steal my money!" she turned back to Phil with a furious expression. "And you are her accomplice! I won't recognize that child!"

"I'm sorry you think that way, Rebecca," Phil said calmly, leaning forward in his chair and staring into her eyes, "but the evidence is irrefutable. In addition, when that child is recognized as a Hicks, someone in the family must take care of him, and that will be you, as the only direct relative."

This time Phil's words seemed to have caused something inside the woman to explode, her eyes widening as if it were a great offense and she rose as if propelled by a spring from her chair.

"A baby in my life?!" she said almost yelling and with a hideous expression of disgust on her face. "Not even dreaming about it! Never!" she turned and hurried to the door, opening it and leaving quickly while continuing to curse and curse. "I knew she wouldn't take it well," Phil said, amused, "but never that she'd take that attitude."

Louis had been quiet the entire time while his cousin threw her tantrums. As annoyed as he was, he couldn't deny that Rebecca's attitude made him laugh a bit, especially at the last thing Phil had said to her. The thought of seeing that woman with a baby was definitely hard to believe, as well as funny.

"I see you're more focused than your cousin," Phil told him. "I hope this news doesn't affect you as much as it does her."

"And why should it affect me?" Louis said, feigning equanimity and shrugging his shoulders. "It's not my money that's at stake. I hope you have luck, Phil. Rebecca won't accept all of this so easily. You know she will fight to the end." "It's what I hope," Phil said, leaning back in his chair. "Anyway, the balance is against her."

We'll see that, Phil, Louis thought. Then he left the office without saying anything else.