Sleeping With My Step Daddy-Chapter 56: "Welcome Back Home, Kai"

Jeff brought Rico into the room.

Bast stood in the center, his presence heavy with rage. The moment his eyes met Rico’s, he didn’t hesitate—he stormed forward and grabbed Rico by the collar, gripping him tightly.

Bast (furiously): "Where’s Kai?"

Rico froze in shock. "What are you talking about?!"

Bast (shouting): "Rico, if you love your life, tell me where Kai is! You’re the only one who left the wedding venue during the function!"

Rico shoved Bast off with force. "Because I had some work to do, you bastard! Why the hell would I kidnap that kid?!"

Bast’s eyes burned with fury. He turned toward the table, grabbed the gun resting there, and pointed it at Rico.

Ethan stepped in quickly, grabbing Bast’s arm.

Ethan (firmly): "Bast, calm down! We don’t have any proof Rico did this!"

Rico yelled, his voice raw with emotion. "Shoot me, you old geezer! You always drag me into your mess without any damn reason! Why would I kidnap Kai?!"

His eyes were wide—filled not with fear, but hurt.

Jeff stood silently nearby. He wanted to step in, to defend Rico, but the moment was too tense, too sharp to interrupt.

Rico’s voice dropped, but his tone turned cold and cutting.

Rico: "Sebastian Vaughn... if I wanted to steal that kid from you, I’d steal him in front of your eyes. Not like this. Kidnapping? That’s your style—not mine."

Bast’s heart pounded in his chest like a war drum, fear laced with guilt crashing down on him. What if Kai wasn’t found? What if—

Rico adjusted his shirt, his glare unwavering.

Rico: "I’ll find Kai.. I’ll do whatever it takes to bring him back. But not for you, Sebastian Vaughn. Only for Kai."

Without another glance at Jeff or Bast, Rico turned and stormed out, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

In Tokyo...

Kai’s eyelids fluttered, his mind hazy. Slowly, he began to open his eyes, but an intense headache pulsed through his skull, making him wince.

His breathing was shallow as he tried again. After a moment, his vision adjusted—and what he saw wasn’t familiar at all.

He was lying in a huge, luxurious room—its atmosphere dark and heavy, the walls draped in deep colors and shadows. The furniture looked expensive, everything chosen with meticulous taste, yet the space felt cold, unsettling.

Kai sat up slowly, his body still sore. He looked around, confusion and fear flooding his chest.

Kai (softly): "Where the hell... am I?"

Just then, the door creaked open.

Several guards stepped in. They were tall, intimidating, with dangerous eyes and muscular builds—trained men, no doubt. Kai’s heart raced.

And then, behind them, a man walked in calmly.

He was dressed in black from head to toe, his posture relaxed, but his presence radiated something terrifying. A long, faded scar ran down his cheek, just beside his sharp eyes—eyes that studied Kai with an eerie calm.

Kai’s breath caught in his throat. He stared at the man, unable to process what was happening.

The man slowly walked closer, then gave a small, controlled smile.

Stranger (calmly): "Welcome home... my son."

Kai blinked in confusion, his voice shaky.

Kai (bewildered): "Son? Who’s your son?"

The man walked closer and sat beside Kai on the edge of the bed. With unsettling gentleness, he reached out and softly patted Kai’s head.

Kai flinched and turned away, his body tensing with fear.

The man: "You are my son. And I’m your real father... Takeshi Haruto."

Kai’s eyes widened in disbelief. The name didn’t register, the moment felt surreal—like a cruel prank or a dream he couldn’t wake up from. His thoughts scrambled, but through the haze, one name echoed clearly.

Kai (urgently): "Where am I? Where’s Bast?"

Takeshi smiled softly, as if he hadn’t heard the panic in Kai’s voice.

Takeshi: "You’re in your real home... You’re in Tokyo."

Kai’s face drained of color.

Kai (trembling): "Tokyo...?"

Takeshi nodded.

Takeshi: "Yes. I’m very glad to finally see my son again."

Kai immediately shook his head, voice rising with panic and denial.

Kai: "I’m not your son! You must have some kind of misunderstanding!"

Takeshi didn’t respond with anger. Instead, he gave a subtle nod to one of the guards.

The guard walked across the room to a drawer, pulled something out, and returned. In his hands was a thick photo album.

He handed it to Takeshi, who took it gently and placed it on Kai’s lap.

Takeshi (softly): "Look at this first."

Kai hesitated, fear and doubt warring inside him. But slowly, cautiously, he opened the album.

His breath caught.

Photographs of a wedding—Jennifer, his mother, stood beside a younger Takeshi, both smiling brightly. Page after page showed moments... happy ones. Family trips, birthday parties, a nursery. There were even pictures of a baby with jet-black hair and soft eyes—his eyes.

Kai stared at the images, frozen.

His heart pounded. His thoughts screamed.

Is this man... really my father? Am I... really in Japan?

He looked up at Takeshi, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Takeshi (gently): "I know it’s late... but I finally found you, my son. And now... no one will ever steal you from me again."

Takeshi reached out, his expression softening.

Takeshi: "Take your time. Tonight, you’ll meet your real family."

Kai’s voice cracked as he finally spoke, eyes locked on Takeshi.

Kai (angrily): "Why did you kidnap me like that? You could’ve come and met me normally in America! Why would you do this?"

Takeshi looked at him, expression softening with a sorrowful weight.

Takeshi: "Because... you’re the only precious thing I have left in this life. I already lost Jennifer. She left me... and took you with her."

He stepped closer, eyes full of aching nostalgia.

Takeshi: "Kai, you don’t know how long it took me to find you. I searched everywhere. And now... now you’re finally in your real home. There’s no need to worry anymore."

Kai’s voice trembled as he stood up.

Kai: "I need to talk to Bast. I need to tell him—he’s worried about me!"

Suddenly, Takeshi’s face changed. His soft expression vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp edge.

Takeshi (sternly): "My beloved son... don’t say that bastard’s name again. He already stole my wife once."

He stepped back, the air in the room growing heavier.

Takeshi (coldly): "But this time... he won’t steal my son. Not again. So forget about him."

He turned toward the door but paused, casting one last glance over his shoulder.

Takeshi (with a hollow smile): "Take some rest. And don’t overthink. You’re in the right place now—here, with your real father."

With that, he walked out.

One by one, the guards filed out after him. The last one gently closed the door behind them.

The silence was deafening.

Kai stood frozen in the middle of the room, breath trembling. His legs gave out, and he sank to the floor. His chest tightened, and tears streamed down his face.

In a whisper, barely louder than breath, he cried out the only name that mattered to him.

Kai (choking on sobs): "Bast... Bast..."

Some time passed.

The silence of the luxurious room was broken when the door creaked open again. A graceful woman with a polite smile stepped inside, followed by two quiet servants—one carrying an elegant outfit, the other holding a large silver tray piled with carefully prepared food.

Kai sat on the bed, his eyes red and swollen from crying. He looked up, alert and guarded, as the woman approached.

She walked over slowly and sat beside him on the bed while the servants placed the tray carefully in front of him.

Kai (coldly): "Who are you?"

Woman (gently): "I’m your aunt. Takeshi’s sister. Yuri Haruto."

Kai didn’t reply. He stared at her for a moment, then turned his face away.

Kai (sharply): "I don’t care who you are. Get out of this room. I don’t want to meet anyone. And take this food with you. I don’t want to eat."

Yuri kept her soft smile, though a shadow of sympathy flickered in her eyes.

Yuri (calmly): "I know you’re in shock. But you can’t refuse food, sweetheart. You must be starving. Just look at your face—it’s completely pale. You need something healthy."

Kai’s voice rose in anger.

Kai (yelling): "I said I don’t want it! Get out of here! I don’t want to see anyone!"

Yuri let out a small chuckle, her tone still gentle.

Yuri: "Stubborn... just like Takeshi. You’re exactly like your dad."

Kai’s jaw clenched. His eyes filled with rage and grief.

Kai (through gritted teeth): "He’s not my dad. I have only one family in my life, and that’s Bast. Sebastian Vaughn. My everything."

Yuri’s smile slowly faded. The softness in her expression shifted to something more serious—something quietly pained.

Yuri (gently): "Jennifer’s second husband... is that who you mean?"

Kai (firmly): "Yes. He’s my family. And I want to go back. I don’t want to stay here."

Yuri lowered her eyes for a brief moment, then looked at Kai with calm sorrow.

Yuri (softly): "Kai... don’t be stubborn. He’s not your real father. He’s not your blood. We are your real family. You need to understand that."

Kai clenched his fists.

Kai (with trembling voice): "I already told you... Bast is my family."

A heavy silence settled between them. Then, Yuri’s tone darkened, her voice still soft, but now edged with warning.

Yuri: "Kai... if you keep being this stubborn... that man, Sebastian Vaughn, might end up in trouble—because of you."

Kai’s eyes widened in alarm, his breath catching.

Kai (panicked): "What... what do you mean trouble?! What are you going to do to him?!"