He Wanted to Rename My Son,But My Son Was Never His

My son scored 730 on his college entrance examtop in the state. At his college celebration banquet, I signed over company shares worth over a hundred million as his gift.

My parents presented their own generous gifts, beaming with pride.

He's a true Delgado, through and through. Keep pushing, Kenny. Your mother and the rest of us are counting on you to make this family proud.

The guests chimed in with praise.

Top scorer in the entire state! A child this exceptional? The Delgado family has a worthy heir.

My husband stood up and clapped a hand on Kenneth's shoulder.

Kenny, you remind me of myself at your age. I've got a gift for you too. Come with me to get it.

Everyone looked curious, wondering what it could be.

Max Perry surveyed the room, face full of pride, and spoke.

I'm taking Kenny back. He's going to carry the Perry name from now onthat's the real gift I'm giving my son.

I stepped forward and tried to pull Max away.

Stop talking nonsense.

Max shoved me to the ground.

Veronica, know your place. I let the boy use your last name for eighteen years. Your family should be honored.

Diane looked on with smug satisfaction.

A son should carry his father's last namethat's how it's always been. I pitied your family for not having a boy, so I let my grandson use your name for a few years, gave you a taste of what it's like to have an heir. And instead of thanking us, you try to stop my grandson from returning to the family line? You should be terrified of the karma headed your way.

But my son isn't even Max's child.

Today is the college celebration banquet for my son, Kenneth Delgado. He scored 730 on his exam, the highest in the state, and has been admitted to Westbridge University. As his mother, I couldn't be prouder. To honor this, I've prepared a small gift.

My assistant came forward. I picked up the share-transfer agreement and handed it to Kenneth.

Kenny, this is five percent of Delgado Group. I'm signing it over to you today as your college gift. And I want you to know your mother believes you'll only keep getting better.

The guests couldn't contain their shock.

Five percent of Delgado Group? That's worth over a hundred million! CEO Delgado really does spare nothing for her son.

Kenneth shook his head.

Mom, I appreciate it. But the company shares should stay with you. They represent years of hard work from you and Grandpa and Grandma. I can't just take them.

Seeing how thoughtful and grounded he was, warmth filled my chest. I pressed the contract into his hands.

Kenny, you're a Delgado. All of this will be yours eventually.

He was about to refuse again when Max, a flash of greed behind his eyes, cut in with a smile.

Just take it, Kenny. You don't want to hurt your mother's feelings.

Kenneth accepted the contract, looked at me, and said with quiet sincerity:

Mom, don't worry. As your son, as a Delgado, I won't let you down. I'll work even harder.

My parents lit up, pulling Kenneth into their arms and presenting their own lavish gifts.

That's a Delgado, all right. Got the family spine. Keep it up, Kenny. We're all counting on you to bring glory to this house.

The rest of the guests crowded forward with gifts and congratulations, the room swelling with goodwill.

CEO Delgado, you really are something. Raising a son this outstanding.

Top scorer in the state! If our family raised a boy like that, we'd be the luckiest people alive.

With a son this exceptional, the Delgado family's future is secured.

I'm jealous, honestly. Too bad he's a Delgado and not ours.

I smiled and exchanged pleasantries as the compliments flowed. Then I glanced over at Max. His expression was offglass after glass of liquor disappearing down his throat, as though something was eating at him.

I was about to go over and ask what was happening when Max suddenly stood up, swaying slightly as he walked toward our son, and clapped a hand on Kenneth's shoulder.

Kenny, you really are my boy. Just as brilliant as me. I've got a gift for you today too, and trust me, you're going to love it.

Every head in the room turned. Curiosity lit up every pair of eyes.

I frowned. Max hadn't said a word to me about any gift.

Max had married into my family. When his startup collapsed and left him millions in debt, he married into the Delgado household, and I paid off every cent. For years my money had fed and housed his entire side of the family. I knew every dollar he spent. He'd never asked me for money for a gift, so where had one come from?

Under all those curious stares, Max grinned, practically glowing with self-satisfaction.

I'm having Kenny change his last name back to Perry. My son is going to return to the Perry family line. That's the best college gift I can give him.

The color drained from my face.

Max only looked more pleased with himself.

Kenny, what I'm giving you is something none of those shallow material things can touch. Surprised? Right after this, I'm taking you to change your name. From now on, you're a Perry one of ours.

My parents looked at me, alarm all over their faces.

Ronnie, what is he doing? Why would he want Kenny to change his name?

I swallowed the fury rising in my chest and kept my voice steady for them.

Mom, Dad, he's had too much to drink. He doesn't know what he's saying. I'll get him off the stage right now.

I forced a smile and walked up onto the platform, turning to face the guests.

My husband's a little too excited tonight. He's had one too many and he's talking nonsense. Please don't take it to heart.

I tugged at Max's sleeve.

Max, you've had enough. Go sit down and stop making a scene.

He reeked of liquor. He stared at me for a few seconds, then shook my hand off and kicked the display screen behind him.

Kenny is exceptional. My parents have approved him to take the Perry name and be written into the Perry family genealogy.

Kenneth's face tightened with embarrassment. He grabbed Max's arm.

Dad, stop. Please just go rest.

Max pressed down on Kenneth's shoulder instead.

Kenny, what's with that look? You're going to be a Perry. That's an honor. You should be working even harder to bring glory to the Perry name. You hear me?

I was shaking with rage. I grabbed the water pitcher off the table and threw it in Max's face.

Max, this is not the place for your drunken tantrum. Get off this stage. Now.

He wiped his face with his sleeve and fixed me with a cold, hard look that made something in my chest seize.

I seized Kenneth's arm.

Kenny, go. Go wait downstairs.

Before the words had fully left my mouth, Max shoved me hard.

I tumbled down the steps, pain blooming across my entire body as I hit the floor.

Max stood over me, eyes locked on mine like a threat.

Veronica, don't flatter yourself. Kenny is my son. I let him carry your last name for eighteen years that was your family's honor, not mine.

My parents rushed over, kneeling beside me, faces tight with worry.

Ronnie, are you okay? Are you hurt?

I shook my head. My mother turned to Max, fury burning in her eyes.

Max Perry, you married into the Delgado family. Kenneth has been a Delgado since the day he was born. What gives you the right to change his name?

That was when Diane Abbott charged out from the crowd, teeth bared, glaring at my parents.

You two old wretches don't you dare show me that face. Since the dawn of time, a son carries his father's last name. Only a criminal's children take the mother's. I only let my grandson use your name because I pitied you your line was dying out and I figured I'd let you know what it feels like to have a grandchild around. And instead of thanking us, you shameless, ungrateful things have the gall to block my grandson from returning to the Perry family line? You're not afraid of what heaven will do to you for that?

My parents stood there listening to Diane's shrieking abuse, clutching their chests, trying to fight back.

You people are shameless! Max married into our family. Every last one of you has been living off my daughter for years. Now that Kenny's grown up and made something of himself, you think you can just come and take him? Not a chance. Kenny is a Delgadohe has nothing to do with your family. Nothing.

Diane charged forward and slapped my mother across the face.

Your family deserves to die out! You couldn't even have a son of your own, so now you want to steal someone else's grandson? Kenny is my son's childthat makes him ours. When he marries, he'll carry on our name, not yours.

I stared at the red, swelling handprint on my mother's cheek, and the fury hit me so hard my chest ached.

I pulled my mother behind me, drove my foot into Diane, and sent her crashing to the floor. She screamed.

The world's turned upside down! You worthless woman, how dare you lay a hand on me! Your whole family is rotten to the core. No wonder heaven only gave you one daughter and no sons. You deserve to have your line die out. When you're dead, there won't even be anyone left to burn offerings at your grave!

I stood in front of my mother, shielding her, and looked down at Diane with cold eyes.

Max owed millions from his business ventures and chose to marry into our family. We paid off every cent. Your entire family has been living off me for years. Now my son is grown and accomplished, and you want him to take your last name? Where do you get the nerve?

Max rushed at me. I signaled the security guards immediately, and they caught him before he could get close.

The guards pinned him in place. He glared at me, seething.

Yes. I married into your family. And every single day of it has been humiliation. I won't let my son keep carrying that shame. If you really want what's best for him, let him return to the family line.

I slapped Max across the face.

Max Perry, how do you have the face to say that? All those years driving luxury cars, fine clothes, eating and drinking whatever you wanted on my moneyyou never once called it humiliation. But now, suddenly, marrying into our family is a disgrace?

Max clenched his jaw.

I endured it for our son. I didn't want it affecting his studies, so I swallowed every bit of that humiliation for years. Now he's grown. I'm done swallowing it.

My voice went cold.

You just said yourself that he's grown. Then let him decide.

Max spun toward Kenneth, agitated.

Kenny, take back your father's name. You'll be a real mannobody's going to laugh at you anymore. Our whole family will be proud of you.

Diane scrambled to her feet and grabbed Kenneth's arm.

My dear grandson, you're our family's child through and through. Come home with Grandma. Let the whole village see what we raised. I'd like to see anyone look down on me after that.

I looked at my son and gave him a calm, reassuring smile.

Kenny. Go ahead. Do you want to change your last name back to your father's?

Kenneth pulled his hand free from Diane's grip and looked at Max.

Dad, I think being a Delgado is fine. I don't want to change my name. I've lived with the Delgado family my whole life. I'm a Delgado. Mom and Grandpa and Grandma have raised me as the Delgado heir. I won't let them down.

I'd expected it, but hearing my son say the words out loud still filled me with a warmth I couldn't quite contain.

Kenny, if you don't want to change, no one can force you. You are a Delgado. No one can take you away, and no one can change that.

Max's face changed instantly. He shot to his feet and shoved the security guards off him.

Kenneth, did all that studying rot your brain? We're telling you to return to the family linethat's the Perry family accepting you. How can you keep degrading yourself by carrying your mother's name? You know, a few hundred years ago, that would've been an absolute disgrace. You wouldn't be able to walk down the street without people cursing you to your face.

My brows knotted tight. Every word out of Max's mouth made my skin crawl. If there hadn't been so many people watching, I would have gone up there and slapped him twice more.

Diane fixed her eyes on Kenneth too.

Kenny, your father had no choice back then. He had to let you take the Delgado name. But Perry blood runs through your veins. If you don't change your name back, you won't even be laid to rest in the Perry ancestral graves when you die.

I stepped in front of my son and let out a cold laugh.

Your Perry ancestral graves? Help yourselves. My son wouldn't be caught dead there.

Kenneth spoke up right behind me.

Dad, I won't be changing my name. Please don't try to persuade me anymore. I only want to be a Delgado.

Pride flooded through me as I looked at my son. I opened my mouth to speak, but before a single word came out, I was shoved hard to the side.

Then I saw Max kick Kenneth square in the body.

You worthless disgrace! How did I end up with something that has no dignity, no self-respect? Finetoday your father's going to discipline you properly.

By the time security rushed in and hauled Max off, Kenneth's arms and torso were already mottled black and blue.

Looking at my son, the pain hit me so hard I could barely breathe.

Mom, I'm fine. Don't worry about me.

My fists clenched so hard my knuckles ached. I turned to Max, and every part of me wanted to destroy him.

Max. We're getting a divorce.

He snorted, completely unbothered.

Fine by me. Give me the kid, or leave the marriage with nothing. Those are your two options. Otherwise I'm not signing a thing.

A sharp, contemptuous breath left my throat.

Not a chance. The Delgado assets are mine. Don't even dream about it.

Max smiled.

Then I'll take the boy. You hear that, Kenny? Your own mother doesn't even want you. Come on, come home with me.

Diane started shouting too.

Hand Kenny back to the Perry family right now! He has Perry blood in him. He's a Perry descendant!

I reached into my bag and pulled out a report.

Kenneth is my son. He has nothing to do with Max Perry. And he has absolutely nothing to do with the Perry family.