“Mom, He’s My Brother!” The Little Boy Told His Millionaire Mother. Then…

The Reunion

Meanwhile, Ashton and Hazel were on their adventure searching for Luke, the boy with the same features as the wealthy young boy. Theodore parked the car in front of the large banquet hall in the Peach District. The pre-teens quickly jumped out, their eyes alert, scanning every corner in search of Luke, but the street was deserted, no sign of the boy.

Ashton crossed his arms and muttered:

“It was to be expected, I guess he wasn’t coming back.”

Hazel, trying to maintain her enthusiasm, smiled and said:

“Calm down, Ashton, let’s try to buy some time. I’ll go inside and pretend I want information about my birthday party.”

She entered the hall while Ashton stayed outside, his eyes fixed on any movement. Hazel took a few minutes asking about dates, feigning interest in the party packages. Outside, Ashton sighed, looking around in all directions without success. Time passed and Luke was nowhere to be seen.

Finally, the girl left the hall. Seeing the discouragement on her friend’s face.

“Let’s keep trying, we’ll find him eventually,” she said, determined.

They walked back to the car. Theodore, already restless, remarked:

“What took you so long?”

Hazel smiled and replied.

“The reception hall is so beautiful that I didn’t want to leave. My party is going to be a fairy tale, Theodore.”

The driver chuckled and started the car. He began to drive slowly down the quiet street. Ashton rested his head against the window, discouraged. His eyes scanned the sidewalks almost automatically, without hope.

It was then that he saw him.

“It’s him!” Ashton exclaimed, pointing to the end of the street where a boy was rummaging through a trash can.

Hazel’s eyes widened.

“Theodore, stop the car!” she shouted.

The driver braked abruptly, startled.

“What’s going on?” he asked, concerned.

“I forgot to ask something about my party,” Hazel improvised, already opening the door and pulling Ashton with her.

Theodore, astonished, watched the two of them run down the sidewalk but didn’t have time to stop them. From inside the car, he observed, frowning as he realized that they weren’t going back into the reception hall but were heading towards a dirty boy who rummaged through the trash.

Ashton caught up to Luke and touched his shoulder.

“Luke,” he called out hopefully.

The boy turned around, startled. For a moment, his eyes reflected fear, but upon recognizing Ashton, a spontaneous smile spread across his face. Hazel, seeing the two side by side, put her hand to her mouth in shock.

“My god, you’re identical,” she whispered.

Ashton, trying to reassure Luke, said:

“There’s no need to be afraid, Hazel is my friend, you can trust her.”

Then the young millionaire took a deep breath and asked:

“Why did you run away yesterday?”

Luke, ashamed, replied:

“I don’t like adults. Whenever they get close, they try to take me to some shelter.”

Ashton nodded, understanding. He didn’t want to scare him.

“Where do you live?” he asked.

Luke shrugged.

“On the street.”

Those words struck the young millionaire deeply. Hazel, still in shock, asked gently:

“Don’t you have parents?”

Luke lowered his gaze sadly.

“No, I was found in a trash can as a baby. Some homeless people raised me, but they died. I’ve been alone ever since.”

Ashton’s heart ached. He looked at Luke and felt a connection that went far beyond physical similarity. Something there was stronger.

The Undeniable Proof

They sat on the sidewalk, away from the bustle, trying to find a moment of peace amidst the whirlwind of emotions they were feeling. Luke, his eyes downcast and his voice choked, began to tell his story. He spoke of the cold nights, of how he had to protect himself from the rain with only pieces of cardboard. He told about the days when he couldn’t find anything to eat, the times he hid to avoid being forcibly taken to shelters where he knew he would suffer even more.

Ashton and Hazel, who came from completely different realities, listened in silence, their hearts heavy. The pain was almost physical. They knew that people experienced hardship, but seeing it in person, right in front of them, a child like them suffering so much, was heartbreaking.

With tears welling up in his eyes, Ashton reached out his hand and said:

“You’re not alone anymore, Luke. We’re going to help you.”

Hazel excitedly stood up quickly and added:

“That’s right, you’re coming with us, we’ll figure something out.”

Luke smiled faintly, but the sad look remained. He knew that those two were just children, good children, but without the power to change what adults decided. Sighing, he said:

“You can’t do anything. My life is here and it’s okay, I’m used to it.”

Silence fell over them, broken only by the distant sounds of the city. Hazel, feeling the need to do something, reached out to try and comfort him, and that’s when, through a hole in Luke’s torn shirt, she saw something that made her freeze.

“What are you doing?” Luke asked, startled, as Hazel gently pulled at his shirt.

Hazel pointed with her finger, her voice thick with emotion.

“Look at that, you have a birthmark exactly like Ashton’s.”

Ashton approached, observing closely.

“It’s true, I have a birthmark exactly the same in the same place. Look here,” he said, surprised, also lifting his shirt.

Hazel looked at the two of them, her eyes shining with disbelief.

“It can’t be a coincidence. You’re twin brothers, there’s no other explanation.”

Luke’s eyes widened in confusion.

“Twin brothers? What are you talking about?”

Ashton took a deep breath and explained.

“Today before class we were talking, we thought the only explanation for us being so alike was this, and now with this birthmark.”

“But how, how can you be my brother, Luke?” Hazel added. “It’s strange because Mrs. Penelope always said she only had one child, but that birth mark, it’s too much of a coincidence.”

The street kid ran his hands through his hair, trying to process everything.

“It can’t be. We just look alike, that’s all. Everyone has a birthmark,” he murmured, barely audible.

His heart pounded erratically. The idea of having a family, of not being alone, was too tempting but also painful. What if it was just an empty hope?

Theodore Steps In

At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed on the sidewalk. They turned and saw Theodore, the driver, standing there, observing the scene with a shocked expression. Upon seeing an adult, Luke instinctively backed away, ready to flee.

“Calm down, Luke,” Ashton said, grabbing his arm.

“Let go of me! He’s going to take me to a shelter!” Luke shouted, the fear evident in his voice.

Hazel approached and said quickly:

“Theodore is good, he won’t do anything to you.”

Ashton confirmed, trying to convey confidence.

“Not all adults are bad, Luke. Trust us.”

Theodore, still processing the scene, approached slowly and asked:

“What’s going on here? Who is this boy? How does he look so much like your friend, Hazel?”

Ashton and Hazel took turns telling him everything: the encounter, the resemblance, the discovery of the birthmark. The driver looked at Luke and then at Ashton, comparing every feature, every detail. Then he said:

“You’re twins. I have no doubt. But how is that possible? I know Mrs. Penelope, she always said she only had one son.”

Before they could delve deeper into the conversation, Luke’s stomach rumbled loudly, breaking the tense atmosphere. The boy lowered his head, embarrassed. Theodore smiled understandingly.

“The answers can wait. Let’s put something in that little tummy first.”

He guided everyone back to the car and drove to a small diner nearby. He bought sandwiches and sodas for everyone.

When they received the food, Luke ate with a veracity that moved them all. With each bite, his eyes sparkled as if he were rediscovering the taste of life. Ashton and Hazel, with heavy hearts, watched in silence, feeling a mixture of sadness and hope.

After they ate, sitting at a secluded table, Hazel asked:

“So what now? What do we do?”

Ashton looked at Luke and then at Theodore.

“Now we take Luke to my mother. She needs to see him. Only she can confirm whether or not he’s my twin brother.”

Luke swallowed, fear written all over his face.

“What if, what if they take me to a shelter? You don’t know what life is like there?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion.

Theodore leaned forward and said firmly.

“Trust me, kid, Mrs. Penelope is a woman with a good heart, she would never do that.”

Luke looked at Ashton, Hazel, and Theodore. There was sincerity in their eyes, a sincerity he hadn’t seen in a long time. With his heart racing, he finally nodded.

“All right, I’ll go with you.”

Theodore smiled, relieved.

“Then let’s go.”