Chase Sullivan’s lips trembled in a pout as he burrowed into Summer Sullivan’s embrace.
“Mommy, I don’t want her as my grandma…
She’s too mean.”
Summer Sullivan gently patted his back to soothe him, then raised her head.
“Mrs.
Lancaster, how can you say such a thing?
I was forced to leave Jaden back then because of the combined pressure from you and the Sullivan family.
That proves the decision wasn’t mine to make.
Now that my son is older and misses his father, I came to find Jaden.
Just look at Chase’s eyes and brows—don’t you see the resemblance to Jaden?”
Miranda Shepherd leaned back and let out a soft, unreadable chuckle, clearly not buying it.
“A resemblance?
Children’s features aren’t fully formed; they can look a little like anyone.
I’ve lived for over half a century; I can see right through the schemes of young people.
Summer Sullivan, you were capable of such a crazy stunt back then.
It’s not impossible that you’ve fabricated a new story now for some ulterior motive.”
‘If he were truly of Lancaster blood, one hundred percent, then I might consider it.’
These words stung Summer Sullivan, and a flicker of panic crossed her face.
Her voice grew shrill.
“You’re insulting my character!
If you don’t believe me, you can take Chase for a paternity test!”
Miranda Shepherd’s gaze was ice-cold, her tone full of warning:
“You had better not be lying.
Until the paternity test results are out, the doors of the Lancaster family will remain closed to you.
The Lancaster Group has just secured its position in Eldoria, and Wynn Shaw and Jaden’s wedding date is approaching.
For you to suddenly appear now…
you either want to use the Lancaster family’s current power to legitimize your illegitimate son, or you’re simply out for revenge against our family.”
‘This old fox…
she’s so shrewd and overbearing.’
Summer Sullivan’s expression darkened.
Catching sight of a shadow by the door out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly dropped to her knees on the floor, clutching her son.
“Shh, don’t cry.
It’s Mommy’s fault.
I’m not strong enough to get them to accept you.
All these years, you’ve lived without a father or a grandmother.”
“Mom!
What are you doing?”
Jaden Lancaster had rushed back from the office, looking weary, intending to help handle family affairs.
Instead, he arrived to find his mother exuding an intimidating aura while Summer Sullivan and her son knelt on the floor.
He suddenly felt a headache coming on and quickly helped the mother and son to their feet.
Summer Sullivan was just as good at playing the victim as she’d always been.
Miranda Shepherd looked at her foolish, disappointing son, overcome with exasperation.
“I’ll say it again: without a paternity test, I will not allow you to be with my son.”
Jaden Lancaster’s eyes were filled with disappointment.
“Mom, why are you still as stubborn as you were back then?
Why is it so hard for you to trust Summer?”
He grew more agitated as he spoke.
Miranda Shepherd lifted her chin, gesturing towards the kitchen.
Jaden Lancaster’s next words died in his throat.
‘Wynn Shaw is still in there.
I need to tone it down.’
“Mom, please don’t interfere so much with my relationship with Summer.
As for Wynn…
she loves me so much, it’s only right that she gives up her position as Mrs.
Lancaster.
I must be responsible for Summer.”
“If I’m not responsible, doesn’t that make me a thankless scoundrel?”
Summer Sullivan trembled more violently in Jaden Lancaster’s arms.
“Don’t worry, Mrs.
Lancaster.
In a few days, I’ll have Jaden bring you the paternity test results.”
Jaden Lancaster’s anger flared.
He couldn’t understand why everyone was targeting him and Summer Sullivan.
His eyes were resolute.
“Even if Chase isn’t my son, I am still going to marry Summer.
I’ve already let too many people down.
I can’t fail her again.”
He said this, however, on the assumption that Chase was, one hundred percent, his son.
His kind, gentle Summer would never deceive him.
Not long after, Wynn Shaw came out from the kitchen with a smile, feigning ignorance of the situation.
“Mom, you must be hungry.
Please, come and eat.”
Jaden Lancaster’s expression softened slightly.
Seeing Wynn Shaw’s graceful and composed demeanor, he suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
‘What is this feeling?’
Sensing Jaden Lancaster’s distraction, Summer Sullivan gave his sleeve a subtle tug from an angle where Wynn Shaw couldn’t see.
Jaden Lancaster turned his head and met her tear-filled eyes.
He pulled his attention away from Wynn Shaw and said softly to the mother and son, “Come on, listen to me.
Stay and eat first.
You don’t want to go hungry.”
As soon as they sat down, Wynn Shaw started eating by herself.
When Jaden Lancaster was helping to serve the rice, he discovered there wasn’t enough food at all.
To be precise, there wasn’t enough for the two newcomers, Summer Sullivan and her son.
His face suddenly darkened, and the little bit of guilt he had felt towards Wynn Shaw vanished without a trace.
“What is this?
Didn’t I tell you Summer and Chase were coming over today?
And you didn’t think to make a little extra food?”
Wynn Shaw replied calmly, “You only told me you were bringing guests for dinner.
You never said how many to prepare for.
This was all the food we had in the house.”
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Summer Sullivan immediately seized the opportunity.
“President Lancaster, please don’t blame Wynn.
She’s probably not feeling well and doesn’t have the energy.
Just let Chase eat.
I’ll be fine skipping one meal.”
Chase Sullivan immediately started wailing, “Mommy, I’m hungry!
I want to eat!”
Jaden Lancaster watched coldly as Summer Sullivan put on her self-sacrificing act.
It was already hard enough for her, raising a child alone.
His mother had just given her a difficult time, and to top it off, Wynn was also being so thoughtless.
He had spent the last few days at the office completely overwhelmed, cleaning up the mess Wynn Shaw had left behind.
And now he had to come home to this.
“Wynn, it wouldn’t have been hard to prepare two more servings.
You’re being incredibly rude.
I know you better than anyone; this isn’t like you.”
Under Summer Sullivan’s guiding gaze, Chase Sullivan quietly tiptoed over to Miranda Shepherd’s side and whispered, “Grandma, I’m hungry…”
Miranda Shepherd, who had been observing coldly until now, furrowed her brow slightly.
The word “Grandma” seemed to cause a ripple in her heart.
Staring at Chase Sullivan’s small face, she noted that while his eyes and brows looked more like Summer Sullivan’s, there was also a faint trace of Jaden Lancaster in his features.
‘What if he really is of Lancaster blood…’
After wavering for a few moments, she didn’t speak up to stop her son, nor did she speak up for Wynn Shaw.
It was as if she was tacitly approving of his actions.
Wynn Shaw witnessed all of this, and her heart grew completely cold.
‘This family…
they’re all the same.’
Wynn Shaw slowly put down her chopsticks.
She lifted her head, her eyes clear and bright:
“Jaden Lancaster.” Her voice wasn’t loud.
“Do you remember what today is?”
Jaden Lancaster froze, his anger faltering as a flicker of confusion crossed his face.
“Four years ago today, I officially took over the Lancaster Group’s finance department and pulled you back from the brink of bankruptcy.
And coincidentally, one year ago today, you officially proposed to me.
You said that on this day, every year, you would personally cook a meal for me to thank me for choosing you.”
“And yet, I never once got that meal.
Instead, what I get today is you, bringing another woman to our home and criticizing me for not making enough food.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Summer Sullivan, whose face had paled slightly, and Miranda Shepherd, who wore a complex expression.
“It seems you really did forget.
Perhaps I’m just being thoughtless and ruining the fun.
I’ll be going now.
You all enjoy your meal.”
After speaking, she ignored Jaden Lancaster’s stunned gaze, turned, and left, her retreating figure resolute.
He never would have expected this.
Wynn would never normally disrespect him like this, especially not with Miranda Shepherd right there.
‘She completely disregarded my pride.’
Miranda Shepherd’s face turned black.
She shot a nasty look at everyone and snapped, “Arguing, always arguing!
Do you have to keep fighting until you’ve torn this perfectly fine family apart?”
Summer Sullivan bit her lip and pulled her son as if to leave.
“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.
I’m the one who brought trouble to your family.”
Jaden Lancaster frowned.
“What do you mean, ‘your family’?
We’re obviously…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Summer Sullivan ran out.
Jaden Lancaster’s head was splitting.
He wanted to chase after her, but then his phone rang.
His secretary’s voice came through the phone.
“President Lancaster, President Warren just received an email from Miss Shaw.
It says she’s withdrawing from the new energy project team.
Now he’s pulling his investment from the Lancaster Group.
What do we do?”