"I want to report a crime! Mr. Officer, I was abandoned by my daddy!"
The frosted door was pushed open. The police officer, wrapping a scarf around his neck and just about to leave, felt something bump against his leg. Coupled with the long, milky voice echoing eerily in the empty hall, his face stiffened in fright. Looking down, he realized a tiny figure was clinging tightly to his thigh.
The little boy looked up at him pitifully with teary eyes. Thin ice clung to his long eyelashes, making him look completely homeless.
"Mr. Officer, I want to go home, but I can’t find my daddy.
"Can you tell him to come pick me up?"
Jonathan Shaw pursed his lips, his tears falling freely like rain.
The officer’s heart ached at the sight of the boy crying. He crouched in front of Jonathan and spoke gently. "Don’t worry, little guy. I’ll definitely help you find your daddy! What happened? Tell me everything."
Jonathan cleared his throat, reined in his sobs slightly, and spoke with righteous indignation. "That deadbeat dad of mine is a massive jerk! He abandoned his wife and son, and who knows where he’s off living it up right now. Mr. Officer, you have to arrest him and punish him by making him copy the Good Husband Code ten thousand times!"
The officer agreed wholeheartedly. The way he looked at Jonathan grew even more sympathetic. "Men like that don’t deserve to be parents! Don’t be afraid, I’ll help you! First, tell me, what’s your name?"
"My name is Jonathan Shaw. S-H-A-W, Shaw."
"By the way, where is your mommy? Why didn’t she come with you?"
A long silence lingered in the hall as Jonathan stood there without saying a word.
Seeing this, the officer immediately realized he must have touched a sore spot. He broke out in a cold sweat. "Ah, silly me. I shouldn’t have asked. I’m going to arrest your daddy right now. Do you remember his phone number?"
Wiping away his tears, Jonathan pretended to be strong. "I remember. 1..."
He wouldn’t expose his mommy’s information so easily. She had no idea he had run away this time. If she found out, she would definitely drag him back!
The officer dialed the number. A low, deep voice answered from the other end.
"Who is this?"
"Hello, Mr. Shaw. I am a police officer! Your son, Jonathan Shaw, is currently at the Silverstream Road Police Station. Please come here immediately!"
"...My last name is Ford."
The man on the other end was a man of few words, while the adorable child shrank quietly at the officer’s feet, holding back tears.
The officer didn’t even have time to process what the man meant. He instantly felt that this person was cold-blooded and ruthless. No wonder he was capable of abandoning his wife and child!
"Let me reiterate, you—"
CLICK.
The call was ruthlessly disconnected.
Filled with righteous indignation, the officer said, "Little guy, are you sure this is your daddy? How shameless! Just you wait, I will definitely get you justice today!"
"I believe in you the most, Mr. Officer!"
Empowered by Jonathan’s words, the officer enthusiastically redialed the number. This time, before the other party could speak, he fired off like a machine gun, "Sir, you are suspected of criminal behavior! If you continue to refuse to cooperate, we will take immediate action to arrest you!"
"I apologize, but I am Mr. Cyrus Ford’s lawyer. If you have any issues, you can direct them to me."
"...Wait, what is your boss’s last name?" The officer thought he had misheard.
"Ford. Cyrus Ford."
Cyrus Ford!!
That was the CEO of Ford, a name that shook Avenburg! In just five years, he had elevated the small Ford to an unrivaled global position, amassing a net worth in the hundreds of billions!
How could the little boy in front of him possibly be his son?!
He hung up the phone immediately and grabbed Jonathan’s hand, his voice trembling. "Your last name is Shaw, and your daddy’s last name is Ford? Little guy, did you get the wrong person?"
"Impossible! His last name is definitely Ford! His name is Cyrus Ford!" Jonathan insisted firmly. This was the result of his painstaking investigation; it absolutely couldn’t be wrong!
Even though the little boy firmly believed Cyrus was his father, the officer’s trust in him had clearly plummeted. How could a child of the Ford Family not have the last name Ford, but take an outsider’s name instead?!
The officer tried to coax more information out of Jonathan. "How did your daddy abandon you? Where do you usually live?"
"Um... he abandoned me right after I was born, so I’ve actually never met him."
The officer’s face instantly fell. It was all his fault for letting his sense of justice get the better of him. He had issued a warning without even asking for the details. After asking that, it became obvious that this adorable kid had very likely found the wrong dad!
After all, Cyrus had kept his nose clean for years and stayed away from women. How could such an ascetic and powerful CEO have a four-year-old son?!
At Ford.
Sean Shelton hung up the phone, staring in astonishment at the man who was busy with official business. "That call was genuinely from the police station. Don’t tell me you actually have an illegitimate child? Cyrus, my friend, when did you have a kid behind my back?"
Cyrus Ford slightly raised his eyes. A thick, ink-like darkness swirled within his narrow gaze, revealing a bottomless depth at a mere glance. Beneath his gold-rimmed glasses, his chiseled features exuded an extraordinary coldness.
"If you could have a baby, I’d certainly let you have one."
Over the years, there had been quite a few "illegitimate child" rumors surrounding Cyrus, but without exception, they were all fake.
"No, no, no, just kidding!" Sean shrugged. "But I have to remind you, that kid’s last name is..."
"What does it matter if his last name is Shaw?" Cyrus interrupted calmly, tapping his fingertips against the desk. "Do you have too much free time on your hands?"
Sean held his breath. Looking up at the ceiling, he smiled and smoothed things over. "I didn’t say anything; you brought it up yourself. I’ll head out now."
Sean made a hasty retreat. The moment the name Shaw was mentioned, the air pressure in the office had already dropped to a shivering low. He just didn’t expect that even though five years had passed since that incident, Cyrus still seemed allergic to the name Shaw.
Cyrus stared at his watch for a long time before making a call. "Sean, come with me to the police station. Don’t tell Grandma about this child."
"Now?! You have a video conference in half an hour!"
"Postpone it."
With that, Cyrus put on his black overcoat and strode out into the night.
At the police station.
Jonathan stared angrily at the clock. A whole two hours had passed. Was Cyrus really going to ignore him?! He was worse than scum!
The officer yawned twice in a row. "My shift is ending soon. How about you come home and stay with me for the night?"
"No, I’m going to wait here for my daddy! If you can’t, then take me to the Ford Estate!" Jonathan planted his little hands on his hips, looking quite like a pint-sized mob boss.
A black Panamera suddenly pulled up outside the police station. Soon after, a man of noble bearing pushed open the door, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. He strode in on long legs, stepping into the moonlight. The cold, pale glow fell upon his black overcoat, exuding a deep, chilling sense of oppression.
The officer looked up. The man’s sharp, taut jawline and high-bridged nose formed a perfect silhouette, making one marvel at the Creator’s masterpiece. However, the moment he met those solitary, striking eyes—as cold and desolate as a dying winter storm—a turbulent wave of fear surged in the officer’s heart, stripping him of the courage to maintain eye contact.
"Sir, who might you be?" The officer hadn’t noticed the other man behind Cyrus. The two had walked in one after the other, and both wore clothes that looked incredibly expensive.
Cyrus swept his gaze over the room before fixing his eyes on Jonathan.
"Daddy! That’s my daddy!"