Jonathan Shaw was still paralyzed by the fear of his mommy’s impending arrival.
Cyrus Ford looked up. His gaze held a hint of scrutiny as his fingertips tapped aimlessly against the tabletop.
Sean Shelton asked curiously, "What are you so worked up about, you little brat?"
Snapping out of his daze, Jonathan’s eyes flashed with slyness as he shot back a question. "Do you know the secret to a long life?"
"Why?" Sean was baffled.
"Because they mind their own business!"
Jonathan’s words were resounding. Sean’s face instantly flushed red with anger. Who would have thought he’d be repeatedly left speechless by this father-son duo!
He glared indignantly at Cyrus. Seeing the man’s complete indifference, he complained, "Your son has no manners. You need to teach him a lesson! I’m your sworn brother, for crying out loud. He should at least respectfully call me Godfather, or Uncle!"
"You want a son that badly? I’ll give him to you," Cyrus said, his voice as cold as water, without even lifting an eyelid.
He didn’t seem to be taking anyone’s side, but Sean knew that Cyrus’s lack of a stance—even in front of his best friend—was practically a half-endorsement of Jonathan!
Sean suddenly broke out in goosebumps. If the paternity test results came out positive later, he would have to stay far away from this father and son. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even know how he died! He immediately steered the conversation back to business. "Cyrus, you have an international video conference tonight. You’ve already postponed it once, so you absolutely must be on time for this one."
"I know," Cyrus replied calmly. "Butler, make the arrangements."
"Yes, Mr. Ford. I’ll ask Mrs. Ford to host," the butler said, bowing slightly from the side. Even in such a relaxed atmosphere, he maintained his utmost respect for Cyrus. "However, Ms. Claire Lockwood mentioned she would also be visiting tonight. I heard she found a renowned folk doctor."
"Mhm, let her come."
The butler glanced up at the idle Jonathan and tentatively asked, "Then I shall take the young master to a guest room to be looked after. I’ll go make the arrangements now."
Cyrus gave a slight nod, then turned to Sean. "Go collect the samples and run the paternity test."
With that, he stood up and slowly walked away on his long legs. The moment his upright figure disappeared around the corner, the oppressive aura he naturally radiated finally vanished. Sean breathed a sigh of relief, only to suddenly feel a pair of soft, chubby little hands grabbing him.
Jonathan furrowed his brows, his adorable, porcelain-like face now exuding absolute seriousness. "Do you know who Claire Lockwood is?"
"Call me Godfather and I’ll tell you," Sean teased with a wicked smirk, curling his lips roguishly.
Giving him no face at all, Jonathan immediately bawled at the top of his lungs, "Daddy! This man is saying bad things about you—"
Startled, Sean frantically clamped a hand over the little guy’s mouth, a wave of helplessness surging in his heart. "Alright, alright! You’re just as ruthless as your daddy!"
The little boy giggled. "It’s called necessary measures."
"Claire Lockwood is your daddy’s fiancée, which means she’ll be your future mommy. When she gets here later, you’d better behave!" Sean explained in a warning tone.
Jonathan, who had been loud and boisterous ever since arriving at the Ford Family, suddenly fell into a long silence. Stroking his chin, anger gradually burned in his eyes.
"He really is a scumbag dad!" he thought. "He actually wants to marry another woman! I wasted all this effort trying to find him!
"No way. I have to teach him a good lesson tonight and let him know the consequences of forgetting about Mommy!"
At midnight, the main gates of the Ford Estate were opened once again.
A chill seeped into the courtyard along with the water-like moonlight, draping a faint, ethereal glow over the new arrival. Her long, dark, wavy hair fluttered in the wind with a touch of casual elegance. Clad in a white dress, Zoe Shaw looked like an untouchable ice queen.
She wore a hat and a mask, obscuring her features. Only her clear eyes were visible, rippling gently like autumn pools. Yet, upon a deeper look, they held a sense of aloofness and calm composure.
"Miss Penney, it is quite late tonight, and Matriarch Ford has already gone to bed. However, your room has been prepared. Please follow me."
The butler found it a bit strange. He had never seen such a young medical researcher before, let alone one who kept her face so tightly concealed. His curiosity was fleeting, however. Lowering his gaze, he respectfully led the way.
Zoe breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the person receiving her was not Cyrus Ford.
Her gaze remained placid. With a sweep of her peripheral vision, she memorized the general layout of the Ford Estate. Since Jonathan was staying with the Ford Family, he would undoubtedly be put up in a guest room.
The Ford Estate had been renovated; the architecture was now more elegant, exuding a sense of low-key luxury at every turn. Thankfully, some of the layout remained unchanged, exactly as it was back then. Memories suddenly pierced her heart like a dense cluster of needles.
Six years ago, she had been here. At the time, she and Cyrus were the perfect couple, envied by the entire university. It was a pity that young love was as fleeting as duckweed in the wind, unable to withstand the trials of the real world.
"We have arrived."
Seeing her space out, the butler reminded her softly.
Zoe’s expression cooled. Reining in her emotions, she took her luggage and walked into the room. After exchanging pleasantries with the butler, she quietly unpacked her belongings. Her top priority right now was to find Jonathan!
Returning to the country to treat Matriarch Ford was merely an excuse. If she could successfully find that little rascal, she would grab him and make a run for it tonight, even if it meant getting no sleep. She didn’t want any further entanglement with Cyrus! She wished she could completely wipe away the past she had shared with him five or six years ago, pretending none of it had ever happened!
Taking a deep breath, she restored her tranquil expression in seconds. She adjusted her hat and mask, pushed the door open, and relied on her memory to search for the other guest rooms. After turning two corners, she spotted a light-wooden door left ajar. She could faintly make out a toy car sitting inside.
After a moment of deliberation, she quietly pushed the door open. Before the gap widened even half an inch, an explosive shout rang out from behind her!
"Hey, who are you?"
Zoe instinctively whirled around and lunged toward another door around the corner. The footsteps outside went from hurried to slow, and her heartbeat involuntarily quickened. She pressed her back tightly against the wall, forcing herself to calm down. In hindsight, she realized there was absolutely no need for her to hide. She was just too terrified of running into Cyrus, which was why she had subconsciously darted into this room.
Only a single desk lamp illuminated the pitch-black room. Zoe tried to get a clear look at her surroundings, but a tall silhouette blocked her view the very next second. The quiet, crisp sandalwood scent unique to this man wafted over, instantly making her memories stick and tangle together. Cyrus Ford! Zoe nearly blurted out his name.
She was so familiar with him that, even after five years apart, her deeply ingrained subconscious still reminded her upon their reunion of their unforgettable yet fruitless past.
"You dare break into my room? You’re not from the Ford Family," Cyrus’s hoarse voice sounded.
Zoe could feel his condescending stare. It was an unpleasant gaze that made it seem as though she were already a plaything in the palm of his hand.
"Speak. Who are you?!"