Whatever! She admitted to herself that she had indeed taken advantage of Marcus this time.

Itwas six in the evening, and she had just finished work, ready to head home. As she was about to drive off, she heard a knock on her car window.

To her surprise, it was Shawn standing outside.

“Shawn, what are you doing here? This is such a surprise!” Melissa exclaimed, genuinely taken aback.

As she spoke, she opened the passenger side door for Shawn. “Come on in. We should pick up Janet and Yvonne. It'l be fun to grab dinner together” she suggested with a smile.

Settling into the seat, Shawn relaxed and then, with a hint of smirk, patted the bag he had with him. “'m paying for dinner tonight,” he announced with a grin. “I've come into a bit of money. Janet and Yvonne are already at the restaurant waiting for us. After we pick up my mom and Matthew, we'll join them. I'm really looking forward to treating everyone.” Melissa couldn't help but feel excited for him. She started the car, saying, “That sounds amazing! I'm all in for a good meal” ALL through the drive, Shawn was in high spirits, sharing stories about how much his boss appreciated his work, the money he was making now, and his dreams of buying a big villa in three years.

Melissa gently reminded him, “Be careful with business dealings” Shawn responded cheerfully, “No worries. I'm on top of it” Atdinner, everyone enjoyed a great atmosphere. Afterwards, Julie left to spend the night at her son's place, while Melissa took Matthew home

alone.

Matthew buzzed with excitement, saying, “Yvonne says Uncle Shawn's going to be rich.” With a grin, Melissa asked, “Do you understand what it means to be rich?” Matthew scowled slightly and said, “Of course. It means Uncle Shawn can buy lots of toys for me” Melissa agreed, “Yes, that's one way to look at it” Encouraged by her response, Matthew became even more thrilled.

He looked adorable in his dungarees, especially toddling along on his own.

Suddenly, someone picked him up and carried him to a black limousine.

The man said politely, “Mr. Smith, here is the boy.” Melissa was taken aback.

She ran over, but two men in suits quickly held her back. They didn't harm her, merely prevented her from advancing, apologizing, “We're sorry, ma'am.” Melissa had a hunch about who was in the Limousine.

She shouted, “Weldon, you have no right to take Matthew away from me! He's not part of the Smith family’s disputes! Don't even think about it!”

The car door swung open, and Weldon stepped out, followed closely by Thomas.

Weldon's gaze found Melissa's, and she looked back at him, unblinking.

Thomas, wearing a look of concern, tried to mediate. “Weldon, give Melissa a bit more time to think it over. It's not fair to push her like this."

Weldon effortlessly scooped up Matthew and cradled him in his arms.

His towering presence and stern expression were enough to scare Matthew. The little boy's mouth quivered before he started crying uncontrollably.

Weldon, visibly irritated by Matthew's reaction, didn't hide his disappointment.

He groaned, “What a useless thing! Come on, you're stronger than this.

Boys need to be brave and unyielding. You're going to stay with me from now on.” Matthew, however, was having none of it.

As he glared at Weldon, he began to kick and squirm desperately. “I don't want to go with you! Let me go! I don't even know you. You're the monster that eats kids, aren't you? Julie warned me about people like you” Hearing that, Weldon got really annoyed and asked Melissa, “Who the hell is Julie? And how can she feed a kid with such nonsense?” At that moment, Melissa was so anxious that she was sweating profusely.

Looking straight at Weldon, she slowly said, “You don't understand anything about Matthew. How dare you just come here trying to take my boy? Mr. Smith, you're heartless. Don't kid yourself! Nobody can stand you. If you don't believe me, ask your brother or your wife if they can stand being around you” Weldon just scoffed, “I couldn't care less if they like me or not” He picked up Matthew and walked over to Melissa. In the moonlight, he looked down at the mother and son, noticing how much they resembled each other...

In truth, he wasn't happy that Matthew didn't look like him at all.

But that wasn't important.

What he cared about was having an heir for the Smith family, and he planned to mentor Matthew himself.

Matthew was silent for a bit, and then started crying again, yelling, “Youre the bad guy! I don't like you. Go away, you monster! My dad is a superhero. He knows how to deal with monsters. He's going to come and defeat you” Weldon didn't get angry; instead, he smiled at Melissa and said, “Look at him, naturally ruthless! He comes from the Smith family after all” “Bullshits!” Melissa retorted sharply. “He's nothing like you! Try to take him away, and I'm calling the police immediately.”

Weldon just sneered in response.

Just then, a helicopter started flying their way, its propellers whirring louder as it neared. Cradling Matthew, Weldon told Melissa with a smug look, “I'm sending him overseas! If you can't bear to be apart from your little boy, come with me, Melissa”

Melissa glared at Weldon, her teeth clenched, and her face turned ghostly pale.

Thomas couldn't watch silently anymore and tried to intervene. “Weldon, please, let's not escalate this” Weldon just laughed and shot back, “Oh, why? Will you give me a new heir then?”

Thomas sighed, shaking his head, seeing there was no reasoning with him.

Melissa was shaking all over, attempting to snatch Matthew back, but the bodyguards held her firmly in place.

At that moment, Matthew also shouted for help, “Daddy, help Matthew! I don't want to leave Mommy... I don't want to leave Daddy either. I really like Daddy! Daddy... Please chase the monster away...

Hearing this, Weldon felt a bit upset.

He said with a hint of impatience, “Im not a monster! I'm your grandfather. Call me grandpa!” But Matthew kept crying, “No! You're not my grandpa. You're the scariest monster of them all.” Just as Weldon was about to take Matthew away, the helicopter landed, and the cabin door opened.

A voice then emerged from the darkness behind them. “You're planning to take my son without asking me, Mr. Smith? If so, you might want to stop and think it over” Hearing a voice he knew well, Weldon was taken aback.

Thomas was equally surprised.

Melissa, stunned, turned around in disbelief, only to see Marcus stepping out of the shadows, a small hammer in hand.

Weldon scoffed, “You think you can stop me with just that?”

Upon seeing Marcus, Matthew's spirits lifted, and he yelled, “Go, Daddy, beat up the monster!” Marcus flashed Matthew a warm smile, and then turned to Melissa, who was tearfully gazing at him, as if scared he'd vanish any moment.

Marcus then made a beeline for the helicopter.

Before anyone could grasp what was happening, he was behind the pilot, pulling him from the cockpit and tossing him to the ground.

Seems like Edwin didn't give the Smith family enough of a lesson, making you think you could cross the Fowler family again.” Weldon retorted with a sneer, “But

the father and son, tears welling

won't return to the Smith family? If you do, I'l give you everything.”

she met Weldon's gaze, her tone indifferent. “My mother

her. Weldon, there will never be peace between us. I want nothing from you, not your wealth or your fame!” Weldon regarded her with

Thomas to clean up the mess before retreating to his vehicle. Seated inside, Weldon pondered Melissa's indifference and Matthew's

fathom why Melissa harbored such

to look

had drifted off to sleep in Melissa's arms. Resting her

remained courteous, even when interacting with someone from

heavy sigh, he addressed Marcus. “I apologize for today’s

felt he had no other options.”

heir, you feel entitled to seize someone else's child?” Thomas

desire to engage further with Thomas. Both Melissa and

cradled Matthew, Marcus

eyes were teary as he gazed at him. Seeing this, Marcus gently tousled his hair, murmuring softly, “Let's go home, alright?” Melissa bit

Mommy, I'm scared?” Despite

to Melissa, his gaze deep as he

pondered questioning Marcus about where he was taking them.

she deemed it

nestled against Marcus like a trusting kitten, Melissa's heart softened. She found herself mimicking Marcus’

car keys, Marcus asked, “Are you able to drive now?”

eyes met fleetingly, and Melissa felt a flutter in

physical touch. For the first time, she

stop as Melissa fell in a

slightly hoarse voice. “Let's get going!” With Matthew in his arms, Marcus and Melissa walked side by

and the adorable boy walk away, his emotions mixed with a tinge of

in the past. Back then, he had underestimated her significance. Now, he realized he had probably

his pocket, he remembered his promise to his wife to quit smoking. With a bitter smile, he ambled

other side, Marcus settled into the backseat, holding Matthew in

the same

Marcus’ embrace. Seeing that the boy was growing calm, Melissa felt a

fixed his gaze

the apartment near my

nodded and

followed Marcus in silence. Matthew

stroked his

stirred and softly called out to her. Melissa removed her coat and

Matthew asleep, only

his gaze, Melissa

touched the back

couldn't help

there was nowhere to hide in the

palm made contact with her skin, Melissa felt a

was doing it on purpose! In the end, she couldn't help but let out a soft

voice was barely

regarded her with an

the top floor. Melissa immediately

withdrew his hand and exited the elevator

the lights, Marcus revealed a bright and

his eyes and wrapped

it's so big here!” Marcus offered the little boy a gentle

he looked at Melissa and asked softly, “What do you think? Do you like this

gave her a pat and instructed, “Go and put the kettle on. I'll take Matthew to the room

size bed awaited. Matthew, lying on the bed, appeared so

of experience with children, Marcus displayed skill in caring

embraced the little boy, soothing him until he drifted off to sleep in

a moment, Marcus tenderly tucked Matthew in, unable to resist planting several

then, Melissa entered the room

“Is he asleep?” .

low and soft, her gaze fixed

responded with a

the small talk, he extended his arms to pull Melissa close.

a faint smell of alcohol on his breath, mingling

to struggle, but as soon

her waist with his broad

now!” Suddenly, Melissa began to tremble. It wasn't that she hadn't been scared just moments ago. She was simply trying hard to restrain herself... Had Marcus not arrived in time, both she and

She lifted her head but

silent, his eyes fixed

lifted her and headed to the bathroom... They had shared intimacy in the

moment they touched and made love, they couldn't

locked eyes and exchanged ki*ses...

neck, tilting her head to ki*s his chin gently. In that moment, she

passion eventually ebbed

but he

held her tightly, casting an affectionate gaze at

still clutching the water gun in

to time in his sleep, the boy accidentally fired it, spraying water onto the

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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