Crash!

A file came flying down from above, and the sharp corner sliced across Vera Ashton’s cheek.

"Vera Ashton, you’ve still got the nerve to come looking for Xavier? A second-hand woman who’s already had a child, and you still dream of marrying into the Cowman family? Get out. Xavier will never marry you, and don’t let me catch you pestering my son again!"

Vera lifted a hand and touched the spot the paper had cut. She stared at the elegant woman in front of her, stunned.

"Mrs. Cowman, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Had a child? Are you saying I had a child?"

"Still pretending? Then take a good look at that file yourself. It’s your medical report!"

Mrs. Cowman stood on the steps, looking down at Vera from above, her face full of disgust.

"Vera Ashton, wow, you really have no shame. You said you took a year off school four years ago because of a car accident. The truth is, you went off to have a baby, didn’t you? You’re clearly some cheap, shameless trash, yet every day you put on this innocent act. Who are you fooling? Did you really think our Cowman family was that easy to mess with? Butler, throw her out. And from now on, she is not allowed to step one foot in here again!"

Bang!

That was the sound of the villa door slamming shut.

Vera was driven out of the villa, stumbled, and fell hard to the ground.

The file that had been tossed at her landed by her feet. She stared at it blankly, her mind completely empty, like someone had hit pause on her whole world.

That’s not true.

How could she possibly have had a child?

Four years ago, she was in a car accident. That was it.

"Mrs. Cowman, please open the door and let me explain—"

A crisp ringtone suddenly rang out, cutting her off.

Vera’s small face had already gone pale. She pulled out her phone, glanced at the screen, and answered at once.

"Aunt Lan!"

"Miss Ashton, please come to the hospital right away. Your grandmother suddenly passed out and has already been taken into the ER."

Grandma had fainted again!

Vera Ashton’s face changed on the spot, and she hurried out.

...

At the hospital, Vera stood by the ward window, looking at the old woman on the bed who had just been pulled back from the brink. Her eyes slowly reddened.

Her grandmother had severe kidney disease.

She needed a transplant.

But Vera had no money. Not a cent.

That was why, with nowhere else to turn, she had gone to see her boyfriend, Xavier Cowman, hoping to talk to him and ask if he could lend her some money first so Grandma could get treatment.

But who would’ve thought...

The second Xavier crossed her mind, Vera sniffed hard, forcing the tears back down. She walked to the side, took out her phone, and dialed again.

Before this, every time she called Xavier, his phone had been off.

But this time, it actually went through.

A spark lit up in Vera’s eyes. She blurted out, almost breathless, "Xavier..."

"Hello?"

A soft, sugary female voice came through the phone.

The smile on Vera’s face froze instantly. She stared at the screen in disbelief.

She had called Xavier’s number.

So why was a woman answering?

"Are you looking for Xavier? He’s washing up right now, so it’s probably not convenient for him to answer. If you need anything, you can tell me. I’ll pass it on for you."

The woman’s voice floated over, smug and full of attitude.

Vera’s grip tightened around the phone. "Who are you?"

"Miss, a man and a woman alone in one room..." The woman gave a light laugh, her tone practically dripping with provocation. "What do you think I am to Xavier?"

The woman let out a mocking little laugh. "Anything else? If not, I’m hanging up."

The next second, the line went dead.

Vera Ashton’s face turned a shade paler, and the hand hanging by her side slowly clenched into a fist.

So Xavier Cowman really did have another woman out there?

A dull ache spread through her chest. Her breath caught, and she unconsciously took a step back.

"Oww!"

A soft, milky little voice came from behind her.

Vera snapped back to herself, only then realizing she seemed to have bumped into something.

She turned around and saw a tiny boy sitting on the floor, brows scrunched together, one small hand rubbing his sore little butt.

Startled, Vera hurried over and helped the little guy up.

"Sweetie, are you okay?"

"Mmm... my butt hurts!"

The little boy frowned, his big grape-black eyes fixed on Vera without blinking.

What a ridiculously delicate little kid.

Vera blinked, staring at the doll-like child in front of her, and couldn’t help gasping inwardly.

This kid was way too cute.

That soft pink skin, those long fluttery lashes, those shiny black eyes like polished glass—every single detail looked absurdly refined, like he’d been carefully carved out by hand.

"Sweetie, I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to bump into you just now. How about I rub it for you, okay?"

Pretty things were hard for anyone to resist. And for some reason, Vera felt an instant, unexplainable warmth toward the child in front of her.

The little boy puffed out his cheeks and said seriously, "You bumped into me, so you have to compensate me!"

The little boy grabbed Vera Ashton’s hand. His big eyes darted around once, and then he spoke in a soft, babyish voice.

He wanted compensation?

"Huh? So... what exactly do you want me to compensate you with?" Vera asked, smiling.

The little guy puffed up and said, "Hmm, I did the math on my fingers, and I’m sure you’re the mommy I’ve been looking for. How about this? If you agree to be my mommy, then I won’t make a fuss about you bumping into me."

Vera: "..."

She also did the math in her head and came to one conclusion—yep, she’d run into a tiny scammer.

She couldn’t help laughing. Reaching out, she gently pinched his soft, doll-like cheek. "Cutie, what’s your name?"

"My name is Leo Mercer. So, are you gonna be my mommy or not?"

The little guy was clearly getting anxious. His tiny hand clutched Vera’s pale fingers tightly, and his wide eyes stayed locked on her face, full of stubborn expectation.

"No, I..."

"Leo Mercer!"

A man’s low voice rang out from not far away, cool and edged with frost.

The little milk bun jolted all over. He whipped around to look at the newcomer, but his hand only tightened around Vera’s fingers as he shrank closer to her side.

Vera’s gaze followed instinctively, and she saw a tall figure striding toward them.

White shirt, black pants. Nothing flashy, just the most ordinary outfit. But on him, it somehow made his long legs and broad frame stand out even more, giving off that cold, untouchable vibe.

When he got closer, his face came fully into view.

Black hair. Deep-set eyes. Thin lips. Sharp, flawless lines...

The kind of face that hit like a crit.

Deadly attractive.

And carrying the kind of pressure that seemed carved into his bones from birth.

Nathan Mercer stopped in front of Vera. He didn’t miss the flash of amazement in her eyes.

In an instant, a trace of chill slipped across his gaze.

His gaze shifted to the little boy, and his voice dropped cold. "Leo Mercer, come here."

"Daddy, I want her to be my mommy!"

The little guy clung tight to Vera Ashton’s finger, lifting his head to look at Nathan Mercer with stubborn, shining eyes.

Nathan’s face darkened on the spot, and his tone turned even sharper. "Stop messing around. Get over here. Now."

"I’m not messing around!" the boy shot back, his small face tense with seriousness. "Daddy, I like her. I want her to be my mommy!"

He had that determined little expression on his face, looking almost like a mini version of Nathan himself.

Nathan narrowed his dark eyes and let his gaze fall on Vera’s face. A chill seemed to spread from him in waves, making the air around them feel a few degrees colder.

"Miss, you’re pretty good at this little seduction game."

He had seen plenty of women try every trick in the book to get close to him. But this one? She’d somehow found the only weak spot: his son.

"I... seducing you?"

Vera pointed at herself, completely stunned, half speechless and half offended.

The way he’d just looked at her had been full of contempt and disgust. Was he seriously thinking she was using this chance to throw herself at him?

Wow. Could he be any more full of himself?

Nathan shot her a cold glance and said nothing else. Instead, he reached out with one long arm, scooped the little boy into his arms, then turned and strode off without looking back.

"Ahhh! Daddy, that’s the mommy I worked so hard to find! Hurry up and let me take her home!"

"Still acting up?"

Smack.

Nathan landed a firm slap on the little boy’s backside.

The boy’s small face flushed bright red. He lay over Nathan’s shoulder, staring pitifully in Vera’s direction, eyes full of grievance and desperation.

"Mommy!"