Chapter 463

"I'm not a bastard! Mommy, I'm not!" Theo burst into tears, terrified by Sophia's harsh words.

Sophia yanked his arm. "Keep crying and those people outside will say worse things. Your father's dead. You're a fatherless bastard now."

She crouched down, her nails digging into his skin. "Go beg your uncle. Get on your knees and ask him to be your daddy. If he refuses, cry until he gives in."

"But—"

"No buts!" Sophia's voice turned shrill. "Either Ethan publicly claims you as his son, or we both die!"

Theo trembled, shrinking into himself. He didn’t understand why his mother had become so frightening.

The mall buzzed with noise.

"Theo!" Ethan's voice cut through the crowd from behind.

Theo spun around and flung himself at Ethan, sobbing. "Daddy!"

Click. Camera shutters erupted around them.

Ethan's expression darkened instantly. He scooped the boy up, his gaze sharp as a blade as it landed on Sophia. "You taught him that?"

Sophia flicked her hair. "Ethan, is it wrong for a child to miss his father?" She reached for his arm. "Our little family hasn’t had a chance to—"

"Enough." Ethan stepped back, avoiding her touch. "Theo, let’s go home with Uncle."

Theo glanced hesitantly at Sophia.

"Daddy..." he whispered pleadingly. "Can Mommy come with us?"

Ethan ignored the question and strode away with Theo in his arms. Sophia chased after them, her stilettos clacking frantically against the tiles.

"Ethan! Theo! Wait for me!"

Camera shutters continued firing around them.

Three hours later, #EthanSophiaSecretMarriage trended at number one.

The comments exploded:

"Proof! The kid called him Daddy!"

"Sophia's playing the long game. That rich wife title is hers now."

"Didn’t Ethan gift her a yacht for her birthday? That’s true love right there."

Photos of Ethan carrying Theo and Sophia chasing after them with teary eyes flooded social media, captioned with "Second Chance Romance" in pink text.