Old Times Diner, P City.
Ethan King, dressed to the nines in a custom-tailored Italian suit, sat there looking sharp and cold. His thin lips pressed into a straight line, eyes as sharp as blades sweeping over the overly made-up woman across the table.
In P City, Ethan was practically royalty—everything about him screamed polished and powerful.
He rubbed his forehead impatiently and said in a low, tired voice, “Look, I know you're here because the old lady sent you. I’m not gonna make it hard for you. But I don’t want her hearing a word about me from your mouth, got it?”
The heavy perfume and brightly painted face of the woman only made his expression tighten further—he was clearly done with this conversation.
He stood to leave, but the woman suddenly reached out and grabbed hold of his arm.
“Ethan, we grew up together… Can’t you at least give love a chance?” Her voice wavered, eyes big and pitiful, drawing some side glances from around the diner.
Ethan glanced at her manicured hand clinging to his sleeve and frowned. His eyes could practically cut glass with how cold they turned.
She shrank back and quickly let go.
Without missing a beat, he pulled off his jacket and tossed it at his assistant with a sharp, “Throw it away.”
He didn’t raise his voice, but the coldness in his tone was enough to freeze anyone in place. The assistant, sweating bullets, just nodded and took the coat, not daring to ask questions.
Ethan turned to leave. But the woman reached out again, and this time, the irritation in his eyes was obvious. He was just about to snap when a tiny, sweet voice cut through the air.
“Ma’am, please let go of my daddy!”
Heads swiveled all at once.
There stood a little boy, probably no older than four, soft curls, big eyes, wearing a white T-shirt, denim overalls, and spotless white sneakers. He had his hands on his hips and a pout on his lips—absolutely adorable.
Ethan froze. When his gaze locked onto the boy, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—shock, confusion… maybe even familiarity. The kid’s eyebrows and eyes looked… just like his own.
“No way. Did he say ‘daddy’? Ethan King has a kid?”
“So much for all that gossip about him not being into women. Turns out he had one hidden away the whole time?”
“There goes my fantasy, crushed to pieces.”
The diner had gone from quiet to noisy in seconds, thanks to this unexpected little arrival.
Ethan’s assistant stared at the boy like he’d grown two heads. He’d worked with the man for years and had never heard so much as a whisper about a son.
The woman—clearly annoyed—snapped and pointed at the boy with her long red nails. “Whose kid is this? So rude! Just going around calling random people 'daddy'?”
Leo Carter, the “little bun,” had something in his eyes that didn’t belong on a kid that age—a spark of mischief. He walked closer, tugged lightly on Ethan’s trousers, and said, “Daddy, that mean lady's scary. Let’s go find Mommy, okay?”
His voice was all soft and milky-sweet, the kind that made everyone around want to pinch those chubby little cheeks.
As cute as he looked, his tiny hand on the CEO’s leg nearly made the assistant have a heart attack.
Oh god. He actually touched the boss!
The assistant nearly sprinted forward to scoop the kid up, expecting Ethan to freak out—only to see Ethan bend down and pick the boy up himself.
“Buddy, what are you doing here?” he asked, and for the first time in forever, there was a hint of warmth in Ethan King's frosty face.
The assistant stood there, stunned speechless.When Ethan King first picked the kid up, he was just trying to use him as a buffer. But unexpectedly, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him, and he didn’t push the boy away.
He frowned a little, a flash of some image darted through his mind, and his eyes suddenly turned serious.
“Daddy, let’s go! If Mommy sees you hanging out with some other auntie, she won’t let us in the house,” Leo said in his soft, milky voice.
Ethan’s gaze deepened, suspicion flickering in his eyes. But that slight smirk at the corner of his mouth sent a chill through everyone around.
“Boss, could this be some woman’s trick?” the assistant blurted out, but Ethan just slightly lifted his chin. The assistant quickly stepped back to clear the way.
Ethan turned and walked out without a word.
“Ethan!”
The woman behind him stomped her high heel in frustration. Her face burned at the sight of him with the kid, so familiar and close. Furious, she yanked out her phone and quickly dialed a number.
Meanwhile, Lily Carter, hiding in a quiet corner of the diner, noticed her son was missing. Her heart leapt into her throat and she bolted downstairs.
“Ah!”
She cried out in pain, clutching her nose where she'd just bumped into someone. Her eyes welled up. Through the blur, she looked up—only to stare into the cold, chiseled face of Ethan King. His deep eyes seemed to suck her in.
It’s him.
Images from six years ago suddenly flooded her mind, making her breath hitch. That night… still burned into her memory. Her heart nearly stopped. She froze, face going pale.
“Mommy…”
Leo’s little voice snapped her back.
That's when she noticed her son, being held so naturally in Ethan’s arms. Her expression changed instantly, and she snapped, “Leo!”
Her furrowed brows spoke volumes about her frustration. She quickly went over and took him from Ethan’s arms.
Sensing the tension, Leo tried to shift the mood, pointing a tiny finger at Ethan. “Mommy, doesn’t he totally look like my dad? He’s super handsome like me!”
Hearing that, Lily’s face darkened. She lightly tapped his back and said urgently, “Leo, if you keep saying stuff like that, I’ll get really upset.”
Leo pouted, looking sad and wronged, his teary eyes silently seeking comfort as they glanced back at Ethan.
Holding her son tight, Lily could feel Ethan’s piercing gaze boring into her. Flustered, she muttered an apology and turned to leave, desperate to escape the suffocating presence of that man.
Just when she thought she’d managed to get away, his deep voice—low and chilling—cut through the air.
“Wait.”
Ethan suddenly spoke. His tone was dark, giving nothing away.
Lily stopped and turned slightly. That endless depth in his eyes made her pulse race. Just like that night. She couldn't bring herself to guess what he was thinking.
“Your blueprint,” Ethan said, lifting the scroll she had dropped earlier.
Seeing it, Lily took a shaky breath, her heart settling just a bit. She lowered her head, snatched the scroll from his hand, mumbled a quick thanks, and hurried away with Leo in her arms.
“Mr. King, that woman…” the assistant started.
Ethan stared at Lily’s fleeing figure, his brows knitted tightly.
“Run a paternity test.”
He handed over a single soft hair from Leo to his assistant, his lips pressed in a thin, unreadable line. “And dig up everything on that woman.”
The assistant nodded and hurried off, clutching the strand of hair.
