For a split second, Emma Johnson's mind went completely blank.
She stared at the man who had materialized before her. His obsidian eyes locked onto her like invisible chains, binding her in place. A voice in her head screamed at her to flee, but her feet felt as if they were cast in lead, refusing to obey.
Charlie White studied his mommy's pale face. When her hand unconsciously tightened around his small fingers, he couldn't help but look up at the handsome stranger before him.
This man claimed to be his father?
Charlie noticed how strikingly similar their features were. He was about to ask mommy if this man really was his father when her grip on his hand grew even tighter. So Charlie kept quiet, standing beside her, blinking his starry eyes at Liam Williams.
"No."
Emma's voice had never sounded so unsteady. But how could she possibly make Liam believe her words? His cold eyes churned with turbulent emotions before shifting to the five or six-year-old child standing beside her. His thin lips parted slightly, his icy voice carrying an unconscious softness.
"Tell me, what's your name?"
Emma clutched Charlie's hand even tighter, wanting to stop Liam from speaking to her son. But those two words had already drained nearly all her strength. Now her lips trembled uncontrollably, making it nearly impossible to form another word.
"My name is Charlie. Charlie White. What's your name, mister?"
Charlie gazed at him curiously. Liam's cold eyes softened unconsciously. His long, slender fingers, with their clearly defined knuckles, lifted and gently ruffled the top of Charlie's head.
"My name is Liam Williams. I'm your father."
"Liam!"
Emma's sharp cry drew the attention of passersby. She had no time to care. Her eyes were filled with nothing but cold fury.
"You upset mommy."
Charlie had been visibly stunned when Liam claimed to be his father. But hearing mommy's unusual outburst, he pouted unhappily. Even though he liked the warmth of this man's hand, in his heart, mommy still came first.
"Well, she's always getting mad at me."
Liam's smile carried a hint of helplessness.
"Then you should make it up to her. Mommy is very easy to cheer up."
Charlie lowered his head and offered Liam a suggestion.
"Alright."
Liam murmured softly to the little boy.
Emma remained silent now, watching the pair before her. They looked seven parts alike. As they spoke, there was an unexpected warmth and harmony between them. Yet her heart was tangled in knots. She wanted to scoop up Charlie and leave immediately, but seeing how her son kept staring at Liam, as if he'd already decided this man was his father, she hesitated. Even though Charlie hadn't called him that, she knew it was because her son was considering her feelings.
A bitter smile crept onto her lips. Was this the power of blood? That kind of natural closeness couldn't be easily broken, no matter how much she wished it.
"Charlie, it's time for us to go home."
Emma tried her best to soften her voice, but the trembling was still audible. She wanted to tell her son to ignore this man, but when the words reached her lips, they transformed into something else.
"Okay, mommy."
Charlie lifted his small face and smiled at Emma, then turned back to Liam.
"I'm going home now."
Charlie blinked, looking at Liam. His delicate, adorable face made Liam reach out and ruffle his hair again.
"Alright. Daddy will come see you later."
"Liam, didn't you hear what I just said? Charlie is not your child. You have no right to see him."
Emma couldn't help speaking up again. This time, Liam finally turned his gaze toward her.
His earlier softness had vanished, replaced by the calm demeanor Emma knew all too well.
"Emma, no matter how many times you insist otherwise, you can't deny the fact that he shares my blood. I'm grateful you've raised him so well."
Faced with Liam, Emma truly didn't know what to say. His sudden appearance had caught her completely off guard. She couldn't even formulate a proper response.
"Your mother is still angry with me. Go home and cheer her up for me."
Then Liam crouched down to look at the boy who was seven parts his mirror image. His eyes had never been so gentle.
"Okay."
Charlie nodded obediently, then smiled at Liam, his eyes carrying a hint of reluctance to part. He understood there were many things to come, and he couldn't rush things.
Watching the car drive away, Charlie noticed that mommy's hand had turned cold. He couldn't help reaching out his other hand to cover the back of hers, trying to warm her up.
"Charlie, do you want him to be your father?"
Emma's hands felt warm now as she looked at the little man before her. She asked with a complicated, troubled expression.
"Well, yes. But mommy doesn't seem to like it."
Emma reluctantly crouched down and picked up her child. With a heavy sigh, she knew her son had always wanted a father. When they were in France, he'd even tried to find her a boyfriend himself, which had made her laugh and cry.
She knew she was being selfish. No child didn't want a complete family. But it was impossible for her to reunite with Liam.
Emma's heart ached.
"Mommy, is he really Charlie's father?"
Charlie's words made Emma's chest tighten. She looked at her child's innocent eyes and sighed inwardly. Children were always innocent. She nodded softly.
"Charlie understands."
The little guy who received his answer simply nodded and said nothing more. He just cleverly wrapped his arms around Emma's neck, coaxing her to carry him home.
But the little boy buried his face in the crook of Emma's neck, his dark eyes never closing. He seemed to be thinking about something. If Emma had seen him at that moment, she would have noticed that the dark light in her child's eyes was so similar to Liam's.
...
"What? Liam saw Charlie?"
Back home, Emma coaxed Charlie to sleep in his room. Then she came to the living room and told her parents what had happened with Liam. James and Sophia Johnson were both shocked. No one had expected such an accident. Sophia jumped up from the sofa nervously.
"What if he wants to take Charlie back? What can we do?"
Sophia knew that Liam was Charlie's father after all, and with the influence of the Williams family in this city, she couldn't help but be anxious.