Chapter 7: Going Too Far
1963 Words
After just a few days of sleeping in separate rooms, Paula decided to take matters into her own hands and sneak away with her two sons. She had the audacious plan of stealing her younger son and giving him to her niece to raise.
Luckily, her younger son was timid and felt insecure ever since they started sleeping apart. He couldn't sleep peacefully at night and would wake up at the slightest sound of someone opening the door, crying out in fear for his mother.
Her older son was awakened by his younger brother's cries. Without hesitation, he grabbed the Swiss Army knife he had hidden under his pillow and stood protectively in front of his brother.
That's when she discovered that her older son had been secretly hiding an open Swiss Army knife under his pillow all along.
It was then that she realized her older son was also afraid after being separated from her, even though he never said anything about it.
She blamed herself.
She couldn't provide her children with a happy and stable home.
The Harrison family, although good, didn't feel like their true home as a mother and her two sons.
Her children lacked a sense of safety within the Harrison family.
That's why her children became anxious and fearful after sleeping separately from her, resorting to hiding a knife under their pillows while sleeping.
Because of this, she ignored her cousin Paula's repeated persuasions and made the decision to leave the Harrison family with her children.
She didn't care about the disapproving looks from Paula and Amelia; she did it for her children.
She feared that she wouldn't be able to properly take care of her children on her own and that they would suffer if they stayed with her.
Since the Harrison family couldn't provide her children with a sense of home, it was better to move out and take care of them herself.
She thought that by doing so, she could escape from Paula.
Little did she know that Paula would become even more relentless and target her again.
In addition to having a niece who couldn't conceive, Paula also had a nephew with intellectual disabilities.
Paula's nephew had cerebral palsy and walked with a limp. His intelligence was at the level of a young child.
On the other hand, she was highly intelligent and had an exceptional memory.
Paula's sister-in-law took an interest in her and wanted her to marry her son, believing that her high intelligence would ensure the birth of a highly intelligent grandchild.
So, Paula brought a group of people to her rented apartment to capture her and her younger son.
To force her into becoming her nephew's wife.
To take her younger son and raise him as her niece's own.
Fed up with it all, she left America with her children and sought refuge in London.
But even after moving so far away, Paula still pursued her.
Paula's relentless harassment made her wonder if she had killed Paula's entire family or desecrated their ancestral graves in her past life.
"Mama, it's Uncle Ryan!" Charlie stood on a small stool and saw Ryan through the peephole, excitedly turning to Kaia.
Seeing his joyful expression, it was clear that he really liked Ryan.
Kaia quickly walked over, picked him up from the stool, and playfully tapped his nose. "Next time, just ask instead of standing on the stool. Be careful not to tip it over and hit your head. You might get hurt and become dumb if you hurt your head!"
"Okay, got it, Mama," Charlie obediently replied.
Kaia moved the stool aside and opened the door.
Ryan, dressed casually and handsomely, stood calmly outside the door, exuding an air of dignity and elegance, as handsome as a celestial being and noble as a king.
It was so easy for a man like him to win the affection of two children.
Especially the innocent and sweet Charlie.
"Uncle Ryan!" Charlie looked up at Ryan with his head held high, his big round eyes shining brightly.
Seeing his excited expression, Ryan couldn't help but curl his lips and took two large gift boxes from Norman's hands, handing them to Charlie. "Here you go, buddy. These are for you."
"Are these gifts for me?" Charlie blinked his big eyes and asked.
"Yeah," Ryan rubbed his soft hair and felt an indescribable sensation in his heart.
He crouched down, leaning in to hug the little body. "Do you like Lego blocks?"
Being suddenly embraced by someone unfamiliar, even if it was his beloved Uncle Ryan, Charlie still felt a bit uncomfortable.
He awkwardly squirmed out of his arms and ran behind Kaia, hugging her waist and peeking out from behind her, half of his small body visible as he looked at Ryan.
Ryan’s heart melted at the sight.
He wanted to hold him!
Suppressing the urge to pull the little guy out from behind Kaia and into his arms, Ryan stood up and looked at Kaia. "Can I come in and sit for a while?"
Kaia nodded silently, letting him into the living room. She asked, "Would you like a drink or coffee?"
"Thanks, no need to bother," Ryan placed the file bag he was carrying on the coffee table. "The results of the paternity test are out. Chris and Charlie are both my sons."
It seemed like an expected outcome, but Kaia still felt a wave of darkness wash over her, her limbs turning cold, and a buzzing sound in her head.
This news, even though she had mentally prepared herself, she still couldn't accept it.
What did this mean?
It meant that Chris and Charlie were no longer just her children.
There was another person in the world who had equal rights to them.
He was their biological father!
How could he turn out to be the biological father of her children?
What a coincidence!
If she had known earlier, she wouldn't have come to London...
Overwhelmed with regret, her face turned pale as paper, and her body trembled violently.
Charlie was frightened by her reaction and rushed into her arms, hugging her waist and timidly calling her "Mom."
Chris ran in front of Kaia, blocking her, and grabbed a fruit knife from the coffee table, pointing it at Ryan with a fierce expression. "Leave quickly! Don't scare my mom. If you scare my mom again, I won't be polite to you!"
Although he actually liked Ryan, if his mom was afraid of him, he decided not to like him anymore!
Ryan furrowed his brows slightly, looking at Kaia and speaking softly, "Take a deep breath, relax. You've scared the children. I've said it before, I won't take your children away. I keep my word, there's no need to be nervous."
Yes.
Yes!
Ryan had promised that he wouldn't take her children away.
She didn't need to be nervous.
No need to be afraid.
The children were hers, and no one could take them away!
She took a few deep breaths, took the fruit knife from Chris' hand, and sat down on the sofa, holding both children tightly.
She hugged them tightly, looked at Ryan, and asked, "I'll say it again, my children are my life. As long as I'm alive, no one can take them away from me! What... are your plans?"
"I understand, and I can assure you once again, on my honor, I will never separate you and your children!" Ryan spoke gently to ease her tense emotions. "I have a question, and I'd like you to answer it."
Getting his further assurance, Kaia felt somewhat more composed.
She nodded and said, "Go ahead, ask me."
Ryan asked, "I'm curious, how did you get my sperm?"
With his abilities, it was unbelievable that he didn't know when he lost his sperm.
Kaia paused for a moment, then forced a smile. "I can only say... it's all fate! Five years ago, my cousin fell seriously ill..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the doorbell rang again.
Kaia stopped and apologetically smiled at Ryan. "Sorry, let me go check."
Ryan nodded, indicating his understanding.
Kaia got up to answer the door.
She glanced outside through the peephole.
Seeing the person standing at the door, she couldn't help but furrow her brows.
After a moment, she sighed helplessly and opened the door. "Adam, you..."
Before she could finish her sentence, he viciously slapped her across the face.
A slap like that was easily avoidable with her abilities.
But she didn't dodge.
She didn't have the right to dodge.
She owed Adam Harrison her life.
Ten years ago, she was on the verge of death on the streets of London. If it weren't for Adam happening to pass by and save her, she would have died in humiliation long ago.
Adam not only saved her life but also restored her dignity, bringing her back to the Harrison family and convincing her uncle to raise her.
Adam had the right to hit her.
And she had no right to dodge.
The expected pain didn't come.
Just as Adam's palm was about to land on her face, someone grabbed his wrist.
Adam angrily looked at the person holding his wrist. "Who are you? How dare you interfere with my business!"
"Ryan," Ryan calmly introduced himself.
Adam froze.
Ryan?
He remembered, the heir of the first family in London was named Ryan...
He shook off Ryan's grip on his wrist and scrutinized him with a hint of fear in his eyes. "Ryan Miller, the CEO of Miller Group?"
Although the Harrison family was also a top family in America, America was a small country, with a land area smaller than half of London.
In terms of wealth, ten Harrison families combined couldn't compare to the Miller family.
If the man in front of him was indeed the legendary ruthless and iron-hearted heir of the Miller family, he couldn't help but be wary.
Ryan was about to respond when Chris, who had run from the kitchen, stood in front of Adam and forcefully pushed him, blocking Kaia. He glared at Adam and said fiercely, "Don't hit my mom!"
Charlie, nestled in Kaia's arms, also looked at Adam and said, "Uncle Adam, don't hit Mommy. Mommy is good!"
Adam frowned. "Chris, how can you be so rude to Uncle Adam?"
Chris growled, "You hit my mom, so you're a bad person. I don't like you!"
"Uncle Adam, don't hit my mom, and don't be mean to my brother!" Charlie suddenly left Kaia's embrace, walked up to Adam, and looked up at him with a timid expression. He nervously held out his wrist with a watch on it. "Uncle Adam, don't hit my mom. I'll give you money. I earned some money..."
The little boy looked at Adam with a timid face, no signs of crying, but tears the size of beans rolled in his eyes, dropping from his eye sockets like broken beads, hitting the ground one by one.
Seeing the pale face, trembling little hands, and frightened expression of the child, Ryan felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if someone had pinched it hard.
He crouched down, embracing both Chris and Charlie, gently patting their small backs. "Good, it's okay, don't be afraid. Daddy will protect you and Mommy. From now on, no one can bully you or lay a finger on you!"
Adam was stunned. "Dad... Daddy?"
Ryan glanced at him, lifting one corner of his lip. "You're too polite. I don't have a son as old as you. You've mistaken me for someone else."
Adam's face turned red like a pig's liver. "What nonsense are you talking about? I mean, when did you become my nephew's father?"
"Nephew?" Ryan sneered. "I don’t think so!"
- Writer
