Now that I’d brought home illegitimate children and jeopardized my marriage, his business was bound to collapse. No wonder he looked grim.
Like he was venting, my father shoved one of the boys roughly to the ground.
The child cried out in pain.
I hurried to pick him up.
“Dad, what are you doing? These boys are your grandsons.”
Then I turned to Ethan.
“And you—they’re your sons. How can you just stand there while your own sons are hurt?”
Ethan waved his hands frantically.
“No way—those bastards don’t deserve to be called my sons.”
“Melissa Carter, wake up! What man on earth could accept children that aren’t his?”
But before his words settled, a firm voice cut through.
“I can.”
The speaker was none other than the boys’ biological father—Daniel Brooks.
Daniel strode up to Ethan with a cheerful smile, reaching out for a handshake.
But Ethan wouldn’t even look at him, let alone take his hand.
Daniel didn’t mind. He casually lit a cigarette, grinning.
“So you’re Melissa’s husband, huh? She’s told me you’ve treated her really, really well. Honestly, the good life I’ve had these past few years is all thanks to you, brother.”
He deliberately flashed his gleaming wristwatch in Ethan’s face.
“Been meaning to thank you in person. Without you, I never would’ve worn something this expensive.”
“And all that allowance you gave Melissa—she shared plenty with me. Don’t worry. Since I’ve taken your money, I don’t mind letting my kids call you Dad. Hell, I’d even raise your kids if you wanted…”
But Daniel didn’t get to finish before Ethan, furious beyond reason, punched him to the ground.
And no wonder—because that watch had been my grandfather-in-law’s heirloom. Ethan had grown up under his grandfather’s care and was deeply attached to him. After the old man died, Ethan often asked me to show him the watch. Now that I’d gifted it to Daniel, his fury was inevitable.
One punch wasn’t enough. Consumed with rage, Ethan straddled Daniel and raised his fist again.
Seeing he was about to strike again, I threw myself across Daniel’s body.
Ethan, famous for being a gentle husband who’d never once laid a hand on me, froze. I knew he couldn’t bring himself to hurt me.
Sure enough, he stopped, withdrawing his fist with eyes full of disappointment.