Chapter 1

There was an obvious pause on the other end of the line.

"Mr. Wright, are you…"

I didn't answer. Instead, I coldly added, "One more thing. Suspend the flight routes for my private plane."

The moment I hung up, a commotion broke out in the VIP lounge. The captain walked over to Ashley Freeman and apologetically lowered his head.

"Ms. Freeman, I'm terribly sorry, but the flight routes have been temporarily suspended. We won't be able to take off today. How would you like us to proceed?"

Ashley finally looked away from Eddie and Luke Collins. When she saw me, a noticeable flicker of delight flashed across her eyes, and she quickly walked over.

For a brief, ridiculous moment, I wondered if everything I had just witnessed had been nothing more than a misunderstanding. But the scene behind her reminded me that my eyes hadn't lied.

"Victor? What are you doing here?"

She rushed over and reached out for a hug like she always did, while I quietly took a step back.

"Why did that boy just call you Mom?"

The smile on Ashley's face froze. She frowned at me, her eyes full of confusion.

"Victor, that's Eddie's son, Luke. Eddie's wife passed away, and Luke lost his mother when he was just a baby. I just don't want his childhood to be filled with regrets."

At this point, her tone softened as if she were coaxing me. "You've always been kind and compassionate, so you understand that I'm doing the right thing, don't you?"

Before I could respond, a flight attendant approached us.

"Ms. Freeman, the master suite on the jet has been remodeled. It's now Mr. Luke's private playroom. We followed the exact specifications provided by your law firm's administrative director. We're sure you'll be satisfied."

I clenched my fists tightly.

That plane had been a gift from my late father. Every piece of furniture in that master suite had belonged to him.

Years ago, I was stripped of my inheritance of Wright Group because I chose Ashley over everything else. Since then, that suite had been the only place where I could see Dad's belongings. Yet Ashley had turned it into Luke's playroom without even asking for my permission.

She gave the flight attendant a slight nod, as if they had removed nothing more than a few unwanted pieces of furniture.

Then, she looked back at me and sounded almost helpless as she said, "Eddie is going through a difficult time right now, Victor. He's raising a kid on his own while trying to manage his career. We've known each other for years. It's only right that I step in and help take care of them, right?"

I took a deep breath, but my chest still throbbed with a suffocating pain.

Help take care of them? Was that why the entire law firm treated Luke like he owned the palace?

Just then, Eddie walked out of the VIP lounge carrying Luke, an apologetic look plastered on his face.

"I'm so sorry. Are we the reason you two were fighting?"

Luke reached his arms out toward Ashley. "Mommy! Hug!"

Without hesitation, Ashley gently took him into her arms. The three of them stood together like a picture-perfect family, while I stood across from them, looking like an outsider who should never have been there in the first place.