Chapter 5

Michael's little mouth puckered as he shrank into Selene's arms, his voice trembling with grievance.

"Mom, I don't want her to be my grandma… she's too scary."

Selene gently patted his back to soothe him, then lifted her head.

"Sandra, how can you say something like that? Back then, under the combined pressure from you and my family, I was forced to separate from Caleb. That alone proves the decision was never in my hands. I only came to him now because Michael has grown up and misses his father. Just look at Michael's eyes and brows—don't they look like Caleb's?"

Sandra leaned back, letting out a faint, ambiguous chuckle, clearly unimpressed.

"Look alike? He's still very young—anyone can resemble anyone at that age. I've lived more than half my life; young people's schemes are transparent to me. You were capable of doing something that reckless back then. Who's to say you couldn't spin a new story now, for whatever purpose you have in mind?"

If the child were one hundred percent a Miller by blood, she might consider it.

Those words struck Selene hard. Panic crept in, her voice sharpening.

"You're insulting my character! If you don't believe me, you can take Michael for a paternity test!"

Sandra's gaze turned icy, her warning unmistakable.

"You'd better not be lying. Before the paternity results come out, the doors of the Miller family will not open to you. Miller Group has only just secured its footing in Emerson City, and Ariana and Caleb's wedding is approaching. You suddenly show up now—either you want to use the Miller family's current status to polish your reputation as an illegitimate daughter, or you're simply here to take revenge on us."

Sandra was sharp, calculating, and domineering.

Selene's expression darkened. Catching sight of a shadow at the doorway from the corner of her eye, she suddenly dropped to her knees, clutching her son.

"Don't cry, don't cry. It's Mommy's fault for being useless—for failing to earn you recognition. All these years, you've had neither a father nor a grandmother…"

"Mom! What are you doing?!"

Caleb rushed back from the company, weary and travel-stained. He'd come to help deal with family matters—only to find his mother radiating pressure while Selene and Michael knelt on the floor.

A dull ache throbbed in his head. He quickly pulled the mother and child to their feet.

Selene was still the same as years ago—always adept at putting on a show. Sandra looked at her foolish, spineless son and felt nothing but frustration.

"I'll say it again," she said coldly. "Without a paternity test, I will not allow you to be with my son."

Disappointment filled Caleb's eyes.

"Mom, why are you still so stubborn, just like back then? Why can't you trust Selene?"

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became.

Sandra lifted her chin, signaling toward the kitchen.

Caleb's next words froze in his throat.

Ariana was still inside. He had to restrain himself.

"Mom, my matters with Selene are none of your business. As for Ariana—she loves me so much, it's only right that she gives up the position of Mrs. Miller. I have to take responsibility for Selene. If I don't, wouldn't I become an ungrateful man?"

In his arms, Selene trembled even harder.

"Don't worry, Sandra. In a few days, I'll have Caleb bring you the paternity test."

The anger in Caleb's chest burned hotter. He couldn't understand why everyone seemed to be targeting him and Selene.

His gaze hardened.

"Even if Michael isn't my son, I'll still marry Selene. I've already messed up too many things—I can't let her down too."

He said this under one absolute assumption: Michael had to be his son. His kind-hearted Selene would never lie to him.

Not long after, Ariana emerged, pretending she knew nothing of what had happened outside. Her smile was gentle and composed.

"Sandra, you must be hungry. Come eat."

Caleb's expression eased slightly. Seeing Ariana's virtuous, capable demeanor, an inexplicable sense of guilt surfaced in his chest. Why did he feel this way?

Noticing his distraction, Selene secretly tugged at his clothes from an angle Ariana couldn't see.

Caleb turned back and met her watery eyes.

He pulled his attention away from Ariana and spoke softly to the mother and son.

"Come on. Listen to me—stay and eat first. Don't go hungry."

As soon as they sat down, Ariana began eating on her own.

When Caleb went to get some food, he realized there wasn't enough.

More precisely, there wasn't enough for the extra two people, Selene and her son.

His face darkened instantly. The trace of guilt he'd felt toward Ariana vanished without a trace.

"What's going on? Didn't I tell you Selene and Michael were coming over today? You couldn't even make a bit more food?"

Ariana replied calmly, "You only told me people were coming to eat. You never told me how many. The ingredients at home only cover this much."

Sensing the tension, Selene immediately seized the moment.

"Caleb, please don't blame Ariana. She might not be feeling well and doesn't have the energy. Let Michael eat first. I'll be fine skipping a meal."

Michael instantly started whining, "Mom, I'm hungry! I want to eat!"

Caleb watched Selene's display of 'self-sacrifice' with a cold gaze. It wasn't easy for her to raise a child alone. She'd already been humiliated by his mother—and now, Ariana was being inconsiderate too.

These past few days, he'd been overwhelmed at work, cleaning up the mess Ariana left behind. Exhausted and frazzled, he still had to deal with this when he got home.

"Ariana, making two more portions isn't hard. This is extremely rude. I know you better than anyone—you shouldn't be acting like this."

Under Selene's subtle cue, Michael quietly sidled up to Sandra and whispered, "Grandma… I'm hungry…"

Sandra, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, frowned slightly. That word—Grandma—sent a ripple through her heart. Looking at Michael's small face, she saw that his features resembled Selene more. Yet, there was faintly something of Caleb there too.

What if he really was Caleb's son?

Wavering repeatedly, she neither stopped her son nor spoke up for Ariana—an unspoken acquiescence.

As she watched all of this, Ariana's heart finally went cold.

This whole family—every last one of them—was the same.

She slowly set down her fork and lifted her head, her eyes clear and steady.

"Caleb," she said. "Do you remember what day it is today?"

He froze. His anger was interrupted, confusion flashing across his face.

"Four years ago today, I officially took over the Miller Group's finance department and pulled you back from the brink of bankruptcy. And coincidentally, on this very day last year, you formally proposed to me. You said that from then on, every year on this day, you would personally cook a meal for me—to thank me for choosing you.

"I've waited for four years, and never once have you fulfilled your promise. And today, the only difference was you bringing another woman into our home and accusing me of not cooking enough."

Her gaze swept over Selene's stiffened face and Sandra's complicated expression.

"It seems you really did forget. Maybe it's my fault for being so 'inconsiderate' and ruining the mood. I'll be leaving now. Enjoy your meal."

Without sparing Caleb's stunned expression another glance, she turned and walked away.

It never crossed his mind that Ariana—who usually preserved his dignity no matter what—would do this, especially with Sandra present. She hadn't cared about his feelings at all.

Sandra's face darkened. She glared at everyone indiscriminately.

"Arguing, arguing—must you tear a perfectly good family apart like this?!"

Selene bit her lip and pulled her son along.

"I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I've caused trouble for your family."

Caleb frowned.

"What do you mean your family? Clearly, we—"

Before he could finish, Selene ran out.

Caleb's head throbbed painfully. He was about to chase after her when his phone rang.

His secretary's anxious voice came through.

"Mr. Miller, Mr. Arden just received an email from Miss Cooper. She's withdrawing from the new energy project's partnership team. He's now planning to pull his investment from Miller Group. What should we do?"