Chapter 3

“Natural?” I scoffed. “Then about the agreement Natalie and I signed? Was it all a joke?”

“Zayden!” Julian raised his tone. “You are the Moore family’s son-in-law. You need to think long-term. As long as that man doesn’t become part of the family or threaten your position, why not give Natalie some dignity in public? Besides…” Julian looked at me meaningfully. “No children have come out of the five years you and Natalie spent together. A family as large as the Moores needs an heir. Natalie having a child outside the marriage was also for the sake of the Moore family.”

A cold feeling spread through my body. Suddenly, I was the party at fault for not making Natalie pregnant, and she was the kind and thoughtful one for having betrayed me. My righteous anger apparently spoke of nothing else but selfishness.

“What if I say I want a divorce?”

I stared at Julian.

His face darkened, and he slammed his cup onto the table. “Don’t be ridiculous! Do you think divorce is a game? Moore Corp’s stock can’t handle this kind of shock. The shares in your hands are both protection and leverage. Do you really think you can walk away with the Moore family’s money? It won’t be that easy.”

Julian narrowed his eyes. The authority of a person long in power filled the room.

I clenched my fist. My nails pressed into my palm. In this family, there was no warmth, only cold calculations of interest.

Someone knocked at the door.

The secretary entered with an awkward expression. “Mr. Moore, Ms. Moore is here. She brought the child with her.”

Natalie walked in moments later.

She held Xeno in her arms. Yarden followed behind her. His face was pale.

“Grandpa.”

Natalie did not dare to look at me. She went straight to Julian and brought the child closer.

“Xeno heard you were here and insisted on coming to see you.”

Xeno was pale, yet obedient. “Hello, Great-Grandpa.”

Julian’s expression softened immediately.

“Good boy. Very good.”

He reached out and touched Xeno’s head gently.

Yarden stood in the corner and glanced at me. That look did not match his gentle, harmless appearance. There was a trace of cold provocation in his eyes. As long as Julian acknowledged Xeno, even if Yarden never officially joined the family, he would still be credited as someone who had secured an heir for the Moore family.

Meaning that sooner or later, I would be kicked out of the family.

Natalie looked at me with new confidence.

“Zayden, Grandpa has already made his stance clear. Just think of this as doing good by the Moore family.”

My insides twisted painfully. Years of business dinners for Moore Corp had left me with chronic stomach problems, and the pain struck without warning. Cold sweat broke out over my back.

I pressed a hand to my stomach, and the color started draining from my face.

Natalie kept talking, oblivious. My body swayed, and I almost collapsed.

“Zayden!” she cried.

I pulled my hand away from hers and walked straight into the lounge. Sitting and breathing a little bit helped me recover. Then, Yarden appeared out of nowhere and dropped to his knees in front of me. His eyes were teary, and his expression showed insecurity.

“Mr. Jenkins, I know I should never have returned. But Xeno’s heart condition requires surgery. The best specialist is in the city. I came back because I had no other way to save his life.”

He looked up at me. His face was undeniably handsome, with the polished look of a sugar baby.

“As soon as Xeno’s surgery succeeds, I’ll take him and leave immediately. We won’t trouble you again. Mr. Jenkins, you’re a man too. You should understand the misery of not being able to protect your family. Please, have some compassion for me as a father.”