Chapter 3

"No need to trouble yourself. I'll just look at them with Mrs. Cooper," she said, leading the children inside. With a smile, she turned to Lucy. "You don't mind, do you?"

The store clerk hesitated, instinctively reaching out to stop her. But in the end, she didn't dare. She could only watch as the woman walked in and sat beside Steven.

The older child, a boy, lit up with excitement. "Daddy!"

The younger girl immediately threw herself into Steven's arms. "Daddy! I missed you so much!" Her voice cracked as she burst into tears.

Steven's brows knitted tightly. He wanted to avoid the little girl, but she was so small, so soft, that in the end, he couldn't bring himself to push her away. Instead, he turned his anger to the children's mother. "What kind of parenting is this? Teaching your kids to call just anyone 'Daddy'?"

The woman, however, didn't seem the least bit upset. There was even a faint smile on her lips. Leisurely, she pulled the girl out of Steven's embrace and spoke gently. "Sharon, you made a mistake. He's not your daddy."

Tears streamed down the little girl's face. "But he's daddy! He's my daddy!"

"No, sweetie. He just looks a lot like your daddy. See that lady over there? She's his wife."

The little girl glanced from Steven to Lucy, confusion written all over her face. The boy, braver than his sister, stepped forward and looked Steven straight in the eye. "Are you really not my daddy?"

"I…"

Steven's mouth opened, but no words came out. He stared at the child in silence for a long moment, unable to bring himself to deny it.

"Shawn, don't be rude." The woman pulled her son back and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. Their father spoils them too much. They've never learned any manners."

Shawn. Sharon.

So these were Steven's children.

From the moment they walked in, Lucy had felt they looked oddly familiar. Especially the boy—his features bore an unmistakable resemblance to Steven. The girl took more after her mother.

At first, Lucy had doubts. Perhaps this was just another scheme from a woman with ulterior motives, trying to use a child to climb the social ladder. Maybe Steven had kept it from her, fearing she'd be upset.

But if that were the case, the children should have been twins or at least born in the same pregnancy. Yet the boy looked about five, while the girl seemed younger, maybe not even four. Two separate pregnancies.

Which meant Steven's affair wasn't an accident.

It wasn't some scheme.

It was deliberate.

He had fathered a son and, later, a daughter with another woman.

Lucy's voice was calm. "It seems their father really loves them. They adore him."

The woman smiled, genuinely pleased. "Oh yes, he spoils them terribly. When our eldest was born, he didn't know a thing about taking care of babies. But he learned bit by bit. By the time our daughter came along, he was a pro—practically a stay-at-home dad!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes. They say daughters are their fathers' lovers from a past life, and ours is no exception. She clings to him like glue, won't let anyone else hold her."

Lucy suddenly remembered.

Half a year into their marriage, Steven had left for an urgent business trip abroad—gone for a full month. That date… it must have been when the boy was born.

Then, a little over a year later, he had insisted on personally handling a trip to Africa. Again, one month. That must have been when the girl was born.

The only two times she hadn't traveled with him for work.

Looking back now, how strange. Why exactly one month, both times?

Because this woman had been in confinement after childbirth.

Lucy smiled. "Your children are adorable."

The woman beamed. "Aren't they? And everyone says they look just like their father. He's so handsome."

Lucy lowered her gaze, hiding her expression. "Yes, I heard their father looks a lot like my husband. He must be handsome too."

The woman's smile deepened, filled with unspoken meaning. "Oh, very much so. Otherwise, how could the kids mistake them?"

"Their father must love you very much, to have two children with you."

Shawn puffed up his chest. "Of course Daddy loves Mommy! He always brings her here. All of Mommy's earrings, rings, and necklaces come from this store. Even Sharon and I have pendants from here!"

Lucy's eyes flickered to the woman's hand.

There, on her left ring finger, sat a diamond ring.

One of the younger clerks immediately recognized it. "Oh! That's one of our designs! A custom order, actually!"

The store manager's face paled. She hurriedly clapped a hand over the clerk's mouth, warning her with a sharp glare. Don't say another word.

Lucy took it all in. Every expression, every reaction.

Now, she understood everything. Why this woman was also a VIP customer here.

Steven had been bringing her and the children here all along.

The younger clerk, likely new, had no idea about the entangled relationships, but the store manager knew. She had known all along.

Lucy let out a soft laugh.

Even the staff at a jewelry store had known about Steven's affair before she did.