Nicole listened to the voice on the other end of the line. If she hadn’t checked out news reports about Joseph over these years, she would have thought that he was as modest and scrupulous as he sounded. However, just as she was about to turn him down, Hayden came out of his room and looked up at her. “Mom, I’m hungry.”
Nicole paused for a moment. This little boy has been wanting to see his father. Perhaps this could be an opportunity… She lowered her gaze and pondered for a moment. Then, she replied, “Alright then. I’ll see you today at 3:00PM at the cafe in Scottsdale Mall.”
Having set the time and place for the appointment, Nicole briskly ended the phone call.
On the other end of the line, Joseph was holding his cell phone with his eyes full of disbelief. He had only called Lisa to give it a try, thinking that even if there was only a remote chance that she would agree to meet him, he had to strive for it. But who would have thought that Lisa would agree to meet him right away? He curled his lips with delight written all over his face. If I manage to get this done, my dad will probably think better of me…
Meanwhile, Nicole was coaxing Hayden to eat lunch. “Hayden, I’ve cooked some hot cereal. Let’s hurry up and go eat it.” She put her phone on the sofa before taking her son to lunch.
Hayden raised his little head and asked in puzzlement, “Mom, who were you talking to just now?”
“Your dad,” Nicole replied.
Hayden’s face lit up with a hint of delight. “Was it Colton?”
Nicole was baffled. How did this brat commit Colton’s name to memory right away? Seriously, I don’t want to see that sort of weird and conceited guy anymore in my life. “You and your wild ideas. Listen, Hayden, he’s not your dad – your dad is Joseph!”
Hayden’s initially cheerful little face fell at once. He pouted his lips, arguing, “He’s not my dad! Colton is!”
Nicole was perplexed. Hayden had only met Colton once, so why would he assert right away that the latter was his father, as though he had been put under the latter’s spell? “He’s not! Stop daydreaming!”
…
In the afternoon, Nicole dressed in warm colors with a pure white camisole underneath a cream-colored overcoat, which made her look competent and yet mild-mannered. After wearing light makeup, she curled her hair and left her room.
Hayden was sitting in the living room watching TV. The instant he saw Nicole coming out, his eyes lit up involuntarily. “Mom, are you gonna hook up a new dad for me?”
Nicole looked discombobulated. Since when did my son become so liberal in thinking? “I’ll be taking you to see your dad this afternoon,” she said. It was 1:30PM right now, so they could dawdle for half an hour.
A look of surprise flashed across Hayden’s face, and there was a note of joy in his voice. “Are we gonna meet Colton?”
Nicole frowned. “Nope, it’s Joseph that we’re gonna meet. I’ve told you about it!” This little brat must have been bewitched by Colton!
Hayden’s face screwed up instantly. “I’m not going with you!”
“You’ll be going with me, even if you don’t want to.” Nicole grabbed the boy’s collar and lifted him up. “Let’s go meet him, and don’t call any random guy ‘Dad’ anymore!”
Pouting his lips aggrievedly, Hayden protested in displeasure, “A playboy like him can’t possibly be my dad! There’s no way that a faithful, clever, and outstanding citizen like me is born to someone like him!”
Patting her son’s chubby cheek, Nicole replied, “They say that boys are more likely to take after their mothers, so you probably resemble me.” I’ve got to wake my son up to reality lest he keep thinking about Colton all day long. The thought of that guy gives me goosebumps, she thought.
However, Hayden retorted flat out, “There’s no way I’d resemble you! I’m so smart, after all.”
Nicole was rendered speechless. Is this little rascal trying to imply that I’m stupid?
As reluctant as Hayden was, Nicole got him into the car. On their way to Scottsdale Mall, she said worriedly, “I’m just letting you meet him, so don’t call him ‘Dad’ when you get there.”
“I’m not gonna acknowledge him as my dad,” Hayden muttered with a long face. He leaned on the car window, staring fixedly out of the window.
After driving to the Scottsdale Mall, Nicole got out of her car with Hayden.
There were few people in the cafe in the afternoon. After glancing around the place, Nicole spotted the man sitting in the corner and took Hayden there. Despite knowing that the man before her was Joseph, she nevertheless asked, “Hi, may I ask if you’re Joseph Mann?”
Upon hearing her voice, the man looked up at the woman before him. Dressed in a cream-colored overcoat, she was wearing light makeup, and her hair was slightly curled. On top of having a refreshing quality about her, she had a gentle smile, and her beautiful eyes were as clear as a lake that was full of life.
Joseph couldn’t help being moved by the woman’s beauty, but his eyes slowly darkened when he laid eyes on the kid next to her. “You’re Nicole?”
Nicole was surprised; she didn’t expect Joseph to know her. She couldn’t help taking another look at the man. He wasn’t bad-looking, and he looked even more handsome in person than in photos. With his dashing eyebrows, pug nose, and charming eyes, he looked just like a pretty boy. “You know me?” she asked curiously. There’s no way Queenie would tell him what happened five years ago.
Joseph’s eyes flickered with sarcasm. “Why would I not know Young Lady Nicole of the Anderson Family?”
Nicole heard the sarcastic note in Joseph’s voice, but she couldn’t seem to recall if she had ever offended him. Before she could speak, though, she heard the man continue, “I heard that you’re gonna marry my dad. So what’s the big deal, bringing a kid with you? Are you trying to get me a younger brother right away?”
A hint of scorn flickered across Joseph’s eyes. I’ve heard from Queenie that this woman wants to be my dad’s second wife for money. I hate such vain women more than anything else!
Upon hearing his words, Nicole finally realized why Joseph was so hostile toward her. However, she wouldn’t acknowledge such groundless stuff. “I think you’re mistaken. I’ve never thought of marrying into the Mann Family.” The smile on her face vanished. She said, “I’m here today to talk to you about the collaboration.”
Joseph’s attractive eyes narrowed slightly with a hint of scorn in them. “Collaboration? You’re Lisa?” He had heard Queenie talk about Nicole this morning. According to Queenie, this sister of hers was so vain to the point where she was almost delusional, claiming to be Lisa. He didn’t believe it at first, but he didn’t expect the woman before him to actually be so shameless as to make up lies as she went along!
“Uh-huh,” Nicole responded.
However, as soon as she seated herself with her son, she heard a scoff across from her. “Haha! Queenie was right. You’re delusional, aren’t you?”
Nicole knitted her brows. “If I’m not Lisa, why would I know she’s supposed to meet you today?”
Joseph stared at her as his lips curled in ridicule. “Just stop pretending, Nicole. I have no idea how you got the news of my appointment with Ms. Lisa, but could you at least do some homework before coming here? Lisa is a middle-aged woman in her forties. Even if you want to impersonate her, you should put in some effort to make yourself look more like her, okay?” Lisa’s age is no secret in the industry, for it was F&M Apparel’s president who revealed that himself. And yet, this idiot before me is passing herself off as Lisa without even knowing about that. “Queenie’s right all along; you’re a vain woman who makes up lies without thinking in order to make yourself look good.” He was somewhat displeased by the prospect of Nicole marrying his father in the first place, so it disgusted him even more now that she was lying so brazenly.
Seeing Joseph’s attitude, Nicole said coldly, “Mr. Mann, I think we no longer need to talk about our next steps. With your character, there’s no way F&M Apparel will work with the Mann Family.” The purpose of F&M Apparel collaborating with the Gardner Corporation this time was to expand its market in the country, so Nicole had intended to work with several clothing brands that were well-known in the country, and Mann Clothing Co. was one of them. Seems like it’s no longer necessary, though.
Joseph replied with disgust, “Haha! For an impersonator, you look quite like the real deal. How could a vain woman like you possibly be Lisa? Seeing you’re Queenie’s sister, I’m not gonna argue with you today.”
Before Nicole could defend herself, Hayden, who was next to her, sprang to her defense. “Mom isn’t vain! And she really is Lisa,” he said. Then, he turned to look at Nicole, holding her two fingers in his little hand. “Let’s go home, Mom. Such a guy doesn’t deserve you.”
“As expected of an illegitimate daughter – even your son is an ill-bred bastard!”
Nicole had wanted to ignore Joseph at first, but she stopped in her tracks the instant she heard him insulting her son. I’d never allow him to say something like that about Hayden – not even if Hayden is his son! “Let me advise you to watch your language, Mr. Mann. Is this how you were brought up, to say something so vicious to a child?” she said. Looking at the man before her, she continued, “You and I aren’t even close, and all you know about me is what you’ve heard from others. I’ve never offended you since the beginning, but you keep talking to us in such an overbearing manner. Is this your way of conducting yourself?”
Her words made Joseph’s face turn livid with anger one moment and red with embarrassment the next. He pointed at the woman, asking, “If you weren’t a vain woman, why would you impersonate Lisa?”
Nicole didn’t bother to explain, though. Lifting Hayden up in her arms, she said without looking back, “You’ll find out whether I’m Lisa or not when you attend F&M Apparel’s annual dinner.” Someone’s gonna confirm whether I’m Lisa or not at F&M Apparel’s annual dinner a week later, anyway! With that, she left swiftly.
Hayden nestled obediently in Nicole’s arms. After they left the cafe, he looked up and comforted her, saying, “Don’t be angry, Mom. It’s not worth it to be mad at this guy.” He knew Nicole was angry because Joseph had called him a bastard. Because of that, he became even more certain that there was no way someone as detestable as Joseph would be his father.
Hayden had dug up much information about Colton these days. As Gardner Corporation’s executive director, Colton wielded a lot of power. Most importantly, he found Colton’s looks very much to his taste, so Colton had to be his father. I’ve heard from Mom that Gardner Corporation’s president will be attending F&M Apparel’s annual dinner. I’ll let her know that my dad is none other than Colton Gardner!
Nicole curled her lips into a smile while stroking Hayden’s soft hair in gratification. She didn’t really take offense to Joseph’s words. After all, although she had slept with Joseph that night, she had never thought of becoming a couple with him. “I’m not angry. I’m content with having you.” It’s just that I’ve come for nothing today. I’ve thought that Joseph is only an ignorant and incompetent playboy, but I didn’t expect this playboy to also be a narrow-minded good-for-nothing. She quickly left the mall with Hayden in her arms.
Meanwhile, Queenie was talking and joking with several young ladies nearby as they came shopping here. When she saw Nicole, she had wanted to walk up to her and taunt her a little. However, upon seeing the features of the kid in Nicole’s arms, she was completely stunned. That boy looks just like the miniature version of Colton! He seems to be about four or five years old, which happens to match up with what happened five years ago… C-Could he be Nicole and Colton’s son?!
For a moment, Queenie froze on the spot, as though she had been struck by a thunderbolt. Colton will definitely get suspicious if he sees that boy. If he continues to look into it, will he find out what actually happened five years ago? Once he learns about everything, not only will the Andersons lose the great wealth and glory that we’re currently enjoying, but we’ll be offending the Gardner Family thoroughly! No one dares to fool Colton like this… She couldn’t help trembling at the thought of how harsh Colton could be.
“Queenie? Queenie!”
“Huh?” Queenie came to her senses, only to see her friend next to her looking at her with concern. The friend asked, “Are you alright? You look so ghastly.”
“I-I’m fine.” Queenie pulled herself together. By the time she turned to look at Nicole again, the latter had gotten into her car with the boy and left.
Queenie’s expression was ferocious as she watched the car drive off into the distance. To think that Nicole, that damn b*tch, was secretly pregnant with Colton’s child and even gave birth to the boy! No one knows what happened five years ago except Dad, Mom, and I. The matter’s supposed to be over, but now there’s a boy popping up from nowhere! I’d never let Nicole destroy everything I have now – never!
…
After returning home with Hayden in her arms, Nicole thought back on what had happened, but the more she thought about it, the more she felt that something was amiss. Why would both Queenie and Joseph not believe that I’m Lisa? Not only that, but they both think that Lisa is a middle-aged woman in her forties! After turning it over in her mind, she figured that this could only be Zachary’s doing.
Zachary Yates was the president of F&M Apparel. Having assumed the position at a young age, he was a man with extraordinary means, only that he had bad taste. Nicole had no idea what had gotten into him, but three years ago, he fell in love with her at first sight and began courting her aggressively, disregarding the fact that she already had a child. Nicole rejected his advances in an uncompromising manner without giving him the slightest opportunity, but the more steadfast she was in turning him down, the more aggressively he courted her.
At the thought of Zachary, a hint of helplessness crept over Nicole’s face. She took out her cell phone and dialed his number.
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