Chapter 14: Who's Your Mommy?

"Your mommy?" Conor asked, his voice cold. His eyes instinctively darted to Stacey. Stacey was shocked. "How in the world is Ethan here?!" she thought. "Just look at him, young master. He looks just like you," Elodie chuckled. "Madam was absolutely over the moon." "What's there to be happy about," Conor walked toward his apparent "mini-me." "So who's your mommy?" Ethan, after receiving a signal from Stacey, responded with a grunt. Conor laughed at the boy's audacity. "You just said you want your mommy back. Do I have her?" Conor questioned, glancing sideways at Stacey. Stacey blinked innocently, pretending to be clueless. "I misspoke. What I meant was, you haven't visited my mom for such a long time, you jerk," Ethan boldly declared. Stacey was worried. She was afraid Conor might lose his patience with Ethan. Had Ethan lost his marbles How could he possibly think Conor was his dad? But Elodie's words made Stacey think. Conor and Ethan did bear a striking resemblance. Could the man from six years ago have been Conor? Stacey's mind was racing. Had she left a bite mark on his shoulder? And she had just noticed the similarity between Ethan and Conor. She had indeed been careless. Conor found Ethan's statements dubious. But since the prey willingly walked into his trap, it would be foolish to let it escape. He had been on the lookout for that woman for six years. It had never crossed his mind that she had given birth to a child behind his back. All these years, he had thought it was an accident. The woman wasn't plotting anything. But six years later, the woman never showed up; instead, her child did. Perhaps she thought he would force her to abort if she told him she was pregnant. Now that the child has grown up, he can't do anything but accept him as family. This way, the child would be his only heir. Her plans were indeed elaborate. He had underestimated that woman. "Who's your mommy?" Conor asked again, his voice icy. Ethan raised an eyebrow, "I won't tell you. You look like you're going to gobble up my mom." "Say it." Conor threatened. "Waaa… you're so mean!" Ethan burst into tears. "What do you think you're doing!" Madam Burton's voice echoed, accompanied by a flying slipper. The slipper hit Conor's shoulder. "Don't cry, Ethan." Madam Burton stepped forward, pulling Ethan to her side, and scolded Conor, "How dare you speak to my great-grandson like that?" Conor's handsome face held a look of resignation, "Grandma, he's my son." "Now you realize he's your son. Where were you six years ago?" Madam Burton fumed, "You have no idea how much hardship my great-grandson has endured because of you." "Grandma, it's not as you think. I had no idea she was pregnant," Conor said, a frown etching his face. "Well, you should have considered that possibility when you were with her," Madam Burton retorted indignantly. "You ignored them for six years. It's no wonder Ethan harbors resentment and complains about you." Conor fell silent. "Madam, please calm down," Elodie tried to soothe her. "If you dare make my great-grandson cry again, you'll hear from me," Madam Burton warned, clearly upset. Annoyed, Conor replied, "Grandma, I want to know where his mother is. Some things need to be settled." "I understand your concerns. Regardless of who his mother is, you should not treat a child harshly. He's so young. What could he possibly know?" Madam Burton scolded. "If you can't find his mother, that's your fault; don't take it out on the child." Conor fell silent again, his gaze turning severe. "Great-grandma, who's that lady?" Ethan pointed at Stacey. Madam Burton hesitated, "She is..." This was tricky. Stacey was Conor's wife. But Ethan's sudden appearance complicated things. They didn't know what kind of woman Ethan's mother was. If she was decent and not unattractive, Madam Burton might consider her a suitable match for Conor. After all, Conor and Stacey weren't legally married yet. "Sister, can you be my mommy?" Ethan ran up to Stacey. He winked at her, his back turned to Conor and the others. Stacey looked at him, taken aback, "What is a mommy?" Conor stepped forward, hoisting Ethan and tucking him under his arm. "Let me go!" Ethan wriggled. "Conor, what are you doing?!" Madam Burton demanded. "I'm taking him for a DNA test," Conor said nonchalantly. "You fool, Ethan looks just like you as a child. What do you need to test for!" Madam Burton was livid. "It's just a precaution. If he is my son, he'll be the only child I'll ever have." Conor said coldly. His words silenced Madam Burton. Stacey was worried for Ethan. She tugged at Conor's sleeve, grinning, "Stacey wants to come too." "Stay home," Conor dismissed her brusquely. He didn't need to babysit two kids. In his mind, he didn't think of Stacey as an idiot. He saw her as a five-year-old child. "No, I want mommy. If mommy doesn't go, I won't go," Ethan protested. "She's not your real mother," Conor said coldly. "As long as I like her, she is!" Ethan kicked his legs about, determined to get his way. Conor frowned, "Fine, we'll all go." At this, Ethan stopped wriggling. A hint of light flickered in Conor's deep-set eyes. Stacey was on pins and needles, feeling as though she was at risk of being exposed. However, she couldn't just sit back and let Conor take Ethan away. What if Conor intended not to run a DNA test but abandon Ethan? She had to go with them, no matter what. With Ethan under his arm and Stacey tagging along, Conor stepped out the door. Elodie turned to Madam Burton, "Madam, this..." Madam Burton waved her off, "I know what you're about to say. Just have the guards at the entrance keep an eye out for any unfamiliar women hanging around. If she sent Ethan here as a strategy to secure her position as Conor's wife, and then this is simply a scouting mission." Elodie furrowed her brow, "A scouting mission?" "Perhaps she's heard some rumors, so she sent Ethan to test our feelings towards him. If we welcome Ethan, it might smooth the path for her to be more warmly accepted. Quite a crafty woman," Madam Burton's gaze grew cold, "But she's still a better choice than Stacey, who's both dim-witted and unattractive." Elodie pursed her lips, "If Ethan's birth mother does show up, what will happen to Stacey?"