Chapter 207

Chapter 207

Chris glanced at his watch and smiled, "Mr. Moore, I've been your assistant for so many years, and I've never seen you this eager! It's only four o'clock. There's still an hour before the kindergarten lets out!"

Matthew looked dejected, "For the past three years, I haven't been by his side. I haven't fulfilled my duties as a father for even a single day. I feel so guilty!"

Chris remembered something, "Mr. Moore, why haven't you demanded that the Lawson family take Atticus for a paternity test these past few days? Even if it doesn't guarantee you'll get custody of Atticus, at least it would put pressure on the Lawson family!"

Matthew sneered, "Atticus is definitely my child—why would I need a test? As long as they don't bring the kid out, there's no problem. But if they bring him out and run into me, I'll make their whole family lose face!"

As they talked, before they knew it, it was five o'clock. The kindergarten teachers started bringing the children out in groups.

Matthew spotted Atticus right away!

His eyes lit up, and he quickly got out of the car, practically rushing to the gate.

Chris hurried to follow.

"Atticus!" Matthew waved at Atticus.

The teacher glanced at Matthew and frowned, "Atticus, who is he?"

"I don't know!" Atticus timidly hid behind the teacher, "I don't know him!"

Matthew approached the teacher, "Teacher, I'm here to pick up Atticus today!"

"Who are you? The child says he doesn't know you!" The teacher looked Matthew up and down warily.

Matthew explained, "I'm his father. He wasn't in Emerald City before, so he's not familiar with me!"

The teacher said seriously, "Atticus's grandmother has always been the one picking him up. We haven't received any message from his grandmother saying someone else would be picking up the child."

Before the teacher could finish, Chris said unhappily, "What kind of attitude is this? Do you know who you're talking to? This is Mr. Moore, chairman of the Moore Group! You think he's going to kidnap a child?"

Just then, Della arrived with a servant, "Atticus, come to Grandma!"

"Grandma!" Atticus called out and happily threw himself into Della's arms.

Della didn't even look at Matthew and took Atticus's hand, "Let's go, we're going home!"

Della felt guilty and didn't want to stay any longer.

Matthew stepped forward, blocking Della and Atticus's path, startling Della, "What do you think you're doing? Move! Are you trying to snatch someone in broad daylight?"

Parents and teachers at the gate picking up children all turned to look.

Matthew stared coldly at Della, "I'm the child's father. I have the right to see my child!"

Della snorted, "Nonsense! Atticus is my grandson!"

She looked around and appealed for help, "Everyone, please help! This man is trying to take my grandson!"

The parents started accusing Matthew:

"Snatching someone in public—that's way too arrogant!"

"Not while we're here!"

"Get lost, or we're calling the police!"

The kindergarten principal, Haven, also rushed over and sternly scolded Matthew, "The child doesn't know you. I suggest you leave immediately, or we really will call the police!"

With so much support, Della felt very smug.

But Matthew remained calm, his intimidating gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Della's face, "Della, do you dare call the police?"

"I..." Della pressed her lips together, not knowing how to respond.

Matthew looked at everyone with contempt, "Are you all blind? Anyone with normal vision can see that Atticus is my son!"

At this point, the parents finally started observing and comparing Matthew and Atticus's features.

"Now that you mention it, they really do look alike!"

"The look in their eyes is exactly the same!"

"Then why doesn't the child recognize him?"

Matthew questioned Haven, "Do you see it clearly now?"

Haven looked embarrassed, then made excuses, "Even if you are the child's father, the child doesn't recognize you right now, so you can't just do whatever you want! Whatever issues your family has, I don't care. Today I can only hand the child over to his grandmother."

Haven felt this statement was very awkward—if the man in front of her was Atticus's father, then the person holding Atticus's hand couldn't be his grandmother!

A teacher said, "Sir, whatever disputes your family has, go home and settle them. Don't make a scene at the gate! This isn't good for the kindergarten's order or your child's mental health!"

Chris noticed that because so many people were watching, the road was blocked.

Chris quickly leaned close to Matthew's ear and said, "Mr. Moore, this really isn't the place to take the child. Let's go back and think of another way!"

Matthew looked at Atticus tenderly. Atticus timidly hid behind Della, looking at him with both fear and curiosity.

"Fine, today I'll let you take Atticus home! But you tell Amelia that I'm the child's father. I have the right to see Atticus, and the right to take him out to eat and buy things!"

Hearing this, Della quickly picked up Atticus. The servant cleared the way, and the three of them squeezed out and got into the car.

Watching the car drive away, Matthew clenched his fists, feeling terrible inside.

Sitting in the car, Matthew's expression was extremely gloomy.

"Mr. Moore, are you okay?" Chris asked cautiously.

Matthew's eyes showed sadness, "I'm the child's father, but I can't be with him!"

Chris tried to comfort him, "Mr. Moore, even if you could be with Atticus right now, he wouldn't accept you. Didn't you see the way he looked at you..."

Chris didn't dare continue.

Matthew said bitterly, "The Lawson family must have been filling Atticus's head with all kinds of ideas, badmouthing me. That's why Atticus is afraid of me!"

Chris thought for a moment, "Getting Atticus to accept you won't happen overnight. It takes time!"

Matthew sighed in frustration, "But I don't even have a chance to see Atticus. How can I change his opinion of me and get him to accept me!"

Chris's eyes suddenly brightened, "Mr. Moore, I actually have an idea that would let you see and interact with Atticus."

Matthew suddenly grabbed Chris's wrist, his eagerness evident, "Tell me!"

Chris said, "Atticus is studying at Bright Future Preschool now, right? If the kindergarten is yours, when can't you see the child!"

Hearing this, Matthew's gloomy face finally showed a smile, "Yes, why didn't I think of that! If I become the kindergarten's owner, when can't I see Atticus!"

It was just a kindergarten—buying it wouldn't be a problem for Matthew at all.

"Chris, go see the kindergarten principal right away. Have her call the owner. I want to buy the kindergarten!"

Chris didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Today's Matthew was a bit flustered, "It's after hours now. Let's talk about it tomorrow morning!"

Matthew could only wait patiently until the next day.

Della brought Atticus home and told everyone about Matthew trying to pick up Atticus today, saying angrily, "I've never seen such a rude person, actually trying to snatch a child!"

Zander was both angry and worried, "Matthew is really something—he found out which kindergarten Atticus goes to so quickly. To keep him from continuing to harass Atticus, we should transfer Atticus to another kindergarten!"

But Elise shook her head, her face full of sadness, "Matthew is capable. Even if we change kindergartens, he'll find out. Besides, constantly changing kindergartens isn't good for Atticus!"

Elise paused, then said to Della, "Starting tomorrow, I'll pick up Atticus!"

Matthew was Atticus's father—that was an undeniable fact, and he did have visitation rights. If she saw Matthew again, Elise could allow him to spend some time with Atticus, but on one condition: Matthew couldn't say in front of Atticus that he was his father!