Keeping a mistress

Keeping a mistress
Old Master Robinson's eyes widened in shock, his voice trembling, "H-how do you know?"
Shane's face was as cold as ice. "Who did it?"
"I-I don't know," he stammered, quickly reaching out to grab Shane's arm. "Calm down, the child will be fine..."
"When did you find out about the child?" Shane brushed his hand away, his voice icy and demanding.
Old Master Robinson was taken aback. "Shane..."
"Grandpa, you know exactly how my parents died and how I ended up in the water. I've kept quiet all these years, not because I've forgotten, but because I didn't want you to suffer the pain of losing another loved one. But if they touch my child, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Shane retracted the foot he was about to step out with, turned around, and strode out of the living room. As he walked, he ordered Henry, "I want all the information from over there."
"Yes, sir."
Henry's expression was grave as he immediately went to carry out the order.
"Shane..." Old Master Robinson was terrified. He was still alive and didn't want to witness his family tearing each other apart.
His hands trembled. "Imani, do you think Damian could have stolen the child?"
Butler Imani replied, "I don't think so."
"No, it must be him. He saw us at the hospital the day we did the test. He must have suspected something. We couldn't hide it anymore. He came to the old house that night, and not long after, the child was gone. If it wasn't him, who else could it be?" he knew the truth deep down.
Sometimes, though, it's hard to admit.
"Don't think too much about it," Butler Imani comforted him.
Old Master Robinson was shaking so much he could barely stand, relying entirely on Butler Imani for support.
"It seems I can't protect them this time," he whispered.
"But sir, they've done many wrong things. I heard that when the Young Master got married, Dina even tried to have him killed. The Young Master didn't pursue it, probably out of respect for you," He said, feeling that Old Master was partly responsible for the situation.
"If you had given the second family some shares back then, they wouldn't have turned so vicious. In the end, it's all about wanting the family fortune," he continued. "You've protected them for a long time. You even arranged a marriage for the Young Master to soften his hatred. It wasn't perfect, but you really tried your best."
Butler Imani voiced his opinion, "I think he has every right to do whatever he wants to the second family."
After all, it was his mother who was wronged first.
Old Master Robinson knew this too.
But no matter who it is, they are his blood. If anyone gets hurt or dies, he will be heartbroken.
"Sigh."
"You're getting old, you shouldn't worry about it anymore," Butler Imani advised.
His health wasn't what it used to be; his body couldn't take much more.
He was getting old.
"I won't worry about it anymore, I won't," he sighed softly, his voice filled with endless helplessness and desolation.
...
After Callie found out that Kane had returned to Greenfield City and that Shane had followed him, she could only try to calm her anxious heart and wait.
During this time, she returned to the Norris Family to tell Caitlin that she was fine and that Myron had handled the matters she had entrusted to him very well.
With Myron overseeing the company's affairs, she felt much more at ease and could focus entirely on her child.
To ensure she would be the first to know when Shane returned, she went to the villa and told Mrs. Ford to call her immediately if Shane came back.
She had to run to the company several times a day to ask if he had returned.
Once again, she arrived at the company, and just as she was about to go in and inquire, she saw Shane's car. She immediately ran over, "Shane ..."
He stopped and got out of the car.
She rushed over and looked inside the car, but didn't see any sign of the child. She frowned and asked, "Where's our child?"
Shane put on a casual demeanor, "I left him with a friend for now..."
"What do you mean, Shane?" Before he could finish his sentence, Callie grabbed his collar. He was too tall for her to look him in the eye, and even though he bent down to accommodate her, she still had to stand on her toes. "That child is yours."
He replied, "I know."
"Then why did you leave him at someone else's house?" Callie couldn't understand why he would do such a thing. "Is it because you don't want Leif?"
"Leif?"
Hearing that name, his heart tightened. Was the child really named Leif?
"You named him," he said, his voice strained and hoarse.
Callie felt a chill in her heart. She didn't want to answer his questions; all she wanted was her child back.
"Bring him back, or tell me where your friend lives so I can get him myself. The child is mine. You have no right to leave him with someone else. Are you afraid the child will be a burden, getting in the way of you and Lydia? If that's the case, just say it. I can keep it a secret and never mention his identity to anyone. You can continue your relationship, even get married..."
Shane's face grew colder with every word.
"Enough. Just shut up. I'll bring him back. Give me a few days..."
"I want him now, immediately, right this second!" Callie couldn't wait any longer.
Shane didn't know where the child was at the moment. He didn't want to tell Callie to avoid worrying her.
But he underestimated a mother's desperation!
"Calm down," Shane reached out to hold her, but Callie pushed him away forcefully. "Give me my child!"
He was pushed back a step, his lips pressed tightly together as he stared at her.
Callie suddenly spoke up, "You’re not trying to take the child away and deliberately told me you left them with some friend, are you?"
Shane turned away; Callie was too agitated right now.
Callie blocked his path, her imagination running wild. "Why are you leaving? Feeling guilty? You’re not trying to take the child while pretending you want to get rid of me as the mother, are you? Shane, let me tell you, the child is mine. You can forget about taking him away, and don’t even think about making my child call someone else 'mom'..."
"Callie Norris!" Shane's tone grew harsher.
She was getting more and more outrageous!
Callie wouldn't let up. "What’s wrong? Did I hit the nail on the head? Are you angry because I figured you out?"
Shane closed his eyes, trying to suppress his anger. "The child is missing right now. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry, but you’re too emotional, and I couldn’t keep it from you."
"Callie," he said earnestly, "the child is mine too. I’m just as anxious, but I know I have to stay calm to find him quickly. Stop bringing up Lydia. I’ve explained before, there’s nothing between us."
Callie looked at Shane, her body swaying. "The child is missing?"
Her mind buzzed, and she couldn't focus on anything Shane was saying.
The words "missing" kept echoing in her head.
Was that why she had such a terrible nightmare?
"Who... who took him?" Her voice trembled, rough and shaky.
Shane reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently rubbing her back to comfort her. "No matter who it is, I will find him and bring him back safely."
Callie couldn't control her emotions and was shaking violently.
"I'm scared, I..." Her eyes were red with tears.
Shane tried to soothe her. "It will be okay, trust me."
She looked up, her long lashes glistening with tears. "What if he's in danger? What do we do then?"
"He won't be," Shane said, wiping away her tears.
Buzz, buzz—
Suddenly, Shane's phone rang!
He pulled it out and answered.
"Hello." Callie strained her ears to listen!

Henry's voice came through the line, "I've looked into it. Damian visited the old mansion. The child was there before he went, and after his visit, the child went missing. We can preliminarily conclude that Damian likely took the child. I heard from Butler Imani that the old man wanted to keep it a secret, but Damian stumbled upon the paternity test results..."
Shane frowned, "Paternity test? What paternity test?"
"To ensure the purity of the Robinson family bloodline, the old man had a paternity test done on the child," Henry explained. "The results confirmed that the child is indeed yours, and it's a boy."
Ever since Shane found out that Callie was the woman from that night and that she had given birth to a child, he had never doubted the child's identity.
Callie had only ever been with him.
Henry hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Although the child is with Damian, we currently don't have any leverage to catch him..."
Back then, Old Master Robinson had expelled the second family from the Robinson family to protect them and to appease Shane. They were given no part of the Robinson family's wealth, and the company had no place for them.
Dina used her savings to open an entertainment club called 'Enchantment' for her son, but after she tried to kill Shane, he had it shut down.
Now, their livelihood depended entirely on the rent from Eric's several factories and some stock funds.
"Keep someone tracking them at all times. The moment you find any clue, report to me immediately. Also, come back. I have other tasks for you," Shane instructed with a clear plan in mind.
"Understood," Henry responded.
As soon as Shane hung up the phone, Callie couldn't wait to ask, "Isn't Damian your cousin? Why would he take Leif?"
Callie knew that Old Master Robinson had two sons: one was his father, and the other was his uncle. She was aware that Shane's uncle didn't live with the Robinson Family.
However, she wasn't aware of the grudges between Shane and his uncle's family. Such matters were typically kept private, as airing family conflicts could be damaging to their reputation. After all, tales of family feuds were prime gossip material.
Shane's voice was calm and light, "Because Leif is my child."
Callie was even more confused. "Since it's your cousin and you know he took him, why don't we just go ask him to release Leif?"
"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go inside," Shane said, wrapping an arm around Callie's shoulder.
Callie had calmed down a bit by now. Panicking wouldn't help; she needed to understand what was going on and why Shane's cousin had taken their son.
The first floor of the building was spacious, with a reception desk, sofas, and a tea station on the right. Ahead was a hallway with elevators on either side.
Shane led her to the elevator and they rode up to the top floor. As they passed the secretary's desk, he instructed, "Cancel all my appointments. I won't be taking any meetings for the next few days. Bring two cups of coffee to my office."
"Understood," the secretary replied.
With his arm still around Callie's waist, Shane guided her to his office door. He pushed it open and said, "Come in."
Callie stepped inside.
As the door closed behind them, Shane took off his jacket and casually tossed it onto the sofa, loosening his collar.
Callie, who had been too anxious to notice earlier, now saw the dark circles under his eyes. It was clear he hadn't been resting well.
Was he anxious too?
After all, Leif was his flesh and blood.
"Shane, do you like children?" she asked.
Callie Norris just wanted to confirm his attitude towards Leif.
He turned to look at her, his gaze deep and penetrating, as if he could see right through her thoughts. "You want to know if I acknowledge him, right?"
Callie pressed her lips together in silence, which was as good as an admission.
She indeed had that thought.
"Of course, I love my child." He walked over, took her by the wrist, and gently pulled her to sit on the couch. His expression was serious. "Callie, once we find the child, I'll give you a wedding. I'll tell everyone that you are my wife and Leif is my son."
Callie didn't expect him to say that. Her heart felt like a stone had been thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that spread outwards.
"Is it to give Leif a rightful identity?" she asked.
Shane's eyes held a tenderness that could move any woman. His voice was low and sincere. "I want a family."
A family where he had his child and the woman he loved.
In his face, Callie saw longing, hope, and anticipation.
It was the softest expression she had ever seen on this man's face.
"You and me?" Callie felt a bit surprised. "What about Lydia?"
Shane was speechless.
Why did she always have to ruin the moment?
"Why do you keep bringing up someone who doesn't matter?"
Callie admitted to herself that she was annoyed—annoyed by the relationship between that woman and him.
"I've already had Henry move her somewhere I can't see her. Besides, there's nothing between us." He reached out, his fingers just about to touch Callie's face, but she turned her head away. "You don't need to explain your affairs to me."
His hand froze in mid-air for a moment, then he lowered it.
"Don't you want to give our child a home?" he asked.
Of course, Callie wanted that. She wanted her child to have both a father and a mother, to grow up in a complete family.
It would be better for the child's physical and mental well-being.
And she did like him.
For the sake of the child, should she try to win over this man?
After all, he was making an effort.

"I do," she said.
She realized that whether it was for Leif or for herself, she should fight and not retreat or avoid!
"By the way, why is your cousin after Leif?" she asked.
Shane replied, "The night we met, it was Dina who sent people to kill me. Dina is Eric's wife, and Eric is my dad's brother."
He deliberately avoided calling them by their familial titles.
To him, those people didn't deserve to be called uncle and aunt.
He always referred to them by their names.
Knock, knock—
There was a knock on the door, and Shane said, "Come in."
The secretary brought in coffee.
She placed the coffee on the table and then quietly left.
Shane preferred his coffee black, with no sugar or cream—just the strong, bitter taste that kept him awake.
He had been running around for the past couple of days with little rest.
His face showed a hint of fatigue.
Callie stood up and walked around to the back of the sofa. "You know I'm a doctor and understand pressure points. Let me give you a massage to relieve your fatigue."
As she spoke, her fingers landed on his temples.
Her fingertips were a bit cool and very soft.
The moment their skin touched, Shane's body tensed slightly.
"Is the pressure too much?" she asked as she massaged.
His voice was hoarse as he muttered, "No."
Callie applied just the right amount of pressure, massaging his shoulders and back bit by bit. Shane's body gradually relaxed under her skilled hands.
"You've been really tired these past few days. Your muscles are so tense," Callie observed.
Shane reached out and grabbed her hand that was massaging him. "Callie..."
Standing behind him, Callie could see his chiseled facial features and the elegant line of his neck from her viewing point. His slightly open collar revealed a glimpse of his firm chest.
She averted her gaze slightly. "Will they hurt Leif?"
They were ruthless enough to target Shane, which showed the depth of their grudge. It was a fight to the death.
She was deeply worried about her son’s safety.
Shane held her hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of it. "No, they won't. They took Leif to try and get the Robinson Family's fortune from me. They know very well that if anything happens to our child, they won't get a single thing, and I won't let them off the hook. So don't worry, our child will be safe."
"You've made yourself clear, but I'm still worried. It wasn't easy for me to give birth to him, and I can't afford to lose him. If you can bring him back safely, I'll agree to anything you ask."
"Does that include marrying me again?" Shane asked.

As soon as he finished speaking, he added, "Not for Leif, but purely for me."
He was referring to his feelings.
Callie leaned down and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, burying her face into the crook of his neck, and let out a soft "mm-hmm."
Because she liked this man.
She would get upset seeing him with another woman.
She wanted to fight for him, not just to give Leif a complete family, but for herself as well.
At that moment, Henry returned.
In his haste, he didn't knock and pushed the door open, only to see Callie hugging Shane. Realizing his mistake, he quickly tried to close the door.
Just as he was about to shut it, Shane said, "Wait for me in the conference room."
"Yes, sir," Henry replied, then stepped out and closed the door.
Callie felt a bit awkward. She withdrew her arms from around his neck. "Are you discussing how to rescue Leif?" she asked.
Shane nodded, "Yes. If you have nothing else to do, stay here for a while. I'll come back after talking with Henry."
She clutched the hem of her shirt, feeling anxious but suppressing it. She knew she couldn't cause any trouble right now. After all, it was the Robinson Family who had captured Leif. Shane understood the situation better and would naturally find the best way to handle it.
At this moment, the best thing she could do was not to cause any trouble for them.
"I understand. You go ahead," she said, trying her best to appear relaxed.
But her heart was still tightly clenched.
Shane stood up and left.
Callie turned to watch his departing figure, but soon her view was blocked by a door.
She could no longer see him.
No need to keep up the pretense.
Her face immediately fell, filled with worry.
Just moments ago, she had only acted calm in front of him to avoid burdening him.
She took a deep breath, trying to relax her emotions.
She walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window that spanned the entire wall, offering a comprehensive view of the city.
The view was so expansive.
Everything was in sight.
Yet she had no heart to appreciate it.
Suddenly, the secretary came in. "President Robinson asked me to show you around the company."
Shane was worried that she might overthink if left alone in the office, so he instructed his secretary to give her a tour of the company.
Callie was indeed unfamiliar with the layout of the entire company. In the past, she wouldn't have wanted to learn about it. But ever since Rafael died and she took over her family company, she had gained some understanding of it. Now, with the opportunity to learn more, she agreed.
The secretary first gave her a tour of this floor, explaining the layout as they went along. "On this floor, there are only three offices and a large conference room that can accommodate many people. There's also a break room and a secretary's desk."
"This is a reception room where President Robinson usually meets with business associates."
As Callie toured the place, she couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur. Big companies really were different.
Shane's office was much larger than the Norris Family's entire conference room. And the large conference room? It was massive. Even the reception room alone was half the size of the Norris Family's entire office area.
"Let's head downstairs," the secretary said, pressing the elevator button. "This floor has three departments: Public Relations,
Finance, and a specialized legal team. The PR department mainly maintains the company's image and handles publicity. They also deal with any issues that might harm the company's reputation. The Finance department, well, they handle the money. The legal team deals with any legal matters..."
Callie nodded.
The Norris Family didn't have a PR department or a specialized legal team, just a small finance department.
She continued the tour with her secretary.
Upstairs.
In the conference room.
Only Shane and Henry were present.
"I found out that Damian has been getting quite close with a woman recently. He even went to the hospital with her for a paternity test, something he never does. It seems to me that this woman is special to him," Henry said.
Shane leaned back in his chair, his clothes slightly wrinkled, his arm casually draped over the backrest. He didn't look as spotless and meticulous as usual, but instead, he exuded an intense aura of a mature man—hot and compelling.
"Do we know who she is?"
Henry responded, "Yes, she's an ordinary girl with no notable background. Damian is currently keeping her."
Shane raised an eyebrow. "He has the money to keep a woman?"
"Eric still has some money left. They haven't hit rock bottom yet," Henry replied.
Shane knew Damian's temperament well.
Damian was proud and extravagant. Eric's remaining funds wouldn't be enough to cover his expenses.
He considered himself superior and extraordinary, so relying solely on his family was beneath him.
Shane glanced at Henry, clearly displeased. "You only found out he has a woman? Didn't you investigate his hidden income sources?"
Henry was taken aback. "You mean, even if we shut down his club, he has other businesses?"
"What do you think?" Shane's expression was stern. "I want answers by tonight."
With that, he stood up.
As if remembering something, he turned to Henry and said, "Send me all the information on Damian's woman to my email."
"Yes, sir."
Henry responded promptly.
Shane returned to his office. Callie hadn't come back yet. He sat down at his desk, opened his computer, and clicked on his email.
He skimmed through the content Henry had sent over.
One point caught his attention.
Since Damian started seeing this woman, he hadn't been with any other women for six months.
That was unusual.
He typically changed women every month and a half, never maintaining a relationship with one woman for this long.
Could it be that Damian had genuine feelings for her?
It was hard to say.
Just then, Callie walked in, seeing Shane already at his desk. She stepped in and asked, "Have you found a way to save Leif?"
"Hold on a second." Shane moved the mouse to delete the information page. Callie caught a glimpse of a woman's profile and asked, "Who was that?"
Shane frowned, thinking her eyes were too sharp. "Just a woman."
"What kind of woman?"
She pressed on.
Shane reached out his hand.
Callie looked down at his palm, noting its smoothness and clear lines. After a brief hesitation, she placed her hand in his. Her soft, small hand was enveloped by his strong one.
With a gentle tug, Callie moved around to his side.
Shane wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap!
Callie felt uncomfortable; the position was too intimate, especially since they were in the office. What if the secretary or other staff walked in? How embarrassing would that be?
She twisted a bit, but Shane held her tighter, leaning in to whisper in her ear, "Don't move."
With his other hand, he moved the mouse and reopened the email. "This woman is Damian's girlfriend."
Callie turned her head to look at him. "Are we going to target this woman?"
Shane shook his head. Although Damian treated this woman differently, she wasn't important enough to threaten Damian.
"She's close to Damian. I was thinking, if we get close to her, maybe we can find out where the kid is."
Shane was considering sending a woman to get close to Damian's woman to gather information.
"I'll go," Callie volunteered.
"No way," he rejected immediately. "They'll definitely recognize you. Don't forget, the reason you married me was partly because of them."
Callie blinked. "I've never had any contact with them."
"But as far as I know, your dad did."
"My dad?" Callie only knew that Rafael married her off to Shane for some benefits. She had no idea he had any dealings with Damian.
Shane wasn't sure if Rafael had made any deals with them, but Henry had found information indicating they had some contact. However, Rafael was already dead now.
"It doesn't matter anymore," he said, holding the woman in his arms tightly. "I'm grateful to them for bringing you to me."
Callie's face inexplicably turned red.
His words weren't particularly romantic.
Yet, she felt a bit shy and secretly delighted.
Did this mean he liked her?
He had said he liked her before.
She shook her head, trying to clear away these confusing thoughts.
The most urgent task now was to rescue their son.
An idea struck her. "Damian and his men know me, but this woman definitely doesn't. So I can get close without being recognized, as long as I avoid meeting Damian. And with Leif captured, I can't just do nothing, right?"
Shane still didn't relent.
Callie grabbed his collar, awkwardly trying to act cute. "Please?"
Her voice wasn't sweet enough, and her actions were stiff, not seductive at all.
But Shane fell for it!
What he appreciated was that Callie was willing to act cute for him.
"Alright."
And so, Shane took her out!