Chapter 10 Do You Want to Know Who Your Father Is?
Max didn't care about respecting his elders—anyone who bullied his mommy was no good person in his book.
"Max..." Grace hugged him gratefully. "Don't stoop to their level."
Thank goodness she still had Max.
Max had always been protective of her, defending her like a little angel.
Mary was about to explode again when Alexander said coldly, "Get out."
Mary froze. "Alexander?"
"Everyone out!"
In the Hayes family, Alexander's authority was unquestionable.
Even Mary didn't dare provoke him lightly.
Reluctantly, she left the room.
The door closed.
Alexander carried Liam over to the bed.
Liam pointed at Grace.
Sensing something unusual about Liam's behavior, Alexander set him down.
The moment his feet touched the floor, Liam walked to the bedside, climbed onto the bed, and gently cupped Grace's face. He softly blew on her bandaged wound, his eyes seeming to silently ask, Does it still hurt?
Grace seemed to understand his unspoken question and smiled warmly. "Good boy, Liam. I'm not in pain anymore."
Max said, "Mommy's being tough again. You bled so much, and you're saying it doesn't hurt?" He looked at Liam. "Mommy got hurt protecting you."
When the accident happened, everyone at Hayes Manor had crowded around Liam, but no one had cared about her.
It was Max who found the first aid kit and bandaged her wound. Fortunately, the cut wasn't deep and wouldn't scar.
If things had gone slightly differently and she'd hit a vital spot, Max didn't dare think about the consequences.
He'd seen with his own eyes that Liam's nanny had pushed Grace, so he felt somewhat resentful toward Liam.
Liam furrowed his brow guiltily, as if blaming himself.
Grace saw this and felt her heart warm.
Who said Liam was intellectually disabled?
He seemed to understand everything.
"Liam, it's okay. Don't worry."
Liam reached out and hugged Grace, nuzzling his little face against her chest before looking up at her with eyes full of tenderness.
Grace felt her heart melting and couldn't help reaching out to gently pinch his cheek. "Good boy, Liam. I really don't hurt anymore."
Alexander's gaze grew peculiar.
The intimacy Liam showed toward Grace proved he genuinely liked her.
Liam never warmed up to anyone.
Even his caregivers were carefully selected—most people couldn't get close to him at all.
Yet he was actively showing affection toward Grace.
Alexander asked, "What did you do to him?"
Grace frowned, not understanding. "What do you mean?"
"How did Liam suddenly become so attached to you?" Alexander narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Did you use some kind of hypnosis on him?"
Before he could finish speaking, Max and Liam turned around in perfect synchronization, glaring at him with identical expressions, as if warning him not to speak harshly to Grace.
Alexander's mouth twitched, and his tone softened—though only for Liam's sake. "Liam, you like her, don't you?"
Liam shyly pressed his lips together and nodded without hiding it.
Alexander had always cherished him beyond measure.
Whatever Liam liked, Alexander would do anything to give him.
"Then shall I keep her by your side?" Alexander asked gently.
Max suddenly grew anxious and said to Liam, "No way! Mommy is mine—you can't steal my mommy!"
"Max!" Grace ruffled his hair. "Mommy won't leave Max, but you and Liam need to get along nicely, okay? What has Mommy taught you? You're a little gentleman who should be polite and kind to other children."
Max remained reluctant. "But Mommy belongs only to me—no one can take her away!" Max's possessiveness over Grace was intense.
Anyone who tried to steal his mommy became his enemy!
Liam's expression immediately turned dejected.
Alexander picked up Liam and said to Grace, "Rest well. The paternity test results will be ready tomorrow."
Grace asked, "If it proves he's not my child, will you let me leave?"
Alexander came back to himself, his deep eyes lingering on her face before asking coldly, "Are you hoping he's not your son?"
Liam also looked at her, his eyes flickering as if he understood, his expression becoming fragile and forlorn.
Grace was momentarily speechless. "I..."
"Forget it! What responsibility could I expect from a woman like you?" After saying this, Alexander left carrying Liam.
Liam rested on the man's shoulder, only half his adorable face visible as he gazed longingly at Grace, looking pitiful.
Alexander carried him away, and the door closed softly.
Max asked, "Mommy, do you like Liam and not Max anymore?"
Grace laughed. "How could that be? Mommy will always love Max most."
Max muttered, "That man said Liam is Mommy's child and wants to do a paternity test. Is that true?"
Grace said, "He's not my son."
After struggling for a long time, she finally decided to tell Max about his origins.
"Max, actually, Mommy never told you—you have a brother."
Max's eyes widened in disbelief. "A brother?"
Grace said, "The doctor said you were twins, but because you were born prematurely, your brother wasn't breathing when he was born. He had already passed away while still in Mommy's body." Grace's eyes reddened with pain at the memory. "Mommy could only save you."
"Why did my brother die?" Max asked, confused.
Grace explained, "The doctor said Mommy was malnourished during pregnancy, which caused the premature birth. You were luckier—Mommy managed to save you, but do you remember? You weren't very healthy as a child."
Max nodded with partial understanding.
Grace looked around.
The Hayes family mansion was enormous.
If she hadn't selfishly kept Max by her side, he would be living like Liam—in the finest house in all of Novaria, enjoying the most privileged life.
As a father, Alexander had done nothing wrong.
He could be so good to Liam, and if he knew Max was also his child, he would surely love him just as much.
But because of her, Max had suffered alongside her.
Grace said, "At dinner tonight, I heard the servants saying that Liam attends the best school in all of Silverlight City—Windsor Academy."
Windsor Academy was a fifteen-year elite private school.
Children entered at age three, progressing from kindergarten through high school without needing to take entrance exams, with direct admission to universities abroad.
Fifteen years of premium education, with tuition alone costing five hundred thousand dollars per year. Even a single school uniform cost fifty thousand dollars.
Windsor Academy produced countless successful graduates each year.
But there was no way she could provide Max with such an excellent education.
Grace said with some guilt, "Max, there's something Mommy never told you. Haven't you always wanted to know who your biological father is?"