Chapter 25 What's Given Won't Be Taken Back
Mia could clearly hear the sarcasm in Grace's words. Here was a kept mistress receiving a $20 million property from her wealthy patron, while she, as the soon-to-be new member of the Brown family, had taken out a mortgage for a 2,800 square foot unit. She'd been utterly outclassed by this shameless mistress!
"My mommy isn't being kept by anyone!" Max declared. "You're just jealous that my mommy's house is bigger and more expensive than yours! If you're so capable, tell your husband to buy you a 4,000 square foot mansion! Don't be jealous of my mom just because you can't afford it."
Mia retorted indignantly, "Grace, is this the illegitimate son you raised? So poorly brought up!"
Grace shot back, "Illegitimate son? You're the daughter of a mistress who clawed her way up - what right do you have to call my son illegitimate? You say my son has no manners? Why should he show any manners to someone like you?"
"You...!" Mia raged. "Sharp-tongued little bitch!"
Max said, "Mean lady, that's spreading lies, that's slander, you're committing a crime! Do you know how many years you can get for slander charges?"
Mia was stunned speechless.
Everyone in the sales center burst into laughter, finding Max absolutely adorable. He was handsome and clever, constantly protecting his mother with such brave determination that he was utterly endearing.
Any other child his age would have cowered behind their mother in fear.
But he stood firmly in front of Grace, his young face filled with unwavering resolve to defend her.
Feeling the stares and whispers around her, Mia's heart burned with resentment. She knew public opinion had turned against her - these strangers had all been charmed by Max's clever, adorable demeanor. She gritted her teeth and hissed at Grace, "Grace, don't get too full of yourself! I'll find proof that you're being kept sooner or later!"
With that, she left with forced dignity, clutching Jayden's arm.
The crowd murmured in amazement.
"Your son is so adorable!"
"He's so smart and devoted to protecting you. Having a child like this makes you a real winner in life."
"If I had such a caring, thoughtful son, I'd be the happiest person in the world!"
Grace felt immense satisfaction in her heart.
She didn't care about gossip and rumors, but in crucial moments, Max was always her strongest support.
He loved and cared for her more than anyone else.
She truly was a winner in life. She must have done countless good deeds in a past life to be blessed with such a wonderful son as Max in this one.
Grace crouched down and said to Max, "Max, you really are mommy's precious darling."
At the same time, she felt some guilt; after all, it was because he was her son that Max had to endure being called illegitimate.
Max raised an eyebrow. "Why should I bother with people like that? I'm not illegitimate; my father is Alexander, I just don't acknowledge him." He knew better than anyone that he wasn't a bastard, so those comments didn't affect him at all.
Grace said, "Yes, if you reconciled with daddy, you wouldn't have to suffer this kind of humiliation."
Max suddenly asked curiously, "Mommy, do you love him?"
Grace hesitated for a moment.
It seemed no one had ever asked her such a question before.
She shook her head. "I don't have feelings for him!" But she didn't hate him either. No matter how arrogant Alexander was or how cold he treated her, Max was his child, and seeing Max reduced her resistance to Alexander by half. Still, she remained somewhat fearful of him.
It was fear of power and authority.
Max said, "If mommy doesn't love him, then I won't acknowledge this father. Mommy, I'll only acknowledge one father, a man you truly love, a man you've decided to spend your life with. He has to spoil you more than I do, love you more than I do, or I won't accept him!"
Grace was deeply moved.
"But!" Max puffed out his chest, "I have to rank first in mommy's heart!"
Grace said, "Of course. Mommy will always love you most."
"What about Liam?" Max tilted his little head. "Will you love Liam more than me someday?"
"If I divide my love into five parts, I'll give Max three parts and Liam two parts."
Hearing this, Max smiled with satisfaction.
"Ms. Foster!" Jeremy walked over carrying a thick stack of documents. "Please come sign the papers."
Grace stood up. "Is Alexander really putting the house in my name?"
Jeremy paused, then quickly said, "Ms. Foster, please don't overthink it. Mr. Hayes simply doesn't have time to sign the paperwork himself. Besides, this amount of money isn't significant to him."
Grace felt her scalp tingle at those words.
She suddenly realized how little she knew about Alexander and the Hayes family.
Not just her, the outside world's knowledge of the Hayes family was limited too.
This perpetually mysterious super-wealthy family might be even more financially powerful than the Foster family had originally estimated. Otherwise, marrying Alexander - such a prize - wouldn't have fallen to her.
Would Alexander ask her to return this $20 million house later?
Jeremy seemed to read her thoughts. "Ms. Foster, what Mr. Hayes gives away, he never takes back."
Only then did Grace follow Jeremy to the finance office to sign the papers.
Only a fool would refuse something given for free.
...
Radiant Pinnacle sold move-in ready units that came fully furnished, but buyers still needed to purchase furniture and appliances.
However, furnishing the place naturally wasn't Grace's concern - this was a task Alexander had assigned to Jeremy.
It was already getting late.
Jeremy drove Grace and Max back to Hayes Manor.
The moment Grace stepped through the door, Liam came running toward her with open arms.
"Liam!" Grace picked him up. "Did you miss me?"
Liam nodded vigorously, cupping her face with his little hands and kissing her cheek.
His lips were soft and warm.
So different from Alexander's.
In that instant, seeing Liam's face - like a miniature version of Alexander - Grace suddenly remembered that night in the study, Alexander's thin, cool lips.
Her face immediately flushed red.
Seeing this, Max felt a pang of jealousy, thinking Grace was blushing because of Liam's kiss. When he kissed mommy, she never blushed.
"Mommy, I want kisses too!" Max stood on his tiptoes.
Grace knew Max was jealous. She freed one hand to pat Max's head. "Max, be good. Mommy will let you kiss her in a moment, okay?"
Mary walked over, asking somewhat awkwardly, "How do you manage to make Liam like you so much?"
She was Liam's grandmother and doted on him constantly, but Liam never initiated affection with her. Unless she coaxed and wheedled, Liam would only give her perfunctory kisses at best.
Grace was stumped by the question.
Forget Mary, even she didn't understand why Liam was so affectionate toward her.
Mary asked suspiciously, "What did you do to him? Do you know hypnosis or something?"