Chapter 356

Mateo’s POV

"Mateo, I need to use the restroom," my girlfriend said, her cheeks flushing slightly pink.

"I'll come with you," I immediately offered.

"No need," she pouted playfully. "Go look at your outer space stuff. The sooner you finish, the sooner you can take me to the amusement park."

"Fine," I agreed.

I watched her bounce away cheerfully. At the same time, Serena and Stella were also leaving, while Milo went upstairs alone with no one beside him. For some inexplicable reason, a powerful impulse drove me to approach him and say something.

I walked up to Milo.

"Do you like all this?" I asked him.

Milo turned, startled when he saw me.

His surprise quickly mixed with excitement as he blurted out, "Dad... I mean, Mateo. Did you come specifically to find us?"

"Sorry to disappoint you, but no," I answered directly. I never left room for imagination.

"Then why are you here?" he asked.

"Just visiting," I said.

"You like this stuff too?"

"Yes," I replied. "By the way, did you get that paternity test done last time?" I asked casually. I wasn't particularly concerned about it, just making conversation. As the person involved, I figured I had the right to know.

"Oh," he responded with a small nod.

"And the results?" I continued.

"There was a problem with the sample," Milo quickly explained.

I immediately understood. "So it wasn't a match, right?"

"But you are my daddy," Milo insisted firmly.

I could sense that even though his mother refused to acknowledge me, and even though he himself was beginning to resent me a little, in his heart, I was still his daddy. That fact couldn't be changed.

"Kid, with today's technology, DNA test results don't make mistakes," I said with resignation. "Alright, enjoy looking around on your own."

I turned to leave but was stopped by his voice.

"Mateo."

I turned back to face him.

"Do you really have a girlfriend?" Milo asked, his small face reddening.

"Pretty, isn't she?" I couldn't help boasting.

"She's not pretty at all. Compared to Mommy, she's nowhere close," Milo said with complete seriousness.

I wasn't angry. What was the point of arguing with a little brat? And if we're being honest about facial features alone, Serena was indeed more beautiful. But liking someone isn't solely about looks. What matters most is how two people feel together.

"Whatever your reason—whether you lost your memory and don't remember us, or you're forced by circumstances—you'll regret finding a new girlfriend someday," Milo declared with absolute certainty.

I didn't want to argue with him anymore. Milo didn't look much like Serena, but his personality was exactly the same—stubborn as a bull.

"Yo, Milo!" Benjamin's voice called from behind us.

Milo immediately ran toward him, abandoning me completely. I could feel the resentment he harbored toward me.

As I watched Milo's retreating figure, an inexplicable emptiness settled in my chest.

"Mateo," my girlfriend called from behind.

I turned around.

"Were you just talking to that handsome little boy?" she asked.

"Yeah, just chatting a bit," I answered.

"He's definitely going to be incredibly handsome when he grows up," she said sincerely.

"You think so?" I responded absently.

"Wow, the narcissist finally admits someone might be better-looking than him," she teased.