Chapter 206

Chapter 206

Chris was extremely surprised inside. This was the first time Matthew had asked him to do something in such a pleading tone!

Seeing Chris remain silent, Matthew continued, "As long as you help me get this done, I'll have finance transfer three hundred thousand dollars to you at the end of the month! As a labor dispatch subsidy!"

"Three hundred thousand dollars?" Chris's jaw dropped. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Although he earned quite a bit in a year, he never dared to imagine making three hundred thousand dollars in a single month.

"What?" Matthew's face darkened, "You think it's too little?"

Chris quickly explained, "No, no! It's not too little—it's too much! Mr. Moore, working for you is my duty. You don't need to pay me."

Matthew stared at him sharply. Chris's eyes immediately shifted away, not daring to meet Matthew's gaze.

Were there really people in this world who didn't love money? Chris's words were insincere, and there was no way he could fool Matthew.

"Alright, spare me the empty words," Matthew said coldly, "This matter is very important to me. Money is not an issue!"

Chris's face flushed as he suppressed his inner joy, "Okay, Mr. Moore, let me think about it!"

A few minutes later, Chris's eyes lit up, "Mr. Moore, I've come up with a good idea!"

Matthew said, "Speak!"

Chris said, "These next few days, I'll have people watch the Lawson family and see which kindergarten they take Atticus to. Once we know which kindergarten Atticus attends, it'll be easy as pie for you to meet him, won't it, Mr. Moore?"

Matthew's gloomy expression immediately improved considerably, "Good, do as you say. Hurry up and keep watch on the Lawson family!"

"Yes!" Chris nodded.

......

Elise returned home with the Parker family. Zander kicked the sofa hard, "Matthew has gone too far! Dad, why did you back down to him?"

Parker glanced at Atticus nestled in Elise's arms and said sternly, "Watch your words and behavior in front of the child!"

Only then did Zander realize he'd used rough language! He quickly went over and crouched down to stroke Atticus's little face, "Atticus, I'm sorry. Daddy shouldn't have said those things in front of you! Daddy promises he won't do it again!"

Atticus nodded.

To avoid mentioning Matthew in front of Atticus, Elise glanced at Parker, his wife, and Zander, "I'll take Atticus upstairs first to put him to bed!"

Parker nodded, and Elise took Atticus upstairs.

After giving Atticus a bath, she tried to put him to sleep.

But today Atticus seemed a bit excited and couldn't fall asleep.

"What's wrong, aren't you sleepy?" Elise said, patting Atticus's chest.

Atticus opened his big, bright eyes wide. After hesitating, he said, "Mom, that man at the airport was so strange. Why did he say he was my dad?"

Elise's expression immediately froze. Her heart felt like it had been stabbed, then she forced a smile, "Your dad is Zander!"

"But why did that man say he was my dad?" Atticus repeated his question.

A flash of pain crossed Elise's eyes, "He mistook you for someone else! No matter what he says, you must always remember—your mother is me, Elise, and your father is Zander, understand? If you ever see that man again, don't pay attention to him. No matter what he says, don't pay attention!"

Atticus asked curiously, "Why would that man mistake me for someone else? Did he used to have a son who looked like me?"

Elise's throat tightened as she struggled to hold back her inner pain and sadness, "Yes!"

Atticus said, "Where did his child go?"

Elise deflected, "I don't know either! Don't mention him anymore. Just remember what Mom told you! Go to sleep now!"

Seeing Elise's expression change, Atticus didn't ask any more questions and closed his eyes.

Soon after, Atticus fell asleep, breathing evenly. Looking at Atticus who had entered dreamland, Elise's eyes grew moist.

......

Downstairs, Parker said seriously to Zander, "The reason I didn't blow up at Matthew today was to retreat in order to advance! Think about it—Atticus really is his, and looks like him too. If we'd made a scene at the airport, everyone would think we stole Matthew's child!"

"Zander, you still act too impulsively. You need more experience!"

Zander gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, "Seeing Matthew so arrogant, I couldn't control myself! Dad, what do we do now?"

Parker took a couple of steps, looked up at the second floor, and lowered his voice, "Next, we'll see what Matthew does, then respond appropriately! Without a doubt, he'll definitely make a fuss about getting a paternity test with the child."

Zander frowned, "He'll definitely do that!"

"But even if he gets the test, it won't help!" Parker sneered dismissively. Cigar smoke swirled around his face, "Legally, underage children should live with their mother. As long as Elise doesn't get back together with Matthew, Atticus won't return to Matthew's side!"

Zander's furrowed brow finally relaxed a bit, with a hint of smugness in his eyes, "Matthew's image in Elise's heart is completely ruined now. Elise won't get back together with him!"

Parker nodded with satisfaction, the corners of his mouth turning up, "So, let Matthew make a fuss for a while! Since he doesn't want you to leave Emerald City, then you'll hold your wedding in Emerald City to provoke Matthew!"

Just then, Elise came down from the second floor. Parker immediately gave Zander a look, then smiled at Elise, "Elise, is Atticus asleep?"

Elise nodded and came to Parker's side, "Just fell asleep!"

"Dad, it's all because of me. Otherwise Zander wouldn't have gotten hit today!"

Parker immediately waved his hand dismissively, "We're one family, no need for such talk! You and Matthew did have a past, and Atticus is his child—we need to face this fact!"

Zander said gently, "Elise, I'm fine, don't worry! He hurt you so deeply before, but now he's shamelessly trying to take the child from you. I wish I could kill that bastard!"

Elise looked at Parker, "Dad, Matthew definitely won't let this go. What should we do?"

Parker deliberately sighed with worry, his expression grave, then asked, "Dad wants to ask you a question!"

"What question?" Elise said.

Parker said, "Answer Dad honestly—deep in your heart, do you still want to get back together with Matthew? If you want to get back together with him, Mom and I won't stop you. As for Atticus, you can take him to live with Matthew too!"

Elise was surprised by how open-minded Parker was and froze for a moment, "I won't get back together with him!"

Her hesitant words exposed the secret deep in Elise's heart. Parker couldn't help but frown.

However, all Parker wanted was Elise's verbal promise!

"Dad will ask you one more time—are you willing or not willing to get back together with Matthew?"

Elise lowered her head, "Not willing!"

Parker looked at Zander with satisfaction, "Good! As long as you're not willing, Matthew can't stir up much trouble!"

"Your wedding with Zander needs to happen soon, to kill Matthew's hopes!"

Elise nodded, "Okay, Dad!"

......

At the entrance of Bright Future Preschool, Matthew's car had been waiting outside early.

Matthew stared at the kindergarten, asking, "Atticus goes to school here?"

Chris nodded, "I had people monitor the Lawson family and found that Atticus attends this kindergarten. Mrs. Moore drops him off in the morning, and Mrs. Lawson picks him up in the afternoon."

Matthew's hands were clasped together. He could hardly wait to go in and bring Atticus out.