Chapter 228

Chapter 228

An eerie silence settled over the private dining room.

Victoria's brow creased, almost imperceptibly. Her lips parted, then closed again. She swallowed the words before they could escape.

Looking at Charles now—this desperate, groveling version of him—she felt something she never expected.

Pity.

After all, hadn't she once begged the same way, just for a chance to see Percival?

A cool hand was suddenly enveloped in warmth.

Victoria looked up, startled.

Hugh met her eyes with a reassuring glance, then spoke with deliberate nonchalance. "The Howard family's child doesn't need anyone else providing for him."

Charles's face darkened. He ground out through clenched teeth, "Since when is my child yours?"

"Victoria and I will get married eventually. Her child is my child. No question about it."

Hugh said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Charles opened his mouth to argue, but instinctively glanced at Victoria first.

She didn't deny it.

His heart lurched violently.

What did that mean?

Did Victoria actually think she'd marry Hugh someday?

How could she?

They'd barely been divorced!

Charles's lips moved. He couldn't hold back. "The future is full of surprises. No need to jump to conclusions so quickly."

He tightened his arms around Percival, his tone deceptively calm. "At least the bond of blood between me and Percival can never be changed."

This was his biological son. Percival would naturally grow closer to him over time.

That was unalterable.

The more Charles thought about it, the more smug he felt. He lifted his gaze to Hugh, challenge glinting in his eyes.

No matter how tough Hugh talked, at the end of the day, wasn't he just raising another man's son?

Victoria's heart began to tighten.

She turned instinctively to look at Hugh.

His lips were pressed into a thin line. His expression was unreadable.

Charles sensed he'd struck a nerve. His tone grew even more triumphant. "I had no idea Mr. Howard was such a generous man."

"Da… Daddy…"

Just then, Percival stirred in Charles's arms, babbling his first attempt at words.

Delight flooded Charles's face. He ducked his head, beaming. "Good boy, Percival! Daddy's here! Daddy's right here!"

But Percival wasn't looking at him at all.

Those bright, wide eyes were fixed on Hugh, pudgy little hands reaching and grasping in his direction.

Light exploded in Hugh's eyes.

He stood, crossed to Charles in two strides, and lifted Percival out of his arms without a word of discussion.

His voice brimmed with undisguised pride.

"Percival really is Victoria's son—sharp as a tack. Knows exactly who his daddy is."

As he spoke, Hugh shot Dena an appreciative look.

A raise.

She absolutely deserved a raise.

Dena stood in an inconspicuous corner, wearing a quiet smile of both relief and secret triumph.

Percival had come through magnificently.

All those days of holding up Hugh's photo and telling Percival, "This is Daddy"—none of it had been wasted.

Charles's eyes went wide with shock. His mouth opened and closed. "Percival, what are you saying? I'm your father! Don't you remember who was with you when you were little? Who took care of you?"

He reached to take Percival back from Hugh's arms.

But Hugh simply turned his body, sidestepping the grab with effortless ease.

"Come on, Mr. Smith. The kid knows who's been good to him. Victoria gave you your chance. You're the one who couldn't take care of Percival."

"He's in a healthy, happy home now. Showing up out of nowhere to stake your claim? Don't you think that's a little shameless?"

Dark, furious hues washed over Charles's face in repeated waves.

Victoria, who had remained silent through all of it, finally spoke. Her voice was soft. "That's enough."

Both men turned to her.

Charles's eyes were desperate with hope. "Victoria, tell him—Percival is my son, isn't he?"

Victoria didn't acknowledge him. Her gaze drifted calmly past him and settled on Hugh and Percival. Her expression softened instantly.

"Stop making a scene. Let's eat. I'm hungry."

Hugh's eyes lit up like stars. He carried Percival back to Victoria's side immediately.

Victoria gently pinched Percival's cheek, cooing at him playfully. She didn't spare Charles another glance.

The color drained from Charles's face, inch by inch.

He stared at Victoria, unwilling to accept what he was seeing.

The three of them—Victoria, Hugh, and Percival—looked so warm and natural together. Anyone walking in would have assumed they were the real family.

The thought stabbed deep into Charles's chest.

He tore his gaze away and fled the room, barely holding himself together.

The door clicked shut. Only then did Hugh let out a dismissive scoff. "Like a fly that won't quit buzzing."

Victoria couldn't quite figure out what Charles was hoping to accomplish anymore.

After a moment, she sighed. "Let it go. Percival is his biological child. Requesting visitation is within his legal rights."

That's what she said out loud. But privately, she hoped Charles would come around a lot less.

Just looking at him made her uncomfortable.

Hugh's gaze deepened. His question was pointed. "You don't want him visiting Percival?"

Victoria nodded honestly, then looked at him in surprise. "You have a plan?"

Hugh smiled mysteriously. "Just wait and see."

---

Victoria found out what Hugh's plan was three days later.

She came out of the training room and couldn't find Hugh anywhere.

It was quitting time. She headed toward the fire escape stairwell, planning to call him so they could go home together.

Instead, she walked right into Hugh leaning against the railing, phone to his ear. "Yeah, that works best."

"Crossing the line? He didn't think it was crossing the line when he kept trying to steal my wife?"

"Oh, and one more thing—don't push too hard. He doesn't have any other kids yet. When he's gone, everything goes to Percival."

Victoria stood frozen in the stairwell doorway. "…"

Maybe she'd just… not go in.

Ten minutes later, Hugh strolled back, expression perfectly casual.

When he saw Victoria, his face broke into a gentle smile. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah."

Victoria nodded.

Ever since Charles's visit with Percival, Hugh had moved into Victoria's apartment with seamless, unapologetic ease.

His justification was airtight: "Percival already calls me Daddy. A child can't grow up without a father figure. It's bad for his development."

Victoria started to say something several times, but each time she swallowed the words.

They were boyfriend and girlfriend now. Living together wasn't exactly unreasonable.

And besides… Percival really was attached to Hugh.

Despite sharing no blood whatsoever.

When they got home, Victoria went to her room to shower and change. Hugh took Percival from Dena's arms like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Hey there, little man! Mommy and Daddy are home!"

Percival grabbed Hugh's finger, babbling happily. "Daddy! Daddy!"

Hugh was over the moon. He lifted Percival high and spun him around in circles.

"That's my boy! So smart!"

This was the scene Victoria walked into when she emerged from her room.

She shook her head, helpless.

She honestly couldn't figure those two out.

The second Percival saw Hugh, he'd start babbling and reaching for him. And the moment Hugh locked eyes with Percival, he turned into a complete pushover.

After dinner, Victoria and Hugh took Percival out for an evening walk.

They chatted idly about work, the conversation easy and unhurried.

Then a figure came charging toward them out of nowhere.

Hugh reacted instantly—one arm securing Percival, the other pulling Victoria out of the way.

They dodged just in time.

Victoria's heart was still hammering when she made out the person's face.

Her brow furrowed. Her gaze went cold. "What are you doing here?"