Chapter 4 Chapter 4: Secrets and Softened Hearts

The man's towering presence was imposing as he drew near.

Just as Grace began to feel despair, a suit jacket with a faint, refreshing scent of cedar was draped over her shoulders.

"Sorry, I was too rough just now."

Vincent stepped in front of Grace, lowering his brows as he fastened the jacket's button and carefully adjusted her clothing. "Use my jacket to cover up a bit."

The suit still carried the man's warmth, and Grace suddenly realized that in those brief seconds, her back had broken out into a cold sweat. The heat from the jacket made her skin prickle with goosebumps.

This man was full of surprises.

His presence was so intimidating that it was frightening, as if a single glance could kill.

At this moment, however, he was behaving gently, attentively, and even somewhat like a gentleman.

Lost in thought, she was half-embraced by the man as he escorted her out of the hotel. It wasn't until two children waiting outside rushed into her arms that she snapped back to reality.

"Mommy, can we go home with Daddy now?"

Grace's daughter, Emma Sullivan, looked up at her with big, sparkling eyes full of anticipation.

She was so cute, with fair skin and delicate features like a doll; anyone would find it hard to refuse her any request when she looked at them like that.

But Grace knew her daughter too well; she was immune to her little tricks. With a steely resolve, she covered Emma's eyes and pulled away her younger son, Ethan Sullivan, who was trying to leap toward Vincent.

"We're going home, and I need to have a serious talk with you two first."

Grace declined Vincent's offer to take them home, her face cold as she dragged the two kids away.

During all this process, she kept worrying that Vincent might suddenly change his mind, but until she got home, he made no move to follow or stop them.

The cold-faced man was surprisingly easygoing?

Grace found it hard to believe.

Out of her sight, Vincent watched as she and the children left.

His assistant, Marcus, stepped forward and handed him a report. "Sir, the DNA test results are in."

Upon seeing the report indicating a "confirmed father-son relationship," a smile broke through Vincent's stern expression.

He hadn't mistaken her with someone else.

Grace Sullivan was indeed his Bella.

After all, he had only been with Bella all these years; only she could have given birth to his children.

Marcus said, "With this report, Miss Bella has no reason to refuse you now."

Vincent shot him a glance. "Then I would lose her forever."

Marcus was confused.

Vincent didn't explain, only calmly ordered, "Burn it, and don't mention the test to Bella."

"And stop all investigations into Bella immediately."

"Why?"

Vincent chuckled lightly. "She doesn't like people prying into her life; it makes her angry. Besides, I prefer to be a part of her life now rather than just read cold, hard facts."

After all, she was a feisty little wildcat; and if he wanted to win her heart, he needed to do it the right way.

---

As soon as they got home, Grace gave the two troublemakers a good talking to.

Emma stood silently after being scolded, tears streaming down her pretty face like pearls rolling from her beautiful eyes.

Ethan cried out loudly, rushing to hug his sister and choking out, "Mommy, it was my idea to find Daddy! I dragged Emma into it; if you're going to punish someone, just punish me!"

Grace stood in front of the two kids, feeling a headache coming on.

She had only given them a light smack; she hadn't even hit them hard, yet they were putting on a show.

Yes, Grace knew the kids were putting on an act, fully aware she was soft-hearted and susceptible to their antics.

She was sure that this idea had come from Emma, the little mastermind.

"Stop pretending."

Trying to suppress her concern, she put on a stern face. "Do you have any idea how dangerous your actions were? This time, you were lucky someone brought you back. What if you encounter a bad person next time?"

Seeing no way to escape, Emma wiped her tears, and Ethan quickly stopped his wailing.

They both hugged Grace, raising their little faces with pitiful apologies. "Mommy, we're sorry; we know we were wrong."

Grace maintained her serious demeanor. "I'm not ready to forgive you yet, unless you tell me why you did this."

She had never hidden the truth about their father's death from the children.

In other words, they couldn't possibly not know that the man was not their father, yet they recklessly sought him out.

Emma exchanged a glance with her brother and spoke softly, "Last time, when Mommy was sick, there was no one to take care of you. You were in so much pain that you fainted and still had to worry about Ethan and me."

Grace froze for a moment, remembering that not long ago, she had suffered from acute gastroenteritis. She had struggled to entrust the kids to a neighbor before collapsing, only to wake up to find them crying at her bedside.

"We're too young to take good care of you, so we wanted to find someone to help, Mommy." Ethan clung to her, gently pressing his face against her leg. "When Mommy is sick, it makes us feel bad too."

Grace's heart softened, and she could no longer find the words to scold them.

She gently hugged her children, about to say something when a playful voice suddenly called out from the direction of the door.

"Then let Godfather take care of your mommy from now on."