Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Alexander!

However, despite all this, he still couldn't bring himself to believe that this was his child.

Over the years, he'd only been with one woman, on that fateful night eight years ago when his brother, Derek Stuart, had tricked him and left him no choice but to be with a woman.

Seven and a half months later, Eliza had shown up with a child in tow, and a DNA test had confirmed that Andrew was indeed his.

Apart from that ridiculous night, he'd never been with another woman.

If Eliza had given birth to two sons that year, with her greed and vanity, she would have definitely brought both kids back to the Stuart family. She wouldn't have let one of them be left behind.

So he dared to conclude that this was definitely someone's mischief.

After a long, scrutinizing look at the photo, Alexander's lips twisted into a cold, mocking grin.

The photo seemed perfect, but it couldn't fool his eyes.

His face was merged with the boy's face. Each detail was carefully edited until the two images merged flawlessly.

This kind of technology was only understood by the top hackers internationally. Ordinary people really couldn't pull off such a complex operation.

This reminded him of the top hacker, Phantom.

He'd been on that guy's trail for half a year, and now Phantom was supposedly planning a counterstrike?

However, attempting to manipulate public opinion with such a ploy seemed rather naive.

Given that it was a digitally concocted image, it could surely be debunked.

Once the two photos were separated, the rumors would crumble on their own, causing no damage to his reputation. Was Phantom really planning to strike back with such a tactic?

With that thought, he reached for the phone on his desk and dialed his assistant. "Get in touch with the major domestic news outlets. The Stuart Group will be holding a press conference tomorrow, and I'll be addressing this so-called 'illegitimate child' rumor that's circulating online."

"Mr. Stuart, it might not be prudent for you to deal with this personally. Perhaps it would be better if I took care of it," his assistant suggested.

"Do as I say," Alexander said in a cold voice.

He was curious to see what the other party's next move would be, to find out if they had the means to drag him into an even more vicious whirlpool of public opinion.

*****

In just half an hour, the news about #AlexanderHoldingAPressConferenceTomorrowToExplainTheIllegitimateChild# shot back to the top of the trending list.

In the study of Favorview Apartments, two boys were conspiring at the desk.

Liam asked, "Hey, dumbo, have you ever done a live broadcast?"

Andrew's brows knitted together.

Dumbo?

Andrew thought, 'The word tastes like an insult.'

"I haven't played it before. Can you teach me, doggy?"

Liam was taken aback, speechless for a moment.

He couldn't help but smirk again, thinking to himself, 'Damn, this guy is not stupid at all. Why do people say he's got questionable intelligence?

'Also, is he really suffering from autism? He speaks very fluently in front of me, and even when arguing with me, Andrew doesn't use dirty words.'

Noticing Liam's silence, Andrew worried he might have upset Liam. Fearing he might get the boot, Andrew quickly threw in, "Teach me how to do this livestream thing, and I swear I'll do whatever you ask, deal?"

Liam coldly snorted, "You're a clever one, aren't you? Let me lay it out for you. This is my turf. If you wanna share a mom with me, you gotta listen to me. You gotta do what I say, clear?"

Andrew paused for a moment and ventured, "Can I have your mom for my dad?"

"What?" Liam widened his eyes, looking at Andrew incredulously. "Did you just say you want to give my mom to your dad? Don't joke. You are my aunt's son and your dad is my uncle."

"That woman is not my mom."

Liam widened his eyes again.

"Even though I'm a bit of a troublemaker, I haven't gone so far as to not recognize my own mom. Dude, you are ruthless. I admire you."

Andrew looked at Liam, his good-looking face flush with embarrassment.

He knew Liam wouldn't buy what he was saying, because even his own dad didn't believe it, thinking he was just being stubborn.

"Never mind. Forget what I said."

Liam clicked his tongue. "Truth is, I came back to Goldenbough this time to give your mom a hard time. She caused my mom a lot of pain in the past, and indirectly... Well, I'm not gonna let her get away with it."

Andrew nodded resolutely, his voice serious. "Anyone who messes with Mom deserves to be punished. I'm with you on this."

Liam was speechless.

Was this guy for real?

"Forget it. Let's drop that subject. Let's talk about tomorrow's livestream. Isn't your dad planning a press conference? Let's cook up a huge surprise for him."

"Absolutely. It'd be even more perfect if we could teach Eliza a lesson."

Liam was at a loss for words.

It seemed like Andrew was genuinely being clueless!

*****

In the living room, Evelyn was lounging on the sofa in pajamas, humming a tune with a face mask on, and enjoying herself.

It would be even better if there was a man by her side.

Sadly, she had two little shadows that just wouldn't leave her side.

In today's world, what man would be willing to sign up to help raise kids that weren't his own?

Being a stepdad for so long could really wear on a guy.

The doorbell rang...

Someone was at the door.

Evelyn instinctively glanced at the wall clock. It was exactly eleven o'clock.

Who would be showing up at her door for a date at this hour... with her?

"Liam, get the door."

There was no response in the study.

The doorbell rang again.

After a series of insistent rings, she finally peeled herself off the couch, face mask and all, clad in her loose pajamas, and made her way to the door.

As the door opened and she saw who it was, she stumbled and couldn't stand still.

It was Alexander!

A strong arm caught her in time, and the next second, a deep and magnetic voice came from above her head. "Ms. Evelyn Harper, you seem to be afraid of me. Do we have some bad blood between us?"

Evelyn gulped, her mind racing, 'Damn it. If we're talking about bad blood, it's a doozy.

'Some time ago, I was short of money, hacked your three billion in Summit Bank International, and then spent the next six months on the run from you.

'Now that I see you, it's like a mouse meeting a rabid dog.

'I can't help but feel uneasy inside.'

Alexander frowned at the woman clinging to him, a flash of disgust in his eyes. 'Dressing like this and answering the door to strangers? It's clear her private life is pretty wild.'

"You've been leaning in my arms for two minutes now. Are you ready to stand up?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was distracted just now." Evelyn quickly moved out of his arms and said with a wry smile, "As my brother-in-law, you came in person. Have you come to collect Andrew?"

Brother-in-law?

This term made Alexander's brow crease in a frown. He had never recognized Eliza's status, not from the start nor at any point since.

When Eliza arrived at his door with the child in tow, he only extended his acceptance to Andrew, never granting Eliza any acknowledgment as a member of the Stuart family. To be addressed as brother-in-law now irked him deeply.

Alexander was a master at concealing his emotions. Despite the internal turmoil, his exterior remained an impenetrable facade.

"Andrew has been a guest here for a few days, causing you some disturbance, I'm sure," he said evenly. "It's time for him to return home. Is he in the apartment now?"