As I positioned myself between them, shielding my adorable son from his charismatic father, my顽皮 child tilted his head and offered a radiant, sun-kissed smile at his dad. It brought a soft laugh from me; my baby's cuteness was simply irresistible. "Mommy, is this Daddy?" my son inquired, his innocent query echoing through the air. Oh my goodness, I glanced over at Jale, just a short distance away, who no doubt had heard our conversation. His curious gaze met mine, eager for an answer to his son's question. How could I deny it? From his striking Viking-like hair, warm brown eyes, fair complexion, and confident demeanor – everything about Jale mirrored Chase, a younger version of his own father. Yet, I vowed silently not to reveal the truth to our child. Lowering myself to my son's level, I kissed his forehead and locked eyes with him. "No, sweetie, this man is not your daddy, but Uncle Jale," I gently explained, my voice filled with care. Observing Jale's expression fall slightly from the corners of my vision, I noticed he pretended to check his phone, though its screen remained blank. Ensuring he was fully engaged, I cupped my son's cheeks and deepened our connection. Inside, I couldn't help but think, how dare he expect me to claim Chase as his? The idea was absurd. I would never expose our son to Jale, not after the pain he inflicted upon me five years ago. To them, he would always be an outsider, unworthy of our love and bond.
